Family Slumber Party!!!

This was Alan's first time to meet Emy. Look how tiny she looks compared to his hand. We got a hotel room at Residence Inn in Sandy that had two bedrooms and a living room/kitchen. We crammed Brent and Meg's family in one room, Alan and I in one, and Tyler, Brad, Tawni and Mike DeMotte took the living area. It was great to all be together. We were thankful that Mike was with us. During the day on Friday we went to a bridal shower for Jessie at her sister Katie's house. Then we rushed back to the hotel and Alan, Brad and I went to the Salt Lake Temple so Jessie could do her endowments. It was a busy day, but it was awesome. We stayed up late and ate junk food, talked and laughed. Coen and Tawni got tired.

Here we are hanging in the hotel.
Poppi and the grandkids. Aunt Tawni and Emy.

Our stop in Bear Lake and Logan

On Thursday, we drove down and stayed the night at Ryan's parents cabin in Bear Lake. It really isn't a cabin. It's a house. It was great to crash there and spend a little time with Tawni and Ryan and we are thankful to Russ and Kathy for letting us stay. In the morning Ryan made us a gourmet breakfast. It was quite the spread. Thanks Ryan! You make a mean breakfast. This is the outside of the Cabin.
After Bear Lake, we drove into Wellsville and got to see the house that Tawni and Ryan are buying. Since they aren't getting married until March, Tawni gets to be the one that moves in. Lucky Tawni. It's a beautiful house. How lucky are they!!!!????
This is their view in the back yard.

This is the front. The weeds are going to have to be pulled out with a truck and chain. They are almost as tall as Tawni.

Tawni bought a New Car!!!!

So the other big event this week while I was here was that I was able to go with Tawni when she made her first major purchase of her life. Yes, 2 women going in to negotiate the buying of a new car may seem laughable. Tawni has total sympathy for Alan now and the stress that he goes through on major purchases. Tawni must have been on the phone with Ryan 10 times with him reassuring her that it was going to be ok. I think I even saw a vein pop out on Tawni's forhead and thought she was going to have an anxiety attack, but it's a great little car and it fits their budget. It's a 2008 Mazda 3. The gas mileage is wayyyyyyy better than the Jimmy and now I can drive the Jimmy home so that Tyler doesn't have to drive the white Grandma car anymore. That car would not have survived another winter.
This picture seems random, but the pics went out of turn. This is Atlas in his mommy's shoes. It's amazing that he can actually walk around in these but he can.
Meagan, Tawni and Atlas with Tawni's new car.

What a Blessing!

Tawni got us safely to the hospital so we could be there for little Emily's birth. I am so proud of Meagan. She did the whole thing completely natural. No epidural, pain killers, etc. Tawni may be traumatized by the whole event, but Meagan should be a role model on how to give birth with ease and grace. Here is Aunt Tawni with Coen, Atlas and Emy.
The Happy little Family!!! So glad I made it. They didn't have one thing that is made for a girl....so Tawni, Brad, Jessie and I had fun going shopping for girl things when we left the hospital. I'M GOING TO GET IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!!!!!

A week with the Grandkids!

It has been so great to be here to spend time with Meagan, Brent and the kids. I am so lucky that I have the lifestyle to afford me to be able to do the things I love best.....being with family! The weather was in or near 100 degrees all week. Here are Coen and Atlas trying to cool down.
The boys love their new little sister so much! They are so sweet with her. They love to watch her make monkey faces.
Cute little Emily Elisabeth. She changes every day! She loves to eat and she is the best sleeper. I think Meagan is getting more or better sleep now that Emy is out. I barely made it in time to see this little surprise arrive.....but I am soooooo glad I did!
Atlas loves to give Emy kisses

We have a Grand Daughter!!!!!

This was the greatest surprise ever!!! Meagan's baby was due on August 3rd. All along Meagan talked about how they were having a boy. They had an ultrasound at 20 weeks and the doctor showed them the picture and told them to see if they could see anything. Well, to me it sure looked like it was a boy. Soooo..........I had planned to fly down today, Sunday the 27th. On saturday morning at about 6:45 a.m. Meagan called and said she was going to the hospital. Alan was on his way home from San Diego and I couldn't get ahold of him, so I got on the computer and changed my plane ticket for a noon departure that day. I kept close contact with Meg the whole time, thinking that there would be no way that I would make it in time since Atlas only took 5 hours to come. Well, the plane landed at 2:45. I called Meg and they were just getting ready to break her water. Tawni picked me up from the airport, and we made it to the hospital in Orem at 3:45. Meagan was just getting ready to start pushing. I couldn't believe that we actually made it to the hospital in time. I feel so lucky and blessed. Well, she started pushing and as that baby came out and we saw the head we were still thinking little boy......until SHE came all the way out! I took one look and yelled, "It's a girl"! You would think we were all watching the Super Bowl. The room errupted. Marilyn Gerrard was there with Hailey, Nanette (Brent's mom), Tawni, Brent and I were all there. It was the best Surprise ever. Little Emily Elisabeth weighed in at 7 lbs. even and is 20 inches long. She has lots of black hair and is a very healthy eater. I will be here until next Saturday to help out and spend time with our grandkids! We are so blessed. As soon as I can load pics I will put some up!!

Tawni and Ryan Engaged!!!

Our little Tawni is Engaged!!!! We are so happy for both Tawni and Ryan and are so excited to officially have Ryan be part of the family! It's hard to believe how fast time goes by. It was just yesterday that little peon was sitting on the Lincoln Memorial steps. We love you both so much!!! Congratulations!!! Wedding date to follow.......most likely May of '09.