Family Visit to Temple Square

As Christmas soon approaches, the holiday excitement peaks. Last night, I was able to stroll around Temple Square with family and take in all the excitement of Christmas season. My little family and I hopped in the car and ventured up to Salt Lake, making a quick stop to Gygi, that is where Dad spent his money on Mom's Christmas. What he got? Not sure, we will find out soon Christmas Morning. After that quick adventure, we finished our trip and ended up at our destination that is after we parked the car. Underground parking is a blessing! Being able to get out of the car and still have a feeling of warmth, instead of the quick freeze that covers your body. We made our way up to Deseret Book and waited there until extended family showed up. Deseret Book is actually a neat place just to pick up a book, look at a painting or even a calendar. Mom and I found books personally signed by our prophet Thomas S. Monson. That would be a neat Christmas gift for someone! But I would not find signing a whole bunch of books fun, more exhausting than anything.

Once everyone met up the adventure for the night began! We walked up a block to the Lion House which is where we all sat around a table and filled our stomachs with food whether it be soup in a bread bowl, salmon, roast beef, or stuffed pork chops. I myself got soup in a bread bowl, wasn't all that impressed my mom makes better soup by far! 

After filling our tummies, the chilly stroll around Temple Square began. We all made sure our zippers where zipped, gloves where on our hands, scarfs around our necks, and ears were covered. It does seem like a funny thing to do... travel up to SLC just to walk around and look at trees and flower beds that are covered in lights. Not only lights but also nativity scenes scattered around. But in all reality, seeing the temple with christmas lights around is very beautiful and brings a peaceful feeling. Especially with family around. 

We took a couple stops to get warm in the various visitor centers and also the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. In the Joseph Smith building we took the elevator all the way to the 10th floor to look at the Temple from a higher stand point. It certainly does look different from a higher angle. The elevator ride was a hilarious trip in itself. All 13 of us piled into one elevator... shouldn't be a problem because we had traveled up with other people than our original 13. Well there we all are, standing straight forward looking out with people looking right back at us thinking , " What idiots! Can't they work an elevator?" Our elevator wasn't working! It wouldn't shut! Then all of a sudden the buzzer goes off... yes.. we were heavy apparently! Well joking around we told Cameron to get off. Guess what happens after he gets off... it closes and we make our way down! There we all are, stuffed in an elevator, all just laughing. We get to the main floor and we wait, wait for Cameron to reunit with us again. Here comes Cameron at the very back of an elevator with a bunch of random kids.. probably a young men/ young women group. We loved it! Laughing always does something to you! Makes everything happier! 

As our night came to an end, we found ourselves once again in Deseret Book looking at all the pictures of Christ, Temples, Bible Stories. Ellie and I made our way over to the collection of the Book of Mormons in many languages. All of which we could not understand. It is interesting to see all the different languages and see that everyone is very different from another. 

I loved being able to spend time up at Temple Square with family other than my own Mom, Dad and brothers. Family is a wonderful thing that I am very thankful for and blessed with. I think we have found our new tradition during Christmas time! I loved it, and knew that everyone else did too!

Ellie and I

Mom and Grandma

They are still in love!