Utah Love. Utah Fam. Utah Friends. A moment.

U T A H. L O V E.


I sat down to write this post and overwhelmed....
I don't know where to begin really.
How do I say all I want to say in a few simple sentences.
I don't really think I can...
But let me begin with the few thoughts that are running through my mind.
(bear with me...cheesy, but true. good thoughts for my blogging journal :)
My Utah.
My love, my family, my friends. and man oh man, those mountains.


My home, my heart....it will always be. My first.
But these last 8 months something has happened to my heart..(again bear with me with my cheesy comments...!)
As I was leaving Colorado, I was so excited to get to Utah, my family, my friends, get back to the familiarity..feel the love. I so needed that.
But strangely, I felt a sense of excitement knowing that I have another home,
a home in Colorado. Knowing that I was leaving to Utah but had something so great to come home to....with friends and loved one's that have become so important to me.
Exciting really. Unexpected too.
Therefore, something happened....my realization, an epiphany....
When I moved, I thought I was going to lose everyone. I mean the "close" relationships, the day to day feelings, the close bonds I shared with sisters, family, friends....that maybe I would be lost..eventually.
But that didn't happen. Not at all.
In fact, the exact opposite occurred.
Amazing really, but it did.
My heart. My heart grew and grew and realized. It realized how much I love my Utah peeps, relationships grew stronger, bonds tighter, phone calls and texts more meaningful. And in such a big way. I can't explain it, but I almost feel closer to so many of you. And I feel joy.
Immense joy. It's like I get two Christmas's, two homes, two experiences of life...
So when the Stott's packed up and headed for good ole Utah,
my heart was so so full.
It was so happy. Knowing I was leaving my home here in Co, but heading to all my loved one's in my Utah home as well....
I get the joy of both.
Both you see. Life is so much sweeter in so many ways.
I am lucky, and blessed, and so incredibly happy.
It is our course, The Stott's course, for that I know.
For we have grown, and learned and understand our path so much more clearer.
It is a beautiful realization I had as we drove on back home to Colorado, I sat in the car looking out at the beautiful snowy mountains....it was quiet, the sun streaming through the windows, snow lining the roads, the blue sky...it all dawned on me. it was great. and I love it. A reaffirmation of our choice.
Now with that said, I need to move on to my Utah post.

Now where to begin again?
Well maybe I should just simply say all the amazing and fun and wonderful things the Stott family experienced in those 6 days. so I will, here I go.
(driving out...my kindle (lovely!), my android, my treats, my d.c!) here we go!)

~Arriving Sunday evening to the hugs of Grandpa and Grandma Stott, the joy and happiness on my kids faces hugging their Grandparents who are so sweet to them.

~Opening all our gifts from the Stott's and sharing ours with them...the fun little joys of Christmas and the happiness of giving and receiving gifts.
~Hanging with Aunt Cindee, who is always so sweet to my kids. Ry's sis is the greatest aunt.
~Going to the Jazz game with the Stott's. A fun tradition every year. Ry's parents treat us to the game and dinner. Such a fun night to spend with all.

~Driving downtown past Temple Square lights! So beautiful. My heart was waiting to see those lights, a tradition every year. They are spectacular. I took a quick pic as we drove by. Sorry it's blurry! I felt the Utah love at that moment .

~Waking up Monday morning to a glorious snow covered Utah! I put on my running clothes and headed out to Walker Lane. The most beautiful area in all of Salt Lake. Amazing homes nestled amongst tall trees and wooded pines. Every person's dream. I ran it all my life. I awoke each morning (at Ry's parents half the week, my parents, the other half...) and ran and stared at those big beautiful Wasatch mountains.

~ The excitement of the Brown cousin party! They waited for us. Monday morning...a church by the Mountain house. My kids dying to see their cousins.


We walked in and wow. I started to cry a bit. The love! the love! My family, my nieces and nephew, my brothers, my sisters, my parents. my family. here. all here. We were together. It felt so good. Oh it was a happy moment for me, my kids. My mom happy too announcing we were all together, the cousins that is...together from Germany, Colorado and various parts of Utah! It was a moment...here is a pic: (and sorry had my cheap camera all week...bad pics!)

my cute nephew, Brendan left the very next day for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He is serving a mission in South Korea! So awesome! WE love u Bren!(above pic. B is middle row, 2nd from the left, holding Chloe Bear)

~Watching Austin see the 4 pack for the first time again...Cole, Quinn, McKay, and Austin. Buddies for life. Brothers really. Inseparable.

In fact, I really never saw Austin the rest of the week as my sister took turns taking him in and letting him sleepover, they fed him, gave him money and took the boys all around for movies, dinners, sledding, fishing (yes fishing! secret pond...remember! they treated him like a son, thank you!
~Jake and Lexi Lou. Best friends too. forever. grew up together. Every day. Would marry Lexi if they weren't cousins :)

~Mace reuniting with Carson, Blake, Cade, Trey, Dax..the 6 pack we call them. Cousin boys all the same age! is that amazing or what?! wow! Mace loves loves these boys.

~And Ashlyn of course, with all her beautiful girl cousins too! ( L toR: Alex, Ashlyn, Savannah, Miranda, Marissa and Madi!)

~ The cousin party was a hit: exchange gifts, eat tons of treats, play a few games of dodge ball, and simply hang and catch up on life! I loved being all together!

(All the sissa's with my mom! She looks like a sister! How I luv these girls...!)

dogdeball mania! Ry and Aus! The boys were LOVING it.
~ Going to Cafe Rio with sisters and Ry's parents....

(and seeing an unexpected visitor..haha)

~Sister night...dinner and a movie! True Grit and Chili's! Just like the good old times. Laughing all night long at my sister misty and her jokes...I miss her humor. She will lighten any room.
~Ry flying out to CO (for work) and me packing up my stuff and heading to the Mountain House!
(ohhhhh the snow!)
~Going to breakfast at Kneaders with my mom. I brought along Jake and Lexi, Landri, Ashlyn and Whit. They came with us all day.
Kneaders warm soup and bread...oh so good!
~ Arriving Wed morning to the mountain house and hanging with my parents! Catching up on lives....
~Ashlyn hanging all day with her BEST friend Whitney! They played and played! They have been friends since they were 3!

~ Going to the Quilted Bear for Pink Cookies! the best. Funny story. I got there, bought one cookie, planning on buying all 10 of them, but went to the restroom first, came back and my Colorado friends Ashley came in and bought them ALL! not planned...she came for xmas too..but came w her family. it was so funny
~Austin going fishing at the secret pond (freezing!) with Coley and Matt
~Sleepover at the Larsen's with Jake, Lexi, Austin, Cole, Quinn, and Mckay! thanks girl!
~Driving in the huge snow storm on Wed! We were up by the mountain house driving around all day..slipping, sliding, accidents, and SNOW! the mountains were stunning...I was loving it!

~Going to dinner with my friend Kim. We went to Noodles, shared a rice krispie and ate noodles. It was just like the good ole' days! we caught up on each others lives...we talked and talked late into the night. Luv ya girl!
~Waking up to a huge homemade breakfast from my parents. They always spoil. Eggs with avocados, tomatoes, fresh grapefruit, apples and banana's. Orange juice. yum!
~Watching Mace play with Cade at the mtn house. Brien and Bran live in the basement so Mace and Cade played and played.
~Mace going on a play date with Carson. My bro picked up all the 4 pack and let them hang at their house...(the best house with all the toys :) thanks bro!
~Ashlyn and Aus sledding at Jan's house. Ash got to hang with her cute cousin Savannah overnight! They had a great time
~lunch with my girls! Amber, Misty, Kim, Annette and Rochelle. We went to La Hacienda and shared some laughs! These girls are tight...book clubs, gnos, working out every day, girls trips...i love these girls. And we had good Mexican too!

(Amber is in this one..Kim took the pic...)

(Kim in this one..Amber took the pic!)

~ Jake hanging with his buddy Ben. They played the Dance Wii game and his mom Ashley sent me a video on the android..hilarious! and so cute!
~Watching my dad (Grandpa !) play and play with his grandkids. It was so sweet. A moment for me watching him get on the ground and play games with the 4pack. I love my dad.... priceless.
.
~ Going to dinner with my best friends of 11 years! Nat, Rob, Nancy, Lisa and Dani. Friends for life. We went to my favorite place! Macaroni Grill! Good times...us girls can talk and talk and talk...I think we stayed 6 hours! (thanks m and d for babysitting my kids and running them all around!)

~Running at the mountain house...(in blizzards...) really. A funny sight to see. but I didn't want to miss out. The mountains are so big and grand..nothing like them anywhere!
~New Year's Eve party! Hosted by my sis, Misty! wow. what a party...! what fun. Food galore, pictionary, Dick Clark, cousin's banging pots and pans, laughing with the fam. I loved it. (Ry flew in that night, his plane LATE due to snow...he got there at 9:30 p.m!) But thanks Em for the fabulous pina colada's, strawberry daquiri's, and the best..Maui Wowi's! Brian made his homemade pork tamales! oh divine! we had 7 layer bean dips, artichoke dip, chocolates, candy, it was so good.

Misty always does such a great job! It was so pretty! the ensemble...

j

~watching all the cousins play in the cold 10 degree night and bang their pots an pans. I have the cutest pic of all of them.

They were loving it..it was SO cold...brrrrr!

~Waking up Saturday (new years day) with Ry knowing it was our last day here.

Ry had lunch planned with his best friends from his childhood..Iggy's watching football! I went with my mom and sisters to the Quilted Bear for my 10 sugar cookies and lunch at cafe rio once again! I had to get pork salad and flan, one last time! I ran into a few friends there...!
~ Being in Salt Lake, it felt just like home. Everywhere we went, I ran into friends or acquaintances. Something about the "familar feeling" of being home.
~That last night going with a few people to the Aisan Star for dinner. Our last event. It was a beautiful Utah wintry night. A great night for goodbye's.
~
Lastly, thank you thank you to my family. I am so blessed. Thank you for taking us Stott's in and letting us hang all week! and thanks for treating my kids like they are your own. It means the world.
Love you friends too. I am so lucky to have such a great support system. You friends that are for life!
Love you Utah. my heart is always there! But headed on back to Colorado for our life. Say goodbye to the holidays Let it all begin again. All kids in basketball, indoor soccer, scouts, homework...life.
Love it.
xo!
(driving on home....long roads in Wyoming adn NO where to stop! But we loved the views...snow covered all of Wyoming. Beautiful really. Do you see Ashlyn asleep in the background?? The warm sun felt so good!
Winding down the Mountain House. Creek Road. View of Little Cott. Canyon.

Goodbye Beautiful Utah! Till we come again :)