Whimsical Westover's

We have a new Mechanic!

2009-06-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

So every since Trevor left on his mission we have had a hard time getting the oil changed, getting the brake pads changed and other stuff that you do on cars. So Larry decided to train a new Mechanic. Here she is at work.

Look Mom, I'm all dirty! Here she is changing the brake pads.

Brakes done, now we put the wheel back on.

I hope that comes off!

All done time to take the jack out. Job well done! Not the girly girl you thought she was.

Company!

2009-06-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

I recently had an old friend from my home ward come and visit. She was here for 2 weeks so we had plenty of time to play around and get re-acquainted. Her name is Renae Plazier. She is from Idaho Falls, ID. Here are a few of our adventures.

Of course we went to the beach. It was a little cold which didn't bother the kids at all.
Larry got a good nap in!

This is Renae. She is from Idaho and had a jacket on the whole time she was here.

We went to the Redlands temple, (My favorite)

the Newport Beach temple,

and the LA temple.

Of course what is a trip to CA with out Disneyland. This is after Splash Mountain. Just a little wet. Every ride we went on we were in the front.

A trip to Hollywood. I don't think the kids have ever been. This is Chris Farley's star.

Grauman's Chinese Theater. Will Smith, one of the kids favorites.

Spent Memorial day at Seaworld. This is Renae at lunch.

Larry and I on the Sky Tram.

The kids playing king of the Manatee. ( Shandy, Shared and our friend Daniel)

Shared and the Catfish. I looked like it was trying to be in the picture to.

Then we ended the evening with a ride on Atlantas. Got wet and cold. We had a great time.

Missionary Update!

2009-06-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

I think it is time for a missionary update. Trevor is currently serving as a Zone Leader in Trinidad. He loves it there. He often comments on how nice things are there. Here is what he said about a recent trip to Tobago:
"
SO on Thursday we went to Tobago, so we could do exchanges with the elders there and help them so they could baptize. It was real nice there lots of hills to walk though and seems hotter there than it is in Trinidad. It was a good trip we rode the ferry over there which was big and nice. Next time we are going to bring the car over so we can explore a bit. "

Her are some pictures he sent from Tobago.

This is Elder Duncan and Elder Westover.

I think this is the Ferry that they rode over to Tobago.
Trevor enjoying looking at the water.

Elder Duncan, he is from Littlerock CA.

As you can see Trevor is having a great time and loves his mission. Here is a story from his last email, it gives a little picture of live in Trinidad:

"We cut some bamboo the other day so we could build a shelter for our group meetings. and so we could make some benches. we are going to cut more this week and then make them another day. thats gonna be fun. the people are cool out there so its always fun to go up." I think this is in an area they call Matura where they have started to hold group meeting. They have about 20 that come every Sunday. So he is really excited about that. The work goes on! I think the only thing he is missing right now is to be here for the Lakers games. Next year!

Go Lakers!

Biltmore Mansion

2009-05-07T21:59:00.001-07:00

While we were in North Carolina for Kinsey's blessing we went to the Biltmore Mansion. It is the largest residence in the United States. It had 255 room. 43 of them were bathrooms. More than I want to clean. (I know they had servents.)

This is a picture of me and my angel before the tour.

Here is the gang on our way. You can see how big it is in the background.

This is only part of the mansion is the photo.

Shandy likes to pose. This is one of the lion statues at the enterance.

How does Kinsey look in Uncle Shared's glasses?

She seems to like Aunt Shandy's shades.

It looks like they are trying to eat each other.

After the tour of the house we walked the gardens. I love the wisteria. It smelled so good!

Shared climbing the vines.

I love this flower. It reminds me of a Japanese Lantern.

The Tulips (one of my favorite) look beautiful!

I'm not sure why we brought the stroller. Kinsey was never in it. The benefit of bringing Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle. We love to hold and spoil her.

The Azelia were so colorerful.

We had a great time. As we were leaving the rain started. Glad it didn't start any sooner.

That was one of Larry's favorite parts of the trip, watching the thunder storms.

Apple Cider Sauce

2009-04-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is one of my families favorite recipes. So I thought I would Share. I got it from my sister-in-law Carolyn.

Apple Cider Sauce

2 cups Apple Juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Cook above until thick.

Add:
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup butter

We like it on waffles. I fixed it for the kids this morning and after they were done they were both trying to get every last drop with there fork.

Whoo Doggy!

2009-03-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Yay!! she's finally here!! my first niece. :) for those of you who didn't know.. my oldest and only sister, Alisa was prego. and now she's not. it was born Wednesday March 18, 2009 at 2:56 am. she is a whoppin 6 pounds 6 oz, 20 inches long, and beautiful!! her name is:

Kinsey Lynn Johnson

and here she is!! just adorable :)

yup that's right she got her middle name from me :) Auntie Shandy Lynn (thanks lees!) she also has blonde hair just like Auntie Shandy! well.. and daddy. ;) i've been so excited all week to see this thing but i wont til may! she'll be all grown up by then! but the Pham is going to NC for the baby blessing 1st week of May and i can't wait. i am so so very jealous of my mama because she is there right now. here's some pics my mama sent me.

she likes to keep he hands by her face.. so they say grandma and the babay mama alisa and her babe

daddy scotty and the kid
Well, there ya have it! i can't wait to meet you little Kinsey! (that's Kin-Z) and teach you everything i know ;) Oh! p.s. i wanted her to born yesterday so she would be a green baby and i could call her Elphie, like Wicked muahahaha!

Waiting!

2009-03-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

So Alisa would probably kill me if she know I was posting this picture. I'm sure she will find out til then here it is. This is yesterday while waiting. Today we are still waiting. They are going to start the pitocin soon and that should get things going. Hopefully we will have a baby soon! And when we do there will be plenty of pics.

Meet My Brother John

2009-02-28T23:02:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most amazing people that you could ever meet! He is my big brother John. He taught me a lot about life, love and how to laugh. One of the greatest lessons he taught me was how to be a hard worker and being content with what you have. How you might ask. He was a janitor at an elementary school. Some might say that it isn't much of a profession. Not me. He was a hard worker he took pride in what he did. He wanted to do the best job possible. If there was ever a challenge he rose to the occasion. He never settled for second best. He loved his life and what he was given. He was always thinking of others. Morning after morning he would get up early enough so that he could make sure his wife Julies car was cleaned of snow and frost, warmed and ready for her before she left for work. He loved her so very much. His kids and grandkids were his riches. He loved to spend time with them.

WE will all miss him so very much. John passed away early this morning. Not long ago he found a lump on the side of his face. He went to the doctors and found out he a tumor in the parotid gland. His doctor sent him to the Huntsman Cancer center in Salt Lake City. The infection was so bad that they had to get rid of that before they could do the surgery. They sent him home to Idaho Falls a week or so. Then he went back and they schedule surgery for 2 weeks. It was going to be a 16 hour surgery with 3 different teams of doctors. He went in on Tuesday of this last week for a test and the nurses were amazed at how fast it was growing. It was even more visible just by looking at him. He went home knowing that he had to come back in a week. Last night he wasn't feeling well and told Julie to take him in to the hospital. She did and when they got there his heart started to do funny things. They stabilized him and put him on more antibiotics. by not it was 4:00 am. They told Julie he was stable to go home and they would call if anything happened. She didn't want to leave but John had the Doctor promise her that he was going to be okay. Well with in the hour after she left the nurse came to check on him. He grabbed his arm and told him that he didn't think that he was going to make it. The nurse tried to assure him that he was going to be okay and went to get him a blanket and water that he had requested. When he got back he was covering him with the blanket and John started to seize. From there it was down hill. They worked on him for 1 1/2 hours. John passed away this morning at 7:00am. He was only 50 years old.

Life is strange and unfamiliar now that he is gone. Things change and life geso on. Memories will be there. We will rely on the Lord. He will get us through this. I am so grateful for my faith.

I love you John and miss you so much! Thank you for being such a great brother!

2009-02-15T21:13:00.001-08:00

Lucky You!
I saw this on one of my Friends blog and thought that it was a great idea!! Who wants to play??
Lucky you! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you! This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows?
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did, win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Winter Formal Dress

2009-02-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Shandy saw this dress worn by Kate Voegele

and wanted to copy it for Winter Formal.So after shopping for fabric and trying to find a pattern that was similar and modest this is what we came up with.

It was Shandy's idea to add the black cumberbun.

I think it was a great idea. Maybe she has a future in fashion design!

Her date is Zack Harris from Jurupa 2nd Ward.

Shandy's New Boyfriend!

2009-02-01T18:24:00.001-08:00

That's right Shandy has a new boyfriend. He is from Idaho.
Yes his name is Frosty.
Here today gone tomorrow!

One Down One to Go!

2009-01-26T13:59:00.001-08:00

Wow, first year done. On January 16th Trevor celebrated his "Hump Day"! They say the second year goes much faster. I hope so. I kinda miss the kid!

Here are a few pictures of the past year.

The first picture is of Trevor and Elder Hickenlooper from Alaska, in Provo at the MTC.

This is Trevor his first day in Trinidad with President Robison and his wife.

Trevor's first area was in Albouystown Guyana, Elder Mundy
was his first comp. in the field. Mundy is from Utah.

Elder Clark his second comp in Albouystown. He is from Orem Utah.
This is the Branch President in Rosehall, Trevor's second area.
He loved his kids. Expecially the younest Joseph.
Jones Entered the MTC the same day as Trevor. Trevor made a request to be companions with him and the President agreed to see how things would go. So Trevor was off to Rosehall.
At the 6 months mark it is tradition to burn a tie.
Trevor and Jones Baptized 17 in one day.

While in Rosehall Trevor and Jones were sharing an aparment with

Elders Mundy and Dayton who happen to be their trainers and the Zone leaders.

They called themselves the "Fearsome Four".

This is Trevor's Trainee Elder Weiderhold. Also from Utah.

This is a picture of Trevor at the lastest Zone Conference. The Elder on his left is Elder Lauritzen from our stake. Trevor didn't know him before he left on his mission. We were new to the stake and Elder Lauritzen had left before we were part of the stake.

They are great friends how. His current comp is Elder Romney. He is on the right.

Trevor has been in Guyana for a year now. It is the highest baptising part of the mission.

He loves it there. He knows that some day he will be transfered.

Until then he enjoys what time he has there.
If you want to see more pics just drop by I love to share them.

TWENTY TWO

2008-12-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Today is Alisa's 22nd Birthday.

I must say it has been a great 22 years.

Alisa has been a joy in so many ways.

If I had to use one word to describe Alisa it would be "Happy".

If you ever see her she always has a smile on her face.

Her are a few of my favorite SMILES through the years!

Alisa was a very happy baby.

When I would walk into the room she would start to squeal and kick her feet.

It was never hard to get her to smile when having her picture taken.
How can you resist a smile like that?

Who could get mad at that face even when she was getting into mischief?

She just keeps getting cuter.

Can't look at her and not smile can you?

What a cute girl!

This is her friend Shaina. Like Alisa's perm?

She was even a happy teenager.

Prom and her good friend Jill.

Graduation from Norco High School.

This day was nothing but smiles as she was sealed to her sweetheart Scott!

And now she will be having her own baby in March.

I hope you have a happy baby just like you were and are.

You are a great joy to me! Thanks for the memories!

I look forward to many more years of smiles!

I love you Alisa and hope you have the best BIRTHDAY ever!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy First Blog!

2008-11-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

well, hello!

yup, the Westover's finally have a blog :0 surprising i know. this is Shandy and i help set this up for my mama. so i might post stuff along with her every once in awhile. and yes we used a dictionary for our title.

Today's thanksgiving and Alisa her hubby and grandma Lindsay are here to grub with the rest of us. but someone's missing...

we are all done eating dinner (which was absolutely delicious!) and (a family favorite) taken our naps and we are all watching Get Smart (funny movie).

This morning me miss prego and the boys went to our ward turkey bowl and played a little football. well alisa didnt play. she thought being pregnant was a good enough excuse. pish posh. ;)

elder hansen pulled his hamstring so me and Shared got the thrilling oppritunity of riding the missionaries very high bikes from the high school. allllll the wayyyyy to the williams house. it was a lot farther than i thought but we managed, and made it home in time to help mom and g-ma with dinner.

ps. pie was my favorite and mom dropped the coconut cream just now. which was the best one! how dare she.

happy turkey day!!

race you to the mall tomorrow ;)