Finally:.Home Sweet Home

Our Home:.
As seen from a walk we took together

25 Random Things

I was sure I would be able to avoid the 25 random things post, but I have not. I feel better about posting 25 random things than e-mailing it. I hate mass e-mails that are sent out. I feel like I am "force feeding" unwanted information to people when I do that. Friends, co-workers, and family have asked me if or when I will post 25 random things. My answer is now.

25 Random Things

1. Instead of saying swear words out loud, I sign them. (ASL)

2. I recently started wearing jewelry. (necklaces)
3. In college, I got so frustrated with a music theory class that I threw my workbook over the cliff on Fourth North. (Dustin and Trent retrieved the book later that night)
4. I passed music theory.
5. I'm an ultimate Aggie.
6. While learning sign language, I told a guy who asked me on a date that I could not go because I had to make out all weekend. (I meant work)
7. I LOVE to cuddle. Especially on Saturday mornings.
8. My favorite game is Ticket to Ride.
9. My favorite color is red.
10. Most of the time, I like not being able to hear. It is peaceful.
11. Our mail gets stolen quite often.
12. My favorite TV show is Chuck.
13. I never received academic awards or recognition in college, but I did receive student of the
year from the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
14. I got a D in Biology. To this day I am proud of that D. I worked harder, and spent more time
in my Biology professors office trying to understand the study of life than any other class I
have ever taken.
15. I don't understand Biology.
16. My first A in college was in a stress management class.
17. I stopped biting my fingernails when Dustin was in Iraq.
18. Now I only bite my fingernails when I am really nervous.
19. I have to give myself a shot every day.
20. When people clap, it hurts my ears.
21. I have never had braces, and my teeth are really straight.
22. I love my job.
23. I love being married.
24. I love to travel.
25. Coming up with 25 random things about me was harder than I thought.

Happy Birthday DDT

To my dearest husband, my "cheeseburger",
my best friend, my love love.
HAPPY 29th!

A Place to Call Home

Libby and I have finally purchased a place that we can call home. The bank has finally accepted our offer and we will move into our first home next month. For a long time now, Libby and I have been searching for a home in the community known as Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah. This community has only existed for about 6 years now, but already has 7000 residents as the community appeals to families at every stage of life. The community was designed by renowned planner Peter Calthorpe to adhere to the principles of New Urbanism.

New Urbanism is not new as it essentially copies the planning methods used before World War II. Towns used to be constructed in a manner that did not lend itself to automobile use. Instead, people would walk to shops or to work. They did not have to take the interstate, but rather walked a short distance to the office or maybe even down stairs to thier occupation. This mixed-use idea was deserted after the war as most everything since was built to accomodate cars with new zoning laws that separated commercial and residential uses.

This resurgence of traditional planning is encapsulated in Daybreak's design. Grocery stores, schools, gyms, restraunts, parks, trails and even a 65 acre lake will be within a short walking distance of our home. Libby and I have dozens of parks to go to along 22 miles of trails. We also look forward to the new Oquirrh Temple that will be completed this year as we will only be 5 minutes away. TRAX will also be built in Daybreak so we will not have to drive a car to go downtown or to the U. All of the homes feature traditional architecture instead of the banal stucco boxes you find in most new neighborhoods. This architecture gives the neighborhood a more welcoming feel and distinquishes it from other neighborhoods in the valley.

Our home is a modest bungalow with a large porch and a nice backyard. It has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms which will provide room for our growing family. Things we are most excited for? A dishwasher, a garage and our own backyard. Oh yeah, and a closet that is larger than 12 square feet!! Having been a nomadic apartment dweller for the last decade it will be nice to finally call a place home.

New Year, New Adventures

Dear family and friends,
It has surely been a year full of wonderful new experiences and adventures. One of our most notable adventures was our trip to D.C. We got to see Ellie, Jeff, and their kids as well as Anna, Luke, Jack, and Elsa. We love spending time with family. Going to the Baltimore Aquarium with Elizabeth, Sarah, Anna, Jack and Elsa was definitely a highlight of our trip. Trips to the cabin, fishing, house hunting, Christmas with Mom and Dad, and marriage round out some of our exciting experiences and adventures in 2008.

Dustin is still working for a defense contractor here in Salt Lake City. He enjoys his work, especially every other Friday off. He works in the Human Resources department doing something important. I know that the work he does enables the other 64.000 employees to have health benefits and security clearances to name a few. He is a wonderful husband, and I feel blessed to be married to such an outstanding man.

I am still working at North West Middle School in a classroom for students with emotional and behavior disorders. I enjoy my work, and love the students I work with. My health, I hope, has plateaued for now. I had a Solu-Medrol treatment on the 23rd and 24th of December, so right now I feel pretty good. Thank you to all the family and friends that continue to support us through this "bump in the road."

The most exciting news is that we are buying a house. It is not ours yet, but it looks like we will be closing around the 27th of January. I enjoy driving around neighborhoods and saying "Oh, I like that one!", or "Definetly not that one." Actually house hunting and making appointments to see a house is not my cup of tea. I will be glad when all the papers are signed and we can just go window shopping from the car again.

We hope the New Year finds you happy and healthy. We look forward to a year of new experinces and adventures. We hope some of our adventures will find us close to family and friends.

Love,
Libby and Dustin

I Heart You

D, I heart you. Thank you for putting up with my solu-medrol induced irritability. Thank you for braving the cold and snow to get sprite, chocolate, and anything else to keep the metallic taste out of my mouth. Thank you for cleaning the house, dishes, and laundry so that I can rest. Thank you for understanding.

Love Always, L

MRI, I loathe thee!

I am so sick of MRI's. In six months, I have had three MRI's, one of which was on Wednesday. I am not claustrophobic, but being confined to a small tube that makes really awful banging noises for an hour does not fall into my list of fun things to do. Dr. Foley ordered this latest MRI to see if any lesions have developed since my last scan. We are hopeful that the results will be favorable and few or zero lesions will be visible. The new hospital, Intermountain Medical Center, or IMC, has a new MRI machine with a really powerful magnet that allows a better view of my brain than any other machine in the state. I am grateful for the new equimpent that will allow Dr. Foley to better view my brain and in turn, better treat the MS.

Dr. Foley has also ordered another round of Solu-Medrol to be done next Tuesday and Wednesday. I am actually looking forward to this infusion because it will give me more mobility and decrese my tone. That means that Dustin and I will hit the slopes to go snowboarding during Christmas break.

Dustin and I can not thank you enough for being so supportive. We appreciate all of the prayers, fasting, temple prayer rolls, well wishes, kind thoughts, and encouraging words. We feel that the Lord has answered our prayers, and yours by giving us such a wonderful support system.

With Love,
Libby and Dustin

First Time For Everything

Today I took Z and T on their first outing to the toy store. The store of choice was Toys R US. When the doors opened, the kids ran inside and stopped. They both looked at me and I said "go look!" That was all the permission they needed before they were off and running . After a few close calls with shopping carts, adults, and kids, we had the system down. Z was the leader, and T and I followed. I told the kids they could each pick one toy, and off they went on the hunt for the perfect toy. T, went straight to the pink isle where she chose a baby doll, but Z had something else in mind. During the hunt for Z's perfect toy, the kids rode all the bikes they could fit on, got into all the Power Wheels they could, and looked at every single isle in the store. After forty minutes of chasing two kids in two different directions I broke down and bought a stroller. T got into the stroller, and Z continued his hunt for the toy he wanted. Who ever knew a three year old could be so picky. Finally Z saw his toy. A John Deere tractor that makes all types of sounds and has working headlights. We were ready to check out and go back home to wake up Uncle D from his nap and show him our toys. On our way out the kids saw a boat with Tiger in it that they just had to sit in. Two rides, and a dollar later, we left the toy store with smiles on our faces, and toys in our hands.

Happy Birthday MJF!

To my favorite SISTAH, who is incredibly thoughtful, kind, funny, smart, honest, gorgeous, talented, creative, and much more.
Love,
Libby

Buying A House

It has been far to long since I have written anything on our blog. However, we were recently approved for a home loan, and put in an offer on this cute little bungalow. Our offer was accepted by the seller, but it is a short sale. In short, we have to wait for his bank to decide if they want to sell it to us at our offer price. Our real estate agent thinks we will get it, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. It is in South Jordan at Daybreak. Daybreak is a master planned community by the point of the mountain that was designed after the neighborhood I grew up in. It has great Traditional, Cape-cod, Bungalow, and Victorian style homes with very little stucco. I don't have anything against stucco, but too much of one thing is never good. The home has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a backyard. The backyards in Daybreak are small because it is a walkable community. This means that there are parks every few blocks and open green space. This brings people out of their homes and gives the community a chance to meet one another. The community boasts two swimming pools, basketball courts, volleyball pits, a temple (The Oquirrh), a dog park, over thirty miles of bike and jog paths, community gardens, community center with a gym, picnic areas, and a lake for fishing and non-motored boats (we can't wait to buy a used canoe). We are very excited for the opportunity, and will keep everyone updated.