Updates

So for those of you that are regular readers of the Garrard blog, I have a few updates. (I know so many of you love reading the blog and wake up each morning with the hopes that there will be a new post) I have some great news and some not so great news.

The great news is about work. If you remember my post about my new branch and my deal with the days off and the holiday pay, I am happy to report that persistance does pay off. I just didn't think it was fair that I didn't get any of the holidays paid so once I got to my new branch I talked to my manager and she totally agreed with me and told me she would adjust the schedule so I had another day off and get paid for the holiday. I still didn't get paid for Christmas but I should for the rest of the holidays. I have an extra day off next week because of New Years. Nice huh!

Next news, the bad news. I think I stressed out a little too much over Zoee's Christmas shoes. Even though I bought shoes that I didn't like and broke a promise that I had made with myself years ago, I felt ok about putting the shiny patent leather shoes on her. Well, Christmas morning came and I got her dressed in her new dress and tights. She looked really cute. I put the shoes on her and she started to cry. (maybe she doesn't like them either) I tried to get her to walk but she would just sit down. She kept pulling on the shoes like she was trying to get them off. Being the smart mother I am, I figured they were too small and they were hurting her feet. (I bought the 4's cause the 5's looked too big even though I knew she was starting to fit into a 5) So to make a long story short, Zoee went to chruch without shoes. Without shoes that I had stressed out about for no reason at all. She still looked cute as a button!

Our adventure.

So in one of my last posts I mentioned that we tried to drive to Utah but didn't make it...here is the story. Every year my family has a Gingerbread house making contest. It gets pretty intense and even though mom usually wins (I think she pulls some strings with the judges) it is still really fun to get together to do this. For those of you that know the Laytons, you know that it gets pretty competitive and turns into quite the deal with lots of frosting and tons of candy. Well, I had talked to my mom and she told me they would be doing it on Sunday. I wanted to go so bad! We had our ward Christmas party on Saturday night so we were home getting ready for that when I had the bright idea to pack up and drive to Utah. Nate noticed the crazy look in my eye and asked what I was thinking. I told him I really wanted to go home and asked if we could drive to Utah that night. I think he was a little surprsised but he said "SURE!" We loaded up the car really quick, dropped our food assignment off at the church and then we hit the road. Long story short, we didn't make it. We heard that the weather was going to be really bad so we decided to turn around. We would have only been able to stay for Sunday and would have had to come back for work on Monday. It just didn't seem worth it for such a short trip. We only made it to Mesquite. We stopped there and ate some dinner then went home and called it a date. It was fun but I think our craziness got the best of us. We plan to go home for next years competition so get ready Mom cause it's on!!

Luckily we had the DVD player for Zoee so she was really good and enjoyed the car ride.

Window paints!

I got bored one day at work and decided to paint the windows. It was a lot of fun! I think I might take up window painting as a career. Just kidding.

Happy Holidays!

Goodbye Valley View

I am working at my new branch now. It is a lot different than Valley View. I had a rough couple of first days but I am trying to be optimistic about the change. Goodbye to my friends at Valley View. You guys were great and I will miss hanging out with you.

Lacie, Donna and Nicole. (All the other girls were off that day.)

Zoee visits mom's work

Zoee came to visit me at work one day. She felt so big when she got to sit at my desk. Here are a few pictures of her.

I Confess

I did something I never thought I would do. It's not a big deal at all and I am sorry to those of you that think different than me. I hope this does not offend. I have been looking for some black church shoes for Zoee to go with her Christmas dress. I have looked every where for plain black shoes and haven't been able to find any. Some might say, they are every where but here is my problem. I hate those black shiny shoes. I vowed to never dress my kids in them. (I know a lot of people like them and this is why I said sorry at the beginning.) I just have never liked them. Well, I found a really cute pair that were not shiny at Famous Footwear but they were almost 30 bucks and I just didn't want to pay that much plus they didn't have Zoee's size and I wasn't about to drive to the other store with this traffic so I didn't get them. I was at the store last night and ended up buying a pair of shiny black shoes, mostly cause they were 6 bucks and I am down to crunch time. I am sure they will look just fine and Zoee isn't going to care, I just need to get over over it.

Dear Grandpa Layton,

Please come visit me for New Years. It will be so fun. We can hang out, watch movies, ride bikes and play horse. My dad might have to work so my mom really wants you to come too. Please come to Vegas and help me ring in the new year. I promise to stay awake till midnight if you come.
Love Zoee

Blah

I miss home. I am not sure if it is because it's Christmas time or what but I have missed home a lot today. My family had their annual ginger bread house making contest last night and I really wanted to be there. We tried to drive up for it but we didn't make it. (I will post more about that adventure later.) I miss the feeling of Christmas in Huntsville. I miss fixing treats and taking them to the neighbors in the freezing cold, I miss getting treats from the neighbors, I miss going to the ward party where everyone knew me and cared about me, I miss the feeling of my warm house when it is a blizzard outside. I think Dorothy was right, there is no place like home...now if I could just click my heels together.

Zoee's nativity

Grandma sent Zoee her fist nativity. It is so cute.

When one binky is not enough.

Olives

I remember doing this when I was a kid. I still like to do it but my fingers are too big now so the olive just breaks. Zoee's fingers are just the right size. This was her first time really eating olives. She liked them.

Check out my husband!

http://www.northpoledancing.com/6964d9ce.12008

Another reason I love Vegas.

December 9th. NICE!!

Some home videos

Oh Christmas Tree...

We finally got our tree put up and decorated. It was really fun with Zoee. She loved helping put the ornaments on, even though she would put 5 on one branch. It looks good and makes it feel so much more like Christmas. Happy Holidays everyone!
























Oh, and Zoee dressed herself. This is what she wanted to wear. She wore it all night. Crazy kid.

I am a little mad.

So, I put in to transfer to another branch. I needed to be working a few more hours so when I noticed a 30 hour position posted for another branch, I put in for it. It is at a branch that is alot closer to my house and it would be alot easier because I wouldn't have to go on the freeway during rush hour. I interviewed there and they loved me...of course. I accepted the postition and told my branch. I had some bitter sweet feelings but all in all I felt like it would be better. Well, my new manager sent me the schedule last week and I have Monday off. I asked her if that would be my normal day off or would it change. She said that it would be my normal day off which sucks because I like having a break during the week. (I need that break to help me make it through the week) I have Wednesdays off at my branch now and was hoping for that but if I have to have mondays off- fine, I can handle that but I have since learned that because it is my regualar scheduled day off I won't get paid for ANY holiday that falls on a monday which is pretty much all the credit union holidays! I am so angry! I feel like the benefit of holiday pay is that you get paid for the holidays whether it is your day off or not. Maybe I am just snotty but I feel like that is one of the perks of being an employee and one of "our benefits" and kinda like a bonus for working. It totally sucks because everyone else at the branch is getting paid and has another day off. I asked her if I would get another day off then and she said no. I am so so mad right now I could scream. I have checked the holiday calendar and I am losing out on 5 holidays because they fall on my regular day off. What is the meaning of a benefit? What is the purpose of working full time and qualifying for benefits that they offer. (according the credit union, you are considered a full time employee once you work 30 hours.) Whatever. I just needed to vent.

My Day

I feel like I got a lot accomplished today. I got up and got ready and went to the DMV. Since I finally changed my name and got my card in the mail, I was able to get a new Nevada id. I dreaded going to the DMV because I heard it took so long and it was a lot of just sitting and waiting but it wasn't bad at all. I only waited for about 2 minutes to get a number and they called my number before I was even done talking to the number lady. I got my new id and then left. I was done in less than 20 mintues. It was great. The lady said that they were really slow today and that I should come back and do my car registration. I hurried home to gather all my stuff for that and went back. It was quick and easy and we were done with everything in about an hour. It was really great and guess what? I got a personalized plate! I have always wanted one and finally decided to do it this time. It says something really great. I guess you will all just have to wait until they come in the mail so I can post a picture of them...I am sure the anticipation will kill you but it will be worth the wait!

Which came first...the chicken or the SQUARE egg?

How many of you have actually seen a square egg? Did you even know they could be made? Well, they can and they are very cool. I am sure most of you are dying to know how this can be done...well here it is.



















Nate won this at the christmas party for having the best construction paper tree. We were a little unsure about how it would work but were pretty anxious to get home and try it. This is how it is done.

STEP 1: Boil the egg. Peel the egg while it is still warm.




















STEP 2: Put the egg in the Egg Cuber, tighten the lid and watch the magic happen.



















STEP 3: Remove the egg and Ta Da!! You now have a square egg. Can you imagine a plate of deviled eggs? It would look so modern. I think I might try it.

Cousins Christmas party

We went to our first Christmas party of the season on Saturday. The Garrards have a cousins christmas party every year and all the married cousins get to go. It sounded really fun and we were excited to go. It was at Nates cousins house, Tyler and Christina's. We got there and just mingled for awhile then we ate dinner. It was a really good dinner. After dinner we played a few games. The first one we played was really fun. We each got a piece of construction paper and had to put it behind our back and tear out a Christmas tree. It sounds really easy but it isn't. Mine looked more like a bush than a tree. There were quite a few good ones but after everyone voted, Nate took first place and won a really cool prize. (more about the prize in another post)


















After that game we played another one with greeting cards. We had to stand back and try to throw the cards in the basket, another one that sounds easy but isn't. It ended up being a tie and we had to have a tie breaker. Nate was in the the 2nd round but lost after everyone else made 2 and he only made one. It got pretty intense and his cousin, Doug, ended up winning with a total of three cards in the basket. It was really funny
















After the card game, we had the gift exchange. This was the best part! There were lots of cool gifts. We had a few stolen from us that were really good gifts. Nate even got a pair of sexy underwear but his cousin stole them from him. We ended up with a giant snowflake christmas decoration and some christmas towels and candles. It was a really fun night and made me really excited for next years party!

Breakfast

Zoee thinks she is getting so big and insists on feeding herself. Even though half the food ends up in her lap, it is fun to watch her try to do it. We practice with her and she is getting better. She feels so proud when she eats all her dinner. She is so stinking cute!

It's Offical!!

OK, so after 6 months of nothing but pure laziness, I am finally Stacy Garrard. I must admit that when I left the SS office I felt a little weird. Not sad, not happy, just weird. Kinda like a piece of me was gone. I know this sounds totally ridiculous but it's how I felt. I am excited now though and happy that I don't have to explain to people why I am still going by my maiden name.

Love always,
Stacy Garrard....ooh it sounds so nice.

We made it.

Waiting in the waiting room. New ears coming soon!

















Her cute gown.
















We made it through getting tubes. We had to be at the hospital at 5:45 yesterday morning. (way too early for me and Nate!) We got there and they put Zoee in the cutest little hospital gown and those socks with the the skid resistant bottoms. She looked so cute walking around with her diaper showing in the back. She did really good when the nurse came and took her. She didn't even cry like I thought she would. The nurse was right when she said it would probably be harder on me than her! It made me want to cry! She came out of the surgery and she was crying and just wanted to be held. I think a big part of it was that she was so hungary. She wasn't able to eat after midnight so she was starving. She gulped a chocolate milk in no time and ate almost all of Nate's cinnamon roll! Things are good now. She was happy and hyper all last night. I think having this done will really help.

I am Izzy.

Izzy Stevens 38% confidence, 94% compassion, 62% dedication

Isobel Stevens is anything but a dumb blonde. In fact, she’s a very intelligent, determined woman. Her strongest point is probably being able to comfort her patients. However, her compassion can sometimes be her weakness. She also isn’t the most confident of the interns. But, she’s definitely the hottest. ;)

My thanks

I wanted to put a few pictures up from Thanksgiving.


The tables looked great,



we each had our own little name tag!



The food was delicious. It was just a perfect day. Thank you Sarah!


My thankfuls...
1. I am most thankful for the chance that I have to be a wife and a mother. Nathan and Zoee mean the world to me. I am so glad that we get to be together as a family. I am so happy now and am so thankful for 2nd chances. I have learned that some of the best things come only after the hardest times. I am so thankful that I get to spend each day with Nate and that we get to laugh together, be parents together and just be together. I am so thankful for my little baby girl. She is everything to me. She keeps me going when things are tough. She always has and I am so blessed to be her mother.
2. I am thankful for family. I am thankful for my new family and for their support, love and friendship to me since I have joined their family. I am thankful for the fun times we have had together and look forward to many more. I am so thankful for my family. I simply can not express how thankful I am for them. I would be totally lost if it wasn't for them. My parents are the best. I will forever be in their debt. I have the greatest siblings. They have supported me and stood by me and I am thankful for that.
3. I am thankful for my house, my car, my job and all the things that make life easier. The internet, telephones, chocolate, my warm bed, medicine and really great tv.
4. I am thankful for my friends. I think I have been blessed with some of the greatest friends in the world. I am not kidding on this one. They are all so wonderful. They have helped me through everything, helped me laugh when I wanted to cry and stood by me when they really didn't have to. I love them all so much.
5. Last but not least, I am thankful for my faith. My faith in the Savior and His gospel. I am thankful for the comfort it brings. I am thankful for the knowledge I have of where I came from, why I am here and where I am going. (Thanks mom and dad for teaching me that) I am thankful for prayer, without it, I would be lost. I am thankful for the church leaders that have influenced my life, the priesthood, temples, and for the Savior and all He did for me. The Gospel is an amazing thing.

Just like Grandpa

Chuck E Cheese

Here are a few pictures from when we went to Chuck E Cheese with Grandma, Grandpa and Kaylee. We started off with 200 tokens, which we thought was a lot but they were gone in no time. Nate and Kaylee played against each other in basketball, mom really liked the skeeball game and I found a game that you had to get the light through the maze (by dragging it with your finger) before the time ran out. I pretty much spent the night playing that and was addicted after a few games. Zoee liked watching the train go around on the tracks and dad just kinda played with Zoee and did whatever. We ended up getting quite competitive and really wanted to win the tickets. After lots of money and a few hours, we ended up with 1090 tickets whick we used to get Zoee a purse with some play make up which probably would have only costed us $5.00 at the store. I told dad that we weren't paying for the prize but making memories. It was a really fun night.