D&D Update - Dear Edwina, Lagoon, Home Projects, Keto

Hey Westra Family! 

We've loved hearing your updates and seeing what is going on with you all. :) We've been busy as well this Summer! Here are some of the major happenings lately:

• We are very proud of Ani for doing so many new things this year! She gets up early everyday for swim team and is a little fish in the water. She did softball for her first year and loved it (and it was so fun to go to the Summer night softball games - we think this is definitely something we hope our girls continue). Ani also auditioned to be the lead (Edwina) in a local play (she even paid some of the fee to participate with her own money). She did so awesome and it was so fun to see her perform! I'll try to attach some photos and videos. :) It's really rewarding to see our kids find their "thing." These theater-loving kids seem like her "people." :)
• Layla is also a little fish in the water and has loved swimming lessons. She has no fear and just decided that she was going to do the diving board. She did it again and again and stays under water until she swims to the side of the pool. Layla is SO crafty and creative and is constantly making little things for people. We think that gift-giving is her love language. Perler beads, bead-animals, bracelets, paintings, drawings, cards, etc. She is constantly creating - which leads us to the next bullet. ;)
• Because the girls are always being creative and making things (which always happens at the kitchen table since that is the only space big enough to accommodate all their stuff), we decided that we needed to build them a dedicated "creative space" in the basement. Danielle designed it, and we built it out last week and this week. I'll attach some photos - the girls are loving their space and making all of their perler beads, boondoggle, drawings and paintings, sewing creations, etc. It instantly became a huge mess of creations - but at least it is in the basement and we can keep the rest of the house cleaner! :)
• We are doing a refresh to our master bathroom, and wanted more space (the bathroom door swings inside and takes up a major portion of that wall that we'd like to utilize) so we decided to replace it with a modern barn-door. We love the look, and it provides way more functional space. With home prices SO high these days, we are trying to make our home more functional and beautiful and stay here (instead of looking to move) so a lot of our projects are attempting to do the most with our existing space. I also built a large, 80" round table-top for our kitchen table so we can have more people over for dinner and not have to seat the kids at the island. It's been great to have and to pull out when we need it. We had both sets of grandparents and Kim and Cayson over for fireworks on the fourth and seated everyone easily for snacks and games. 
• Noelle is super smart and very into science and reading. She has a curious mind and we've noticed some musical abilities as well. :) She is super interested in all things science-related. It's fun to see her learn and grow!
• Danielle and I have started eating the keto diet and it has been quite the experience! I'm doing it for weight loss, and Danielle is doing it to learn more about regulating her blood sugar. It's only been a week, but we are both in ketosis (her more than me) and tracking our calories and macronutrients. I've got a half-marathon in September and I'm hoping to lose 18 more pounds by then (I've lost 15 since I started training). Have any of you done keto? We bought a blood ketone reader and have been tracking it. It's been hard - and we certainly won't stay on it for all that long, but we are really liking learning how to manage insulin (since there are so many issues associated with high insulin and insulin resistance).
• We went to Lagoon on Thursday. I've taken Ani every year since she was 4, but this was the first time taking the whole fam. It was fun - but Noelle isn't quite ready for rollercoasters and Danielle and I were in the middle of our keto-flu, so it was challenging! Ani and Layla loved the rollercoasters! Next year I'll probably just take the older two. :) 
• We're going camping this weekend with our neighbors, and we're going to Bear Lake in August with Danielle's family. 

It's been so fun to hear about your Summer fun! Scott and Amy in Disneyland, and Chris and Kim on their fun Airbnb getaways. :) Jen - I couldn't believe all of crazy Keaton's solo jumps! We watched that video of him the same night we watched a an episode of our show (on your recommendation) that had a sky-diving sequence and it was fun to see! It's so fun that baby Evan is home! We can't wait to meet Evan and Letti! 

Love you all and hope everyone is doing great! Danielle and I are going to grab some Costa Vida and drive by the new Shane and Alicia and Margie and LaMar home progress. :)

Email was sent to family July 26, 2021