Grandbaby Number 5 and a Trip to Utah

Little Ellie Roggia was born on Sept. 11, 2008. Two days later Mom and Ellie came home from the Hospital, and a few hours later we arrived to spend the next two weeks admiring our newest grandchild. We enjoyed every minute of it, and were sad to have to come back to the real world.
Adam, the proud Papa!
I even played Grandpa with Eileen and Zach's baby Anne, born 5 days after Ellie. (She sleeps allot more than Ellie)
They're never too young to mess with.
The proud but tired new parents.
Grandma Betsy was so happy to get two weeks with baby Ellie.

She was even happy to do dishes!
Ellie is extremely awake and aware of everything.
I think she is talking to her daddy.
Could that be the makings of a smile?!
She studies everything and everyone. Very intense baby. "Grandma, what the heck are you saying?"
"Yes, I love my Grandma!"
A brief moment of peace.

Utah is pretty most anytime of year. The leaves were just getting started to turn. So We decided to go on a picnic.
The new Mom had to just chill at Ellie's first picnic.
Grandpa doesn't know how to just chill.

He does love holding the baby though.
Adam did a little hiking in the rocks.
Little Ellie with Mom and Dad at about 6 days old and on her first picnic.

Singing helped sometimes to settle Ellie down.
She loves men's voices.
Hayley is a great Mom.

Betsy and I decided to hike to the top of the "Y". Not sure why, just because it was there, I guess.
Yes, even my knees made it to the top.
Betsy doing her best Hayley pose.
You can do it, Betsy! It is a pretty steep trail to the top.

Grandpa Garner with Chris, Addie and Natalie.
See, Ellie pays attention to everything, even looks at the camera!
Lynette came to see her blessed. I think she's asking if Ellie ever sleeps.

She has some big feet for such a cute little girl.
Dad's magic touch.
Natalie has obviously done this before.
Adam was the family grillmaster at the picnic in Provo Canyon. Fine job, I'd say.

The Great Grandparents with their newest.
Adam gave Ellie her name and a great blessing on 28 September 2008.
Four generations of Garner decendents.

We didn't want to leave Utah and come back to work in Virginia.
The Garners, the Roggias,the Youngs, and one Stevenson.

We were very glad that Grandpa and Grandma Garner could break away from their busy times in New Plymouth to be in Church with us.

The Nearly Empty Nest

Our little boy's going away to the Army! We knew this day was coming, but it still seems impossible that we are now officially Empty Nester's! Jacob will be at basic for 8 weeks, and then jump school for 3 weeks, then on to His communications training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. He will be there for 21 weeks of training. He should complete his training somewhere around the April time frame. At that point the mission will be next, and then on to college at UVU in Orem. I guess the hardest part right now is not being able to communicate with him. We should be receiving a card any day with an address so we can write to him. The day Jacob left, Sara was at the house and agreed to take these great shots of our last day.


Jacob is in Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC now.

Jacob telling his posse goodbye.

Jensen and Izzie came to see Uncle Jake before he left.

Gave Izzie and Jensen a chance to get reacquainted.


"And you can call me "sir". (Phil is a Captain after all)

Ah, one last shot at the Playstation and loafing around in his own room. He now shares living space with 60 of his closest friends.

Isabella dropped by a couple of times in the last month. We are really glad they are so close now, even if only for six months. (they live down near Richmond at Ft. Lee, VA)


She is still a very delicate eater, but she's getting it.


She is always quick to tell you when you're getting too pushy with the food.

Jensen, on the on the other hand, has fewer food issues, and is likely asking for more in this picture.

"I'm telling you, he's already eaten" Grandpa said.

"Mom, you and Grandma have got to get back here, Grandpa and Jake are weird!"

"But they are amusing at times."

Jensen is planning a singing career, we're thinking.


He had some fun after all with Grandpa and Jake.

"Hey Dad, get back from Iraq and us guys will have allot of fun".

This microphone is a great thing. Sara and Jensen came and stayed for nice visit with us. We had loads of fun getting to know the big boy again. He is a great mix of his Mom and his Dad.

This is the favorite toy of all the kids we know so far. The ball blower.

It thrills them every time.


"I'd let you guys in here if I knew how to open this gate."


The future baseball star. A natural at hitting things.

Those are some cute cousins, and lots of fun.

Jensen was good at entertaining Grandma Betsy as well.

" I'm telling you, there's no way out of here."

"Try shaking this thing real hard!"


"Maybe if we just try looking really cute. It usually gets me what I want".

Oh well...just make the best of a bad situation.

Grandpa and Grandma love having visitors.

Who knows? Grandpa is odd.

But handsome in those plaid shorts.

Going to church with Grandma and Grandpa.

Fox even came to stay for a week. He loves Grandma's house and stealing the other dogs things. He loved this big chew and guarded it jealously.

Tank didn't want to fight about it, at least not too often. He seems to tolerate the company very well.

Betsy loves her little knucklehead Tex. She doesn't have to be a total empty-nester as long as the dogs are around. They follow her faithfully from room to room (it keeps her happy and gives Grandpa some peace).