I'm a mountain climber

Seven Years in Tibet is one of my all-time favorite movies. Brad Pitt plays an Austrian mountain climber and our favorite quote from the movie is when he says in his thick Austrian accent, "I am a mountain climber! I climb mountains!"

Climbing mountains is what I would like to do for a living. However, I don't want to climb any mountains with snow (Kilimanjaro would be my one exception) and now that we have Calvin and have to pack him, I don't want anything too strenuous. Basically I would just like to spend part of every day hiking. Mountains and trees are my favorite things next to God and family. Jeff and I want to take a trip to the redwoods/Big Sur in the near future and I told him I'm pretty sure I'll cry when I see those massive trees.

We were fortunate enough to get in some amazing late summer and fall hikes. I made it a goal to hike at least once a week in September and I'm happy to report that I did.

You'll notice Calvin is almost always smiling. I think he loves hiking as much as me. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Well done Utah, you're amazing. Here are ten million pictures of our adventures.

Packing to my death

 FULL DISCLOSURE: This hike nearly killed me. I swear to you I am not in that bad of shape. Or maybe I am. But that 20 lb papoose who insists on leaning over my right shoulder like a fat drooly parrot that pulls my hair doesn't make it any easier.

Look at that face though! Every time the breeze would catch his hair he would tilt his head back and smile. Morgan was very patient with my slow pace, the morning was perfectly overcast, C fell asleep on the way down, PLUS we saw a big turtle on our drive back. So...I call the hike a success, despite thinking I would die a shameful death and roll down the mountain with my baby while attempting a less than one mile hike.

the dog days of summer: they're pretty great

The long, hot days of this Utah summer are dragging on perfectly. I always feel like after the 4th of July summer tends to wind down in the best way. We've been grilling like it's all we know how to do and squeezing in every bit of outside time possible. 

Summer thunderstorms have begun rolling in periodically and I tried to explain to Jeff how they make me feel and that they're my absolute favorite. My explanation didn't come across exactly like it feels in my head and I ended up crying, then laughing and ultimately saying that I feel squishy??? I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Maybe I feel nostalgic for those early mornings growing up on the farm or maybe something else entirely, but the point is I love late summer and it just continues to get better from here on out. Summer melting into Fall is absolute bliss.

Baby boy and I hit the road early to beat the heat then once the temperature starts its downhill slide for the day we're back outside.

 Tacos...so many tacos this summer and somehow still not enough

 this face

 Waffles, fish feeding, and successfully fitting 4 children and 4 adults in one vehicle to Bridal Veil Falls

 Hikes with Amanda and a zonked out Afton. Calvin was a bobble head by the end too.

 A couple of pool honeys at grandma and grandpa's

And this goofer now sits

Catch up and a Von Trapp moment

 Let's just back up and pretend it's three weeks ago....Happy Father's Day!

Since Jeff won the rookie of the year award for new dads, I fed him a breakfast to truly show how much I loved him. Not in an "I care about your health"  sort of way though - unfortunately. It was more of a hug for his arteries type of breakfast and a meal that I vowed to only make him once a year on Father's Day. There was sausage and biscuits and gravy and bacon...I still feel guilty about it...and eggs and Mt. Dew.

Heart-damaging meal aside, we had a wonderful day and I absolutely love all the dads in my life. My own papa is the funniest man alive and has taught me so much that I'd be lost without him.


The day before Father's Day we took a little journey into the mountains and stumbled upon the most amazing meadow of wild flowers. A Von Trapp moment sprung to life as we climbed those mountain slopes, our eyes filled with wonder and awe. Hobbes was particularly frolicsome so we let him star as Maria.