6 Year Anniversary Road Trip

Sam and I celebrated 6 years of marriage this month! 6 years of hiking together, Netflix binges, fishing trips, inside jokes, date nights, long talks, and adventure. Of course, there have also been lots of bills, hard work, disagreements, menial day to day tasks, and challenges but, we've made it this far and we've made it here together! We've learned and grown so much on our journey. That's something worth celebrating. 

This year, we decided to go on a road trip-just the two of us. It was our first trip longer than one night without Emma so we felt both excited and nervous at the same time. Luckily, my parents were happy to take her for the weekend which made it so much easier for us to leave. I knew that she'd be happy and well taken care of with them

We started our trip early on Thursday morning after dropping Emma off with my parents. I felt so nervous to leave her and will admit that I cried a few tears as we drove away before convincing myself that she was hardly going to miss us at all with her grandparents spoiling her the way I knew they would. Soon, I was in roadtrip mode. I am always the designated copilot which means I am responsible for distributing snacks and keeping the tunes rolling. I take those responsibilities pretty seriously. It felt comfortable right away for the two of us to be back on the road together even if it was a little odd without our backseat buddy. 

We drove straight to Moab where we had planned to stop for some lunch. A couple of years ago we took our last solo roadtrip before Emma's birth to Moab. I had been nearly 8 months pregnant at the time and it is still one of my favorite memories. We had such a great time exploring Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Park and also enjoyed great shopping and food. One of our favorite restaurants there is called Pasta Jays. We decided that we'd stop there again this time to grab some lunch on our way into Colorado. It was as delicious as we remembered and we reminisced about our last trip to Moab and how much fun we'd had together. Seems like yesterday and yet, like a lifetime ago. 

It wasn't long before we were crossing the Colorado border. I hopped out of the car to take a picture next to the sign. "Welcome to colorful Colorado" it said. We started to see bits of the Colorado color right away-homes built like bunkers into the mountain, little hippy-style homes and cabins, crazy drivers (one that flipped us off for no apparent reason), and funny little nothing towns that you'd miss if you blinked. The winding road took us around mountains and through trees. We followed the San Miguel river for a good part of our drive. "Looks too muddy", Sam would say every few miles, always thinking about the fishing possibilities. 

Soon we were turning towards our second stop-Telluride, CO. From first glance, I already knew I wasn't going to want to leave. Telluride is a small, mountain town surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. In the distance you could see a spectacular waterfall coming from the lightly snow-capped mountains. We were anxious to get out and begin exploring. We checked in to our quaint B&B-The Victorian Inn and freshened up before heading out to explore Telluride. 

We found the station for the free gondola ride first. The Gondola took us way up to the top of the mountain and then down into Mountain Village-a ritzy ski resort town that was mostly closed up because of the season. We enjoyed a little walk and explored the shops before splurging on a ridiculously overpriced ice cream cone on a bench and heading back down the gondola into Telluride. 

We spent the rest of the evening exploring the downtown area of Telluride. There were so many fun shops, galleries, and eateries to explore. The whole town has a relaxed, very colorful feel. The weather was perfect and the setting was the same. I was just happy to be breathing in crisp mountain air without a care in the world. After a walk through the park, we called it a night and made our way back to the Inn. 

The next day started early. We wanted to see all that we could before moving on to our next destination. We made our way to the end of the main road to get a better view of the Bridal Veil Falls. The falls did not disappoint, it was the perfect time of year for viewing because of the spring runoff and everything surrounding was so lush and green. Pictures don't do it justice. 

When we finally felt we had admired the falls long enough, we went back to town to catch the gondola a second time. This time we stopped at the top of the mountain to enjoy a quick hike and some views of Telluride in the valley below. 

We did some more Main Street exploring until the farmer's market opened up. We LOVED the farmer's market. It was one of the highlights of our Telluride stay. The booths were filled with friendly locals selling handmade jewelry and crafts, organic chocolates, fresh baked breads and pastries, local produce, grass fed meat, and flowers. Sam and I bought the most delicious Focaccia I have ever tasted and some indulgent, locally made chocolates and were tempted by much more.  

Way too soon, we had to say goodbye to Telluride. We stopped at a local hot spot-Brown Dog Pizza- to grab a bite for the road and, of course, found more breathtaking views as we drove on. We drove slowly (and a bit reluctantly) along towards our next stop. 

Our third stop was Mesa Verde National Park where we saw Pueblo Indian dwellings from the 1190's. I was in awe as we learned about their culture and history and thought about how different their lives were. We learned that they weren't expected to live much longer than 30-40 years if they survived to adulthood. They worked very hard every day-man, woman, and child-and had harsh winters and blistering summers to get through each year. They built their homes mostly from sandstone right up against the mountains but did most of their living outside. They meticulously built a temple for worship-it's structure was the most sound of any of the buildings we saw. I felt blessed to be able to see such an incredible chapter of history up close. 

Mesa Verde is a pretty small park so we saw as much as we wanted to see in a couple of hours. We stopped for a coyote to cross the road on our way out of the park and then headed towards Durango-our next destination. We had planned to camp that night and pretty easily found a camping ground ten minutes outside of Durango. It was a quiet, forested area. We set up camp and enjoyed some reading before bedtime. I found a little "friend" in my bag that Emma had packed for me and the tears nearly came back-I'd been missing her SO much even in the middle of such a grand adventure. 

The next morning we packed everything up and rode back into Durango to the Durango & Silverton Train Station. We excitedly boarded the steam engine and chatted with another family in our car until we started chugging along towards Silverton. It was about a three and a half hour ride through mountains, passing waterfalls, and surrounded by trees as we followed the roaring Animas river to the quiet western town of Silverton. 

In Silverton we wandered shops and looked for souvenirs. It was such a neat old western town but, to be perfectly honest, we couldn't enjoy it fully because we were SO nervous for what was coming next--rafting the Animas River. The river was unusually high for the time of year and we had gotten a call the night before by the rafting company to warn us of the added thrill. We would be riding class IV rapids instead of III. We had no idea what to expect really because it was a first time riding white water rapids for both of us.We enjoyed Silverton the best we could before the rafting company picked us up to take us to the river. 

River rafting was incredibly fun and horrifying rolled into one. I (literally) was certain that I was going to die. I was sure that I'd fly off the raft into the raging water and drown. Luckily, our guides were really professional and did their best to put me at ease. I could tell that they took safety very seriously and that comforted me as we pushed off of land and began our ride. I sat in the back, right in front of the guide and Sam was right in front of me. I had my feet firmly tucked under the seat in front of me for stability and after a few minutes, I started to relax. The class II and III rapids were more fun than anything. Before we hit the class IV stretch, we steered our raft to the shore to let off the two kids under 13 who wouldn't be allowed to ride in that area. I was a little tempted to get off myself but, knew that I'd be disappointed with myself if I did. We moved forward, right into the rapids. The guide had kindly talked me through the section of the river so that I'd feel prepared. There were to be 4 major class IV rapids in that stretch. When we hit the first, I flew from my seat (in spite of my tightly tucked feet) and into the seat in front of me, right beside Sam. I was on my hands and knees and struggled to quickly re-situate myself before hitting the next rapid. The rest of the ride was just as wild. Sam and I later said that after that first hit it was almost like we didn't know quite where we were and as if we were riding in slow motion. What a thrill! I was terrified in the moment but so glad I braved the rapids when the ride was over! It was an adventure we'll never forget. 

After an eventful day jam packed with adventure, the hotel room, a nice long shower, and pizza (at the recommendation of our guides) was much appreciated. We relaxed in the hotel room and recapped our adventurous day again and again.


The next morning was the start of our journey home and the actual day of our anniversary. We left Durango and dipped into New Mexico before stopping at Four Corners National Monument. There we stood in four states at once and explored all of the stands surrounding the monument that were filled with local art and crafts. We bought a few handmade souvenir's and chatted with the artists while we stretched our legs.

The rest of the drive was admittedly boring in comparison to the breathtaking views of Colorado. We did enjoy driving through the Monument Valley and passing Lake Powell. We kept busy with music and conversation and were welcomed home with an ending through Cedar Canyon where we were reminded why we live where we do. The whole experience turned out to be one of our favorite and most memorable trips together to date.  We are already planning a trip back because we loved the area so much. It was the perfect way to celebrate 6 years of wedded bliss. 

Sundays With Emma

Church with a two year old can be pretty tricky. In my mind, I have this perfectly timed schedule for Sunday mornings that will have us arriving at church five minutes early with smiles on our faces, ready to feel the spirit. Unfortunately, this rarely translates in real life. I often feel bad about it because as we shuffle in at the last minute (or late) looking frazzled, I notice all of the other families that have managed to arrive early with their multiple children sitting reverently in a row. I have one child and church doesn't even start until 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Even so, I rarely manage to have one of those "perfect Sundays".

Sunday mornings are all about timing. Timing the nap, snack, and dressing, perfectly so that we can be ready on time and Emma will be fed, rested, and ready to go so that we can avoid major tantrums at church. Between that there's the fact that I need to have myself dressed and ready, the bag packed (I've made the mistake of not making time for this step and paid the price in the middle of hour #1), and find time to make food for myself. If I get behind schedule, Emma decides she doesn't feel like napping, or we can't find a shoe--chances are, we're going to be late. Because Sam works on some Sundays, I am doing this by myself sporadically throughout the month. In summary, I am yet to master it. 

I'm not saying we don't have good weeks. Weeks where Sam is home and the planets align in such a way that we are able complete everything that needs to be done so that we can arrive early. The thing is, it's not just about arriving early. Getting there is only the first hurtle. Getting through Sacrament meeting with a toddler who's either really tired and ornery or really energetic is a challenge but, for me the hardest part is nursery. I thought nursery was going to make church so much better but, it's actually become the part I dread the most. Emma HATES nursery. When the closing song starts to play in Sacrament Meeting, that's Emma's cue to start letting me know she has no intention of going to nursery. When we get there she claws into my arms and begs me not to leave her there. I've tried the whole "tough love" thing by just leaving her there to cry it out and get used to it. Unfortunately, Emma is a very stubborn little girl and will cry the entire time. I don't have the heart to do that to her (or the nursery workers). Sam and I usually take turns in the nursery and sometimes only make it through second hour before we decide to call it a day. 

The best parts about church nowadays come in small moments. Listening to Emma "sing along" with the hymns, hearing her loud "AMEN!" after every prayer, teaching her about the sacrament by reminding her to think about Jesus as it's passed, and feeling the spirit as I listen to the speakers undistributed for the tiniest, sweetest moment while Sam entertains Emma with a book. Because I am craving those precious spiritual moments when I attend each week (and even throughout the week), I appreciate them and treasure them that much more as they come. 

Lately after church, we've made it a habit to go for a long walk or drive somewhere beautiful. Last week we drove through Parawon Canyon and walked on the Henderson Trail. The green pines against the red mountains made for an absolutely breathtaking setting. The trail was damp from fresh fallen rain and the cool air was welcome after an hour of hanging out in the crowded nursery. 

Emma freed all of her pent up energy on the trail going up and winding hills by herself at her insistence. She copied everything Sam did as we walked-when he held a stick above his head, she held a stick above her head. When he tossed a rock into the water, she tossed a rock into the water. At one point we stumbled upon a hollow tree trunk which Emma declared was her house. She played inside and got a kick out of me knocking on her "door" to see if she was home. 

Taking these walks is another way that we feel close to God and renew our spirits on the Sabbath Day. It's not always easy to get to church and by the time we leave we are often exhausted but, we need those sweet moments of refreshment each week. After church, I think about those moments while we walk in the trees and my heart and spirit swell, filling to the brim. Those moments remind me of why Sunday is so special and important. As we spend time together in nature, we reflect and feel truly grateful for all that we have. I love those still, quiet hours we spend together every week. 

Emma's First Camping Trip

We've made a point of taking Emma on many of our trips and adventures in the past two years which means, the three of us have had a lot of fun experiences together. We had planned to take her camping last summer but, never did. This year, Sam got a new tent for his birthday and we were excited to use it so, we decided this would be the perfect opportunity to take Emma on her first camping trip.

Something I've learned about making memories like these with a toddler is that sometimes they are magical and sometimes they are a little bit more...challenging. Either way, they are always memorable. Let's just say that this particular memory started out magical and ended up a little bit less magical. 

We began our journey to one of our favorite camping spots in the early afternoon on Friday. We found a perfect place to set up our campsite and Sam and I pitched the tent while Emma finished her nap in the car. When she woke, she was ready to explore her new surroundings. Her favorite part was the "Ocean", as she called it. We had chosen to camp in this particular spot partly because of it's proximity to a beautiful reservoir where we were eager to try out our new kayak. Emma was filled with excitement when she saw daddy "making a boat just like Moana!"

We enjoyed the kayak together as a family and then Sam and I took turns going out on our own. What a thrill to be able to sit on the water and glide like that to any part of the reservoir your heart desires. I was grinning from ear to ear like a fool in the middle of the water by myself. The best part is when you stop paddling and just look-taking in your surroundings. Completely alone and quiet. I watched ducks landing on the water and fishing jumping from it. All the world was still but also very much alive with movement. 

I returned to the shore because I knew it was Sam's turn and he paddled out to do some fishing from the kayak. Emma and I watched as he grew smaller and smaller and then headed to the tent to read some stories and have a snack. Emma loved the tent and I was content to relax and snuggle up with her with no distractions.

Sam and I take these kinds of trips to really unplug and get away from the world so, we were disappointed when a large, rowdy group chose to pitch their campsite a little too close for comfort. They were loud to say the least. Aside from the steady, loud laughter and yells, there was a very unhappy baby who cried for over an hour straight and received no comfort that I could hear. Instead, there were more yells directed at the baby and a whole lot of swearing. They seemed most upset that the baby was putting a damper on their fun. This was both irritating and very sad. We chose to move our site. 

After getting set up again near the stream that runs into the reservoir, the noise was no longer and issue and we were ready to move into the next phase of our adventure-campfire time. Emma and I gathered rocks to put around our fire pit while Sam gathered logs and kindling. I was a bit of a nervous wreck trying to keep Emma from falling into or touching the fire but, after it had been burning for a little while, Emma settled into her chair.

Sam and I had prepared tinfoil campfire dinners so when the flames were right, we tossed them in and they began to cook. In the meantime, we decided that dessert before dinner was a good idea. Emma had a hard time with the whole "being patient while cooking the marshmallow" thing, but once we got through that battle, she was super excited about her s'more. She enjoyed every messy, sticky bite and we got a kick out of watching her. We finished dinner and then Emma let us know that she was tired and ready for bed.

I was able to get her to sleep fairly easily with singing and bottle but, I was realizing that it was getting colder than I'd anticipated and we'd forgotten one of our sleeping bags. This meant that we'd decided to unroll the other sleeping bag and use it as a sleeping mat and cover up with the blankets I'd brought. After bundling Emma up and wrapping her in blankets, I still wasn't convinced that she'd be warm enough. 

Sam and I enjoyed a few more minutes alone by the fire before putting it out and joining Emma in the tent. It was freezing. Not to mention, the ground was hard and bumpy. (Note to self: buy an air mattress before next camping trip.) Emma seemed warm enough with her layers and three times as many coverings as Sam and I had so, eventually I was able to drift off to sleep. 

1:00 am-Emma was wide awake. I don't know if it was the uncomfortable ground at her back or the freezing cold temperature but, something woke her up and she wasn't happy. She tossed and turned and cried and kicked at her blankets. I sang to her, tried to tell her stories, and finally ended up showing her some videos on my phone to get her to stop crying but, she still refused to lay down. She insisted "it's time to go home."

Finally, we did. We packed everything up in the freezing cold with flashlights. I kept Emma entertained with videos while we tried to arrange everything quickly into the trunk. Nothing seemed to fit like it did before. A few minutes after leaving, Sam was unsure of where his wallet was and we worried that it might have fallen out. We decided to pull over and search the car. After pulling nearly everything out of the trunk, we found it buried and continued on our way. 

We arrived home, carried Emma in, got her back to sleep, changed out of smokey clothes, and took showers. We were in bed by 3am and I've never appreciated the quality of my mattress quite so much. We all slept like logs but, unfortunately my internal clock wouldn't let me sleep in. On the bright side, it gave me time before Emma woke up to write down this eventful memory. 

Here's hoping that Emma's second camping trip is a little more mundane.