introducing~drum roll please...

Joey

Joseph Garrett

Born June 24, 2011 7:52 PM

7 lb. 19 inches

Last week I was privileged to travel to Megan's home a day 1/2 before this beautiful baby was born. We shopped & played & then she went to the hospital & had a baby... no sweat, right Megan? It was one of the best experiences of my life. I can't explain in words the joy of a grand baby or the ultimate joy of a grown up child who is doing all the right things in life. She & Tony are such wonderful parents. Charlie & I had SO MUCH FUN. I love being a grandmother & hate being so far away. I'm so grateful for the time we get to be together.
WElcome Joey!
We are so happy to have you in our family

maybe you didn't know

Maybe you didn't know:

One of the very best things about Women's Conference this year is that I got to meet IN PERSON one of my favorite people - Shannon- what a thrill! It was so very exciting for me! Oh I think we would be hanging out on a regular basis if we lived closer. She really cracks me up & honestly reminds me of myself a bit... except she is an amazing decorator/gardener... and I am an sniffling allergy mess in the garden. (it's not pretty)

Yesterday I came home from work- really sad-because our last creative day was canceled due to busy spring schedules & sick kids. I slooooowly walked into the house to find Brett home working - because he wasn't feeling well.

THEN- there on the counter - GOOD MAIL.

I felt loved. Thanks Shannon! You really made my day.Maybe you didn't know:

My sweet Charlie & his parents live in tornado alley. NOt good. Joplin- is only 60 miles from their house... oh those poor people. We have been watching the weather & I've been checking my weather channel app everyday. We/they are so blessed not to have had a tornado in their town... and I hope/pray they won't get one at all.

Maybe you also didn't know or realize:

they are expecting another baby boy...

SOON!

This time, I am extremely ill prepared. I have the fabric, but no baby blanket- aah! I will be working on that right away. I am so thrilled- just absolutely thrilled- to be a GRandma again.

Finally today is here!

Today....
Megan, Tony & CHARLIE are coming!!!!
I haven't been talking about it much because I was hoping it would sneak up on me & the time would come fast! It worked- but now I need to slow down & enjoy having them here.
I am hoping the time will go s-l-o-w, but somehow
I doubt it.
There will be
Lots & Lots & LOts of pictures to come

What have I been doing these past few days?

*cleaning up (it doesn't work... It just has to be done again?!)

*shopping for extra fun groceries (we are having corned beef & cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick's Day)

*sewing up a storm (baby stuff & skirts!)

*missing jack...

*being thankful Brett is home this week-

last with with him gone was rough. I am still recovering.

a day in megan's town

I flew into Megan's town on October 20th- I got there just before dinner. Megan made one of my favorites found here & it was YUmO. We settled in for the night & then the next morning she took me on a tour of her town.

Her town is darling, clean, family oriented & full of atmosphere.

In her town there are no bars- no where to get booze- You have to go to the town down the road for that- this is a family town. Wow- impressive.

In Utah - the LDS church gets blamed & hated because of regular people wanting to do that... Hmmm?

She took me to the original Walton's five & dime where the original Walmart started.

It is a really neat little museum now.Sam Walton's truck- the truck he drove around refusing to go ritzy with all the money & success in his life. He seemed to be a very good man- I wonder how he would like the Walmart of today? Surely he would be amazed at all the growth!

Just outside of the 5 & dime is the city square.

It's darling- Megan & Tony come here often year round on the weekends- especially for the farmer's market & concerts on the square. They love it here- I hope I get to come with them one spring/summer or fall night!City HallThere are a couple of darling specialty shops right near the square. Cute as can be & lots of fun to browse. These Crock bags were all over. I have never seen one before. I'm not a fan of crocks- but if you are you've gotta check these out.We passed the Walmart headquarters.

It's just what you would imagine- not pretentious.

In fact, I wouldn't even know that's what the building was if Megan didn't tell me.We drove past all of her favorite homes in town.This one is both or our favorites!

How beautiful is that!!?

I wonder how it would be to live in a house like this-

I'm sure it's full of charm & history.

We picked up Tony & had lunch at Panera --

WHY isn't there a Panera in Utah?

This place is incredible- I fell in love with it in New Jersey & want to go back!

After lunch we went to Rogers- a town nearby & I stop taking photos- I think it was the Williams Sonoma overload- I LOVE that store & she has one of the nicest/biggest ones I have ever been in. Then we checked out Brighton Jewelry, Yankee Candle & Pottery Barn. Too much fun for one just about to go into labor--- I bought her a pair of new pj's for the hospital, we went back home, then off to the hospital where she was checked in---

and the rest is history!

Thanks for the tour- for being so good to me- and for making me a Grandma-

I love you guys & miss you-

mom

he's here....

What an amazing couple of days this has been...

before

and after-
Introducing my beautiful new grandson...
Charlie

Mother, father, baby & Grandma are all doing fabulous!!

we interupt this travel log for a very important message!

I AM GOING TO BE A

GRANDMA!!

**YES**

Megan & Tony are expecting

I have known for a couple of weeks, but was sworn to secrecy.

When they told us I screamed & started bawling & cried for almost two hours straight.

(I am a TERRible secret keeper... this has been very hard for me. There are several people I purposely haven't spoken to for weeks, just because I knew I couldn't keep my big mouth shut)

So the due date is October 29th, which is approximately 2 weeks from when the missionary comes home. We haven't gotten his release date yet.

2009 is shaping up to be the best year ever

moving day

It's hard to believe that yesterday we went down to Orem to help the college graduates pack up & get ready to move on. On to Bentonville, Arkansas- where Tony has a new job at Walmart Corporate headquarters.Brett, Jack & Trent went early to help load up the truck.The girls & I came down a little later to help load & clean.

Their little first apartment wasn't even dirty. It took no time at all with eight of us, but would've taken forever just the two of them.

We will really miss having them near by.

The kids especially.

Megan is such an important part of their lives, being the oldest & such a great example.

I can't stand that they will be so far away- but I am so excited for them.

Isn't it funny that their truck is an Arkansas truck?

It even has some Arkansas fun facts on the side.

I can't believe they are leaving in this terrible weather.

Ya- I am a nervous about this.

But- I know they are smart kids.

I trust Tony to take good care of Megan

and Megan of Tony.

Megan has grown up to be such a wonderful woman.

I am excited to see all the great things to come in life for her & Tony.

I can't wait to go visit them this year in Arkansas! Did you know that Bentonville is only 5 1/2 hours away from Graceland? Brett says that even if he could visit 10,000 places he wouldn't go to Graceland. Well, we shall see about that! I really want to go to Graceland- hurray for Megan- she says she will go with me.

Be safe kids!

I love you guys!~ mom

finale

Saturday's Nutcracker finale was really great.

We found out Chloe's cover art was chosen as a finalist for the program- very exciting.

{photo by trent}
Plus megan, tony, brittany, ruthie & sarah came!

We didn't have a bbsitter but did have an extra ticket...

so we braved it & brought Trent along for the very first time- I was more than a little nervous... But he DID GREAT! He sat through the whole performance & loved it.

He did ask to go home many times, but we made it & he's been talking about that intermingled with more cell phone misery for days now.

His favorite part- "the blue soldiers, they have guns. The red soldiers have nothin' how are they going to fight the mouse king?"

I was wondering the same thing?

random monday

I love this picture of jack not wanting to get his picture taken waiting to leave for the dance. Why- because on Friday the senior class went up on the mountain to paint "their letter" white. You can see the white paint still stuck on his scalp. He was covered in white paint... I wasn't home & didn't get a photo!!! dang- I have pictures of megan & brian covered in white paint from their senior years- maybe someone has a picture out there?Sunday we drove down to the newlywed's apartment & had lunch with them. They are so cute- they have a darling apartment- I love them. Trent wanted to see everything- oh thanks for being patient guys.

Today I went shopping with the peanut & my sister.

Look who's walking- the peanut! gosh I just can't believe how cute this guy is & already walking? amazing- i guess he is a whloe year old now. It always takes him a while to warm up to me. He refused to smile. I think he was just so serious about buying this chair.