weekend exploring

aaaaahhhhhh......another weekend come and gone. 

The weather was absolutely perfect, the trees on fire, and we couldn't wait to get out and explore.

You see, a little thing happened this summer.

Clicked. 

Stars aligned and we discovered something....or, re-discovered something really.   

***

I grew up, quite literally, in the middle of a field. Acres and acres surrounded us, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance and the biggest, bluest sky up above. We spent a lot of time outdoors--picnicking, camping, fishing with my dad. And it didn't end when the weather turned cold--we went sledding often, climbed mountains to cut down our own Christmas tree, and I even remember spending one [January] birthday outdoors, sledding and opening presents in the snow.

Robby also grew up spending much of his time outdoors--hiking, backpacking, and exploring in the foothills where he grew up. When we married, we acquired new camping gear as wedding gifts, and spent part of our  honeymoon in Glacier National Park.

We were off to a good start.

But lives soon got busy. 

Full time work and school for both of us left little time to play. 

We managed to squeeze in a little snowboarding in the winter, and that was about it for adventures.

A baby boy came and we camped a few times, the boy strapped on our backs and up for anything.

A baby girl came next, ant that's when things really slowed down. 

Exploring with a toddler and a baby just wasn't going to happen......going to the store with the two was adventure enough for me.

So a few years passed. We attempted camping a couple of times, and each time spent the night with a crying baby in the car. Oh the joys.

But this year. 

This year was different.

The Littles are finally able to go. 

And go, and go and go. 

They run, they hike, they climb. 

And then they ask for more.

This year we have been lucky enough to find ourselves in the great outdoors over and over again.

I feel like I have found myself all over again--there is no place I am happier than being outside in the colors and fresh air with my family. 

It is overwhelmingly perfect.

The colors are unreal right now as fall continues to take over the mountains.

No photo can capture exactly what it feels like to stand in a meadow surrounded by blazing reds, oranges, and golds.

This weekend we found a new favorite spot up Tibble Fork, followed by a hike uuuuuupppppp the mountain to the Timpanogos Caves. If you find yourselves in the mood for the steep climb to the caves (1100 ft in 1.5 miles, but all smooth paved trail)--we would recommend it. The Littles couldn't believe they were actually INSIDE a mountain, and while they were a bit disappointed we didn't see any bats, they can't wait to get up there again. 

photos taken near Tibble Fork in American Fork Canyon, and hiking up Mt. Timpanogos to the caves.

the end.

see more outdoor adventures here here and here