just a great way to start the season- temple square

Tonight we all bundled up & headed into the city for the first day of temple square Christmas lights. We went really early to beat the crowd- and to have time to look around. It's been far too long since we have just wandered around the visitors center.

As we were walking in - I thought- Hey, Stephanie's daughter is on a mission here? Within 10 minutes of looking around- there she was! She was talking to some people so we stuck around & surprised her. What a great sister missionary! She has a darling companion from Las Vegas. I think this is the best mission in the world for sisters & wish my girls could serve here-- but surely they wouldn't get called to their own back yards?!

It was great to be at the visitors center before it got dark. There were so many details on the Nativity scenes that we hadn't noticed in the before.

Wise men traveling from the East.

Shepherds.

The stable & the Holy Family.

We enjoyed the films & the Christis statue, all of the many interactive things to do & see in the visitors center.

It was a great opportunity to really think about or Saviour at the beginning of the Christmas season.

We walked through. Trent & I visited the tabernacle. A building the pioneers built to meet in, just outside the temple. It's where the tabernacle choir performs & gets their name.

We went into the Joseph Smith building & to the distribution center (a place to buy scriptures & church literature, pictures etc.) It was beautiful, all decorated for Christmas.

We headed out just 15 minutes before the lights went on to secure our spot.

Trent didn't want to be photographed, but did want his dog Zore to be photographed, "and blogged."

It was cold, but surprisingly warmer than we thought it would be.

and crowded... but worth it.

Especially when the lights came on!

How did you start your Christmas season, or are you still in denial?

This season has snuck up quickly!

Seattle Weekend Trip

What a great trip!My friend Stephanie that I grew up with turned 40 on Sunday.Her husband planned a big surprise for her by inviting her close friends & family up to their lake house in the Seattle area on Saturday.Brett & I were so honored & thrilled to be invited.We flew up early in the afternoon and got there just in time to make it to the restaurant where the party was.It turned out perfect.John did such a great job keeping everything under wraps and she was so surprised.After lunch we went to their home & visited.It was so fun to see her parents, sister & brother and meet some of her close friends from CA, who were all wonderful. Later that night we took a drive and saw some beautiful views of the city. Steph & I stayed up late catching up- she has the most darling seven kids, all blonde & beautiful, it was fun to spend some time with them. Sunday morning we went to the Kent 1st ward-where I grew up-it was really great to be there.After our goodbyes Brett surprised me & had changed our tickets to a later flight so that we could go see all my favorite places!We had a BLAST.We went to my familie's favorite Mexico Lindo for lunch & I can confirm that I have real issues because I was so happy to be eating there that I literally almost cried. I was wishing ruthie, my mom, & jim were there because they are just as crazy about the place as I am & I knew they would feel the same way. At one point Brett said-are you going to start crying?Like he knew he had married a mad woman. I just told him I was supremely happy to be there. I even asked the owners if they sold any of their sauces which they do but they are in plastic containers so I new they would never make it on the plane.

For the rest of the day we went shopping at The Land of Nod-(I get their catalog & have always wanted to go to one of their stores- only 4),Pike Place Market, & dinner at Ivars on the warf so much fun. We got to the airport- which was also great for me because I finished my book club book-(great book watch for later post)which I loved then back home.We finally laid our heads on our pillows around 1:00 AM. All the work & grogginess today is worth it. Click on the bottom right corner of the slide show, click on stephanie, then click on slide show again & you can see the same show just larger pictures if you want.
Thanks John for such a great trip~ Stephanie, hope your birthday was fabulous!So glad we could join in celebrating.