in the fall....

in the fall we wake up to frost on the ground.
sun shining bright over golden mountains.
the afternoon heat thaws the earth and we peel off jackets and hats.
in the fall we explore.
tall white aspens reaching for the sky, piled high with yellow on top.
our boots keep our toes toasty in the light snow beneath our feet.

in the fall, we love burgers.
ok ok.
we always love burgers.
I feel like too

last hurrah

oh summer.

it's that time of year again, isn't it?

the time we have to say goodbye.

siiiiiiigghhhhh.

goodbyes are so hard sometimes. 

Monday we loaded up the packs with snacks and swimsuits and headed for the hills.

Fall will bring us all kinds of adventures, but I knew this would be our last one that felt like summer....

....and summer adventures are my favorite.

I felt like we needed

enjoying the show

A few weeks ago we had an afternoon thunderstorm slowwwllly roll in over the mountains. The sky was growing darker, the rumbling getting closer, and before the storm was overhead we sat out in the grass to watch nature's fireworks. We oooohed and aaahhhhhed as we watched the electricity streak across the sky. As the winds picked up and the rain began to sprinkle we headed inside to take cover

Friday Q&A

Let's see if this works.........



Every week I get questions from all my kind/sweet/funny/adventurous/super cool readers via comments/emails/instagram/facebook and as many of you have learned I have the HARDEST time getting back to you. I just can't sit on my computer all day answering questions......call me crazy. 



For frequently asked questions (camera talk, etc,) check out the FAQ (which

washington coast

oh where to begin. 
this post is so big it just might break the internet. 



It all started about two months ago.
A late night of conversation and dessert led to talk of adventure. 

Where to go. What to do. How to do it.

We decided we wanted to explore the Washington coast, you know, because it's so close to Utah (it's not. at all. oh well.)

We made travel plans, gathered gear, got time off

"......walk away quietly in any direction......"

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will

feels like summer

4th of July. 

100% summer-y-ness. 

We filled our backpacks with towels and snacks and headed up the mountain to escape the holiday crowds and the heat. 

Past one lake, past another and another.....heading up the trail to our icy swimming hole.

We claimed our beach, spread our towels, and played in the water until our limbs were nearly frozen.

There were rocks to examine, logs to paddle

yosemite falls

note: this post involves quite a bit of shameless bragging about my kids. 



We rolled into Yosemite National Park as the sun was melting from the sky behind the mountains. 

Windy roads through boulders and sky scraping trees, we came around the mountain and 

BOOM.

The valley. 

Greeted by canyon walls higher than I have ever seen, with El Capitan in front and Half Dome casting shadows in

one by one: get outside

If are just now joining us, please go back and read THIS POST about the One by One Project.....and feel free to jump right in!



WOW. 

I've been slacking. I've had all these ideas for our One by One Project....and life has got away from me. I can't complain......life is good... but let's jump right back in. 



So far we've worked on smiling, and small acts of kindness--both wonderful ways to

zebra slot

Last week when we found ourselves in the desert, we knew we wanted to explore someplace new. 

We sat around the campfire Friday night--and after ghost stories were told and marshmallows had been roasted, we planned our adventure for the next day.....



Zebra Slot Canyon in the Escalante area of Southern Utah it would be. 

We packed up lots of drinks, snacks, and swimsuits just in case we

a lucky find

 

 We loaded up the car and hit the road Friday morning, dreaming of sun and sand and a weekend full of adventure. We winded our way through the mountains, passing through farmland and tiny towns that dotted the empty two lane road. The green hills slowly rolled themselves into desert and red rock, and we pulled into the campground.



"We're full. Been full for the last two weeks......."



oh

while I was away....

Life is zooming by so quickly! 

It's almost MAY....! 

We skipped town for the weekend and found quite possibly the coolest campsite on planet earth......



.......I'll be back with more soon.

earth is awesome

take me to the top. the bottom. every corner of the earth

lone peak


It's Earth Day!
What a truly incredible place we have to call home.
There are beautiful things waiting right outside our own back doors.....are we taking advantage of them?  Exploring them? Appreciating them? Breathing their air and dipping our toes in their waters?
What better way to celebrate The Earth than to get out IN it

eight.

he requested blueberry pancakes.



Eight. Years. Old.

I am such a lucky mama to have spent eight years with this little guy.

He was born with lashes that reached out to his nose.

In his first few months we'd walk and walk and walk around our little neighborhood.

Well.....I walked, and pushed. And he loved it.

Big blue eyes and chubby cheeks. 

Happy and content. Always.

Taught me how to

how we weekend

Last Saturday we braved 11° temperatures and headed out for a few hours to enjoy the snow. The trails were pretty packed down (but more snow is happening NOW!) but it was just nice to get out and escape our dirty winter air.



I only had my camera out for a few minutes.....just too cold....so here are your three pictures







and a few more from my phone.....



In November I started the #

2012: Favorite Adventures!

Happy New Year!

I'm so excited for this brand new year and all it will bring! I love looking back over last year as a whole and thinking about all we've accomplished/enjoyed/endured/overcome/explored/eaten/on and on and on.

It was such a fun year. Here is a peek at some of my favorite adventures. 





click on the links below for more photos
snowshoeing the uintas, snowshoeing the uintas, 

big big sky

Montana. 

Many of you may have heard it called "Big Sky Country". 

Maybe you have wondered why......

I am about to show you.



Let me just tell you first how thankful I am 

for this wonderful state. 

When I was little, I lived in a small mountain valley in the west. 

We were close to mountains for picnics and camping and playing in creeks.

We spent summers at rivers, lakes, and the

have you been to the desert

Have you been to the desert?

Have you stood on top of a mound of rock and let the sunshine warm you through? 

Have you watched the bluest sky grow dark in just minutes, and open up on top of you? 

You quickly gather your Littles and run squealing for cover.

Have you been hailed on....not once, not twice, but three times in one day? 

Have you been in the desert after a storm? Watched the

bicycle, bicycle

"I want to ride my bicycle,  I want to ride my bike"

bonus points for singing along to that song.



Last week we left all of our troubles at home and ran away to the desert. 

Sunshine, rock, and red dirt as far as you could see......the perfect place to be. 

We braved wind and rain and HAIL (more on that later) and were able to get out for not one....but TWO amazing bike rides.  



me on

strength to the body and soul

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, 
places to play in and pray in, 
where nature may heal 
and give strength to body and soul.”
--John Muir



This is my motto, and I believe every single word.





Today was just what I needed.



A slow morning. (no school!)

Sleeping in, waking up sandwiched between my three.

Waffles for breakfast.

Gathering backpacks and snacks and shoes.

Out the