Relocating

It's true... After 8 cumulative years, one wedding, two graduations, and a baby, we are officially leaving Utah. So the company Jade works for is changing the way they're run, and instead of having one corporate office in Provo, with lots of smaller offices around the country who report to the corporate office, they're turning it into a franchise-type company, where each area will be wholly self-sufficient. They offered all the upper-management the chance to buy a franchise, and Jade was given first pick, so he chose the area that's been the top-market every year, which coincidentally is Portland! So the company is initiating the change after the summer term is over, which means we'll be packing up and moving to Oregon at the end of August. We're not sure how permanent this move will be, because it all depends on how well the business works out. We're keeping our house here, mostly because we would lose a ton of money if we sold it now, but also "just in case" things don't work out in Portland. This isn't the business Jade wants to be in for the rest of his life, so he hopes to just get it running super well so it can basically run itself, and he can just take a backseat and do what he really wants to do: sell insurance. So we could be in Portland anywhere from 5 months to a couple years. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Utah. I don't hate it here, and I'm not unhappy here, but it's just not where I want to live long-term, it was more of my get-the-degree-and-get-out-of-there place, and I did not want to be here any longer than that. Despite those feelings, this move is going to be really bittersweet for me. I actually can't believe I'm saying this, and Jade will probably give me grief about it for years to come, but there's a lot I'm going to miss about Utah. Here's my list: Jerai, Phil, Boyd and Remy (Tink is going to miss her best friend SO much, and Peyton is really disappointed because she and Boyd had been planning on living really close and being best friends). I can't articulate how sad I am that we're not going to be living in the same zip-code as the Moultons anymore. It's been great the past few months, and I wish you guys were moving with us! Stephanie Holt, my resident best friend and best hairdresser. That girl was my sanity while I was in Utah, and I'm so glad her and Jade went on that non-date shooting date and became friends, so that when I met Jade, I became best friends with her. Steph, I'm going to miss you like crazy. This just means you're going to have to visit home more often since Seattle and Portland are so close!! The guys from Stampede and their wives. You all have been such fun friends. I'm glad most of you are staying with Stampede, so we'll always be connected. All my friends from A and F. Thanks for making my pregnancy so much fun. I could not have asked for a better pre-baby job, and I'm so glad I got to know you all. You better stay in touch. Our friends from Sleepy Ridge. Who knew we would actually have some really cool people in our ward! I was so skeptical about Utahns before I moved into this ward (sorry to be so judgmental, but it's the truth. I was a cynic). Living right on the golf course. It's been great playing all the golf and night-golf we wanted, and Tinky had the best backyard ever. We're really going to miss that. Knowing the best place for a wax, a massage, a manicure, a pedicure, a chocolate-banana milkshake, Mexican Food, Italian Food, Brazilian Food, and Steak. Knowing how to navigate my way around. I'm going to be absolutely clueless in Portland, and I'm not going to know where anything is. Utah-only places: Trendy Tots Boutique, Rod Works, Burger Supreme, Tucanos (there's one in Colorado, too, but that doesn't help me), Pita Pit, Prime Steak, Steak Out, the little Italian hole-in-the-wall in Provo, and Joe Vera's. BYU football games. It's been so fun being a BYU groupie, following the team and watching our friends play so well. We'll still be watching every game, but it's not the same! My entourage: Dr. Judd, the best OB/GYN ever, Dr. Wynn, who is the top pediatrician in Utah and we're so glad he accepted us as patients even though he has a closed practice, Dr. Robinson, who was a great dentist and rescued me from a really bad dentist, Jessica and Debbi, the best nurses of all time, and Orem Community Hospital- I couldn't have asked for a better place to deliver my baby, and I might just have to come back to Utah to deliver any and all subsequent children. Coaching cheerleading. The temperature in June, July, and August. Portland isn't as hot in the summer as Utah, and I'm going to miss hot summers. Utah has been pretty good to us the past few years, and thank goodness we both moved here! Thanks to everyone who made it bearable. I'm actually going to miss a lot about Utah, but I'm so excited to move to Portland (I call it a "real city") and I can't wait to live so close to family. This is going to be a big adventure for us. Wish us luck!!