I love Utah...

TODAY. Its peaceful, beautiful, snowing, and there is a sheep living in my backyard/field. Honestly I love Utah, I don't think there is a better place for outdoor recreation and it is beautiful. But the Salt Lake Valley? I have recently realized that I hate the valley. Visits to the costco zoo, stoplights, and a week of inversion and freezing rain have recently convinced me of this fact: I really miss rural living. The catch? Rural areas don't host major healthcare centers, which are a major facet in mine and my husband's careers. Jentry and I discussed this the other night and this was the result of our conversation:

5 Places I REALLY REALLY want to live

5. Logan, Utah

Pros: Rural, but big enough to support a Walmart and a few places to dine out, Beautiful, close to Bear Lake, relatively close to family, good recreational opportunities.

Cons: Suffers from inversion, No major medical Center, however, Jentry and I decided the U should open a satelite hospital there to serve the Northern Utah and Southern Idaho small towns and foster rural physicianship.

4. Park City, Utah

Pros: Most potential for reality, beautiful, lots of snow, 3 world class ski areas, lots of outdoor rec, right smack dab between our two families, has a Walmart that is not overcrowded, outlet mall, close enough to feasible commute and work at the U hospital or Primary Children's.

Cons: Commute over Parley's, cost of living, lots of developement

3. Flagstaff, Arizona

I don't know that much about Flagstaff , except its in the mountains and I went there once and really liked it. Also its in Arizona and they have good produce there, probably my main reason for wanting to live there!

2. Durango, Colorado

Again, I don't know much about Durango other than I really want to live there. I went there once and I really liked it! I know it is beautiful, it has a Walmart, there is lots of outdoor recreation, and there is a car named after it. I don't know if there is a large medical center there, but feasibly there could be. But it is very far away from family.

1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Do I really need to say anything about why Jackson is my number one pick? I think If we really did get to move there I would probably die of happiness before we got there. Just to humor you I will go through the pros and cons

Pros: Grand Teton National Forest, 2 Large Ski areas, Beautiful, small, really cool, need I go on?

Cons: No large medical center, but I think I could make a good case for opening one there, I don't think they would have any problems with staffing. Kind of far from family, but closer to sister and all of them would want to come visit us all the time!

Meet Bella Marie!

And then there were three! Lloyds that is...

Name : Bella Marie Lloyd
Age: 8 weeks
Color: Whitish yellow
Eyes: Brown
Wght: 12 lbs
Hght: 14 in

Favorite Things:
Walmart Duck that quacks
Tennis Balls
Petco Treats
Sitting on mommy's lap and chewing leash

Least Favorite Things
Green Squeaky Football
Green brush
When someone is standing on the opposite side of the baby gate

Bella was born on November 29, 2008 and joined her new family on January 24, 2009. She is a gorgeous yellow/white labrador retriever and is so sweet. Jentry and Heidi are so excited to have her in their lives!

Husbands are wonderful!

Well, mine is at least!

The last few weeks I have been complaining to Jentry about how I really, really need a vacation.

The house has been a never ending project since we moved and I've been working a lot and work has been really crazy stressful. I keep hearing this commercial on the radio about the Sandals vacation spa and resort in Jamaca. Its terrible, I have to turn it off everytime it comes on! And the other day I realized I have not taken a real vacation since August! That is way too long ago.

Well my wonderful husband, instead of becoming irritated or frustrated with my constant murming, shows up on wednesday evening with a bunch of roses and whisked me away to Logan for a little get away!

We enjoyed some fine dining (if the olive garden counts!), a luxury sweet at the anniversary in, and some time away from all the chaos of life. He had planned on taking me snowsheoing (my favorite) the next day, but plans were foiled by that aweful freezing rain! Nonetheless it was so good for my soul just to get away for a little bit!

Jentry you are wonderful and AMAZING, I love you!

Rising up and Above

On Wednesday I saw blue sky.

Real blue sky, and I felt the Sun.

I had forgotten how warm the sun was when unobstructed by particles in the air. I bathed in the delicious warmth every time the Mueller Park Trail turned south to receive direct sunlight as I snowshoed my way up, out of, and above the muck. It was a gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful day.

I'm so glad my parents taught me to appreciate the outdoors and introduced me to activities I can engage in to get myself out of the valley and the bad air! When I reached my final destination, Elephant rock, I turned to look westward. I had gotten high enough to see the Oqquhirs for the first time in SEVERAL days.

And between here and there was a thick, brown, hazy cloud engulfing the city. It kind of made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Okay A LOT! Yuck . . . so if you are reading this and live in the valley, Please, please, please DO NOT RUN OR WALK OUTSIDE because all that thick, brown, haziness will be going in your lungs...and you will be lucky if you only loose one!

The 10 Best Things about our New Diggs

1. We are the ONLY people who live here

2. Covered parking...bless the man who invented carports!

3.Dishwasher+Garbage disposale = no more smelly kitchen

4. Thick soft carpet in the family room...oh how I have missed laying on the floor

5. Mudroom/laundry room...no more jumping over heaps of laundry while cooking dinner!

6. Blue Shutters...they are adorable

7. The sheep who lives in the back yard, makes me feel more at home :)

8. AWESOME running trials right out my front door!

9. Getting to watch a gorgeous sunset every evening from the large family room windows

10. Jentry here with me and we are VERY happy!

How ccould life get any better?