Oh Utah....

Oh Utah how you've been good to me over the years!

I first came up as a teensy kiddo to Brianhead and visiting Great Grandma Maxwell and cutting the yearly Christmas Tree and visiting relatives in Bear Lake and Brigham City and other grand adventures.

I first lived in Utah in Cedar City and then in Lindon and then in Provo and then in Orem. And leaned a lot of random stuff at UVSC and SUU. Then I bailed back to Vegas, got a mission call, met the hubs, got married and 3 years later... came back to Utah. Now with a husband, one kid in tow and one in the oven.

3 of my 4 babies birth certificates say Utah on them.

In the last almost 6 years as a resident of Utah our family has lived in one apartment for 6 months and owned 2 different houses. One in Saratoga Springs and one in Springville. We've been seriously blessed to sell two houses in an insanely decent amount of time. (well one is under contract but if all goes well it'll be sold soon enough)

As a family we've had our ups and downs and have taken our hit from the economy.

But we've had some GOOD times! From going tubing and wakeboarding on Utah lake, to snowboarding and skiing in a few different resorts, to hanging out up the different gorgeous canyons, to Seven Peaks, and Lagoon, and so so much more.

The summers have been heaven, the winters bearable. ;)

The kids have had AMAZING friends.

And Dan and I have had even more AMAZING friends!

We've had rock band parties, cinco de mayo fiestas, grey's nights, BBQ's, karaoke parties, girls nights out, book clubs, hunting get aways (dan). and much more.

The girlfriends I have "collected" over the years here have been invaluable!!! You know who you are. One I've had for years and years and years. One I've shared a fence with and so much more. One has been my little island of friendship in a rough time for me. One has shared an obsessive hobby with me. And so many others that have meant oh so much more to me then they will ever know! They are the ones that bring out the best in me. And the crazy in me. The ones that probably know way too many of my secrets. ;) The ones that make me feel like I can hang onto my 20's just a little bit longer! And the ones that make me love that I'm not actually in my 20's anymore! :) Oh my Utah friends- I think I will die a little inside when I can't see you all as often as I know I will like to.....

Oh Utah you've been good to us! I don't know your state song, your state flower or much about you as a state. I know the capital is Salt Lake. I know the state flag has a beehive on it I think... But even though I haven't learned much about the state, it's been an amazing past 6 years!!!! And in one week I will once again, no longer be a resident of this fine state. And that's just a little bit sad. OK it's a lot bit sad.... But adventure is out there and we're off to grab some! Yee haw!

It really helps that we're moving home. It may not be nearly as pretty and the summers aren't nearly as nice, and it may not be nearly as clean or safe, but it's "home". While I have lived in Utah for around 8 1/2 years, that means I've lived in sunny Las Vegas for 21 1/2 years... so going back is really going home. And I'm actually kinda looking forward to it... :)