Well Howdy, Stranger!

So, did anyone notice I changed the name of the blog? Wanna know why???? do ya? We're Idahoans now! Yep, we done gone and made the move to the countryside. I'm pretty darn excited about it, too.

Actually people here talk pretty much the same as everywhere else... there is a slight Idaho accent, but I like to think I already had a bit of that due to my Dad being a native Idahoan. Although, I've never called a creek a "crick" and don't plan to anytime soon. But I might be persuaded to start calling the days of the week "Sundee" "Mundee" "Tuesdee", etc. Just because I think it's cute.

So... we're all moved into a fancy rental house that kind of fell in our laps--not literally, that would be very painful--and I am in LOVE with this area. Oh, Idaho... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
There are big pretty trees that add beauty but don't block the view.
The nights are cool, the days are warm, the breeze is soft...
The smell of grass and moist air is pure heaven.
I have already seen two of the most spectacular rainbows ever.
I see horses and cows on the way to the grocery store.
Traffic is rarely more than a few cars and never stop and go.
I don't have to get on the freeway to go anywhere.
Most people here speak English.
There are cute little bakeries and boutiques and local mom and pop stores.
The readerboard on the gas station said "Welcome Home Sister Kara Staley".
Sister Kara Staley gave her homecoming talk in our ward today--and it was awesome and my girls soaked it in like sponges.
In church, wise older guys give talks that include farm analogies. I LOVE farm analogies.
I can go to any kind of restaurant, the movie theater, Deseret Book, the mall, Idaho's largest used book store (awesome!!!), a fabric store, Barnes and Noble, a ton of cute boutiques, walmart, target, tj maxx and anything else I could possibly want--all within 5-10 minutes "down the hill". (past the horses :)
I can see the city lights and the sunset from my bedroom windows.
My husband can go off-roading and shooting 5 minutes "up the hill" from the house.
Yellowstone is 1 hour away, the Tetons are 1 hour away, Jackson Hole is 1 1/2 hours away, Swan Valley is 45 mins away.
Sweet kids from all over the neighborhood were inviting my kids to play within 1 week of our arrival.
Nobody seems too interested in what we do for a living, just how we're doing and if we need anything.
Our new neighbor served his mission in New Mexico and taught Jim how to make the best salsa ever--no seriously, and we know salsa.
We get to ski this winter!!!
The school is next door to the church and both are right down the street.
Eliza's girls camp is at BYU-Idaho's Badger Creek. They will be whitewater rafting, rappelling and a bunch of awesome stuff. I've already volunteered to "help".
Sophie is buddies with an autistic kid next door, who has finally met a friend who will not get offended by him, will stand up to him and tell him off when he needs it--and he does the same for her. He actually talks more than she does, which I didn't think was possible. His mother tells me she's perfect for him.
There is a trail that follows a canal across the street from the house, where you can see horses and trees and fields and birds and ducks and two grave-sites that I'm pretty sure are for the farmer's beloved horses and a beautiful homestead and NO cacti at all whatsoever.
I could go on forever about the reasons I love this place. I'm sure my list will grow even more. But for now, I'll keep adding to my list in my head and share it with whomever requests a recitation.

Pictures soon. I'm going to go sit on the porch and feel the breeze on my face. :)