2023 ~ June Recap

 

June ... Summer is in full swing. More hiking, some golf, some getaways, and basketball, as always. There was hail, and Hale, and haircuts. Pickleball and poker (ok, it was Blackjack, but alliteration!) More medical appointments and the annual Westra gathering for Father's Day. Cal&K8 have become puppy parents!

• Basketball - Colton had a busy month. He has had some practices with Metro, and training with Coach Scott. One week was team camp at the high school (he got the "camper of the day" award on Thursday, and was awarded "camper of the week" at the end - won an Echo Dot). He went down to St. George for a tournament with the school team and got to play in the AllStar game, and then played up at the U in a tournament there. There were also a couple car wash fund raisers to help pay for said tournaments and camps. 
• Staying Active: There is a Blackham Bunch at the pickleball courts every Sunday morning, trying to beat the heat (which wasn't bad in June). It's so much fun! Gray has added more hikes (see the updated post about the Symphony Hiking Challenge HERE) - he and Landon summited Olympus, and Landon has gone on some hikes himself. Gray had a golf activity for work and roped Landon into that too (Landon does quite a bit of "client entertainment" on his job - mostly TopGolf thus far, but it's good to improve ball & club skills). You can see a post about that HERE. Gray did a little writeup for work, as he does for the hikes, getting creative with ChatGPT. Jen has her Zumba Mon/Wed/Fri and pickleball with the relief society ladies on Thursdays. 
• Bear Lake: Gray got invited up to a work friend's place at Bear Lake ... it's quite rustic, so he rented an RV to be a little more comfortable. The water was too cold to play in, so it was mainly just hanging out. Landon was under the weather for a day. 
• Medical Moments: Jen had been hit with something at the end of May, and it was still hanging on a bit as June started. She had a follow-up with her family physician, met with a cardiologist (the ER doctor has seemed to think that was a good next step) and had a heart monitor tracking for a few days. Ultimately though, based on the video of the fall (caught on the grocery store cameras) and the aftermath, we're thinking it's neuro. There was an appointment with Neurology at the end of the month. Jen will start some anti-seizure medication and we'll hope for the best. 
• Doggie: I guess it was Callahan who was pushing for a doggy (even though K8 is the one who grew up with one). They adopted Vera from a shelter and are now proud puppy parents. Kate posted a bunch of pictures on Instagram showing how cute she is and how happy they are followed by "I've also cried every single day the last three weeks. Vera was a stray and bounced around shelters her whole life. She has a lot of behavioral issues to correct. She's chewed through her crate, ate my snake plants, scratched our walls and shutters, costs an arm and a leg. I'm exhausted and am grieving my freedom and I love her with all of my heart."  Many of the Westras got to meet her at the family Father's Day gathering.  Coop also was on Doggy Duty for the neighbors at the end of the month. 
• Westra Group Gathering: Hosted by Scott and Amy, as it has been for the past many years ... but now at the Havenmoor House, which has hosted many a Westra party too! It was fun to visit with family and to see all the updates and renovations.  
• Charger Changes: Colton's Charger had its spoiler ripped off at the local car wash. We scheduled it out so that the repair was done the week he was in St. George, so that timing worked out well. One day Jen drove the Charger to Zumba as Colton was traveling further (let him have the Tesla) and it totally confused one of Jen's Zumba ladies who thought someone else was at the church when she didn't she the traditional vehicle, but this "muscle car".  The Charger needed its registration renewed ... oops, that's still on the to do list!
• Food: Jen continues to make sourdough, several loaves every week (about a dozen). She tried making bagels for the first time, and Cooper has been creating homemade breakfast sandwiches. Coop also tried his hand at making a cheese ball (Gray had been grabbing them from the store, a favorite snack). There were snickerdoodles and homemade pizza ... Gray bought ANOTHER pizza oven (we now have three). 

We all started the month with HAIL ... it was a crazy storm. The next weekend it was HALE, as Olivia had invited Jen to go see Hello Dolly there. Aunt Olivia also came over and did a haircut housecall. Landon shaved off his beard ... for a bit, it's already back!  Jen had two bookclub meetups ... the books were The Measure (recommend this one) and Mrs. Mike. 21 books total for the month. 

Here's a look back at the month live - one second style

https://youtu.be/i1gdDaBoE00

Golf Guys

 

Grayson had a work golf tourney ... he's not a big golfer but figured he'd support Symphony's Rob, who is head of the HBA. He invited Landon to join (Landon has been entertaining at LKL and thought golf skills/experience might come in handy). Both guys came back with red necks after the sun sans sunscreen. 

There were stations set up at the various holes ... Gray took a moment to snap a selfie (ussie) there by the WCF one and sent it to Scottie. Other than some exhaustion, there were no injuries.

Gray had been utilizing ChatGPT for his activity summaries for Symphony. He asked Chat CPT to write a short satirical ode to four sojourners set off on golf’s long travail. Prompts ... Brandon, Landon, Grayson and Cole. 18 long holes. Birdies but few. Long balls so many. Brandon’s boonie on fleek. Cole’s driver so sleek. Landon’s attire so chic. Golf cart stuck in reverse. Will this course never end?

Oh, gather 'round and listen close,

To the tale of four golfers who dared to impose,

Upon a course, a challenge so grand,

But little did they know, things would get out of hand.

Brandon, Landon, Grayson, and Cole,

Embarked on a journey, with golf as their goal,

But birdies were scarce, lost balls aplenty,

Their dreams of glory, vanishing gently.

Brandon's boonie on fleek, oh so stylish,

But his swing, oh dear, it was quite childish,

The ball flew astray, no direction in sight,

As he adjusted his hat, full of false delight.

Cole, with his sleek driver, oh so pristine,

Believed he was destined for a golfing queen,

But alas, his shots went amiss, far and wide,

His dreams of triumph, quickly defied.

Landon, in attire so chic, so refined,

But his fashion sense couldn't save his scoreline,

As the ball rolled and tumbled, lost in the rough,

He realized fashion couldn't make his game tough.

And poor Cole, what a sight to behold,

His golf cart stuck in reverse, a tale untold,

He revved and he struggled, but no progress he made,

As he cursed his luck, his plans began to fade.

Will this course never end? they groaned and they sighed,

As the hours dragged on, their patience was tried,

The lost balls, the misfires, the cart stuck in reverse,

The golfing gods surely had them under a curse.

But amidst the chaos, a lesson was learned,

That golf is a game where fortunes are turned,

With humor and laughter, they persevered,

Their misadventures, memories revered.

So raise your clubs and toast to this crew,

Brandon, Landon, Grayson, and Cole, so true,

For in their golfing travails, a bond did form,

And though the course seemed endless, their spirits were warm.

A look at Landon in 2023 (above) ... and a flashback to his younger years in 2009 (below).

Tulips - Thanksgiving Point

 

Totally out of the blue on Friday, May 12, Grayson texted asking if I had anything going on that day. I'm pretty open. I thought maybe he needed me home for a delivery but he proposed a trip to Thanksgiving Point to see the tulips. We the colder spring, the Tulip Festival had been extended later into May, and there were lots of blooms. 

Like last year, there was a Dutch theme, with wooden shoes hidden throughout the walkways, and a couple spots with big shoes for picture taking poses.  

We had gone to the Tulips in 2022 too.

... and a family tulip trip back in 2011.

Check out Cal and Kate's 2022 trip to Holland.

Keaton's Corner

 

Keaton had been thinking he'd like to try this "adulting" thing and get a place of his own. After looking at apartment possibilities for a few months, he found one he liked and signed a lease. He's not far, about 10 minutes away in South Jordan, just a little NorthEast of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  It's a house, and he's in a newly finished basement apartment. It doesn't feel like a basement though, there is a lot light. He has off-street parking, then he walks around the side of the house to a rear entrance. 

Here's a peek at the inside ...

Home Sweet Keaton Home.

MS Walk~ Team Ana

 

Last year Grayson's sister Ana was diagnosed with MS. Multiple Sclerosis.  It's a tough diagnosis and disease, but Ana has been doing better now that they know what the problem is and getting treatment. When there was a local MS walk, we decided to participate as a family. 

It was Saturday, May 6th. We got up and headed out with most of the crew (Colton had basketball practice, and I don't know if we'd remembered to tell Cal and Kate about it). Courtney came with the two boys (Clay had church obligations but was able to come at the very end, bringing Milo) and Olivia came with Ana's family. If you donated a certain amount, you got a bright orange t-shirt. There was a big Start/Finish but the walk itself wasn't super specific. It was just a loop (or two, or three) around Veteran's Memorial Park in West Jordan. There were lots of informational booths set up, and games and a band, and people cheering everyone on. 

Here's just a quick peek at the morning ...

The weather was nice. It was a little cool. It rained later in the day, and we were glad it held off until after the event.