Four Blackham Boys and a 15k

Grayson has been running many half marathons with his buddies ... this weekend, he proposed a 15k to his sons. Cal was out of town in St. George, and Colton in Oregon, but Landon, Keaton and Coop said okay.  So early Saturday (April 11) they headed out. The race started at 8:00, and they were done by 9:30.

At home, before the race, I asked, who among the four would win. Landon laughed and said "not me" and Keaton shook his head. Gray had already stated he expected the boys to beat him. Coop smiled and said "I guess it will be me then ..." and it was.

Some of the shots captured by the race camera ...

I peeked in via Life360 ...

Coop at enough of a clip that the app thought he was in a car.

Keaton and Gray had Strava tracking them ... always fun to see the route mapped out and get the stats. 

Post-race picture with their medals.

... and a little refueling after the race.

BlackhamBunch ~ 2025 at a Glance

I hope to get a more in-depth write-up/review of the year ... but until then, here's the collage created for the Westra calendar/slideshow and the little blurb for the newsletter.

Jen and Gray and their five Blackham Boys live in West Jordan. Gray is still with Symphony Homes. He had an active year, with "75 Hard" and 16 half-marathons/four triathlons and a 100 mile bike ride. Jen continues baking sourdough, teaching Zumba and is all about books! Landon shifted from the West Jordan LKL location to the Spanish Fork store, and found an apartment in American Fork. He's added a girlfriend, a puppy and a kitty to these changes! Cal supervises quality control for Camson Electric and his wife Kate is working towards her Masters at UVU. They enjoyed a trip to Italy. Keaton works with Cal at Camson and received his Journeyman license. It's been a "OneWheel/Unicycle" year for him. Cooper is moving up at DLP Unlimited, added forklift training to his resume. He ran his first half-marathon and is always up for pickleball. Colton finished up his first year at Clackamas and is back on the basketball team as a sophomore.

There were multiple posts throughout the year, and four quarterly reports compiling all the events from those three month periods. I'll have to upload a compiled/annual  1secEverday ...  

Blackham Bunch Quarterly Report - Q4/2025

 2025/Q4  ~ The Blackham Bunch in October, November, December

Wrapping up 2025 with a recap of the activities in October, November and December. There are the usual holidays; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays for Jen/Gray and Colton. The usual stuff ... pickleball, basketball. Hale Theater, Wicked, Bargatzee, Derek's Derby, Fisher House, and a few trips to Portland too ...

• Gray a Go-Go: GB was running races; Antelope half, Mission Bay Triathlon, Haunted Half, Portland Pumkin Half, Snow Canyon Half, Thankful Half. A little getaway to Wendover too. 
• Travel: Jen and Gray flew out to Washington, to catch some of Colton's preseason scrimmages, then the whole family made it out at the end of December to Portland/Clackamas (Bamboo Sushi Green Machines, Salt&Straw, three games/WINS at Clackamas, seeing Colton's apartment and visiting Kolby and Jami). Cal and Kate also had a Wyoming getaway in October. Gray flew out to San Diego for his triathlon, and to Portland (didn't connect with Colton) for a comedy show and a half, also in October. 
• Basketball: Cal continued playing in a number of men's leagues, alas, second place at both SJ and Tville this season. Colton's sophomore year at Clackamas started up, preseason scrimmages and games, some stitches. 
• Seeing Shows: Every year we try to attend at show at Hale with the folks. We saw Sister Act in October. Olivia set up a girls night out to see Wicked (part 2). GrayBlack and his buddies went to a see Rory Scovell in Portland, and then Symphony had a Bargatzee night, and GB was able to snag tickets for Keaton and Coop to attend too. 
• Keaton's Adventures: Still hitting the One-Wheel and Unicycle, Keaton also got out Canyoneering and other outdoor adventures with friends. He also wrote up some of his current interests (as a Christmas present to Mom) ... perfect for blog posts (upcoming). 
• Minecraft Mondays (and one weekend retreat): Coop and his buddies have been gathering virtually every other Monday to play Minecraft. One weekend in December, they pulled an all-nighter as well.  
• Spotify Wrapped: Coop and Keaton obsess over this every year!
• Birthdays: The boys came over on Jen's Bday for cake, and then we did the traditional Tepanyaki dinner over the weekend (between Jen and Gray's bdays), more cake after dinner (a lemon jello cake that fell just a bit). Gray had a few birthday celebrations with work/friends. Colton stayed in Oregon for his birthday, to spend it with Haley. He got two cakes, one there, and then a belated birthday cake when he got home to Utah (home for Christmas). 
• Holidays: Halloween costumes from Landon (Holy Guacamole) and Colton/Haley (firefighter and dalmation). Coop pointed out the DOTS (Colton's nickname) in our Halloween candy. Lots of pumpkins from the garden, but we didn't carve any. We hosted Thanksgiving and celebrated Christmas with the Blackham and Westra side of the family. 

I think that's pretty much what was happening during Q4/2025.

Here's a live look, one second style ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqe1LNVWLiA

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXvpv-_77j8

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN5yrdGWr4w

Vera vs Stuffed Chickens

Costco carries these cute stuffed chicken doggy toys. I've bought a few for Vera, and around Halloween, there were two "pirate" versions. I bought both. While they are some of the sturdier dog toys, they still don't last that long when once introduced to Miss Vera. 

Cal and Kate had visited, and taken home one of the chickens, but it wasn't long before Cal asked if the second was available. It was time. He took some pictures, the new vs the one Vera had been playing with. One leg gone. Back and head opened, stuffing out.  How long before the new chicken is in the same shape?  Vera looks so innocent in the picture! 

Vera is "ruff" on stuffies! Another post not long after the chicken ...

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A post shared by Jennifer Westra Blackham (@jenblackham)

 

 

Thanksgiving 2025

Thanksgiving has always been more of a Blackham side holiday. Pammy would go all out with decor and delicious fixings. Clay&Courtney's crew would alternate years with Courtney's side of the family.  After Pammy's passing, we've alternated between C&C's house or hosting (and one year trying out the buffet at the Grand). This was a year C&C were with the Cullimore side, so we planned to have Thanksgiving at our house. Olivia, Ana and the boys joining. Missing Cal&Kate, in St. George with the Allens, and Colton at Haley's house. 

Grayson actually started the day with a half-marathon. Not just a 5k Turkey Trot, but the full 13.1 miles. Usually he likes to rest a bit after (understandably) but today he got straight to work, getting turkey breasts, ham and prime rib on the smoker. 

I'd made roll dough on Wednesday, and got rolls rolled out (orange and regular dinner rolls) and rising, the orange rolls baked (and iced). I'd prepped jello cubes and my CoolWhip dessert on Wednesday too (I hadn't planned properly and had to have Cooper stop at the store to pick up said Cool Whip on the way home from work), and hard boiled some eggs, which I deviled Thursday morning. I peeled potatoes and Gray finished them up (he's got a process, boiled, then through the ricer, then whipped, lots of butter, yum!) Simple Stovetop Stuffing and basil carrots.  There was even gravy (something we don't usually make just for us). 

Cleared of the kitchen table ... we so seldom actually sit down and eat there. With the numbers we had (10) we set up another table in the family room. Note to self, keep some tablecloths on hand. I found a turquoise blue one which was better than nothing, but it didn't really scream "Thanksgiving" ... some candy corn and mini-pumpkins were our decor. 

Olivia brought a cute turkey veggie tray and Ana brought drinks, a salad and some dessert. Landon brought some rolls and a pumpkin cheesecake that everyone raved over.   Grayson complained a little, about how much prep goes into the feast prep for about 15 minutes of eating!

The food was yummy. The conversation plentiful. The television was on, football game playing. A couple card games after the dinner plates were cleared. We went with nice, but disposable, dishes, which cuts down on cleanup. 

Prior to Thanksgiving, I had made the annual "Turkey Cookies" ...

... after dinner, everyone (sans Gray&Jen) went to a movie. 

Predator:Badlands

(again ... the tree makes it look like a Christmas picture!)

... got a couple pictures from the "away kids" with their alternate family/feasts, although I joked with Colton that his looked more like Christmas pictures! Cal&Kate in St. George with her folks, Matt&Maci and Ben (and the three doggos). Colton in Lebanon/Oregon with his girlfriend's family. 

 

What are you thankful for?

 

Keaton Canyoneering

One weekend at the end of November, Keaton was off the grid ... my Life360 had a "last location" but no contact. Cal confirmed that Keaton had indeed had a plan to head out with some buddies, so I didn't worry (too much). Upon his return, I got some photos, video and even a write up!

My buddy Cameron is super into canyoneering. He’s explored a ton of canyons. He asked me, James, and Spencer if we wanted to do a couple canyons with him and we all said yes. The plan was a short trip over the weekend, staying one night. The place we were going to was about four hours out. It was in Moab / Lake Powell / Hanksville area. I actually don’t know the name of the place, but it was in the middle of nowhere and we didn’t have service.

We rode up on Saturday morning with a very loaded truck. There wasn’t much room to spare. The tonneau cover was bulging. When we got there, we hit a canyon first thing. We got our gear and started hiking. It was about 30-45 minutes of hiking until the first rappel. Cameron was really good at informing us what to do and what to expect. We made the first rappel super slow and super careful and knew immediately that this was going to be a ton of fun. There were a few more trips down this canyon, but nothing too crazy. We didn’t have to do any wild techniques or get wet. It was a fairly beginner canyon, perfect for us. There was one rappel that was 90’ and for a bit of it, there was nothing to hold onto, so we were free hanging for a few seconds. That was my favorite part.

That night we made a fire, cooked brats, and ate a bunch of snacks. Cameron brought a laser that lit up these huge red rocks beside us. I brought my telescope and it was a perfect night to look at the stars. It was a ton of fun.

The next morning, we packed up and headed out for the next canyon. This one was quite a bit different than the last one. We hiked to the first rappel, but this time it lead us down into a narrow passageway that went on for a mile or two. The rappels were a bit trickier but not as high. We had to do a lot more stemming here. That’s where you wedge your body between two walls and shimmy forward.

After we made it out, we were headed home. There was a local burger joint in Hanksville that we stopped at before the long journey back. When we got back home, it was simply unpack, go to sleep, and go to work the next day. 10 out of 10 would do it again.

Uploaded the bit of video to YouTube for easier sharing/storage ...

https://youtu.be/NSh8po3Pj5U

Blackhams go to Bellevue

 

Grayson is quite the traveler ... me, not so much. But when I saw that Colton and the Clackamas crew were scheduled for some games at the Bellevue Jamboree (preseason scrimmages), and that they wouldn't be streamed for me to watch from home, I suggested to Gray that we make a quick weekend trip out. He said okay. 

We flew out on Friday, November 7 ... this was the day the airlines had been instructed to cut flights due to the government shutdown. Luckily, we had no issues at all. Grayson was pretty excited to try out the new Delta SkyClub, which had had just opened. It was very nice. He'd also booked us first class, and as I didn't care for the food included in-flight (picky eater me!) Grayson got double!

Gray had rented a car, and we drove from the airport to our hotel, which was very close to the college where the basketball games would be played. The Clackamas crew had a 3+ hour drive, so their games didn't start until a little later in the day (Nov8). Gray started his Saturday with a six mile run at Gas Works Park. We then grabbed some breakfast, and did a quick drive by the college so we would know where to go (which building). We saw a group of basketball boys unloading from a bus ... and it was Colton and the Clackamas Crew! Fun to bump into them as they arrived.

We still had an hour or more until the games started, so we let Colton rejoin his team while we went back to the hotel for a bit. These games were mini-match ups, just 20 minutes (no halves or changing sides). As I hadn't been able to make it out last year for the family trip, this was my first time seeing Colton play college ball in person (I had watched every game on the live stream). I had my video camera up and recording. It was fun to meet his roommate and coaches, who I felt like I already knew (just from pictures and Colton talking about them).  Gray found some pickleballs around in the bleachers.

Here's the highlights from the games ...

Clackamas vs Bellevue

Clackamas vs Yakima

Clackamas vs South Puget Sound

The first game ended in a tie (no OT in these scrimmages), and the other two were losses. Colton got some points in the second game, but had early foul trouble in the third game and didn't get as much playing time there. He was a little under the weather, fighting a cold, and his stitches would come out the next day. It was fun to be there to see him play in person though, a little better view than the live stream (although I appreciate having at least that!)  After the games, the team headed home and we went back to the hotel. 

Lovely fall foliage on the college campus ... 

GB had to stop for a photo, and I snuck a picture of him! 

We had breakfast, and then dinner, at a nearby diner. 

The breakfast was really good ... the dinner not so much. 

Early flight out (5:15 ... so we got up and on our way around 3:30). Returned the rental car. Again, no issues getting through security, and Gray had timed it perfectly so that as soon as we arrived at our gate, we were boarding the plane. 

Landon and Valentina had gone on a weekend getaway to Las Vegas ... and they were returning home at almost the same time we were! Only 10min or so apart in our arrivals, but I didn't notice until a a bit later after Gray and I had already headed home. It would have been funny to bump into each other there at the airport!

The Blackham Bunch is planning another trip to see Colton play at the end of the year. Clackamas will be hosting a tournament after Christmas, three full games. I plan on making it this year ... getting more video and seeing Colton's college, apartment and stomping grounds!

Derby Deja Vu

 

Ah ... the Pinewood Derby. For the Blackham family, there was a little more than the usual Derby Daze. It started shortly after Landon's first derby. It wasn't great ... an old wood track, a yardstick for the starting gate, four judges attempting to eyeball the finish line. Grayson looked at his boys and realized he had MANY more years of derbies ahead of him, and he wanted a better experience. That lead to his investment in a Pinewood Derby track (and tables, and timer, and computer/software, projector/screen).

There are quite a few posts on the Blackham Blog about derby days, although it doesn't go back to the beginning (2006). Gray started doing the derby just for our ward, but with such a nice set-up, he began doing derbies for others as well. We even took a family trip to St. George to run one for Wendy's ward (2008 ... and Wendy has many DERBY posts on the Jenson Journal blog). I don't have the records for every year, but my records show 2010/26, 2011/32, 2012/36, 2016/54, 2017/43, 2018/45, 2019/52. Not sure why I didn't have the numbers recorded for 2013/2014/2015, but I had noted that Grayson bought a covered trailer in 2014 to replace the flatbed (kept things cleaner/organized). Gray would have one of the boys come along and help, moving in the equipment, setting up the computer/projector, and running the starting gate. He wondered if maybe the boys would like to run it themselves as a little side-business when they were older.

When the LDS church announced it was cutting ties with the Boy Scouts program, Gray wondered if that would impact/eliminate pinewood derbies, or if the church's replacement program would still utilize them. Gray had invested in a lot of legos, and had done some parties/youth activities featuring a Lego Derby as an option, he'd done some family/work ones, so it wasn't just boy scouts requesting his services. Alas, it was Covid that really cancelled things. There had been a few derbies in Jan/Feb of 2020, and then...  the tracks went into storage and Gray wasn't sure if he'd be getting them out again.

Gray got a request for a derby in April of 2025 ... a favor for a friend. He did it, Landon was his helper (video short here). He has a BIG trailer for his toys/RZR, which was a bit of overkill for the derby stuff, but it looked nice with his truck (first towing test for it). When Derek texted asking about derby status/possibilities, Grayson got him scheduled for November 12 and it was quite the night. Keaton was the helper here, and Gray borrowed a friend's trailer for transport. Derek took some video and made  his own YouTube video (DIY Pinewood Derby Tribute to a 600,000-Mile Acura Legend) showcasing the derby, and the car he created for it. 

Grayson isn't really sure what the future holds for his derby days ... it really is a huge time investment. He has accepted one request for next year, so we'll see what happens.  Taking off several years, and then coming back to it ... a bit of Derby Deja Vu. 

Colton Hits the Hardwood (Literally)

On Sunday, November 2 - Clackamas Community College was hosting a basketball jamboree. These were mini match-ups, just 20 minutes/running clock. Colton and the Clackamas crew had five games, and as the third one started up, Colton went down, hitting his face on the hardwood floor. He was a little slow to get up and shake it off, and a minute later the ref stopped the game, noting Colton was bleeding. So off Colton went for some medical attention (and his team still won the game). Cleaned up the blood, and some steri-strips to keep the cut closed, and Colton played the remaining two games. 

Afterward ... looking at the gash, it was decided that he probably needed stitches. Luckily, last year I'd done a little reconnaissance, contacting our medical insurance to find out what Colton should do if he needed to visit a doctor or urgent care out of state (it wasn't something I was able to easily search on the insurance website). I had the name/address of a couple local urgent care centers, and he had a copy of the insurance card, so Colton went and got five stitches.

Keaton bopped that same area when he was just a little guy, and Grayson managed a HUGE gash (the final pictures in the Interesting Injuries blog post from several years ago) ... but the eyebrow area, while apparently prone to injury, is also good at camouflaging any scarring. 

Here's the game ... it happens right about the 1:00 mark

https://youtu.be/3CugyLRVxvc

You can see all of Colton's games from his Sophomore year (post in progress).

Hopefully no additional injuries!

He got the stitches out a week later. Everything seems to be healing well. 

Run Gray Run (even in the Rain)

 

Gray Black is a runner. He has a loop in Centerville from his Symphony Homes office and that's one of his routine runs. With his AppleWatch and Strava, he gets some fun feedback.  He started tracking this run November 2022 ... almost to 150 repeated runs!

Saturday, October 4, was one of the few "open" weekends for my half-marathon man. It was raining a lot, and I texted him (he'd headed North catching up on some work) that I was glad this rain hadn't happened last weekend (the half marathon he and Coop ran). But then I remembered Gray LIKES to run in the rain! And sure enough, he'd done a bigger run and did a little write up to me. It was eloquent enough, and with the Strava shares, felt like a built in blog post!

I had charted a big run up north and with the rain in the forecast was looking forward to giving it a go. After last week's disappointing half (for me) it was a chance to redeem myself, as if that is even a thing. I could see storm clouds in the west as I got to the office - some lightning. Up north I got prepped and on the run right around 6:00. Conditions were great - cool, not cold, no wind - few cars and pretty peaceful. As I reached mile 4 or so I could tell the storm had moved toward the east, where I was running. Some light rain began to build.

Within about 10 minutes the rain was in full swing - not torrential but very steady and pretty heavy. Soon a wind from the south was blowing. This would be a headwind for around mile 5 when my route turned to head back toward the office. I wish I had a camera that could show the conditions. It was something to see. None of this bothers me. The only thing that concerns me in a rainstorm is lightning. The odds are generally VERY slim at getting hit by lightning but it's still intimidating. I had one lightning strike seemingly directly above me at mile 5. There would be 3 or 4 other strikes that didn't seem particularly close like the first one. That was about it for lightning.

The rain began to ease around mile 7 or so though the wind kept steady, pushing against me. But I felt good. I wasn't gassing out. My legs kept their strength and didn't feel heavy. It was starting to lighten up around mile 7 or 8 and by mile 9 I turned back toward the north and the headwind was now a tailwind. Nice. Rolled back into the office feeling very content. 10.28 miles in all. Not a half but still a major run by my measurements. This might have been my favorite run of the year - it cycled from dark to light, from dry to rainy, from calm to windy - all in the same run. My body felt great. What a morning :)

 

It had stormed quite a bit the night before too ... lots of lightening. I know that is something that Keaton likes to catch on camera (A Little Look at Lightning) so I checked in with him to see if he'd taken any pictures during this storm. He had ...