Thanksgiving 2010

Sean, Lucy, Gracie, Hunter and Tyler all walking on the frozen pond. It was cold at the cabin.

Here is Linda (Nana) sitting with her girls at the cabin watching a movie. One of Ross' favorite past time. At night we would watch a different Christmas movie. Blossom knitted hats and got really fast at making them.

Weston was known as Mr. Lumberjack. He kept the wood cut and made sure the fire was going full blast. Because of his hard work we got the cabin up to 68 degrees.

Sean, Hailie and Candice Schwingen. Sean made the biggest snowman.

Mindy, Keith, Ross, Weston, Travis, Mattia, Tyler, Lucy, Hunter, Gracie, Linda, Marie, Blossom


Here is a picture of us on Sunday morning just before we left. We woke up Sunday morning to snow falling, so we hurried and packed up and left in a snow storm. It was scary driving out pulling a trailer and sliding on the slick roads. We made it out with no problem.


This year for Thanksgiving we went to Grandma's Cabin and had a fun, snowy time. We drove up Wednesday after we picked up Weston and Mattia from school. We had snow going into the cabin. Thursday morning we woke up to 7 degrees outside. The cabin was 32 degrees when we arrived Wednesday night. Ross and Weston kept the fire going non stop and we got the cabin up to 68 degrees. It was a cold weekend the high only got to 40 degrees. But we figured out how to aim the fan on the fire box and we got the cabin where it was tolerable.

Thanksgiving day we ate turkey with Candice, Sean and Hailie Schwingen; Ross's sister, Mindy and Blossom Wood; Keith, Weston, Ross, Linda and Mattia. Mattia really loved his first Thanksgiving. He loved the pecan pie.

Friday Marie, Travis, Tyler, Hunter, Lucy and Gracie arrived at the cabin. Hunter loved the snow. Hunter put on his gloves, snow bibs and boots and played outside all day. Only to come in and get warm. We had fun sliding down the hill.

Sean made the tallest snowman. We ate good food and played lots of card games. Weston was known as Mr. Lumberjack in all the wood he split. He made sure we had lots of fire wood. Mindy and Blossom even cut wood. Weston was mostly known for his red long johns.

We went to the pond and it was frozen so the kids walked on the frozen pond and threw rocks trying to break through. It was a good Thanksgiving and much to be thankful for.

Aunt Mindy made the best fry bread and we all stuffed ourselves. Sean ate so much that he toke a nap.

We missed Kimberlee, Griffin and Lance who are living in Oregon while Lance attends school. Jesse and his family were home sick with the flu. We missed them all.

Most of all we are thankful for family and the love we have for each other.

Griffin Ross Jennings

Griffin in the hospital 1 day old. Griffin had to stay one night in the intensive care unit.He had an IV in his hand. Notice the stiff board on his arm to keep his IV in place. He also had monitors to check his vitals. It was not easy picking him up and not setting off the alarms.
This was a precious moment to see Kim hold him for the 2nd time. Kim had to be in a wheelchair because of the C-Section and she was unable to walk. This was quite draining on her - but all worth it


Here are pictures of the Big Guy - 9 days old

This morning he was wide awake and so cute. He is so cute!
This green outfit that says "Captain" is an outfit that Grandpa Ross bought for his first son, Jesse 31 years ago. Fitting that he has Grandpa Ross' as his middle name.

Griffin 9 days old and he has found his fingers.

Miracle Baby Griffin

October 4th Griffin Ross Jennings was born in Oregon. Kimberlee calls me early in the morning and tells me that she is starting labor. Then around noon Kimberlee sends me a text that they are going to the hospital. Then at 3:08 Lance sends me a text that 'they are taking her back for an emergency c section. The heart rate kept dipping. They might have to do general anesthesia."

Then at 4:26 pm Lance sends another text "Out of it. It's tough to watch them. Baby seems hungry but Kim is still waking up."

Baby Griffin Ross had to be taken by C Section due to distress. His heart rate kept dropping and he was in stress. They had to do an emergency C section and couldn't wait for the person who does the epidural so they grab the anesthesiologist and have him put Kim out. Later we found out that it was the best thing that they put Kim under because it also made the baby a little sleepy and when he first came out he did not take a big breath and get all the mircomium into his lungs and cause further problems. A little blessing that we had and didn't even know until days later.

Lance sends me another text at 4:44 to buy a ticket and fly up as soon as you can. Kim wants me there. Then at 5:00 he sends another texts saying "she wants you to come as soon as as you can but she still can't talk yet."

I got the message. I was at work and had to finish payroll and other things, so I stayed and finished all my work and then bought my ticket to leave Tuesday @ 6 am and arrive @ 12:30. Things just fell into place for me to get things done and get packed and the ticket bought. The whole time I was getting things done at a rapid pace, I felt that I had angels around me to help me keep my mind clear. Because usually when I work over 8 hours with numbers, my mind turns to mush, but that night my mind was clear and able to work long hours. Another miracle.

Long plane ride when you know that you get to see your newest grandchild (#8). When I arrived I had 2 priesthood holders pick me up from the hospital and take me to the hospital. Church members are just the greatest and kindest people.

I spent 2 days in the hospital and never left the grounds of the hospital except to talk walks around the hospital.

I found out how serious the situation was with Kimberlee and Griffin. If they would have waited they may have lost the little guy. Part of the placenta had died and inflicted off and caused the baby to go into stress and have a bowel movement in the womb.

When I got there they had Griffin hooked up to all kinds of monitors and IV. My goal was to get the baby in the room with Kimberlee. She had only seen the baby once the first day because of the problems. I made sure that Kim got up and wheeled her down to the nursery to nurse this baby and get him off all the monitors. Tuesday night around 7 pm they finally moved him into Kimberlee's hospital room and toke off the IV but left all the other monitors on.

Lance had school in the morning and could not miss any more sleep, so I was happy to stay the nights with Kimberlee and help her out. I was relieved because I didn't know where I was and I had no car.

Thursday Baby and Mom were released from the hospital and I got to see Kim's new home for the first time. Kim has decorated it so cute.

Baby and Mom are doing great. I am going to hold this new grandson as much as I can because I only have 2 weeks and then I am going home. But I will return to see this little guy with the chubbiest checks

Family Pictures

August 2010

Here is a picture of all our children, spouses and grandchildren. Also in the picture is Mattia Meirone, our exchange student from Italy.

Pictured - Keith, Jesse, Terra, Sean, Candice, Kimberlee, Lance, Marie, Travis, Weston, Ross holding Kate, Linda holding Hailie, Hunter, Mattia, Tyler, Lucy, Gracie and Aaron.

To date we have 7 grandchildren Tyler who will turn 10 on 10/10/10; Hunter who just got baptized by his Uncle Weston; Lucy who started Kindergarten; Gracie who loves to climb on everyone's back in the pool; Aaron who obsessed with Woody and buzz; Miss Kate that says it all; and last Hailie who maybe the youngest, but she is loudest; and one more due in October



Here is a picture of Ross and Linda and our 6 children. As you can see Keith is still pestering Weston. It doesn't matter how old they are, they still tease and wrestle. This was Kim's last Sunday in Mesa before the big move to Oregon.

















And here is a picture of Mattia, Ross, Linda and Weston with his crutches.

Weston has a broken left tibia bone right under the cartilage of his knee. Weston had an MRI to see the break just under the knee. He was at a scrimmage game and got hit in the knee and it broke the tibia bone. We are glad that it was not a ligament. He has to use crutches for 6 weeks total. He has blisters on his hands. But he can beat anyone on his crutches. He can not straighten his left leg out flat. So the Doctor told Weston to do his own therapy and stretch his leg out on his own. He is not supposed to put any weight on the knee.

It is killing Weston that he cannot play football his Junior year. He is very upset over it. The doctor told Weston that his left leg muscle has atrophy. Weston couldn't believe that his muscle had turned to mush in 2 weeks time. He didn't even know what atrophy was.

One thing that Weston has learned from this knee injury is the science of the knee and how it works.

On September 9th Weston turns 17 years old. We bought a truck for him to drive from Lance, but he can't drive it because it has a clutch and he can't put pressure on his left leg. And also he needs to finish his eagle project and do his eagle board of review so he can get his drivers license.

Ross and Sean spent 4 days driving Kim and Lance's belongings to Philomath, Oregon. It is a 21 hour drive one way. Sean got back on his birthday and we celebrated with a steak dinner.

Kim and Lance's New Adventure

Ross, Sean, Lance and his cousin Robert just drove 21 hours to Oregon. We packed all of their belongs in one of our trailers along with Kim's car. And then they drove to Oregon with one flat tire and 2 days of driving. Lance will be attending veterinary school in Oregon for 4 years.

It was hard seeing my daughter leave knowing that in one month she will have her first baby and I am so far away. Ross said that the ward came and helped them unpack the whole trailer. What a blessing it is to know that the church is there to help her and that they will be her extended family.

We had a luncheon with all the girls Friday to say goodbye. That was fun. Grandma Jean suggested that we eat lunch with Kimberlee. So Candice, Marie and Terra put together a variety of salads and we invited Kim's in-laws and friends to stop by.

Saturday was a hard day saying good-bye to her sisters and friends. But Dad says that she is in good hands there and he feels good about the new home and ward. Kim will do good. Kim is the first child to move more than 10 minutes away from me. I am going to miss her and Lance. They would stop by many times and visit with us and go watch Weston's football games with us. Sunday's meal will not be the same with Lance eating cereal.

We now have an exchange student from Italy. Mattia Merione is going to stay with us for the school year. Mattia attends Westwood High School with Weston. Mattia loves to cook and he even does the dishes. He has cooked us some of his favorite meals - pizza, noodles, and meat with a parsley sauce.

Linda attended BYU education week with her mother, Jean Porter who celebrated her 83rd birthday while in Utah. We had dinner with Sandy and her family to celebrate. Linda spent the week with Cindy and Suzie Peden, Grandma Jean and Sandy Gines attending as many classes as possible. Linda enjoyed attending classes with Grandma Jean. For 83 years old Mom gets around pretty good.

Ross was picking Linda up at the airport when we got a phone call from Becky Allred saying that Weston was injured at the Westwood Football Scrimmage game. We drove straight to Westwood and Weston was on crutches with a swollen left knee. He was tackled and his knee was hit. We toke him to the doctor and it looks like a possible MCL grade 2. We are waiting for the MRI to get an accurate diagnois. Weston looked crushed when he was told that he would be out for 6 weeks and wouldn't be able to play. Weston loves football.

Kimberlee and Lance are packing up and moving to Oregon in September. We are going to miss them. Especially since she will have a baby in October.

Here comes the Heywood's
Linda walked with a shovel to keep her balance. She walked with a stress fracture on her right foot. The shovel was a big help.
Ross walking with the family. Ross really loved it when they made us take our shoes off and walk barefoot. Ross is a tenderfoot.
Weston's family
Weston pushing the wagon up the hill.
Here is a picture of our family. Mary Jarman, Samantha Smith, Riley Royer, Reece Scurr, Ammon Burnham, Shirece Ferrin, Colton Ray, Chelsea Wallis and Ryan Stock

Ross and Linda with Kristin and Brent Connolly. All ready to start the trek.

2010 Trek Pictures

Now that I have figured how to add pictures, here are some pictures from the trek that we did this summer. It was our 2nd time going. Here is a picture of Cassidy Coleman and McKayla Shill. They were my beehives. Ross is the background.

Weston getting some air and landing hard.

Weston at his Super Activity at the Lake

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