25 Great Years!!!

July 26, 1985 ...What a happy day! :)

Natalie Christine West
Born: 6:04 AM
(25 minutes after I got to the hospital!)
Weight: 7 lbs 7 oz 20.5" long.

We were thrilled to have a little girl join our family!
Natalie was a name that both Dad & I loved before
we even met each other, so it wasn't hard to decide
what we wanted to name you.

Since that day 25 years ago you have brought so much joy
to those whose lives you've touched. It is obvious that your
family and friends who have written birthday wishes here
love you, and recognize many wonderful qualities that we love
about you too.

Today, we celebrate the beautiful person you've become
and give thanks for the gift of you!!


We love you dear daughter ~~ Natalie ~~
Love, Mom & Dad




































































We Love YOU Natalie!! :)

For you, Natalie Westalanafafawakee!

My dearest Noodle!

I made you a short video, but alas, I am having major issues uploading it. It may just have to be emailed to you...

I will keep trying, and one way or another you will get it. I love you dearly and hope your birthday is wonderful!

Love, Mollie

You've made it half-way to 50!

Hey Natalie!

Hope I'm not too late in putting this post up past 4:00 PM MST! But I still wanted to say Happy Happy Birthday and I hope you're having a great time in Ohio! I'm so glad you were my TA and then my classmate and then my CT friend, and then my previous tenant, and then my Primary friend, and then my visiting teacher! Whew! I guess we must be friends if we've gone through all that together!
Have a FANTASTIC birthday and happy half-way to 50! hahaha.
We still need to have a game night when you guys get back to Orem :)

Loves,
Brianne

Shout hooray!

Dear Natalie,

Happy Birthday!

You are one of my most favorite people. From our first meeting in DT to our most recent phone conversation last week, I have always enjoyed your company. You have helped me to find humor and love in the craziness of life.

I have a million stories I want to share with you, but most of all I want to thank you for being a friend for the last 7 years. Can you believe it has been that long?! We shared laughs in the dorms and we have now been able to share stories and fun with our weddings, babies, and much more.

When I think of you I think of comforting chats in the night and reading Shel Silverstein. I think of Wednesday dinner dates, classes with amazing professors that changed our lives, and always having a camera on hand. Most of all I think of your kinds words and example. Even now you always have something positive to say while always being real. You know life has its ups and downs and you have learned to make the best of it all.

Here is to life with the love of your life, the children of your dreams, and another 25 years of amazing friendships ahead!

Lots of love,

Shannah Marie

Boggle Birthday

Happy Birthday!

Natalie has been one of my favorite people in MBASA--an instant good friend! She made it possible for me to can last Fall--there was no way I was up to canning on my own being 7 and 8 months pregnant . . . now I'm hoping I can return the favor if she wants! Even though I had only known her a short time, she was always ready to help watch JJ or do anything I needed. I really admire Natalie--she is always looking for opportunities to serve and share her many talents. Happy Quarter of a Century!

Alicia Schick

When you were a baby, I wanted to try to memorize your face. I would pick moments and stare at you and wonder if this would be the time that I remember. I guess it finally worked one day when Mom took you in the stroller for a walk down the street in front of our house. As you and Mom came down the street, I tried to memorize your face. That was the moment that worked because that was the moment that I remember!

I didn't try to memorize this moment but it was one that has stuck. It was your first day of Kindergarten. You were excited because you had gone to meet your teacher earlier that week. When we pulled up to the school, you got a worried look on your face and confided in me that you didn't think you could find your classroom. I parked the car and we walked in together. On the second day of school, I parked the car again, not because you couldn't find your way to your classroom, but because I enjoyed walking with you. Well that turned into a habit and I walked you into school every day that year!

I often think about your birthdays, how they would fall on hot summer days. Often, you had a swimming party. All morning long I would be working in a dark office looking forward to going to your swimming party in the afternoon. I probably looked forward to you birthday parties as much as you did.

As you got older and I realized that you would soon be going off to school, I started to try to memorize moments again. I guess I was successful in memorizing our drives to semenary in the morning because those are moments that I remember. I enjoyed our talks and our time together early in the morning.

One last moment that I didn't try to memorize but somehow got stuck in with the rest is the "Spaghetti Incident". It was Sunday and you wore a beautiful shear pink dress to church. After church we had "dinner on the grounds". Spaghetti was served. For some reason the spaghetti was very slippery on the paper plates. I was being so careful not to let it slide off my plate. But when I was in the hall, the inevitable happend and my spaghetti went flying. Unfortunately, you were standing right under me. The spaghetti went all over your dress. It was a mess! You weren't upset at all. Maybe you realized that you couldn't be the one in trouble for this mess. Anyway, we rushed home and rinsed the spaghetti out of the dress (it all came out) and returned to church in a new outfit.

Speaking of church, I cherished the times when I would be sitting in the foyer and you would come and sit on my lap and cuddle. Now I'm talking teenager! I knew you were a loving girl and I'm sure your dear sweet husband has learned that as well as your cute little boy.

All my love on your 25th

Dad

The Big 2-5!

Noodle-

Wow! Time certainly flies. It's hard to remember what my life was ever like before freshman year at BYU. It's pretty crazy that our group of friends hit it off and more than six years later we still keep in touch and even see each other now and then.

You and I definitely stuck things out together for the longest out of the group. We lived through fun apartment experiences and one crazy house owner. We had our Men's Chorus Men who were always keeping us entertained by breaking out into song together at any given moment. We had lots of late night boy discussions and life discussions. We chose to sleep in the same bedroom instead of have our own rooms in our two bedroom apartment. We have had countless awesome experiences together!

Then we both got married to our Men's Chorus Men (I told you Jack was the one :)) and had our first little boys close together and now we're having our second little boys close together. Life is amazing!

It's so interesting to look back now and see how one person can really change your life. I'm so glad that we met and that we became friends and still are friends. Life would not be the same without you. Thanks for all of the great memories! I hope we'll get to make some more.

Happy 25th Birthday!

Love,

Suzanna, Mark, Luke & Baby Boy

P.S. The Holdaway Clan can't wait to see you and your family at Christmas time!

Happy Birthday Natalie! We love you!

Natalie we hope you have a fabulous birthday! Thanks for being such a great aunt and sister-in-law. We love you, and hope that you know what a great example you are.

Love,

Drew, Amy, Cameron, Ryan, and Matthew

I remember when I was in high school I often felt alone in the world. That is, until I met Natalie. She was the sweetest, best friend in the world. She was always such a good example to me and it just felt good to be around her. I loved talking to her about anything and everything. We had so many laughs at girls camp, both summer and winter. We shared a glove. :)

Natalie remains one of the best and most Christlike people I have ever known.

Happy Birthday!!

Love, Lindsey (Johnson) Cannon

Happy Birthday Natalie! I hope you have a wonderful birthday! Miss your cute face! :)

Lots of Love,

Aimee Pack

Happy Birthday friend!!!

Natalie--Happy 25th!!! I hope you're enjoying your time in Ohio, and having an amazing birthday with your little family!

Love you!
Bekah

Happy Birthday Natalie!

Way to make it to twenty-five! I REALLY liked twenty-five. Most of the time, when it's getting close to my birthday, i just sorta move onto the next number and say i'm that age even though i'm technically not quite yet. But not with twenty-five. I wanted to hold onto that age til the last POSSILBE moment... (mostly because turning twenty-six was the start of the downhill to FIFTY and fifty, is so old... ha!)

Anyway, jack wanted us to share pictures and stories... i'm sad to say i don't have any pictures and no stories. When i think to living in Centennial, i remember you were our honorary 6th roommate. I remember you being a little shy and quiet but when you WOULD say something, it would be witty and fun. I love reading your blog because that witt and fun is more present. (i'm sure you're witty and fun all the time, i guess i just didn't see it as much when we were together at 326.)

ANYWAY, i think you're awesome. i hope you have a super awesome birthday! i know you have a great husband who loves you, because this is a super idea. A fun, unique way to celebrate. You guys are so great together. I'm glad i know you. :)

Happy, happy birthday.

-jaime peterson

Happy 1/4 Centennial Birthday

Happy 25th!!

Remember? It was fun

Happy Birthday Natalie! Remember how once upon a time you were my visiting teacher? Yeah, back then I just knew you as the girl who had a broken arm (or maybe elbow?) And then you and Molly brought me banana bread one night, or maybe it was cookies (both, I think). That was nice of you. Good job on visiting teaching.
And then you started hanging out with us and became our extra roommate and for some reason we hung hangers on the wall (why did we do that? I can't remember). Then we both moved out of the ward, but still ended up moving into the same stake (and for a few days that summer we even went running together early in the morning, remember? That was before I went to Africa and half my hair fell out...) And then we decided to date nice boys and get married at the same time (almost). And then our nice Chinese-speaking husbands were cooking Chinese dinner and you told me you were 12 weeks pregnant, and I told you I was 10 and you said "No, you're not." But I was. So we got to be pregnant together. And then our boys were born only 3 days apart, so we got to watch their milestones together. And now we will both have boys again (okay, okay, mine already arrived, but close enough...)
Anyway, it's been so fun sharing so much in our lives together. We miss you guys this summer and I hope you have a wonderful Ohio-an birthday. (Note: we should take an updated picture of Caleb and Jackson) Thanks for being such great friends!
PS--I posted this and then realized I didn't sign my name to it...as if you can't tell from the pictures (does anyone else meet all the above memories?)...anyway, LOVE, Becky, Brady, Caleb and Isaac

hApPY BiRtHdAy!!!

Yeah for 25!!! What a great year to turn a quarter of a century! I sure hope you have a great day out there in Ohio. I wish we had ended up there so I could be there to celebrate with you. What a great friend you have become this last year and I can't wait for another crazy year. Happy birthday Natalie!

Lori Conran

Kids are the darndest things!

The Shirts Sing-a-long Birthday Greeting

Happy Birthday to an awesome...
camper
apple-pie maker
parade watcher
mother in Zion
friend.


Natalie, we will always treasure the memories from those short but sweet days we got to be neighbors. We love you and your family! Have a great one!

Love, the Taylors (Ben, Allyson, Jack, and Baby Daniel)

Dear Natalie,

I hear that tomorrow is a special 25th Birthday.

I still think of the times that Grandpa and I would fly to Georgia. Remember going to the Coca Cola Factory and drinking so much pop that we almost got sick.

Remember the time when we would stop by the freeway and you would pick some wild flowers. Your face was so happy when you handed the wild flowers with the roots hanging from your hand.

Grandpa and I have Loved watcing you grow into a loving and caring wife and mother. We are sending you these flowers for your birthday Hope you will enjoy them.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa West

Happy Birthday, Natalie.

It was wonderful having you all here earlier this month. Wow! That seems like longer ago than that, as so much has been going on. Bet it's that way for you too.
Twenty five years ago I was with your parents, waiting for you to arrive. I recall your Mom saying she had such back pains, and I was trying to pursuade her to walk down that long flight of stairs on Ashling Dr. It was time to go to the hospital. It was such a long walk for her, stopping every few minutes. But she made it to the hospital, and you arrived safely.

I recall helping to dress you for church, and you kept crying. Every now and then you would just scream, then you'd settle down - then cry again. We found out that I had missed taking one of the tiny straight pins out of the sleeve of the new dress you were wearing, and it would stick into you each time we held you to comfort you. What a Grandmother!

It's been beautiful to watch you grow up over the years, and be privileged to share in some of your special times along the way. Now you are a beautiful wife and mother and loving it all. You are such a blessing to all who know you, and especially your family.

Love always
Grama & Gramp Wilson

One Year Older and Wiser too…

I wish I had some pictures to share, but regardless, I still wanted to take the chance to wish you a Happy Birthday!

25 Things Natalie is:

Kind, patient, humble, witty, peaceful, thoughtful, calm, fun, FRIENDLY, faithful, unselfish, charitable, loyal, trustworthy, outgoing, smart, creative, loving, hardworking, MEEK, clever, obedient, happy, GENUINE, beautiful

…and the list goes on.

Anyone can say these things to be nice, but those that know Natalie will agree with me that she really has all of these Christ-like attributes and more. She is a good example to me and is always serving someone else.

She is a fun friend, neighbor, and wonderful with children. Everyone I know mentions what a cute and GOOD little boy Jackson is…it’s no doubt that he is taught well by his mother!

Natalie, I don’t know what I would have done without you to hang out with while our husbands were busy at school this past year! I’m excited to be back at school this fall again! Hope you are having a great time in Ohio. I miss you!

Oh and one of the reasons Natalie is so fun- Anyone who can dress up like a cow for Cow Appreciation day is my hero :)

Hope you have a good one!

Love, Amber Andersen

Happy birthday Natalie. I have watched you grow up (from a distance) into a beautiful woman. You have always had a very tender heart & see the good in people. Natalie, are an amazing person & fun to be with.

You 'developed' rather early in life. I remember when you were about 2.5 - 3, your family was visiting us in St. Thomas, you must have gone into my room after a nap because when you came downstairs, you had 'Leggs Egg's' stuffed in your shirt.

I remember picking rhubarb at my grama Wilson's house, the leaves were huge & you used them as an umbrella.

Love

Aunt Karen

Happy 25th, Natalie

This is such a creative way to hold a big B-day party!

It was so good to have you there in Orem with your new family and towatch you all grow together. You are (hate this term but--) a veryspecial Spirit. Even when you were a very young girl you had a spiritabout you that was sweet and wholesome and helpful in your home. Jackwas lucky to find you. You were always a delight to your family andnow you are in your own family.

I miss being able to see the Shirts, Metcalfs and Wilson gang on aregular basis. I know I was blessed for the time i had there with all of you. We now go different directions but in our hearts we stay united.

You are developing all the good attributes of your mother - a kind andcaring, sister, friend, niece, sister and now wife and mother.It was delightful to watch you mother Jackson. He will keep you on the run for many years. (helping you keep that trim figure) Now #2 will add to your joy and commitment.

You may not understand, given you are 3rd generation in the Gospel,but it is so rewarding to see your generation true to those principleswhich we know will bring you happiness and peace in spite of theturmoil in the world around us. Stay true to the faith and all WILL bewell. You will have sorrow, and pain and challenges, but you also haveall the resources you need to not only deal with them but to over comeand go on to all that is promised - crowns of glory.

Family IS forever and you have all the ingredients. Cherish them and enjoy them. May the Lord bless you and your family.

With love and best wishes for many more happy birth anniversaries.

-Betty

Happy Birthday Natalie

For your birthday, I thought I could brighten your day by telling you some of the things I admire about you. First of all, I admire how kind and gentle you are. I love seeing you interact with Jackson and those around you. Your kindness and gentleness instills in me a greater desire to be more so in my own life. I also love your willingness to love and serve others. I have not only been impressed by this in you, but I have been uplifted by feeling your Christ-like love for others. You are a great mother and friend. I'm grateful for your friendship in my life and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Tiffany Bishop

Happy Birthday Sister!

Natalie-

I was looking at Shawn's watch today and I noticed it was July 25th... I thought to myself, holy smokes, it's my sister's birthday tomorrow! I am so glad that I didn't miss it. Oh man, next year is going to be your lucky birthday, 26 on the 26th! This year can be lucky too though, I wish you good luck on your birthday (choke dee-- in Thai means good luck).

I learned today while in Cambodia that you can bless or curse people with good luck. We were blessed by some people wanting our money for tying a red string on our wrists... then later we were literally cursed by a woman because we wouldn't buy her little figurine of an elephant. She said, "you will have bad luck tomorrow, you not buy from me!"

We walked away a little surprised and then we heard a crash... we looked behind us and she had dropped the elephant figure and its legs broke off! I guess if you try to give someone else bad luck then you get the bad luck yourself. I think you can get good luck from people though, that was the point of that rambling... and all of this was just to tell you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!!!!

Hey Natalie! The Villamor Family would like to wish you a very happy day! You are halfway to 50 which means you are still younger than me and Richard!!

ps. Bolivar Shagnastynasty and Marther CLowamor also wish you many more birthdays to come!! They are engaged!

pps. be sure to avoid the turkey on your special day....because if it has anything to do with turkey you will not want it!!!

ppps. maybe you will get a Fuzz-Buzz from Jackson???

that is what you could name your baby...or Bolivar Shirts has a nice ring to it....

ppps. i wonder what the rule is with how many 'p' you can have with the "p.s."....do you ever do ppss?

pppss. red skittles are still the BEST!

pppsss. always remember how special you are!

(i can't remember anymore memories....did i miss anything???)

karrass

Karrass my Natalia "Noodle" Beast! You are turning 25! Happy Birthday!

When I think of you, I imagine you and Molly going to "wam-lart" and buying plants and planting them in your dorm room. I'm so glad that you and I were the last "unmarried" ones. It was my opportunity to really become better friends with you and I loved it. I loved that I could walk to your hosue whenever I wanted. I remember when you decided that Jack was for you. Remember how you were an indian and he showed up as a cowboy on halloween? You guys were meant for each other. Remember how I was white trash that halloween at our apartment's big halloween party?? What do you think that my husband will have to be to complete me?? :)

Remember when we took the roadtrip to Arizona for Eevi's wedding? The tumbleweeds all across the road....staying at Jack's brother's house (and Mindy right?). That was so fun....haha and you trying to be all nonchalant about how you felt about Jack, but being so excited when he called from China. Remember how Eevi didn't take a nap and how you all came over to tell me what she said?? karrass

You are such a unique and talented person. So creative and fun-loving. I imagine your home to always be full of projects and crafts and creativity and love. I hope your special day is great- wish we could all be there to celebrate it with you!

peace, love, and a quarter of a century,

Starla

P.S. You can borrow my scissors anytime...