Christmas Trip- Part 1 AKA Temple Square

The first leg of our trip home for Christmas was more anticipated by me than any other event. Not that nothing else was exciting-- we had so much fun throughout the whole trip, but this part actually started to be planned a few years ago. I remember before Rebekah was even one and Preston not yet 3 we were driving through SLC at Christmas time. I told Burke I really wanted to take our kids there to see the lights and the Christus when they were both big enough to remember it. He said, "Let's do it when Rebekah is 3" So the idea was planted a long time ago. And this was finally our year to do it!

I was so giddy when Burke told me he would take half of the day off Friday the 23rd so we could go to temple square that night and then venture the rest of the way to Idaho on Christmas Eve! We had have so many fun family members that live in the greater SLC area and it is always a treat to get an "extra" visit with any of them. I always feel a little silly inviting myself to stay with someone (even our wonderful family), but they are always all so good to us and welcoming. This time we were fortunate to get to stay with my awesome brother Sheldon and his equally awesome wife Becki :) So fun. Plus my beautiful sister Rachel and her family came to join us for the evening-- so it was a double treat!

We rode the TRAX from Sandy right up to Temple Square.

Our plan was to go the The Lion House Pantry for dinner, but the wait was outside (and LONG) so we opted for something else. And that took a while to find someplace else that was open and ready to serve us. But we made it happen. It was cold and we were hungry, but we hit Michelangelo's on Main and enjoyed our meal.

Then we ventured back into the cold and went out to see the lights! I was so excited to see them and the beautiful nativity scenes. The temple as always was an impressive site.

The Bryans-- wish I had caught a pic with all of their eyes open! They were so cute (and cold!)

The Christus. Even as crowded as it all was, I could feel that special spirit of reverence and worship at this awe inspiring site. It was really a wonderful evening, and even though my sweet kids caught cold and were up half that night, I was still so glad we went and had this fun evening! Thanks again to the Bryan's and Andrus' So enjoyable to celebrate Christ's Birth with you!