special days

Since beginning working full time, at the crack of dawn, weekends have become especially special to me.

Saturday, and Sunday, mornings when my body naturally wakes up around 7, and I realize I may sleep as long as I please, I can only explain as pure joy. 

And the time not spent sleeping, is spent finding fun things to fill our day. 

Labor Day weekend was filled with Swiss Days and Sheep Dogs. 

Saturday was spent with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. 

We shopped, ate, gabbed, and sang a few songs from The Sound Of Music soundtrack. Weird since that was set it Austria, and we were supposed to be celebrating the Swiss. But no matter, I'm sure rain drops on roses, and whiskers on kittens make the swiss happy too. 

It was a perfect girls day, minus the fact that the right side of my hair decided it wanted to be straight and the left wanted to be curled. rough. 

Monday was spent at the Sheep Dog Championship at Solider Hollow. 

This was my brilliant idea, and I got Zane and my in-laws to jump on board with me. I am currently going through an animal obsession phase, for the last 20 years. 

It was such a fun atmosphere. I love my fellow dog lovers, they're the friendliest of people. 

The Splash Dogs were my favorite part. Zane and I have officially decided our future puppy will be a Splash Dog. Here's hoping that puppy is here sooner rather than later. 

The weekend was well worth the farmers tan, and peeling that followed. 

It's a little late, but I hope everyone enjoyed their labor day weekend!

weekend

Zane and I treated ourselves to a weekend in Park City to celebrate summer, and his 26th year of life. It was lovely to get away from work, and school. Honestly, even a day away from the family we adore was wonderful.

We mostly shopped, and ate. Which is perfect, because they happen to be my two favorite past times.
Over the last year, Zane has become my best friend. Doing anything, or nothing with him, makes a good day, and doing nothing particular in Park City made a great weekend. 

Shopping Main Street

Zane's dinner

My delicious dinner that looks like it came off the kids menu. 

I day dreamed about living in this house one day. 

 visiting the olympic park. 

you should check it out if you're ever in the neighborhood.

It was short, and simple, and everything we needed. 

home sweet home

hello blog. Long time no see.

Growing up I was blessed to be able to vacation with my family to all sorts of fabulous places; New Port Beach, Hawaii, a Mexican Riviera Cruise, and my all time favorite, Greece.
I have been spoiled.
I hope one day I can spoil my future family the same way.
Currently my bank account says not a chance.

But I started realizing months ago, there is so much in my little state of Utah that I've yet to see. How can I desire to know the world, before I know my own home?
Thus, I have written somewhat of a to-do list.
A list of things of adventures, silly and amazing.

This weekend was the perfect opportunity to knock something off the list. My adorable sister was in town with some friends for the weekend. Her friends, one from Indiana, one from California, have never been to Utah.
She took them to Zion's on the way over, and the next day we made a plan to hike to Timpanogos Cave.

I have hiked to the caves before, but it's been at least 12 years. I was overdue for a visit. A visit I will actually be old enough to remember.

It was amazing. It is kind of eerily beautiful. As cliche as it sounds, caves are mysterious to me, and I find them so interesting. Or I find "it" interesting, since I've only been to one.
Going through the tour I am as eager to understand as the 8 year old boy standing next to me.

If you haven't been, GO! It's a good hike, and it's a beaut.

The group outside the cave entrance. 

Why is my husband's $10 target sweatshirt my favorite thing I've worn in months?

 I love my tan tis. 

The heart of the cave. 5'6 and 4,000 pounds. what!?

Matching

I loved waking up super early feeling satisfied with how I spent my weekend.
Utah has so much to offer, and I love exploring it with my family.

Anyone have anything I need to add to my Utah adventure list? 

Suggestions welcome.

what a day, what a silly little day

Saturday Zane and I woke up and decided it was a perfect day for a visit to the Hogle Zoo.

It really was. 

I have a small obsession with all animals. So even though I am almost 20 years old, I am definitely not too old for the zoo. 

And little known fact, and it might not actually be a fact, the animals are way more active this time of year than I have ever seen them in the summer. 

I was basically 2 feet away from a tiger, and made a serious connection with a monkey. 

Needless to say, I loved every second of it. 

cauuute. 

The monkey moment mentioned was not caught on film, but the Tiger was. 

It doesn't do it justice, it was pretty much amazing. She was gorgeous, their eyes are unreal. 

Kind of hurts my heart at the same time though.

Can you hear the tree hugger inside me?

After the zoo we made a stop at Heritage Park. 

A completely underrated destination if you ask me. 

Heritage Park is where Brigham Young declared that "this is the place". 

It was special to me, to stop and think about everything the pioneers went through to get here, and what Utah might have looked like when they first arrived. 

The view today of what Brigham saw.

Just extra happy to be there, I guess. 

Utah is the beautiful place I call home, and I am grateful for a Saturday spent exploring some of it's little treasures.