Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Where I Live

Chris tagged me last week to list five things I like about where I live. Not an easy thing for me right now as I am not loving Utah at the moment. I think vacations do that to you. Tease you with what could be and then you come home to what is. But the more I thought about it the appreciative I became. Read on if you think you can handle some sentimentality...
I love the sunsets here in Utah. Summer nights where the kids are playing outside and the sky looks like it is on fire against those gorgeous Wasatch Mountains. I don't ski, I don't love camping, we don't own four-wheelers. Sometimes I wonder, what are we doing here?! But when it's light at 9:00 p.m. and my kids are running and giggling all over the neighborhood I am happy.

I love that we live close enough to my mom and dad to walk over to say hello. Or call and say "I'm taking the kids to the Copper Mine and they wanted Grandpa to come." And grandpa does! That Greg gets to go to grandma preschool every week. We live 40 minutes from Dan's family too - so we get to see them also as well which we love! I love the fun parties with his big family.

I love that I grew up a 10 minute walk since I was 7 with my best friend, Kjersten and here she is living a 10 minute drive from me. I never had a sister so I made her mine. Doesn't she look like Jennie Garth from 90210? She has the most beautiful family. She is a teacher, a mom, amazingly crafty and creative and the most devoted friend I could ever laugh or cry with. (We've done both lots!)
I hope these girls don't get mad - I wish I had a picture of all of the girls on my block. I am the "Old Mom in the Neighborhood" at my undisclosed age but they never make me feel that way. They are beautiful, talented, funny and smart. They are amazing mothers. They are fashionistas. They are such fun friends. I love the "who wants to go to a movie" emails, book club, our annual neighborhood block and Christmas parties, how all our kids flock outside to play together, how we help each other. I love the friends that I have made here. I love that I graduated from here. I apologize to my parents for that taking so long! I was a little unfocused. But once I decided to go back I LOVED college and I loved going to the U. I'm proud that I have a Bachelors degree. I had planned to go back to California to get a job and then met Dan a week before I graduated. What could a few months hurt to see what could happen with this cute guy? Well, here I am...
I love my little family. As much as I wish we lived somewhere that was a little more, hop, skip and a jump to something other than Boise or Vegas, I would be foolish to wish that I was anywhere without these other four. I am really trying to be more optimistic and have a heart full of gratitude for what I have no matter where I live!

I am tagging Kjersten, Katherine at FritzieMarie, and Mrs. B!

14 comments:

Kitty said...

Hmmmm, Miss Pretty, this is going to take me a bit...but I will try.
love love,
kat

p.s. this makes me miss Utah

Kristen said...

Believe me, if I can do it about Utah, you can do it too!!!

Heidi Totten said...

If you are the old mom, I am the grandma being just ahem, slightly older. :) This is a great post with pretty pictures and I love it!

Chris said...

Hooray for Utah! If you're feeling down about your state, the best thing is just to not go visit anywhere else. Slowly, but surely, you'll forget that anything else is better. :) I think it's gorgeous! Good girl for participating!

Anonymous said...

Great list!! You ae not an old mom for crying out loud-your a young, fun and darling mom!! Love the new background by the way:)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful place you live in. Dont feel too bad about dreaming about somewhere new. I do it all the time. I have lived in the same area all of my life. It does get boring at times and I do wonder whats out there... it's ok to dream... maybe one day we just may end up neighbors.... fun to dream~

KEYSHA said...

Enjoyed the post (not the picture, but oh well...I will get you back sometime!) Utah really is a beautiful place; and we are glad you are our neighbors to enjoy it with us!

"The Queen in Residence" said...

That was nice and you were so kind to not mention the lake effect snow that we just got walloped with. But I agree with you that there is something about the sunsets on those mountains....truly majestic.

Kerstin said...

Hey Neighbor! I guess we travel in the same circles because I found a link to your blog and couldn't resist looking! If interested, I can email you a link to my blog....see you at church (once it is "safe" to bring the baby-- maybe after the church changes to a later time...J/K). :)

Jo said...

I love the pictures. I too get bored with Connecticut and would be ready to move in a moments notice ~ I've shared this with my husband many times!

Your family photo is fabulous ~ the children are adorable!

Jo

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

It looks like you are very very blessed to live in Utah, even if it isn't always easy. To have friends and family nearby, well, that's about all I could ask for! :)
Carrie

kjtroxel said...

You made me tear up. I love living close to you too!

BFF! ;)

Allison said...

You so are NOT old. We are just mature. Cute post!

shayla said...

How lame am I...now I totally remember you--all you had to say was that you were kjersten's bff...or maybe it's that I had to picture the two of you together! How wonderful that you still live so close and have fostered that friendship for eons! Fun post!