Temple Square

We decided to go see the lights at Temple Square this year. We don't do this every year but I think maybe we should. Although, I'd like to go on a day that isn't quite so busy, but there might not be such a thing.

We parked at the Planetarium since we're very familiar with that parking garage and have a bunch of validations and took the train the rest of the way.


As we waited for the train the full moon was just rising and it looked cool passing behind the buildings. I'm glad we had this to occupy us since the wait was long and it was super cold. When the train arrived it was already packed. We were standing by the door holding on to each other. At the next stop even more people got on. So many people.

It was nice once we got to the square though. We had a quick stop in the tabernacle to warm up a bit.


I haven't been in there since the renovation and I have to say it looks good. Not quite as tight a fit as before.


The lights were beautiful and I even ran into an old friend from Orem who was there for a concert. Good times.

It was very crowded though, and I think we would have stayed longer had that not been the case.


The boys had fun, although I wonder if Brigham's hand hurt from me holding onto him so tightly.


The train ride back was much better and some of us even got to sit down.

I would like to do this every year, but I think I'm going to have to do some research and find out the least busy day of the season.

Gingerbread Houses

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we decorated gingerbread houses at Grandma Bonnie's house. This is the third year in a row we've done it. It's been a lot of fun. The amazing thing is that my mom makes them all by hand!


We were a little late but the boys all managed to get seats next to each other.



Nathaniel and Jonathan did great with no help from me.


Brigham needed a little incentive to pay attention so I helped him draw Saturn with the frosting on one side and a Sun on the other. It did the trick and I'm happy with how my - I mean, Brigham's - gingerbread house turned out.

The boys had a lot of fun and it's almost hard to want to eat all the candies and gingerbread, but somehow we manage.

Thankful Turkeys

For our Thanksgiving activity for FHE I took a page from my friend Emily's blog again. She always has great ideas. At first I was worried that I hadn't planned ahead far enough to get enough toilet paper tubes for all five of us. I ended up getting them from the garbage in our bathroom(is that bad?), it was all paper products so I think we're okay. I cut out enough feathers for each of us to have six and we all wrote what we're thankful for on them.


It was a lot of fun and I think it was good for the boys. It's always good to remember what we're thankful for. I love how Jaaromy's turkey looks worried. It's his favorite expression.


I'm glad I was able to pull it off, I think I underestimated just a little bit how long it would take to cut out the feathers, beaks, and feet.


I've decided I want to leave them up all year to remind us of our blessings. Although I did move them to another shelf to make room for Christmas decorations.

One of the things I'm thankful for that I wrote on a feather is Technology. I'm thankful for all the many ways we can preserve and share our memories.