winterlude winterlude my little darling

we had the perfect winter getaway.
our trip to utah was just too packed full of fun, and i want to write about it all at once, so here goes...you've been warned :)
we started out saturday with brunch at sammys.
it's a favorite provo spot; we adore for its cutesy punkrock vibe, walls plastered with funny polaroids, and super cheap grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato and onion.



oh and lest we forget...
sweet potato fries!



then we headed up into the mountains through the canyon past the half-icy winding river,
into a winter wonderland!

we dropped the kids off at amy's aunt's house in midway utah, which is a pristine little wild-west-meets-ski-resort place in the heart of the snowy mountains.

the "hot pots" nearby were worth checking out...
it ended up one of the highlights of the trip for me:
matt and i risked getting soaked (which we did) and took a brisk (freezing!) run through the snow over to see them.


met a little buddy warming his bum on the thawed ground near the springs.
he was so quiet and peaceful i thought he was someone's domestic rabbit, escaped.
but the minute i took this photo, he dashed away quick as a wild creature should be!
what a BEAUTY, mesmerizing.

the hot springs, out in the middle of that blizzarded landscape, just steaming away...
oh hello nature. for a second i almost forgot how dazzlingly intelligent and benevolent you can be.




my brother and i. the adventurous ones.
well, amy too but she had to keep addie company; addie was like NO THANKS i'm not running through snow and getting soaking wet and freezing and miserable.
we, on the other hand, well... we can never pass up a little adventure.



and then it got even more wintry.
this is where we parked to go to the sundance film festival; this is the deer valley ski resort and from there you get a free shuttle into the bustling madhouse of park city.
we stood out in this mini-blizzard with girls in thigh-high black leather skirts, all waiting for the bus, some more freezing than others!

no wonder our first stop was Java Cow Coffee for warm treats.
everywhere we go, we get to talking so much that we stay way too long and forget what other things we were trying to do. no wonder we didn't have the time/gumption to try to see an actual film.


but, amidst the throngs of people all staring at each other to see if they are someone famous, we did get to pose in front of the Egyptian Theater, where so much of Sundance goes down.



and then on to the bookstore, one of those bookstores that only has new stuff but seems to stock the best selection of everything, from nature books to literature to biographies to notecards...so that you want one of everything and you could spend ten thousand dollars...

with the bonus of having the sweetest old cat in the world, mister Che, who loves to snuggle.

and the extra added bonus of being attached to the candy store, where amy bought an entire bag full of atrociously delicious goodies, luckily we all get to share!


we couldn't leave without checking out our favorite western trading post.


how cool would it be to have a real bearfur coat from the 1890s?
did you see True Grit? the old grizzled tangly bearded fur trapper dude? loved him. i want to be his bride out in the wild wild woods; reminds me of milla's story about the girl who married a bear.

we picked up the kids late at night, drove home on crazyslippery icy roads, and stayed up till 3 in the morning talking.

next day we got a very late start and made it to Crystal Hot Springs just before dusk.


this is the place that supposedly made jarom's wound feel so much better.
actually all of us were feeling pretty great after our soak.


we do think it was extra crowded, possibly due to the sundance peeps in town for the festival?

 apparently it is the most mineral-rich hot springs in the USA!

a lady in the dressing room said, "excuse me, miss? i love your style, all of you! are you sisters? please wait till my daughter gets out so you can show her your outfits, she's gonna love this." she commented on each one of us, even bella. so we had to get a picture afterwards in the lobby.


we headed to squatters brewpub in salt lake city for the most delicious dinner and beer. if you like the double ipa you have to buy it bottled because utah state law limits draft beer to something like 4%. but their "hop rising" is definitely worth drinking from a bottle.


also, they make a damn fine yellow thai curry with tofu.
we were in heaven.

our last morning, we got up just in time to see these cuties off to school.
can you tell which one loves it and which doesn't? :) (even though they're both brilliant)


and this cutie tike gets to stay home and play with mama.
"this box of play-do is SO STRONG" as he carries it upstairs.


amy shows off her cute new thrifted embroidered jumper right before we make one more stop at DI (felt like we were there for 20 minutes, it was actually almost 2 hours ?!)

we met matty for a nice lunch and then headed home, making it across the vastness of nevada in record time
with a million sweet new memories in our hearts.
if you made it this far, thanks for looking so long! i have to make this scrapbook count especially for such a whirlwind trip!

Comments

i love getting to go along with you on your adventures!!i've always wanted to go to utah, it's so gorgeous there. those hot springs are mind blowing! thanks for sharing.
Amy Beatty said…
We miss you guys SOO much. Thanks for blogging it all. I might just post a link it from mine since I'm so lazy these days :) We had such a wonderful, it just all went way too fast. Love you xoxo
Crystal said…
Your family looks so sweet and fun, just like you. I'd love to pop into a hot springs right about now. You look like you are having so much fun, my dear. I'm so happy you got to visit with you family. None of my siblings have kids yet (they're all pretty young still) but your niece and nephew are super cute.

Oh, and bookstores like that are delicious and dangerous. I do like a pretty, crisp new book every so often.
Glad to see you made it home safe. Thanks for sharing all your photos with us!
XOXO
Teeny said…
Yay for adventures! And mostly hooray that you post about them. Everything you included about your trip, was absolutely necessary, i read each word and pored over your pics. And I know that If i saw you guys out and about, I would be all.."who are those stylie cutie pies?! So colourful and happy.
x
mattbeatty said…
I love this long one. still sad we didn't do a midnight dip in the hot springs ... fuel for next time of course.
Crystal said…
Oh! Your red shawl is beautiful :)
Anonymous said…
That snow!!! *faint* Utah looks like such a beautiful place, and your offshoot (I love that word you used) is adorable.

Did you score any good books?
Anonymous said…
*offshoot family* oops.
Milla said…
I agree with Sara: all of your offshoot are wonderful. I've always had a secret dream of being part of a large family, who has lots of traditions and inside-jokes and is close as heck, but alas I'm an only child.

Looking at these pictures was vicarious fun and I'm so looking forward to meeting at least one offshoot when I get there ;) You seem to attract community and good cheer around you, (I mean just look at 2 weeks from now!!!) and your family truly seems marvelous, not just related, but kindred.

I just love it.
Violet Folklore said…
I seriously did not think a 3rd Beatty sister could match you & Adie's beauty, but Amy sure does!

Wow, what a fun adventure. I was lucky enough to see Art and Adie out last night and got to hear a little more about the DI, very exciting :-)

Your spark and fire are so evident in every single post you write Heather, it's inspiring and warming.
Missa said…
I was so glad to read this cheerful post about the big ball of love that is you and your family after having read your most recent post. This the good stuff, what it's all about.
Kelsie Lynn said…
Help! I'm speechless! Next time girl, seriously! love Sammi's. I need a big burger right now. You look great as always. Adventures adventures adventures. I will keep with your beautiful self more regularly :)
Kelsie Lynn said…
Also- I was totally at Sundance on ..Thursday i think? I cant remember what day now. Saw Submarine - so good!

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