Family night

Dad took us to dinner tonight for family night. It was really fun. We went to a place called The Oaks. It is in the canyon and I have driven past it at least a million times but I have never even thought to stop and eat there. Everyone was kinda in the mood for a good hamburger and Dad said they had good hamburgers so we went there. It was actually really cool. We got to sit outside. Our table was away from everyone else and it was surrounded by trees. We really couldn't see anyone else because there were so many trees. The river was right behind us and it was really beautiful. It was a cozy feeling sitting there in the trees and eating with my family. I really enjoyed it. The food was good, the company was great and it reminded me how beautiful my home town really is. Here are a few pictures we took. Sorry they are a little blurry. They are with a camera phone because I forgot my real camera. Enjoy.

I miss Vegas

Actually, I think I miss my husband. I don't really miss Vegas but since that is where he is, I miss it. Things are good here and it is much cooler but I sure do wish Nate was with me. Things are more fun when he is around. I am looking forward to Swiss Days this weekend and excited to see some of my Garrard family. I can't wait to shop till I drop!

Zoee and Andy

A little bit of Heaven.

My mom and I found a little bit of Heaven today. We drove up to Brigham looking to buy some peaches and pears to bottle. We stopped at one of the fruit stands and I was immediately in Heaven!! There were baskets and baskets full of home grown tomatoes!! (I LOVE tomatoes but love them even more when I am pregnant. I eat them like apples!) I picked up a few and smelled them and it made my mouth water! Zoee was feeling the same excitement because I looked over at her and she had a few in her hand and had already taken a bite. I paid for them and we enjoyed a few of them with salt and pepper right there on the side of the road. It was glorious. I plan to go back a day or two before I come home and buy some to take back to Vegas so if any body down there wants any just let me know.

We also bought a few bushells of peaches and pears and plan to bottle them tomorrow. I am excited. I will post pictures of my home making skills soon. I am also looking foward to peaches and ice cream and peach pies. YUM!!

We got some good news today that my brother Cody and his wife Melanie are having a baby boy!! So Gus will have a cousin just one month younger than him. They are naming Max Graham. We are really excited for them. Congrats guys!!

Grandpa and Zoee

 

My home

I love this picture because it has the tree house in it. It remids me of so many good times growing up. Just wanted to share.

Home Sweet Home

That's where I am at. Zoee and I drove to Utah today. It was a good drive minus the fact that I got stuck in some bad traffic in Salt Lake and what normally takes 20 minutes, took me over an hour. I was pretty bugged and just wanted to get out of the car. Zoee of course was super excited to see my family and I haven't even seen her all night. She went on three bike rides, went to see the horses, went to visit great grandma, played the piano with grandpa and is now coloring with Kaylee. It is nice. I took a long shower and am just laying around. It's good to be home but I already miss Nate. This is going to be a long couple weeks.

We said goodbye to Mike last night. It seemed weird that next time we go to the house, he will be gone. Strange. He is going to be a great missionary and will have the time of his life. We will miss him a lot but he is doing what he needs to be doing. Good luck Mike. We love you.

I got a new calling on Sunday. I am the Relief Society secretary. I am excited. Excited that I am out of nursery and excited that I will get to know a lot of the sisters in the ward. It seems like a lot of work but I am looking forward to it.

I will try to post every so often, between visiting with friends and long naps. We are going school shopping for Kaylee tomorrow who starts high school this year. Seems strange to me. I think she is still in elementary school! Time flies.

Talk to you soon.

Gus Gus

For those of you that say you automatically think of the mouse named Gus on Cinderella when you think of our baby, this post is for you.

I went to the mall tonight. Mostly to kill time and get out of the house. I wasn't really planning on buying much but then I saw this outfit and I had to get it.

I think it will look great on him and fit his name just right!

Sorry Grandpa Layton

Zoee and I were supposed to go up to Utah yesterday and stay for a couple weeks but some stuff came up so we can't go till Monday. Grandpa Layton is a little sad about all of it and feels like he has been swept under the rug. We hope that these pictures make you feel better and help make the time go by faster till Zoee is actually there. We are sorry we hurt your feelings and we love you!! See you Monday!

Save the date!

For one of the best nights of your life!!

Baby Garrard

I never thought I would post pictures of my ultrasounds on my blog but Nate said we should put them on the blog so here goes.

Everything looks good. He has everything he needs. He has a strong bones and healthy insides. The doctor said he has a nice big nose bone. (which I guess that is one of the things they check when looking for downs.) I laughed and said, oh he will have the Garrard nose. No offense guys. You are are beautiful.

We are going back for another ultra sound in 6 weeks so she can check the heart and give the ok on it. I am not far enough along to see all parts of the heart so she wants to wait till he is a little bigger. No worries or anything, just need him to be bigger. They will also check my placenta too because it is sitting a little low but they don't seem to be concerned. They figure it will move up as I grow.

So things look good. He is healthy and that is what matters. I admit, I was a little disappointed when I found out it was a boy but it is growing on me and I am starting to get more excited. Nate is really excited and we already have Zoee saying his name.

Which will be: Gus Howard Garrard

We love it! We know a lot of people laugh at the name Gus but we both really like it and that is one of the joys of having your own kid, you get to choose the name!




This was the 2nd picture she took to show us it was a boy. I kept asking her if she was sure it was a boy and so that is why she wrote I am still a boy.

Enjoy and welcome baby Gus!!

Bless you

Bless you. Bless you.

Whoever it was that left the money in our diaper bag.

You have no idea how much that meant to both of us. It brought tears to my eyes to know that there are people that really do care. I was truly humbled and grateful.
You will be blessed and some day when we are in the postition to help, we will do the same because someone helped us when they didn't have to.

Seriously, thank you so much.

Just a quickie

I just wanted to post real quick before I get to work on my laundry. We spent the day washing and drying all our clothes and now I just need to finish folding it and putting it away. That's the worst part.

Yesterday was a good day. Mike did a great job on his "farewell" talk. I was impressed. We are going to miss having him around and I am a little jealous that he is leaving. It has made me think about my mission a lot lately and I sure do miss that life sometimes. It is an amazing thing to be able to do and I know he will have such a great time. The south is the best and only the choicest missionaries get sent there! : ) The get together last night was really fun too. The food was good (especially the bunt cake and bean dip) and the conversation was great! Thanks Sarah, Erin and Jer. It is always so fun to talk and I learn SO much from you experts!

We find out what the baby is tomorrow. I am really excited!! I think it makes it more real once you know. I will be sure to post it on here once we know and I will tell you the names we have picked for a boy and a girl. I am so nervous. Nate thinks it is a boy. I think it is a girl...only cause I hope it is.

Check back tomorrow to find out!!

Off to do some of those house wifey things that have to be done. Love you all.

whoa.

This stay at home mother thing is A LOT harder than I expected!!!

Tagged

I should be cleaning but instead I am blogging again because it makes Daniel happy that I have blogged so much lately.

Yourself: Stacy Garrard
Your partner: Nathan Garrard
Your hair: Needs to be cut
Your mother: wonderful
Your father: hilarious
Your favorite item: My wedding ring
Your dream last night: hmmm, can't remember
Your favorite drink: Coke from a fountain or crystal light
Your dream home: Just needs to have a nice kitchen and a BIG bath tub!
Where you are now: In my bedroom
Your fear: that something will happen to my husband.
Where you want to be in 10 years: Staying at home with my kids and maybe in Utah
Who you hung out with last night: Nathan, Erin and Sarah
You're not: very motivated to clean right now
Wish list item: a job for Nate with NLVPD
Thing you did today: had lunch with the inlaws
What are you wearing: jeans and a blue shirt. go figure.
Favorite book: I don't read enough to have a favorite.
Last thing you ate: a burrito from Baha Fresh
Your life: adjusting to change
Your mood: ok. not happy not sad
Your best friend: Nate and Heather
What are you thinking about right now: That I miss Nate and want him to come home from camping.
Your car: Chevy Malibu
What are you doing at the moment: thinking about the pile of dishes that need to be done.
What's on TV: not watching TV
Last time you laughed: Today at lunch when me and Erin were remembering what we saw last night!

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Peter Piper Pizzza
2. receptionsit at a blind and window treatment store
3. working at one of those horrible survey call centers
4. the credit union

4 Movies I Can Always Watch:
1. Dumb and Dumber
2. Christmas Vacation
3. Return to me
4 The jerk

4 TV Shows I Enjoy:
1. Greys
2. Big Brother
3. Flip this house
4. Cops

4 Favorite Places or Things to Eat:
1. Anything my mom makes
2. Lone Star
3. Jason's deli
4. most any kind of vegetable

4 Websites I Visit:
1. Blogs
2. postsecret.com
3. credit union
4. yahoo.com

4 places I love to be:
1. anywhere with Nate
2. The temple
3. Huntsville Utah
4. with my friends

4 Places I have lived:
1. Huntsville
2. St. George
3. Tennessee
4. Las Vegas

Great news!!

Nate emailed his background investigator the other day. He just told him that he had another job and that they could contact his manager if they needed to. He also included in his email that he was hoping he was still in the running and would like to hear something back if the BI had any information he could give him.

We were both surprised that he responded as quick as he did. He sent a reply with an hour or so. His response was this:

Your packet is scheduled to be reviewed by the chief on the 29th of this month. HR should be contacting you to do your psych and medical test.

We were very happy! Nothing is for sure still but we think the review is the final thing before someone is hired but he still has to pass his psych and medical test.

We are trying not to get too excited before we know that things are for sure but it is such a good feeling to know SOMETHING! We have been waiting and waiting for so long and knew nothing so it is good to at least know a little more.

Keep praying!!

all fixed

I went to the dentist today. I got up at about 8 and started to call around and call the insurance to see if someone could get me in. Luckily, I was at the dentist by 9:45 to have the work done. The dentist drilled out the old filling and put a temporary crown on. It was really bothering me throughout the day. It felt too high so every time I would bite, I would feel the crown. I called them back around 4:30 thinking that they would just say come in tomorrow but she told me to hurry down to the office and they would get me in before they closed because they aren't open on Fridays or Saturdays. I went back and they sanded it down some more and it feels normal now. It is amazing the difference so I think I will be fine with the temporary for a few weeks until my permanent crown comes back from the lab. Exciting.

I had one of the greatest nights tonight. It all started last night when my friend, Lindsey called and told me that she wanted to have a girls party with all the girls we grew up with. We laughed so hard just thinking about all the good times we have had with everyone and thought about how much fun we would have going out one night. We made a list of people we wanted to invite and we got to work on finding phone numbers for everyone. I spent some time tonight on the phone with parents getting current phone numbers for everyone. I got in touch with three of the girls on the list and it was SO good to talk to them! We laughed and laughed just like old times. It's crazy cause the three I talked to tonight all live in different states and we all have kids within a few months of each other. It was really good to talk to them and I was in a hyper giddy mood all night.

We are planning a night out in October. We are having it in Ogden. We are going to go to dinner and then Linds totally hooked us up with a hotel suite and we are going to stay there for the night. I am so excited just thinking about it and gearing up for all the laughing we will do. I am going to put together a slide show of some pictures of everyone from elementary school thru high school and show it that night. It will be a riot. I can't wait!! I seriously love these girls, they are some of the greatest people I know. I am just counting down the days!!

ah crap.

Nate worked all day today. He only came home for a quick nap and then it was off to Mix. We didn't really get to see each other much today we decided to meet for his lunch break. We met at Panda Express across from Mandalay Bay. It was good to spend time with him. We were just about finished with out meals, we were sitting there just talking and waiting for Zoee to finish. I took one more bite of my orange chicken, I bit down on something really hard and then realized it was a piece of my tooth!! I was freaking out because this is the 2nd time this has happened to me. Last time it was a different tooth a week before my wedding! I was mad and frustrated! Why are all my teeth falling out! It really makes me mad because I brush and floss my teeth everyday and I have more problems than I think I should. I realize that the problems I am having now are from when I was younger and didn't take as good as care of my teeth as I should have. The fillings are just too big and there isn't a lot of teeth to make a wall around the fillings and so they are starting to crack and break off. Now I have to find a dentist down here and get ANOTHER crown. The crappiest part about all this is that I am pregnant and if I can even find a dentist that will work on me, I can not have the gas! Whats the point then? They gas is the only good thing about getting dental work done and now I don't even get that! Plus, this WAS NOT in our budget and even with insurance it is going to cost us some money. I am not looking forward to the next few days and the trips to the dentist! I am so bugged right now!


(I know this is kinda gross but at least you can see what I am talking about!)

Farmers Market

I have really been craving some fresh produce. I have been buying some of it at the store and it isn't the same and it kills me to pay a dollar for a little squash or zucchini considering that in Huntsville they are growing out our ears and we cant eat them fast enough. Well, I had heard that there were farmers markets around town so I looked online and found a few of them. There was one tonight out towards Summerlin so I decided to go. It was ok. It wasn't really what I expected but I did buy a few zucchinis, cucumbers and some tomatoes. I am a little bugged though because I think the tomatoes are from a store. I was a little suspicious when I was looking at them. They just didn't have the feel and look of a real home grown tomato. I bought three of them and came home to eat them. They didn't taste anything like a home grown tomato either. I think I got ripped off. I was a little bugged with the zucchini and squash I bought too. I paid for it and then when I was leaving a saw a little booth with two old ladies sitting there. I went to their booth and all their stuff was 2 for a dollar or 3 for a dollar. I was mad. I bought some from them too and now I have a lot to eat!! There is another one in Henderson and from the sounds of it, it might be better. I think I will check that one out later.

A few random pictures

Zoee helping me make cookies.

Just hanging out.

This is one of my favorite dresses to put her in. She looks so cute!

Zoee loves to be naked and wrap up in Nates blue blanket. Just like her dad!

A little taste of Heaven!

My dinner tonight...Oh it was so delicious!!

Zoee's hair cut

So I decided to cut Zoee's hair a few nights ago. It was getting really long and I liked it but it was uneven and needed to be trimmed. I should have just taken her to a salon but I tried it myself. I wish I wouldn't have cut it. I have no idea what I am doing!! It is too short and it is uneven so I will need to take her to get it fixed. Good thing she doesn't care and good thing it will grow back.

This one makes it look REALLY uneven but it's not this bad!

My husband is a genious.

Nate passed the POST test. He called and got the scores today. He did really well. He even scored 100 on the math part. His lowest score was 85% which is still really good. I am proud of him.

The bad news about the Ogden academy is that there aren't enough positions open right now for the sheriffs office to run their own academy in September like they had planned. They are turning the September academy over to the university for those that still want to do it. The academy at the sheriffs office is paid and you are guaranteed a job but the academy through the university is not paid and does not guarantee anything so we will not be doing it. I guess it is good to at least know that we won't have to pack up and leave in a few weeks but I am still a little bummed. He is still going to turn the application in for the academy in March which will be paid. I guess that will give us some more time to hear back from NLV or Henderson.

I took Zoee to the ear doctor today to check her ears to see if the tubes were still in there. They are. That means that we have to go another 9 months with ear plugs and then go back to see if they have fallen out. Its a bummer but it's better to be safe than sorry. He scheduled her next appointment for April 7 2008. It is weird to think that I will have 2 kids by then! Crazy.

I might leave and go to Utah for a week or two. I have to be back for my doctors appointment on the 14th but I talked to my dad today and he really wants Zoee to come up so he said he would pay for the gas if I drove her up tomorrow. I told her I might come up next week. I do want to go up and do some canning with my mom. I want to bottle some peaches and pears. I have really been craving that lately and I bought some cans at the store the other day and they just did not satisfy like the home made bottled ones. We will see.

That's pretty much all the news in the Garrard house.