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!

Growing up and Going back....I'm not ready for any of it.

Having the kids start school again brings me mixed emotions every year. I am not a fan of school schedules, homework, WAY TOO busy kids and the coming on of Fall and Winter...but its fun to see the kids in their new "school clothes" on their very first day back to school. Its fun to see each of them with their new hair cuts (ONE young man didn't get one this year...mom failure). Its fun to see the enthusiam and excitement on their faces for ONE day (because thats all it lasts at my house...day 2 isn't fun for any of us) and to have them actually get up ON TIME for one day.....you see at my house, its all about the FIRST day of school, but the fun ends there. After that, its just "back to SCHOOL", and thats never fun!

I DID get pictures of my 2 munchkins before they headed out the door on their first big day back!

I can't believe that there are only 2 of my youngsters left at home...and that those 2 cute little faces are growing up to be teenagers (right smack dab in the middle of it actually)!....its crazy how fast they grow up.

Is it wrong to wish they were all little again? I wonder if I knew then what I know now, would I have wished away those "little" years?...I'm pretty sure that I would have cherished those years a bit more and for a little longer....  

BIG blessings come in small packages

It's been a long week to say the least...not so much because its been BAD...but so much has happened. As many of you know... (some of you may not) my son (Todd) and daughter -in-law (Dana) were expecting their first baby...our first grandson on October 20th. BUT Tuesday afternoon changed all of that. Todd and I took Dana over to our little hospital for a "stress test". She had been feeling some "pains" in her back as well as some discomfort in her front. She wasn't feeling well and so we thought that we better have things checked out. 

We arrived at the hospital where they hooked Dana up to a couple of monitors to listen to the babies heart beat and to check and see if she was having any contractions. She was hooked up the monitor for 3 hours and they picked up NO contractions...then the nurses checked her to see if she was dilated (her doctor ordered that as routine before letting her go home)...thats when everything became a little crazy. The nurse found that Dana was dilated to 6 cm. They immediately decided that they were going to call for "Life Flight" and fly Dana to Salt Lake where she could be close to the NICU in case she delivered. They also wanted her out in the city where she could get the best care possible. The Dr.'s and nurses began to prepare Dana...giving her meds, steroids and fluids...and trying to stop her labor (which she didn't even know she was in and wasn't feeling any pain). The Life Flight Team arrived and determined that Dana was dilated more and was now at 8 cm making it a "NOT so good of an idea" to fly since they didn't want to deliver her baby in the air. She was going to deliver this baby within just a short few minutes or hours...it just wasn't going to be in Salt Lake, it was going to be right there in our "home town" hospital. The Docs called another Life Flight team to come(the Life Flight team that was there wasn't equipped to take care of a preemie) and Dana's doctor was trying to hold Dana off from delivering until the team arrived. At 11:09 our sweet, 2 month early grandson....Kenron (pronounced Ken-run) Zane Wilkerson was brought into this world. He was screaming (which was such a good sign and a wonderful blessing) as he was whisked down the hall for the Life Flight team to stabilize and prepare fly to the NICU in Salt Lake City. 

He has tons of dark brown hair, weighed 3lbs. 15 oz and measured 17" long. After a couple of hours of getting the baby ready, the Life Flight team took him into see Dana. She melted when she saw his tiny little body and grinned ear to ear as she held onto his sweet little hand. She is going to be a wonderful mommy.

...and Todd is going to make an awesome daddy!

 I was blessed to be able to bring Todd and Dana out to the hospital in Salt Lake the next day to stay with Kenron. He will be in the NICU until he is grown enough to come home. Being so tiny and so extremely early, he has alot he has to overcome before being released to come home. Our youngest was born 8 weeks early too. I remember the entire ordeal like it was yesterday. These preemies are so fragile and their little systems are so complex....its just a huge mile stone every time they do even the littlest thing. Like when Kenron opened his eyes for the first time, you would have thought he had just learned to walk. It was so exciting and awesome. Stepping stones to US are Milestones for him!
 Todd and Dana have been able to stay in a "complimentary room" right in the hospital. Its been wonderful that they have been able to be so close to him. They can go and see him any time they want to. They can stay as long as they want to...and he knows when they are there. Its such a sweet baby.

Kenron still has so many hurdles to overcome...but he is doing really well. He was taken off the ventilator after only 1/2 a day and has slowly been weaned completely off it now. What a miracle to have this extremely early baby breathing on his own...he is definatly a fighter!!!

 He has jaundice and is under the Bili lights and gets to wear a cute little "batman" mask. Hopefully he will be off the lights tonight as his biliruben levels have been dropping.  He is just as sweet and adorable as can be and I am so in love with him already.

 I can't believe how much my heart just swells up with joy when I see him and hold his little hand. It's amazing what modern day medicine is capable of and all the things that the Doctors can do to save lives. I know that prayers are answered and that Kenron is receiving blessing after blessing from a loving Heavenly Father. We are so grateful for this sweet baby in our lives. I am grateful that Dana came through this so well and that we have such wonderful friends and family who continues to love and support us through everything. Its amazing how fast our lives change from second to second, minute by minute and hour by hour....life is always full of changes and I am sure we will be seeing many more changes in our lives.
Miracles are real and we are grateful today for our little miracle grandbaby, Kenron.

PS...Dayna is keeping a blog to update anyone who is interested in whats happening with Kenron...you are welcome to check it out at KenronZaneWilkerson.blogspot.com and watch our little miracle baby grow and change day by day.

*update- Kenron was taken off oxygen as well as the the bili lights and is now happily sleeping without having to be attatched to so many tubes and cords....he is such a sweet little, beautiful baby! We love him so much!

FAmiLies Who Play together....stay ToGeTHEr!

There are times in our lives that we cherish and will remember forever....most of those times, at least for me, involve those that I am closest to....my very dear friends and my very special family. I love any opportunity that I have to spend with them.

This past weekend was our 

WEIGHT FAMILY REUNION

The WEIGHT'S...

Two of my 3 wonderful Aunts (Michelle was missing... we missed her), Aunt Saundra, Aunt Jo and my amazing Dad!

We had lots of laughs, lots of food, smiles and good conversation. Its always fun when my family all gets together, I guess because we are all so close knit and think the world of each other...it's a great recipe for building stronger relationships and making lasting memories.

Daynalee, Kim and Grandpa...happy times!

 I think that we could all be stuck in a dark, cold, abandoned cave and we would still have a crazy, fun and memorable time.

Once again we had our reunion at Hardings Hideaway where we could play in the water, slide down the giant slide, swing around on the big swings, play in the sand and venture out in the paddle boats.

Kimber is all smiles as she visits with her dad...tell him all about "grown up life on her own"!

Jack demonstrating his skills on the slide...seriously, that takes talent to do that trick..trust me!

Cameron coming down the slide and doing the "belly ride" into the pond.

Todd and Dana sitting and taking a break from the sunshine

If you don't want to get wet, thats okay...there are plenty of other things to do and lots of laughs to be had by those who enjoy watching more than "getting wet and dirty".

Halle and Todd getting ready to slide down the "ride of death"

This year was Halle's first time down the "GIANT BLUE slide". Her cousins had tried to persuade her for years to go down but she never would. This year it was Todd that finally persuaded her to take the plunge and go down. He rode down with her, promising to not let her drown. Coming down the slide, I could see the terror on her face...but as she bobbed up out of the water there was a big grin in place of her fear...so I took that as a "Happy EXPERIENCE" for her...one that I am sure she won't soon forget.

Some...or most...of the young ones that were excited to see Mr. Mater-

"Mater" came and paid a visit to the kids. I was getting all excited...you know, really playing up the "coolness" of seeing Mater, for the little kids... I asked one of my nieces if she was "sooooo excited to see Mater?" and he looked at me and said, "....it's only a truck Aunt Julie".....guess my enthusiasm and giddiness was for nothing...ha HA HA ha.

Happy Birthday to you Aunt Jo!

This year our reunion happened to fall on one of my aunts birthdays...her 54th birthday! She wasn't about to let the "kids" be the only ones that had the "times of their lives".

Aunt Jo showing us what FUN is!

She jumped right in on the "fun wagon" and gave the slide a try, the first time ever for her, and she was...screaming the entire way (thats what we all do...because it's truly terrifying)! Even after losing her boogie board on her first run down, she jumped out of the water and climbed up the steep stairs for another try at it. Its proof to me that you're only as old as you feel and that life only gets better and better....54 is looking pretty good!!!

Aunt Jo swinging around on the GIANT swing

Thanks Aunt Jo for "putting the cherry" on top of our perfectly awesome day! Happy Birthday!!!!

Family reunions are something that I have a lot of fond memories of as a child, we did different things...but they were fun nonetheless. I love that we can take time out from the "rat race of life" to spend time as a family and build relationships that will carry me through troubled times. I know that I can always count on my family to be there for me, today,  tomorrow and forever. I hope that my children grow up having strong relationships with each other as well as their extended family and remembering all the fun that we always have when we all get together and enjoy each other, like I always do! What would life be like if we didn't have our families?...I am glad I will never have to know.

Thanks one and all for another amazing reunion.