Get thee into the mountain

Quick sidebar from books today!  We spent the morning in American Fork Canyon on Saturday and I wanted to share some photos. I'm just in love with this place in all seasons. Getting out of the city and into the wilderness for a few hours heals my soul! The weather was a warm 45-50 degrees so we grabbed our coats and some sandwiches and headed out!

 My first iPhone panaroma. 

 This excursion had its roots in Nate's desire to try out a new hobby, gold panning. 

While Nate panned for gold (he didn't find much in case you were wondering ;), Bridger and I got some dirt under our fingernails, tasted some rocks and chewed on some twigs.

Love you AF Canyon! We'll be back soon!

On winter and January

The last week in the blogosphere seems to be full of hatred for January and winter in general. It's a little depressing. People! We are just getting started with winter! At least those of us north of the Mason-Dixon. I say put on your big girl boots and get on with life. 

But really. Winter isn't so bad. You just need good clothes. Boots that won't let ya slip. Socks and liners that keep your toes warm. Jackets that shed water. A fleece inner layer. I mean, it's not hard. We aren't in the Arctic. Although it has felt like that when we get down to the single digits. And I say, bring on the snow! Just not the icy rain that causes this. 

Mostly, you just need a little baby to keep you smiling! ;)

Also, some quick trips up the canyon and out of the smog help too.

Bits of happiness: Catching up!

Last Thursday we were in the middle of moving so this is a catch-up post. We have lots to be thankful for this week...

1. An awesome aunt & uncle who have welcomed us into their home like we were their own!
2. The BEAUTIFUL snow that has blanketed the mountains and valley.
3. A healthy body...I found a couple lumps in my breast yesterday which immediately led to, "it's cancer! It's definitely cancer!" thoughts. Of course it was just clogged milk ducts. I am probably just as afraid of mastitis as I am of cancer (it's the unknown that really scares me). This article plus a heat compress and a hungry baby helped and now the hard, scary lumps are all gone! Motherhood has made me into a hypochondriac. 
4. Walking to Church on Sunday. This and #2 makes me wonder why we would ever move from here!

Saturday Walk

Recently a nurse asked me about my physical activity during my pregnancy. "How much intentional exercise do you engage in everyday?" she asked. I looked at Nate and he laughed at me. That was my wake up call. My teenage metabolism is not going to help me keep healthy anymore. I actually have to make an effort! How terrible right?  Well to ease myself into more physical activity, my goal the past couple weeks has been to walk for 30 minutes a day. Don't laugh! It's a good start, OK? And if you think I'm going to start running now, think again.  I still do a bit of yoga a few times a week as well.

So on Saturday I took my camera along on this little adventure. Maybe if I took my camera to more places with me this blog would have more content. Hmm...food for thought.

This here is Squaw Peak. Up there somewhere is a parking lot which is notorious for the amount of making out it has seen over the years. Don't worry, the only time we went up there when we were dating, I fell asleep before we even got to the top :)

Remnants of snow linger.

One of the 12 trees in Provo.

Have a good Monday :)

Adventures: Crawford Draw

Nate has been talking about some slot canyons in southern Utah and we finally got to go the last day my family was here. After about a 3 hour drive, we arrived in a big...field...of desert. Where in the world were the canyons?

**All photos by Kacey Aukema 

After walking in an area like this for about a hundred yards, we came across what you see in the next photo!

Crawford Draw

I think I say this every time we find a new place, but I've never seen anything like this! It's amazing! Photos don't really do it justice.

This just might have been just the perfect time to go since the water was frozen. Any earlier in the year we would need water gear. Any later in the season and it would be full of snow!

Yep, I've got that hot headband again!

While most slot canyons in southern Utah are "technical", or require ropes and extra gear, this one does not. We just found an easy spot to hop in and out and explored to our hearts' content!

Nate teaching us a geology lesson :)

I'm so glad we got to share this with our family. I am always amazed at the beauty of God's creations, even it what seems the most desolate of places. 

P.S. If you are interested in visiting Crawford Draw, Tom's Canyoneering Guide is a good resource.

Adventures: Diamond Fork Canyon-Winter Edition

Remember when we went to Diamond Fork Canyon this summer? Well we went back with my family this time!

Nate made me buy those hideous pants I'm wearing, but I have to say they are for good hiking. And I just made it a terrible fashion day with that lovely 80s headband. (Also very functional by the way!)

All the snow here made me think of Narnia.

Kenzey was the only brave one to jump into the hot springs. Mom and I had a fun time helping her change out of her wet swimsuit after this photo was taken... ;)

That's Dad and I on top of the waterfall. It's crazy how frozen everything is!

****

Such a fun hike, even in the winter! We contacted the Forest Service to make sure the road to this canyon was still open. 

Family Time in Park City

Happy New Year!! 

While I don't know much of what 2012 will hold, let's just reminiscence about the holidays a little more, OK?

*****

So (part of) my family was here for Christmas! The week before Christmas, we stayed in Park City. We skied, sat by the fire, sipped hot chocolate and just had a good time together. 

 I seriously risked my life for this photo. I almost fell down the hill...backwards. 

 Me and my sweet Mama :)

 We all bonded over our falls and other mishaps.

At the end of the day: really sore and ready to warm up!

*****

 We have become a family of mocassin wearers :)

 Not much snow at all out here, even in Park City!

Hope everyone had a lovely holiday! More adventures to share later this week!

Merry Christmas!

Well we're a little late, but here is our Christmas card photo!

Thanks for reminding me Erica!

We were much too cheap to actually mail these out, so we emailed it and now it's up here! 

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, we sure did!

Happy New Year!

P.S. Kudos to Morgan and Holly for taking such fab photos of us on our holiday photo session!

The Lights at Temple Square

A couple weeks ago we got together with some friends and drove up to Salt Lake for a fun date night. We shopped around first at H & M (not as impressed as my first time). Later we ate at the cutest and yummiest little diner, Hire's Big H (great root beer!). To end the night, we walked around Temple Square to see the lights. As always, it was beautiful! Although, I think when we have kids it will be more fun. 

Others highlights of the night included walking 7 blocks for hot chocolate and then Star Bucks being closed, gasping at the price of paintings in Deseret Book and finally getting hot chocolate. :)

Cold toes...

We went with some friends to Nunns Park this weekend to take holiday photos of each other.  It was freezing! This Florida girl needs some boots! (hint, hint Nate! ;) But we had fun posing for each other. Nate doesn't like his face on the internet (go figure), but I will show you one fun photo: 

Can you see the snow falling?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Bits of Happiness

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week, I am grateful for...

1. How the colors of fall outside our apartment thrive, even after the first snowfall.
2. Having our own little private Thanksgiving dinner. I'll let you know how the turkey turns out!
3. Early Christmas/graduation/first anniversary gifts that came this week from Aunt Janet and Uncle Kim. So sweet. We are loving the Pioneer Woman cookbook (I want to be her!) and reading To the Rescue together!
4. The She & Him Christmas album. Thanks Leigh Anna!
5. Our teeny little kitchen that is so easy to clean up!

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!