On Thursday, we drove down on dry roads and enjoyed blue (albeit cold) skies. After my check-up ("Everything looks great. See you again in two months!"), we went to our hotel and let the girls go crazy in the pool. After getting cleaned up, we utilized the microwave in our room by heating up the dinners we had brought from home, ate them on our couch, and then bundled up and drove to downtown.
We knew we'd be going to Temple Square the next morning, but the main reason we wanted to see it in December was for the lights. So we took a quick trip to see the bright decor.
After spending too long looking for free parking ("It's a Thursday night; it will be EASY to find parking in downtown Salt Lake." HA!), we finally found a spot between 100 and 200 S, loaded the girls up in the double stroller, and booked it for Temple Square. Apparently December 10 was the coldest day Salt Lake has had this year, and we took our babies out in it.
So we ran through the Square, ducking into buildings to catch our breath and warm up a bit. Despite the frigidity, I think the girls enjoyed it ... at least, part of the time.
Analee, Seth and Rebekah outside the Salt Lake Temple's doors.
The awesome "floating" nativity in the middle of the reflection pool.
Analee looking at the lights and nativities.After a good night's rest at the hotel, we again packed up and happily paid for parking close to Temple Square since we knew we'd spend most of the day there. We started out futilely trying to get into the Conference Center for a tour (apparently they don't give tours during the day of a performance), then headed over to the Church Museum of History and Art. The girls ran past many of the exhibits, stopping only to look at something that really interested them.
Bekah peeking out over the Tabernacle's old podium, now on display at the museum.
But we spent at least an hour in the children's room.
Analee dressed up as Mary in the children's room. She had to wear this costume the whole time we were there.
Bekah peeking out over the Tabernacle's old podium, now on display at the museum.But we spent at least an hour in the children's room.
Analee dressed up as Mary in the children's room. She had to wear this costume the whole time we were there.We then spent some time in the North Visitors' Center ...
Analee and Rebekah next to the "gigantic" (as Bekah put it) Christus.
... before boarding Trax (the girls were very excited at the idea of riding a "train") to go to the Gateway for lunch. After our return trip to the Square, we watched "The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd" in the theater (which we had to ourselves), looked at the Assembly Hall and Tabernacle, and tried the Conference Center one last time before calling it a day.
The girls were excited about taking another dip in the pool. Two days of swimming in a row! A dream come true!
Bekah (and her five layers of flotation) playing in one of the pool's fountains.
Analee (our water baby) lounging in her tube.
Analee and Rebekah next to the "gigantic" (as Bekah put it) Christus.... before boarding Trax (the girls were very excited at the idea of riding a "train") to go to the Gateway for lunch. After our return trip to the Square, we watched "The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd" in the theater (which we had to ourselves), looked at the Assembly Hall and Tabernacle, and tried the Conference Center one last time before calling it a day.
The girls were excited about taking another dip in the pool. Two days of swimming in a row! A dream come true!
Bekah (and her five layers of flotation) playing in one of the pool's fountains. Analee (our water baby) lounging in her tube.Then we took it easy that night be ordering a pizza, eating it in our room and watching "Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure" on the laptop before bedtime.
On Saturday, we took a quick trip to Provo to see the Monte L. Bean Museum, which the girls loved.
Seth about to be swallowed whole by a hippo.
Analee, Rebekah and Seth looking at a butterfly mosaic made up of ... butterflies.
On Saturday, we took a quick trip to Provo to see the Monte L. Bean Museum, which the girls loved.
Seth about to be swallowed whole by a hippo.Analee, Rebekah and Seth looking at a butterfly mosaic made up of ... butterflies. We tried to see BYU's new Museum of Paleontology, but apparently they're too good to be open on a Saturday. But I shouldn't complain. It's a good thing we left when we did, because we encountered all sorts of bad roads on the way home: slushy roads, icy roads, snowy roads and roads where the traffic was at a standstill forEVER!
Gratefully, we pulled into our lovely driveway less than an hour before we had to be to the church for the ward Christmas party. Seth was all for skipping out on the festivities, but I assured him that it wouldn't do to have Mary and Joseph absent from the program. I'm still trying to figure out why the activities committee picked the tall blonde chick to play Mary, but I guess it all worked out.
To see more glorious images from our trip, click here.
Gratefully, we pulled into our lovely driveway less than an hour before we had to be to the church for the ward Christmas party. Seth was all for skipping out on the festivities, but I assured him that it wouldn't do to have Mary and Joseph absent from the program. I'm still trying to figure out why the activities committee picked the tall blonde chick to play Mary, but I guess it all worked out.
To see more glorious images from our trip, click here.