Sunday, March 24, 2024

Off-Road Reality

Off-Roading ... in the RZRs and side-by-sides. Rock crawling. Getting into some sticky spots! Back in December when Gray and Jon hit St. George for some fun, then ended up being featured on a YouTuber's channel: Matt's Off-Road Recovery. When you break down out in the red rocks and sand, you are stuck! You can see the "rescue" HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vta1JRLAgY&t=2s). There are two stories, Jon's rig is the first one. 



Grayson got a NEW toy in February ... he and some buddies took it out on it's maiden voyage on March 3. It would be its only time out. It was insured, although payment didn't cover the full cost of the machine.





From this (above) ... to this (below)

Luckily everyone was okay for the most part. Grayson got a cut on his head and bunged up his shoulder. It was just a fluke accident. They weren't even going very fast, just hit a slick spot, slid, and when the machine hit a spot with some traction, it grabbed and momentum took it over onto its side. There was even a little video going (during, and after. See it HERE).  They had a bit of a cold walk back to the truck, and they were able to get the  machine back up and onto the trailer. Grayson had hoped it might be repairable ... but it was totaled. 

Gray and Jon were back to the red rocks just a few weeks later ...
March 22, 2024

... and oops!




Boys and their toys!
It's been a rough year for the RZRs ... and it's not over yet!






Canyonlands Half Marathon & Moab Adventures

 


The first Canyonlands Half Marathon was run on May 1, 1976 had just 22 finishers, including a dog. It's been a popular race ... downhill grade, lovely surroundings. Grayson ran this race back in 2009 and decided to try it again in 2024, 15 years later. This time he was joined by a number of Symphony peeps ... they work and play  together (if running 13.1 miles can be considered "fun"). 


In the listed course information ... "Lucky runners will start at Sandy Beach, a boat launching site located next to the Colorado River. Pre-race jitters are replaced the excitement as runners take in awe inspiring views of towering red rock canyon walls and the red reflections of the rising sun. The course will travel east for a half mile before turning around and heading down river toward the Moab Valley. After traveling down post-card alley for the entirety of the race, runners will finish at the ever beautiful Lions Park, adjacent to Arches National Park."   Lowest Point 3961'   Highest Point 4088'  Elevation Gain 443'  Elevation Loss 531'  

Here's some stats ...


... and a live peek at the finish line

 

https://youtu.be/TxG2VgMhrfc


While in Moab, GB and buddies also hit the trails, on foot, and on the machines.


Grayson has three more half-marathons planned for 2024.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Cal and Kate in Cabo

Cal and Kate headed to Mexico for some fun in the sun the first week of March. They stayed at a resort in Cabo and there's a plethora of pictures to capture their time there.
 

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Colton -Basketball Senior Showcase

Colton finished up his senior season here in February 2024. It's been a great year, and hopefully there is still more basketball in his future. 

Here's a little look at his Senior Showcase for for Senior night ...



...and a closer look at the collages *Ü*
A walk down the basketball memory lane.
Starting small ... lots of little jerseys and Junior Jazz 

A family photos feature ...

Elementary years ...
Originally Colton played for the Copper Hills Grizzlies (following in his brother's footsteps). 

... we still weren't sure of future playing plans in 7th grade. Colton attended Elkridge Middle while we watched school boundary discussions. When Copper Hills still looked extremely overpopulated (we'd been told we could get a permit, but ...) and Colton had a couple good friends on his Wolves team going to West Jordan, we decided we'd just stick with our boundary school. Colton switched from Elkridge to Joel P Jenson for middle school, and immediately started playing for the Jags Bantam team. 

Colton first met Coach Phil (and Gage and Collin and crew) way back in 3rd grade, playing on a 3rd/4th team at Gene Fullmer. They ended up playing up the  next year (and Colton was already a grade younger) so we parted ways for a couple years (Colton joined the Grizzlies Bantam team). We crossed paths with Phil again, who now had an AAU team, the Wolves, and they happily they accepted Colton into the pack. Colton and the Wolves played together for several years, in local tournaments and leagues, and doing some traveling. The team shifted and changed a bit over the years, but Colton, Collin and Gage remained close, and played together for West Jordan in high school. 

Colton continued to play whenever he could, with a variety of teams. Showtime was an "off season" team with Coach Sawyer ... sometimes made of WJ Jags, other times compiled of other kids Coach Sawyer was working with.  More Wolves. More West Jordan Jags in Spring or Fall. Colton joined the Salt Lake Metro the summer before his senior year and traveled to three tournaments with them. He'd also jump onto Cal's Men's League team when they needed an extra player. 

Shortly before his senior year, Colton was invited to play in the Utah Top50 league, and that was a lot of fun. Games were played at SLCC, with the final games downtown at the Delta Center, NBA court!

West Jordan was a great experience for Colton.  
Lots of fun on and off the court!

Some Senior snapshots ... and a look at his program pictures/profile over his four years.

Colton got some Varsity minutes as a freshman (he even started once) but mostly played Soph/JV his freshman year. Freshman year was impacted by Covid (from tryouts to games) but we are glad that they still got to play! You can read more about Colton's Freshman Year on the BlackhamBall blog. 

Colton's Sophomore season ... he didn't play in any of the sophomore games. He was JV and Varsity. There was a strong senior presence, but Colton got some playing time and points and started a couple times. 

Colton's Junior Year - while not a senior, he started every game (except for the final "senior night" ... and he got subbed in pretty quick) and was the leading scorer and assist leader on the team. Check out the BlackhamBall post for the schedule, video links, highlights and more. 

Senior year was great. The season started off a little rough, as it was a tough pre-region lineup. Only one win there. But as soon as 2024 rolled in, and region play began ... the Jags went on a winning run. Undefeated 13-0 until their elimination during the state playoffs. 
So many videos, #mycoltonclips and pictures! The team contracted with a professional photographer who covered multiple games. Love having so many photos and great action shots! There were a couple other photographers at other games, and we purchased a few of those pictures too.

More on the BlackhamBall Blog wrapping up Colton's senior season ... 
and other Blackham Ball. 




Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Cal&Kate Collages (Family Photoshoot)

Last fall, Cal and Kate adopted a little doggie, Vera. The cute couple, now a trio, had a photo shoot done. Fabulous photos! Here's some favorites ...


Callahan almost always has a cap on ... 
so they had to get some with a slight change of clothes, hat added. 

This post will be backdated to January 2024. 

Sunday, December 31, 2023

2023 Annual Recap


I need to do a better, in-depth review of the year. Very belatedly, I did get around to doing monthly updates at least, as well as a few posts on specific topics/events. I really like having all the important stuff from the whole year in one post, at a glance. Hopefully I'll get around to updating this *Ü*  Here's the little Christmas write-up for the Westra newsletter ...

The West Jordan Blackhams have stayed busy and active this year. Grayson is working hard at Symphony Homes, but found time to do a lot of hiking. He got on his machines (RZR, waverunners) and took a few trips (California and Europe/England/Paris). Jen has continued baking sourdough, teaching Zumba and listening to endless audiobooks. Landon is busy with work at LKL Associates. He got a new car, and also did quite a bit of hiking. Cal and Kate have a new addition – an adopted doggy named Vera who keeps them on their toes. Cal is working with Camsen Electric and Kate works at SLCC. Keaton is living on his own in a cute basement apartment. He left Camsen to try his hand at commercial work but decided to return to Camsen with his residential journeyman's license. Cooper is working full-time for DLP Unlimited. He plays pickleball and ping-pong and does lots of jogging in the home gym. It's football season, and his fantasy team is currently doing well. Colton ... plays basketball. He started varsity his junior year and now again for his senior season. He traveled with Metro in the Summer, played in the UtahTop50 league in the Fall, and is hoping to play college ball. Landon and Callahan have had some knee issues and Jen had another 'episode' in April (ambulance/ER & more medical tests). We're hoping everyone stays happy and healthy for the New Year! 

Here's all twelve of the 1 Second Every Day videos compiled into one ...

Saturday, December 30, 2023

December 2023

 

December is done ... of course there was Christmas. The final month of the year is always filled with family and fun, and this year was no exception. There was the Blackham Family gathering on Sunday,  December 17, complete with the cash cube again. The Westra family party was Christmas Eve (also a Sunday) hosted at Shane and Alicia's place again. Soups and breads and desserts. There was the annual dice game (should it be called the "candy bar game" when so many things other than candy bars are included?). The annual calendars were passed out, and the slide show was shown.  Grayson had a Casino Christmas party with Symphony homes (earlier in the month on Dec7) and donned antlers to pass out gifts.

Jen got out the santa and elf hats, and the reindeer antlers and brought them to Zumba and Pickleball too. Add in a little festivity. At home, the tree was put up with a few ornaments (including a cute new one from bookclub). The stockings were hung, as well as a few of the usual decor items (the Santa head full of M&Ms, a few signs, the little elves that rock walk down the slope, a couple nutcrackers). Keaton was our "elf"  getting things out and up. 

Basketball was in full swing with nine games and the start of team dinners. It was also Colton's birthday! I bought two cakes, so he could have one with his team (on his birthday, team dinner) and one with family the day after. 

Not really a birthday or Christmas gift ... but Colton got a new phone. His first NEW phone (he's always had hand-me-downs before). His had died suddenly, and luckily there was a sale on. Gray upgraded Cooper's phone too (his battery wasn't holding a charge). 

Gray had a get-away to St. George at the start of the month. Had some trouble and needed a tow with Jon's RZR (ended up being rescued by a viral YouTuber, see it HERE). Symphony Casino Christmas, and he apparently didn't have enough basketball watching Colton, as he had a night with his work buddies in a suite watching the Jazz. Landon spent a few days in Vernal running the LKL store there (so the manager could take a vacation) and then went with a friend to an NFL game on Christmas Day.  Quick trip. 

Here's a look at December ... One Second Style

https://youtu.be/6OXEk68451E?si=1q__JdQ-kYfxvN9j

Friday, December 29, 2023

JenBsBooks in 2023

If you know me, you know I love books. While I've gotten behind on the blogging, I have kept up on my books, making my monthly collages, rating and reviewing everything on GoodReads and Storygraph. I did a 2023~JenBsBooks on my JenBsJourney Blog, with a look at the year. On this blog post, I'll keep the collages created each month, all in a single spot...

I love looking back and seeing which books stick out in my memory, and which I can't even remember reading!















I joined Storygraph in January of 2023,
and love all the graphs and data it provides ...













The Storygraph pie charts have encouraged me to try harder in some areas ... to make sure I get in some non-fiction, not just fiction. I even did a NonfictionNovember challenge, where my goal was to make sure the non-fiction section was larger than the fiction for that month. In October, I manipulated the "moods" chart in honor of Halloween, seeing if I could shift the dark/tense/mysterious to the top. I've enjoyed adding in a few physical books, and making sure I get some BIG books (500+ pages) in too. Honestly ... the "pace" chart doesn't mean much to me, and I don't think I'll include it in my collages for 2024. 

All books are rated and reviewed on both Goodreads and Storygraph.
I'm JenBsBooks on both. 
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