Missed you...and you...and you~

In light of my last post...I suppose that there must be oppisition in all things, right?! So now I am going to post all of the things that I didn't get to do this summer!....I think that Mother Nature is playing a very cruel joke and I feel rather gipped by her untimely temperture change here in my little neck of the woods. I am not ready to see the ugly face of "Old Man Winter" yet or even his less evil brother "Autumn"....I am in the offical mourning stage of my summer lost!

I feel robbed of many fun things that never happened this summer for one reason or another. Summer came late and left early this year, but it seemed that it was also packed with too many "have to do's" and not enough or in my case, very few of the  "get to do's". I barely remember, but I think those are the fun things that we do "just because"...the things that we do to relax, to bring us a little happiness and pleasure in what is ordinarily a crazy, stressful life....(that would be MINE)!

My list of "Didn't get TO DO's"~

1. I missed "A" camping trip. I say "A" because once is enough for me. I like to go camping...but once I've had to do the clean up afterwards, I don't want to go again for a year. Camping is so much fun, but so much work...its like doing all the stuff I do every day (cooking, cleaning, washing etc...) but without all of the conveniences that we have at home.

2. I missed hiking in the mountains. Last year we went several times, probably 4-5 times, this year we went ZERO times...not even once! I love the smell of the mountain air. I love to hike on the trails and see the flowers, the animals and the different terrain. I really missed that this year!

3. I missed going to Lagoon (for those of you who don't live in UT, thats our amusement park). We usually go every year but weren't able to go this year. I love to ride the crazy rides with the kids...go through Dracula's Castle and ride across the park on the Sky Ride.  I love to see the kids get excited and grin ear to ear because they are having an awesome time.

4. I missed going to the pool. I am not a big "swimmer" but I like to go to the pool at least once and play around in the water with the kids. It was hard to do much in the area of "water sports" this year because Cameron couldn't participate (because of his leg injury) and I hated to leave him out.

5. I missed roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in the mountains. Granted, we have a big fire pit in the back yard and could have a hot dog roast whenever we wanted, but it's NOT the same as going up to the mountains and cooking over the campfire and then sitting around afterwards and talking about life. When you are that close to the house, everyone disappears inside before any visiting happens. Not only that but for some reason, hotdogs always taste better in the mountain air...I don't know why, but they always do.

6. I missed going on "field trips" with my kids (the ones left at home). Ever since they were little I would  take a day each week in the summer (or tried to) and we would go on a field trip. We've gone to the dinosaur quarry, hiking, picnicking, to lunch...we just took a day or an afternoon and WENT somewhere to get out of the house...it didn't happen this year!

7. I missed taking a few "day trips" with my hubby. For the past few summers we have taken at least 2 day trips during the summer. The kind of trips where we just pick someplace "semi-close" to home, pack up some "driving snacks" and take off for the day....it didn't happen even once this summer.

8. I missed my fresh peaches this year. Our little tree was just covered in peaches last year...it didn't even produce one this year. Our apple tree's did lousy as well (there are a few apples, but the worms enjoyed them more than we will be able to)...it was just too cold when the blossoms were out and they froze. We didn't get anything to show from our little trees.

9. I missed my lilacs that failed to bloom at all this year. Once again...the weather!! It froze all the little blossoms so we had none of my favorite flowers to smell or look at....it's amazing how much I really and truly missed them.

10. I missed the butterflies, the bees and the humming birds. I am not sure why, but there didn't seem to be any this year....at least that I saw in my yard. I usually have at least 2 humming birds that fly around my  yard all year...they didn't come this year, my feeder still has food in it.

11. I missed taking the day off on my birthday. Our car was having issues at the time...and that day ended up being just like any other day...other than I took my car to the shop to have it looked at. I always allow myself to take my birthday off...to do WHATEVER I WANT TO do...to forget the work, the worry and the stress that comes with every other day of the year,  and just spend my day relaxing...which usually requires me to leave the house (its too hard for me to relax when I am at home where everyone is expecting me to clean and cook). It was a bummer of a day!

12. I missed having my nieces and nephews over. I had wanted to plan a few days during the summer that I could take a few of them at a time and do something fun with them. Things like go to the park, the lake and hang out with them making cookies or something...it didn't work out this year. UHG!

13. I missed the wave pool in Price. The girls and I went last year and I was wanting to go again this year. We had so much fun and it was going to be a definite "must do" on my list of things for this summer...(yeh, right)!

14. I missed family get togethers and barbecuing. We usually have a few family BBQ parties at our house during the summer...nope, not this year!...not even ONE!

15. I missed hiking up to Timpanogos Cave. I had every intention of being able to cross this one off of my bucket list this summer...BUT I am still hoping that I can pull it off this fall.

And the list could go on and on....and on~ (but I will spare any of you that have continued to read my post thus far)

Summer is the time when I feel the happiest, the time when I feel like I am in my element (sort of like a frog in a swamp full of flies)! Here's to hoping that next summer will allow me to do a few more of the things that I thoroughly enjoy and really missed out on this year.....................

So Long, Farewell....Good-Bye

...AND so it goes...
          another Good-bye to yet another summer....another "so long" to the months I love and adore...and yet another farewell to the carefree days of shorts and flip-flops....(boy, I am missing July already)!

If you are an avid follower of my blog or someone who knows me (even remotely well)...you know my feelings about these long months ahead of us-you know I have deep rooted feelings about them. For those of you that DON'T know me and DON'T read my blog often...think of the words "hate, despise, loathe, detest, abhor, and dislike" and you'll get the picture of how deep my feelings run for these fall and winter months. 


I feel a little cheated by this summer. It seems to have flown by without even a second glance....it could be because a good chunk of my summer was spent in a clinic or hospital taking Cameron in for IV therapy, or because the month of July was rainy and cooler than normal...or even because several of the things that we do each summer, we never got to do!...I don't know, but for some reason I feel justified in asking for 1-2 more months of summer so that I can do all the things that I didn't get to do...although I don't think Mother Nature listens to me or even cares at this point in the game.

Summer wasn't a TOTAL loss...and I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer...so

"In Memory of Summer 2010"

I came up with some fun things that we did get to do while 
"Ms. Summer" (vs. Mr. Old Man Winter) spent a very short time with us this year.

1. Our vacation to Pagosa Springs back in June. Highlights of our trip were: 

Seeing a bear out in the wild for the first time and riding horses up the mountain with my family.

2. Having our first annual "D. Wilkerson Family Reunion". Highlights of our reunion were:

Having ALL of my children at the same place, at the same time and hanging at the lake together.

3. Having our first grand baby born. Highlights of his arrival:

Hearing him cry for the first time as he was delivered and was rushed to the nursery (being his 2 month EARLY arrival...the doc said that was the best sound ever), 

seeing him getting better and better every day 

and touching him for the first time. 

4. Girls Weekend...spent with my daughters...we always have a good time when we get together.

Highlights of our weekend were: just being together and doing fun things and our 

garage sale chasing early in the morning.

5. Seeing Deron's brother and his family that we hadn't seen in 2 years. 

Highlights of their visit: Dinner with many of our family members, visiting and spending time with them.

6. Going to the Zoo with the Allred's. 

Highlights of our day: Seeing Jer scowl when his dad got after him (just because he has a super cute scowl), seeing how excited the boys were about everything they saw. 

7. Taking Halle school shopping. 

Highlights of our outing: Stopping at Whisky Springs for a picnic lunch, spending time together

8. Going for a ride up to the Starvation Bridge with Cameron. 

Highlights of our escapade: seeing the sunset, visiting with Cameron and just being with him

9. Driving to Mirror Lake with Deron

Highlights of our day trip: Seeing a moose, walking around the lake

10. The Weight Family Reunion

Highlights of our day: Watching my Aunt go down the slide for the first time, 

watching Todd scare Dayna with a water snake (sorry Dayna, but it was priceless)

In closing (isn't that what they say when you go to a funeral and its almost over?!)

I would like to say:

"I will forever miss you "Ms. Summer" (until your long awaited arrival next year)...please plan to stay longer next time, there is always room for you in my heart as well as in my life. Plan to be a little warmer which will allow me to wear my summer clothes more often (less of the cloudy, miserable days) and finally- please allow me to do more of the things that I love to do during your stay here with us....like all those things that I was cheated out of this year...you know the things I am talking about! 

So until we meet again...Good-bye my dear friend! You know I will miss you terribly and will mourn your leaving for months to come. Hopefully someone on the other side of the world will love and appreciate you as much as I do...doubtful, but maybe....NOW JUST hurry back!" 

Farewell! 

SuNshiNe and SmiLEs

When I was a little girl, the zoo was always someplace I dreamt of going. I only remember going once or twice...but I have fond memories of the few times we went. It was one of my favorite places to go. I remember how excited I got as I walked down the paved path, toward each of the animals in their "houses" of wire and cement. Back in the day, when I was young and went to the zoo, they had a large tortoise that we got to ride...he seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie..some sort of a giant.. I guess he was somewhat of a monster...especially to a tiny little girl who was in awe by everything she saw. We got to ride the train, which was so exciting....especially the part when we drove through the dark tunnel. Afterwards we would go eat a picnic lunch that we brought from home, usually a bologna sandwich (which I wasn't a huge fan of)...but inspite of my dislike for the "picnic food" the picnic was somewhat of a novelty to me, being we didn't do it very often, so it too was something I got excited about and looked forward to.

Since I've had children of my own, we have tried to take them to the zoo on a yearly basis...it hasn't always worked that way, but we've been able to go fairly often.....and even though I am a grown up, I still love the Zoo- its still one of my favorite places to visit. For my birthday this year, my sweet neighbors and very dear friends, the Allred's, (whom we love and cherish beyond measure. We have adopted them as part of our "family") gave me a "one year pass" to the zoo....(that means that I can go whenever I want, stay for as long as I want and go back as many times as I want, in a years time...woo hoo!!). I was SOOO excited and couldn't wait to go and use my new pass!

Look at the excitement on these faces!!! We were waiting in line to board the train and we could hardly wait! Love it!

Last month, our two families got together and headed to Salt Lake to spend the day hanging out at the Hogle Zoo. It's been so long since we had "little kids" (they have 4 boys whom we adore!) to take to the zoo...I could hardly wait. Little ones are always the most fun to take since they get so ecstatic about everything from the sights, to the sounds, and all of the new experiences. We had so much fun watching their happy little face just glow from ear to ear!!!

Seriously...Jer had it made...shade, feet kicked back and his drink right at his finger tips...what a life.

The boys were so excited about seeing all of the animals, as well as riding the carrousel and the train.

Jackson and I talking about "what his favorite animal on the carrousel was"....he was loving his day at the zoo!!!

The penguins were a huge hit, as was the "Cat house" where we saw the tigers and ate ice cream.

Kimber and some of her friends came up from Provo to hang out with us. Kim hadn't seen the boys in weeks and she was SOOOO excited to come and spend the day with them....I think she liked seeing us too...but it was the boys that she was SUPER EXCITED to see. She loves them so much!

Weston smiling for the camera...he was so happy to see his "Kimber". 

"Monkey see, Monkey do"....the boys loved having Kim around

It was fun to just kick back, walk around with the kids and spend the day in the sun. Everyone laughed and had a wonderful day. 

Smiles to be had by everyone!!!

Colby... stretching after a hot afternoon at the zoo...now enjoying lunch at the park

Deron, kicking back and having a little "down time".....

Aren't they handsome?...Love these kiddo's!

I love sharing fun experiences with the Allred's, they are such a fun and amazing family. We always have a blast when we are hanging out together. 

Nap time at the park...Jer copying his dad and like I said before, 
 "Monkey see, Monkey do"...and Jer is for sure a "little monkey"...

It doesn't matter if we are just chatting in the back yard, spending the afternoon at the movies, picnicking at the park or hanging at the zoo...we always come home having had an awesome time!

We love them all so much....who could ask for better friends than them?! NOT ME!!! 

They are the best....and 

Life just wouldn't be the same 
without best friends!!!

Grandbaby's = lots of smiles

* Warning...most of these pictures will be blurry to some degree or another, because the lighting in the Kenron's room is so dim and we aren't allowed to use the flash. My camera needed more light to get good pictures...so just try to see through the "blur"......


On Sunday we piled in the car to go visit Todd and Dana...and Kenron at the hospital. It was Deron's and Cam's and Halle's first time seeing him. They were all so excited to get a peek at the sweet new addition to our family.  Halle talked about it all day. She is ecstatic to be a new "Auntie" and has talked about all the fun she will have with Kenron. She is going to be a really good aunt! Deron can't wait for Kenron grow up a little so he can take him fishing and play outside with him...and bounce him on his knee like grandpa's do. Cameron is still getting use to the idea of having a nephew...he is so good with kids and loves babies...he's got a lot of sweet boys that already look up to him and idolize his every move. I am sure Kenron will be no different.

I can't believe that it's only been one week since I saw him last. He's changed so much. He is starting to get little eyelashes and he is even a little bit chubbier (in his cheeks). He gets to wear baby clothes now...woo hoo!

BIG YAWN....oh so cute!

Sucking away on that binki!

 He doesn't have any IV or cords or tubes, other than his feeding tube and some monitor cords (which he will need until he is discharged). He is so adorable and precious. We (everyone other than his mommy and daddy) aren't able to hold him yet, but he loved being cuddled up and seemed as content as could be right his his mommy's arms.

Being a grandma is all new to me. Ever since I had children of my own, I have thought about the kind of grandma that I would like to be. I feel as though it's not quite real yet...even though I've got to see Kenron and touch his little head and hands-

last week when I was staying in Salt Lake right after he was born (the nurses say thats off limits now too)...I haven't been able to hold him, to kiss his little head or to rub his little cheeks yet. On Sunday when I was sitting in the chair next to Dana looking at our adorable grandson, my arms truly ached to hold him (I didn't know that was possible) like any grandma would hold her new grandbaby. I wanted so much for him to know how much I love him and wanted to be a good grammy. I wanted to wrap him up and kiss him on the forehead and tell him about all the exciting times we are going to have as he is growing up. I wanted to start to bond with this sweet little boy and help him understand that I will always be here for him.  I just wanted to feel like all the rest of the grandma's do when they have grand babies.

Grandma's always talk about how amazing it is to hold their grand babies for the first time, to tend them, to kiss them, to play with them, to spend time with them...I haven't been able to do any of that yet and it's so hard to not feel "a little bit sad" about it. Its hard to not feel a little bit of pain tug right at my heart strings. I love Kenron so much and hope that it won't be too long until I can really feel like his Grammy.

Babies are so blessed to have so many people who love them and who want to be a part of their lives. Kenron has no idea just how lucky he truly is in that aspect of his life. 

I love you sweetheart...!

Draego and Tiny...ForeVer friEnds

They were actually sleeping right by each other, but as soon as I came out to take a picture, they both perked up and then Tiny started walking over toward me...I just couldn't get them to just sit still and smile for me...

...they wanted me to pet them instead. 

Friends come in all shapes, all sizes, all colors and even all breeds...but who would have thought that 2 creatures that are known to be the worst of enemies could be the best of friends?! These 2 crazy pals eat from the same dish, sleep together, play together and roam the yard together. Amazingly enough, they weren't raised together from the time they were babies, they just became friends when they met...just a short while ago. I can go outside at any given time of day or night and see them bunked down together in Draego's pen (the dog). It's so funny to see...just because its so unique I guess.

Just goes to prove that 

"love knows NO bounds"

Let the "pig skin" fly.....

Cam....number #70

It's that time of year again when we go sit on the hard bleachers at the local high school and watch our boys rumble and tumble for the possession of a little brown "pig skin" ball....we call it football, and I have yet to understand why boys think that its fun. I guess its "one of those BOY THINGS!" Because as a mom, its difficult for me to sit and watch my son being attacked by someone else's son, thrown to the ground...AND THEN having to watch many OTHER boys pile on top of him...squishing my "little man"!

 I know, I know, I am the mom that all son's/kids dread, the one that worries about everything! Oh well...its "one of those MOM THINGS"...and I'm never going to change!...SO I say, "take me or leave me...this is what I am".

Cameron played a really good game last Friday night. He had several "sacks" and said that he had a good time playing.

He is a hard worker and really tries to put his all in whatever he does...whether is playing football (and getting the most bruises) or whatever it is that he's doing....he's out to do his best!

Great Job Cam!