Living the dream

Nate was recently offered a great position at work! We were so excited; he's been working really hard for it! That excitement took us up to Midway where we bought a 1990 Jeep Wrangler! We've wanted one forever. And it has opened up so much of the wilderness that we didn't have access to before. The first place we went was my favorite place in the world...the part of American Fork Canyon where Nate proposed!!

June 2010, just moments before he proposed (he's reaching for the ring!)

The same spot 4 years & 2 kids later! We are still so in love with each other and this beautiful place!

This is the camp spot we hung out at the day he proposed. Still gorgeous! Can't wait to come back and really camp.

Having the Jeep is making me think that maybe we don't have to have our cabin in the woods. I can deal with subdivision living if we have more access to more of the mountain like this.

 Y'all. I am most alive among the tall trees. And I hope by dragging the kids along at an early age that they learn to love it too.

House dreaming

We've been dreaming about a real house lately. And driving by, we took some sneaky photos of these amazing houses. We would never build anything this massive, but aren't they pretty? I love this style of home! Too bad they are in cul-de-sacs. They belong on a lake!

I've always dreamed of owning a home on a lake. One day baby!

Wild Oregon

I think I'm okay with settling in Utah...and then I see this photo essay. Sob. Someone find Nate a job in Oregon please! Pretty pretty please!

Cabin dreams

A few weeks ago, Scott & Erika were staying at her aunt & uncle's cabin in American Fork Canyon, so we stopped by to take a peek. After our little visit, I think I've decided that I don't even want a real house. I just want a cabin. I know these photos aren't great, the lighting is terrible. I just wanted to document them so maybe I can use them as inspiration in the future. I'll pin this page to my bulging Cabin Fever pinboard.

*Please excuse the low quality iPhone photos...

Modern kitchen with an awesome vintage fridge!

Steeeep staircase to the loft. I loved the rope detailing. This same rope also lined the ceiling beams.

And now we just need a lakefront property with some horse land and all my cabin dreams will come true!

A house and a garden

and little feet running wild through the yard. And a river running through the backyard. That's all I want.

I found this image on Pinterest via Joy Kim's ideal settings board and after a little research, I found the original (here). (It seems to be a listing on a website for a company that rents out properties for photography shoots in Great Britan).

Isn't it breathtaking? The rest of the home is pretty lovely as well. The interior is a little too rustic for my taste though. I would probably modernize at least the kitchen and update the furniture.

With all my dreaming and planning, I have decided the house is not quite as important as the location. I want room for our kids to run. I want room to create. Room to plant and grow. Room to live!

More of my home dreams here, here and here.

Horseback Riding in Payson

So Nate does a lot of outdoorsy things. Hiking, climbing, cycling, kayaking, canoeing...you name it! Since we've met, he has introduced me to these activities and more. And I have grown to love them almost as much as him. But I had a leg up on one activity...horseback riding!  When we heard his friend John had the hook-up with a ranch, I was psyched! I could finally introduce Nate to an outdoorsy activity! So we met up with Mary and Zane and headed down to Payson. Here are some a ton of photos of our adventure.

Finally got to use my best thrift store purchase ever. Also, best idea ever to wear these. Kept my feet (slightly) more warm and out of the mud, snow and poop!

 The Man from Snowy River in real life. 

One of the most beautiful scenes of my life.

 The horse whisperer ;) 

The owner had us corral and halter each horse ourselves. An amazing experience!

 Zane is here making lifelong promises to his horse ;)

This dog made me want a dog! 

 A real natural.

 So sweet!

 Literally living my dreams right here.

 Mary!

 John. Thanks for getting us the hook-up!

 Zane.

Our trusty guide, Lane. One of the coolest people I have ever met.

He took us  on a mountain ride. 

So beautiful and one of my favorite things I have done in Utah.

I did not take many photos while on the mountain trail. It was just one of those moments where I realized I should try and take it all in and not experience it through a lens.

 Socks. Isn't he a beautiful horse??

That evening, Nate and I were talking about our day and made a wonderful realization. Lane and his family live a normal life of average means. But they live their dreams! Because they are passionate about horses, they have made that a priority. This leads us to believe that we can reach our dreams, it just takes work.

We absolutely loved horseback riding and are planning our lives to include a barn and some horses. We can't wait to go back!