January 2012 Snapshots

On January 14, my sister Jamie and her husband Chris were sealed to Tyler. Then a few days later, they moved to California. We were glad we could go to the sealing and glad they had it in Utah so we could be there.

In January, I decided to try green smoothies as a way to get my kids to eat some sort of vegetable. For the first few days, I thought the green mustaches were very funny and cute. I still think they're cute, but they're not so much of a novelty anymore and we also started using straws, which usually means no green mustaches.

Preschool at our house. Anna has really enjoyed preschool. I love the group of moms and kids we did it with, but I'm not going to lie. I was very happy when I had my last day to teach, but that's not to say I hated teaching. I just didn't relish it.

I let Anna paint one day and she decided to give herself red gloves.

My cute Evie in the sweater and hat Dan's aunt knitted for him.

Temple Square Lights

About every other year we try to go to Temple Square for Christmas to see the lights. Every time we go, I am amazed how crowded it is and that's usually why we don't go the next year. Then I forget, and we decide to go again. And every year we drive because we think it will be easier to drive up there with little kids than riding the train, and then we always have a hard time finding a place to park close enough, and we think, next time we'll ride Trax instead. And then we forget again.

We started off by checking out the nativities from around the world.

December 3, 2011

Then we made our way over to the actual temple square area. At first Anna wanted to run and dart through the crowd, so it was hard to keep track of her, much less take a picture of her, but eventually we got her to slow down. And then they didn't really want to stop looking at the lights to look at the camera while Mom took a picture, but after a little coercion, I managed to get a few photos.

It was a little cold while we were there and the kids kept losing their mittens. Then all the walking finally wore them out and they started to get tired.

When we met Heather at Temple Square at the end of November, Anna saw the Trax train and asked about it, so I told her that when we came back to see the lights we would ride it. That was pretty much all she really wanted to do all night. The lights were cool enough, but she wanted to ride the train, so eventually we made our way over there to ride it for a few stops in the free zone.

You'd think the train was as fun as a ride at Disneyland by the way my kids reacted. Riding the train was definitely the highlight of the night for these kids. So maybe we will go back next year. I think they'd be happy just to ride the train up, get out long enough to peak at the lights, and then head home.

Temple Tuesdays: Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

 You can't tell by their faces, but my girls loved sitting on top of the sign in front of the temple.

After the temple, we went to a park in Herriman with a splash pad, but Evie wanted to play on the dry playground.

 The first time she went down this slide, she bumped her head twice on both sides of the curve. After crying for a bit, she went right back. The second time down, Evie had figured out how to avoid bonking her head.  I can't remember if Anna was helping her go down the slide or pushing her down in this photo.

 Anna and her friend Will, with Evie tagging along.

While Will's mom, Dawn, and I chatted, Anna and Will thought it was fun to play in the hot car. I think it's because they were eating all of Dawn's gum.

Temple Tuesdays: Draper, Utah Temple

July 12, 2011

 Anna and Evie, but especially Evie, always loved the flowers at the different temples.

 Trying to catch a glimpse of Moroni

 Evie wasn't too interested in sitting on the bench.

Temple Tuesdays: Jordan River Temple

June 28, 2011

Evie just wanted to splash in the fountain instead of walk around and take photos.

Evie really didn't want to sit still for this photo, so Anna tried to help me, but this is still the best picture I got.

Temple Tuesdays: Mount Timpanogos Temple

This summer my friend organized an activity she called Temple Tuesdays. Every other Tuesday we would meet at a different temple. Someone would share some information about that temple and then we took some time to walk around the temple grounds. Afterwards we'd usually go eat lunch at a nearby park. 

June 14, 2011

Evie is holding a picture of our family in front of the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Lunch time!

Anna has taught Evie to take her sandwiches apart before eating them.