Christmas colors, sparkly lights, and manger scenes

Sparkly, bright, colorful Temple Lights!

We decided to go for FHE to see the lights at Temple Square. It was supposed to be another big snow storm so we thought we wouldn't be able to trek out in the snow but we lucked out with a light snow. I got the kids all bundled up and we jumped in the burb and we were off to meet Ry at the Gateway for dinner and lights. With Christmas being 3 days away, it was a perfect setting for the Christmas Spirit!

My favorite pic:
I love the pink and orange glow of the trees.....the colors were in perfect harmony...

This pic was actually taken at Gateway. I love to shop there in the winter because it is so festive with the lights and the bustling Christmas shoppers.

It's so fun Ry works down here because it gives me an excuse to come down a couple times a month for lunch and shopping.

This is the only pic with all six of us. A nice lady offered to take the pic but she snapped it so far away you can't really see us! Oh well.

My favorite part of the night: The Nativity with Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. The kids were finally old enough to sit in the cold and listen to the story and the music about the Nativity. Mace was sooo scared of the noise and "scary wiseman" so Ry took him on a walk so the rest of us could enjoy it.

I think it brings such a spirit about Christmas when you can see and hear the story of what Mary and Joseph went through. I love Mary!

The statues were so incredibly life-like.... It was amazin'!!

In the last couple of years, the line to see Jesus has been so long. We never made it to the top with the toddlers so this year we made sure we went early so we could see and hear the narrative about Jesus. Mace was scared of the big statue so I hurried and took him out so the kids could enjoy it. Again :)

This tree had to be wrapped with a kagillion, million lights. It was so beautiful against the setting of the magnificent Salt Lake Temple.

Cool pic of the temple with the manger scene in the water and it's own reflection. Oh and Ry's profile. :)

We went to go see Grandpa Brown downstairs at the Temple Square Visiting Center. My dad was Managing Director of Welfare and Social Services for over 25 years. He worked with Pres. Hinckley and Pres. Monsen daily to help the church in many projects all over the world. It was neat to see an entire wall dedicated to my dad and all the projects he worked on and completed. My dad is in the video when he visited Kosovo so the kids loved watching Gpa on the movie.

And to end the night sweetly: Starbucks. We got the creamy, white hot chocolate and a couple of the signature hot chocolates. Mmmm. Nice and Warm. It was so fun to see the lights with the kids and see all the bright colors. The kids fav part was Mary with Baby Jesus in the Manger and seeing Gpa H at the temple!


By The Way:

The presents are all wrapped and over flowing the tree....the kids take out their gifts and count them one by one...

Merry Christmas! Again. I can't believe it is two days and counting......