my place

I'm a firm believer that everyone has a place. 

Where the air fills your lungs just a little bit fuller and the sun shines a bit brighter on your skin. 

A place where your mind is clear, and your heart is full.

The desert is my place. 



I grew up in the mountains--a green little valley in Montana. 

When I was in the 6th grade, my family moved eastward to the plains. Fields of wheat rolling

friday q&a

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 most likely needs to be

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

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

a sunset

We have spent the last few days backpacking on the Washington Coast....have you been to Washington? It's an incredible place. Are you from there? Lucky you!

Now I'm no world traveler, but I am most certain that the western half of United States is the absolute best place on Earth. We have it all--mountains, forests, deserts, plains, beaches.....I just love it out here and feel so lucky to call

"......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

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

we've been adventuring......

el capitan 





back with stories to tell soon!

in color

Last weekend we loaded up the car with light jackets, hats, smiles on our faces, and left our frozen land for sunshine and color. A few months back, Robby asked me what I wanted to do for my upcoming big birthday, and I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do then head to the desert and soak up it's sun. My friend Ali's birthday is the day right after mine, so we turned it into one big family

bryce canyon national park

As we were wandering through Zion......we had a crazy idea.



"Let's drive to Bryce", he said.

"ok."



done.



We had never been to Bryce Canyon National Park, and since it was less than 100 miles from right where we were standing, we decided to go for it.



And we were sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (I cannot stress this enough, does the unnecessary amount of O's get that across?) happy that

roaming the desert

After our Narrows adventure last weekend, we learned that not far outside of Zion was a ghost town with a few leftover buildings. We knew we had to see it (we kind of fell in love with ghost towns--remember?), so we raced to beat the sunset so we could spend a little time exploring the former town of Grafton. 

There were a few houses scattered around in this little green valley that sat

the narrows. via my iphone.

Last weekend we found ourselves in Zion National Park.

It was just one of those really last minute "hey-it's-a-long-weekend-let's-go-somewhere-close-to-play" type things. 

You know?

And lucky for us, Zion isn't too far. 



The first place we wanted to explore was The Narrows. 

Most of this hike is spent in the water, crissing-and-crossing through rocks and sand, with massive rocky

a walk around the lake

ohhhhhh the lake. 

Lake Louise. 





An unbelievably bluish-greenish, wonderful, magical, icy cold mountain lake.

we loved it. 

Depending on the weather/time of day/cloud cover/where we happened to be standing.....the colors changed. 

From green, 

to blue, 

back to glowing green, 

to turquoise. 

I feel lucky to have experienced this place with my little family. 

There is only so much a

O Canada

When can we go back? 

I just can't get over how perfectly pretty everything was. 

We decided the best word for this part of the world was....

WILD. 

Everything. 

The mountains. 

The rivers. 

The waterfalls. 

Everything seems so tame where we live, in comparison to this great place. 

Wild animals--everywhere! 

The forests--so thick and dark and misty.

Glaciers massive and sparkling and

one last drive

dear big old magnificent girl,

 

where to begin? I remember the first time I strapped my fifteen month old babe into your back seat and set off on to Utah roads, where sunsets are pretty and drivers are.....well.....crazy. 

It was love at first drive.



You helped us move. Across the valley with stuff piled high, you made trips back and forth and to and fro, carrying our belongings to this

the girls take zion

Girls trip. 

What do you think of?

the spa.

a massage (or two)
facial.

a soak in a mineral bath.

makeovers.

shopping.

pedicures.

fine chocolates.

cute shoes. 





well........



How about:

100s of feet of rope. 

harnesses. 

helmet hair.

dirt.

sweat.

scrapes.

bruises.

camping with 10,000 moths.

dangling off a cliff.

the biggest bestest most fantastic burger you've ever eaten

dear moab, I love you

miniature me+delicate arch



After the race, we packed up and headed to Arches National Park right outside of Moab, Utah.



Wow.



Why haven't we traveled down this way before? We have lived here for 6 years now, what's wrong with us?!! It's only a 4 hour drive ( I realize to some this may seem excruciating, but since most of our roadtrips are 8+ hours a 4 hour drive is a breeze!), and it's

just a little home movie....

our family*. out exploring. when can we go back?



Redwoods from sheena on Vimeo.


hide and seek in the redwoods.



song: "Keep It There" by the weepies






*i make an appearance for, like, .5 seconds

among giants

I feel a little ache in my heart as I post this......

going through these photos makes me want to go back. 

so. 

so. 

badly.

I have never been anywhere like this in my life--

and to be there with just my little family was absolute perfection. 



We spent the entire day exploring.

I was so proud of my Littles--their little legs carried them over five miles in one day. 

up hills.

down