oh, that's just typical

weather in utah.
it's funny.
teeter-totterin' it up one day

and snow the next

we've had spring break this week
i had wanted to do something adventuresome
so we had an impromptu mountain climbing adventure while the weather was good
we just parked the car and started walking

and didn't stop walking until our view looked like this

if you look closely you can see a black spot where the road ends...that's our car

these girls are such troopers
they just followed right along with their momma's/aunt's crazy whim
and it was exhausting
i seriously had a hard time getting out of bed the next morning
(of course, that's nothing new...)
and here's my favorite shot of the day..
which was actually taken by Swede my 7 yr old.
this is Sofia
all ready to climb a mountain like a pro

 it's funny how when we started hiking
the girls were complaining about walking through the field of weeds and brush
to get to the base of the mountain
but, by the time we got done climbing the mountain and back,
the weedy, brushy field was like heaven compared to the steep mountain
sometimes, all we need in our lives is a little perspective

PS: so happy instagram is now on android!!
you can find me there now (sugarblossomboutique)
let me know, & i'll follow you back :)

adventures in snow canyon utah

Our family took a trip to southern utah last week, it was so great to spend time with them! Jeremy & his dad were down there to take photos of the landscape to use for their oil paintings.  They would wake up at 4:30am on our trip so that they could get to Zion's National Park or Snow Canyon before sunrise, now that's commitment! and to think,...I was feeling kind of sorry for myself because Ingrid woke me up one morning at 6:45.  These are our adventures in Snow Canyon:

it was a lot of fun for us to climb up on the sandstone

the kiddos weren't too sure about sliding down into this little slot...we finally talked them into it

the only photo we got with all 7 of us together, yeah, that's ingrid, just bein ingrid (eyes crossed just for funsies:)

the girls were actually terrified of climbing through this hole....i don't know why.  but, they put on their smiley faces for the camera

Our favorite part of Snow Canyon is always the sand dunes!  look how much fun it is:

even the adults dug right into this pretty, warm sand. fun stuff!

we found pride rock, it's in southern utah...yes, it's the real pride rock they used in the filming of the lion king, pretty cool, eh?

no trip would be complete without some rock climbing, which i hate, btw. but, i'm a pretty good sport, and i occasionally will climb...here is some proof;

rock climbing in logan canyon, northern utah

 but i prefer the role of belayer!

and the kids had a grand old time

i didn't get a picture of Jeremy in his element (climbing) but, i captured in him in his other element (photographing)

we had an awesome time in southern utah, and can't wait to go back...i kinda wish i lived there, as we have about a foot of snow here in northern utah right now.

i'm so grateful for my awesome family and the time that we have to spend with each other.  i am a very blessed woman!

and i guess i'm grateful for the snow, too...but it's just so cold!!
oh, and some fun (very true) facts about utahn's from jeff foxworthy:

 If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Utah. 
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah 
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number..., you live in Utah. 
If 'vacation' means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah. 
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Utah. 
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah. 
If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah. 
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Utah. 
If the speed limit on the highway is 75 mph -- you're going 80, and everyone is still passing you, you live in Utah. 
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Utah. 
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah.

:) xo-danielle

instafriday in zions national park

We took a week-long trip to southern utah and I want to share with you my cell phone pics and link up with life rearranged for instafriday

we were a bit nervous the first day when we drove through snow storms and found this: we were hoping for warm, good picture-taking weather!

luckily, it the skies cleared up, but it was still chilly!

I never knew you could find such wildlife in zions park!

and, then there's a real dear we found in springdale

jeremy took a ton (like 4000!) pictures with his good camera, these are just the ones from my cell phone

one day, while the boys were photographing, we took a girl's day and just went shopping in st. george.  Here, the girls are showing off their new color-changing nail polish, aren't they cute?

there were three in a bed, and the little one said "roll over, roll  over"

I'm so glad all three of my kiddos can fit in one bed! we stayed in Salt Lake the last night of our trip so that we could enjoy the pool at the Little America Hotel :)
I don't know what i'll do when we try to stay in a hotel when all the kids are older!
Happy (insta) Friday!
xo-Danielle

a post of pictures

i just wanted to share with you some of the beauty i see each day...this is the view from my front yard, no photoshopping, just straight to you from my camera:

aren't those beautiful?? :)   and, here are a few shots jeremy took when we went on our trip to idaho last week:

isn't this world just a wonderful beautiful place?!

xo-Danielle