The Subway

We were lucky to spend the week in the motherland last week. We were very happy to escape the fog and cold for a bit. Southern Utah couldn't have been a more drastic change from what we have been living in. 

We stayed in Natalie's families cabin up in Zion's National Park for a few nights. Having grown up in Utah, I never truly appreciated how seriously amazing it is until recently. It was relieving the be in the mountains away from cell phone service and traffic. We could see the stars and breathe the fresh air, it felt like heaven.

On Sunday we woke up and ventured out onto the hike we have all been planning for...The Subway!

It was 9.5 miles of hiking, climbing, repelling, slipping and falling, swimming, and saying "wow this is amazing!"

The hike was challenging and so incredibly fun and beautiful. 

The pictures don't do it any justice at all.

We were sore after. So very sore!

Aside from hiking we roasted marshmallows around the fire, sang and played the guitar, fished, painted, and had an intense game of "who can throw a rock into that bucket over there."

It was such a good time with family and we can't wait to do it again!

west coast mormons

I'm super lucky to get to serve in the young women's in our ward.

While they can be crazy loud teenagers, they are also beautiful spiritual strong girls who truly inspire me. These girls are having a completely different young women's experience than I ever did. They live in a place where people view religion as outdated and unnecessary yet they are strong and confident in who they are and what they believe. I am so grateful for them.

A couple weeks back for a mutual activity we had a bonfire on the beach with the young men. It was a blast and I was so jealous thinking about how we never had mutual on the beach when I was a teenager.

a whale of a time.

One of the biggest highlights of this month was having Miles' brother Trevor come home from his mission in Argentina, and have him, Miles' Mom, and Aunt Ashley come to visit us in SF.

We had such a good time and saw so much. The only hard part was trying to remember to call my husband Matt, not Miles, since Trevor is a Miles too!

 They should make a blanket out of this bush ^

The best part of the weekend was taking a ferry ride around the bay. We had the whole boat to ourselves! It was freezing, but worth it because as soon as we got under the bridge WE SAW WHALES! It was amazing. We probably saw three or four pop up out of the water and spray water out of their blow holes. It snagged a picture of the very top of one.

 It was a bit of a shocker coming from Utah's hot summer to this!

We had so much fun showing Trevor, Jereme, and Ashlee around the city and eating a million waffles with them too. Family is the best.

it has been awhile + kirby cove

I have neglected this little corner of the internet for awhile but I am back. July has been bizarre and fun and busy!

As I mentioned in the last post, it feels like winter here so we have been bundling up or staying inside until Summer graces us with her presence in September. 

A few weekends back we discovered an amazing beach called Kirby Cove on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a short hike down to the beach through some yummy smelling eucalyptus trees and the most incredible view of the bridge. We had to fight off some teenagers to get our turn on the tree swing, but we got it and it was magical.

In other news... Miles got his test results back...and...he's a CPA!!!

I'm so proud of him for working and studying so so so hard. He's a smarty with letters behind his name to prove it.