syd's first camping extravaganza!

well. It's official. I'm a camper.

Just kidding I still can barely breathe when I spend more than 2 hours outside, but at least I can say that I've BEEN camping!

The first time I went camping I was 16. I met a very handsome boy that weekend, butttt I also broke his toes.... So we decided to give it another go!

our ward campout this last weekend was an epic success! Tons of great food, good friends, and a gorgeous place were all we needed to complete my first camping trip!

 Ben made a neat soap boat with a signature otto family blue stripe!

 I was very intent on my boat- turned out to be a killer...

 the otto family racing stripes!

 LOOK! I even slept in a tent and made it through the whole night!

 and my eyes were only half swollen shut!

thankfully I had THE best camper in the world helping me out and getting me through <3 love this boy.

It was a successful trip and it only made us want to get on to bigger and better things! Here we come Zions!

Sydney's Daily Affirmation

today was one of those days that you wake up and just want to lay there...not go to the gym..not make dinner...not be cute...just lay in bed and stare at the sky.

I've been on this intense workout/healthy food kick for 4 weeks now and let me tell you

IT'S FREAKING HARD!

but completely worth it.

I went to my 2 hour appointment with pain, sweat and snot and worked my booty off. It was rough, I got bored, it was lonely. I left feeling like I just hadn't done enough and I wasn't going to see any results on the scale tomorrow morning. It was bad.

Then I remembered this

And I decided to make my own version. So though you can't see me, imagine me tired, sweaty and nasty in all my workout clothes glory, unlocking my bike and dragging it around to ride home.

"I love my body! I love my legs! I love how strong they are and how long and muscley they are! I love that they can take me anywhere! I love my arms and the definition in my triceps! I love lifting things and having it be easy! I love the soreness in my back that tells me I'm getting stronger! I love my stomach and how flat it's getting! I love my lack of love handles! I love the way my collar bones stick out just enough to be healthy! I love how happy my tummy is when I eat healthy foods!  I love that I have the power to make my own good foods! I LOVE my sweet husband who tells me he's SO proud of me every day and let's me tell him everything I did to workout each morning!

Life is good people.

Bear World!

I do love bears, in fact Ben and I were just recently thinking of buying a zoo...or that could have been that movie we watched the other day.

regardless, I love animals. I want one rull bad and have been looking at craigslist every day for puppies who need homes. Needless to say I've had no luck. This is not due to the lack of sweet puppy faces that are available but the fact that I live in a little apartment with no back yard and an evil landlord. You can't win every time I tell ya!

So we did the next best thing. Bear World. It's absolutely the most fantastical place in the world! The bears just run around your car (your car is your cage!). Plus there's deer, moose, swans, rainbow trout, wolves, baby bears, and the illusive white elk...who knows.

Here is a video for your enjoyment. Excuse the horrendous camera work.

yay bears!

 this bear was blocking our exit. sassy

 bear lover

 ohmygoshilove bears

 I'm pretty sure he could take on a bear....pretty sure

 And I could BE a bear!

 other animals to chase

and last but not least- a gigantic furry pig.

Probably one of the most amusing 2 hours of my life, I feel as though someday I will bring my children here and see how they fare amongst the wildlife. Thank you bear world, thank you very much.

Mon Petit Jardin

Here is my little garden! I've been trying to keep it alive but i think i might be drowning it sometimes...

 ici, les tomates

 Basilic (basil!)

et le poivron vert! (green peppers :)

I really hope these little guys make it through the hot summer! In fact I may go water them right now. Also- the basil is already delicious, I've been using it on a regular basis. best idea ever, I never have to buy basil!

Sunshiney

Spring decided to come early this year! Or on time, I'm not entirely sure.

This weekend we decide to take advantage of the beautiful day and go on a little hike up in the canyon@

Sadly, you still need snow shoes to traverse Stewart Falls so we opted for the walk to Bridal Veil. It was beautiful! We had a picnic on a freezing rock and fed the birds our apple cores. Oh yes, and made friends with an entire family of Tongans on beach cruisers. What could be better?

This month I have made some delicious things! A little bit of this pasta stuff to remind us that summer is just sticking it's toes around the corner.

And Some amazing breakfast for dinner foods like puff pancakes with strawberries and bacon & egg cupcakes ( With homemade bread! yum!)

and then these little baby pizza bites with whole wheat crust!Look how cute this boy is, even when he's burning his mouth on my delicious eats!

He made a smiley face out of that one :)

Also- sugar fast update- I have been baked goods and ice cream free for officially 9 days! 4 more to go!

Sicky

well...I'm sick. What's new? Will there ever be a month where I can just be NOT sick? That will be a great day my friends.

In the meantime I'm doing a sugar fast with mi madre and my sister and i hate it. I want to make muffins so bad I'm so freaking hungry right now! Doesn't someone want to feed the sick girl? Hello? Anyone?




right.

Also it was so beautiful yesterday, I wish that summer was here already!

Week of love

Ben's Birthday is February 10th

Valentines day is February 14th

My Birthday is February 18th

It's quite a week!

Here is what we did to celebrate.

 This precious brother-in-law needed some help with his valentine

 We worked until our fingers bled...with strawberry juice

  

We possibly created one of the most amazing fruit bouquets known to mankind

 yep

Laura is one lucky girl!

 My Valentine was the best though :) Look at that cute elephant ring holder!

I love him!!!

 then we did some rock climbing- there's the mother-in-law and laura!

 look how cute that climber is!

new sisters :)

Needless to say it was a fantastic week of love!