happy birthday...

...mom-dawg!!!

my vacation partner.

my number one fan!

my lunch date! (zupas!!!)

my play date!

my confidant...

my reality TV partner-in-crime!

and so, SO, SO much more!!

I love you mama!!

(and I think next time we take a picture, we should mix it up a little...?)

i love july...

july truly is the best holiday in Utah because we get to celebrate all month long! rodeos, fireworks, hiking, camping, bonfires, cabins, and...

DEMOLITION DERBYS!

my bro and i got together with a group of friends for the most exciting event that takes place in Utah during the month of july. The Kamas Valley Fiesta Days Demolition Derby! However, after dinner in Park City, we realized that there in fact was another demoderby going on in Heber and, because of our lack of communication skills, most of our group had bought their tickets to THAT derby... so after laughing at each others outfits and eating a tasty meal at El Chubascos, we all went our separate ways to witness one of Americas most brilliant traditions.

here we are, truck and all!

and here is ben, wishing he was the driver of car #54...

on our journey around the arena, we found the D-stroyer! this car was last years Fiesta Days DemoDerb champ!!! brushing shoulders with such fame was overwhelming.

and THIS, my friends, is the driver... 

Ben was star-struck!

my favorite car of the night before...

and after...

(poor bumble bee)

and how could you participate in a demolition derby without basking in the awesome hairstylings of the local folk?

yeah, we had a pretty wicked time!

I'll be sad to see July go.

new shoes...

i love shoes! shoes, shoes, shoes!!!

and today... was a really good day.

"things as they really are..."

elder david a. bednar

"some men and women in the Church today ignore things as they really are, and neglect relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value. some may waste countless hours, postpone or forfeit vocational or academic achievement, and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships...

please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear bugs, Twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication."

i adore this man, and you will NOT regret listening to this message!

if you haven't been to ALTA lately...

...you need to go!

Jon and I took advantage of our quiet Sunday afternoon and drove up the littlest of the Cottonwood Canyons to practice our epic photog skills. As Jon's little apprentice, I did my best to capture the beauty of the wilderness in our backyard. Maybe one day I'll be able to acquire fancy gear of my own... i guess I'll have to earn it first.

one day i will be as cool as my bro...

wild bluebells!

pink indian paintbrush...

i just LOVE living in Utah!

(most of the time...)

the big 2-4...

my cute friend karen turned 24 on Wednesday!!

my awesome friends came over to celebrate with us, and i want them all to know how much that meant to her. we had a blast!!

all of us with the birthday girl!

her favorite chocolate cake

and her new boyfriend!! (ow-ow!)

evidence...

cheeeeese!

laur and zach-attack!

(LOVE you guys!)

and the infamous duo.

we LOVE you, Karen!!

say hello...

... to the newest MASTER of the Business World!

from...

Whooo-hooo!

Love you, Bro!

I'm SO proud of you...

baby brinners...

she's growin' up so fast!

thank heavens for girls in this Cracroft fam.

we've been waiting a long time for you to help us balance out the ratio...

now if you'll just slow down the growin' process!

a day at the zoo...

for the fourth of july, william and i spent the afternoon at the zoo in what felt like 1000 degree weather. you gotta love utah's ever schizophrenic weather patterns. (...or not!)

will was a trooper in the heat...

we took a little time out to ride the train...
and watch the new carousal while eating cotton candy...
will devoured it...
i, however, was not so much a trooper. the sun pooped me out, and this is how i spent my fourth of july evening.

...thank heavens for kiddos.

the best organic exercise out there.