{Christmas-Part 2 UTAH}

We decided to drive to Canada this year for Christmas. We have never done this even when we lived in Salt Lake City. I bet you are thinking it we did it to save money. NOPE! We just wanted to see new sceneries. WHAT WERE WE THINKING! : ) Anyway you will here more about that in that next post. The BIGGEST REASON why I wanted to drive was to see TEMPLE SQUARE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I haven't seen it since we moved 3.5 years ago and I really wanted to show my children. This is also the Temple where Jon and I got married. I really wanted to show the kids the Conference Center as well. So that way next General Conference we can say, "We have been were the prophets have been." I miss Salt Lake City on so many levels, but I have enjoyed adventuring out even when I go from "Zion" to "Sin City." ha ha I do love Vegas and it will always have a wonderful spot in my heart.

{SALT LAKE CITY LDS TEMPLE}

These next pictures just show the many reasons why I wanted to go to the SL Temple. The spirit of Christmas was strong and beautiful there.

Before it got dark we first tour The Beehive House, where Jon and I had our Wedding Luncheon. Which I totally recommend it to anyone. It was fun cause one of the Sister Missionaries who gave our tour was in our Stake back home. Her dad is the wonderful doctor who did all of Emberlynn's Ultrasounds. It's a small world. Isn't it.

{CONFERENCE CENTER}

Here is the Conference Center that is amazing. I love to hear all the fun facts about it too. Like the pulpit was carved out the Walnut Tree in Pres. Hinckleys yard and so forth. I have been able to see 2 General Conferences in this Conference Center. It was pretty cool and something that everyone needs to experience.

{JOSEPH SMITH MEMORIAL BUILDING}

Afterwards we met up with my sisters and their families at the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg. which is so beautiful. We at dinner at the new cafe in there that was pretty fun too.

{Casandra, Kristie, & Me}

{Emberlynn, Kylee, Trenton, Cody, Addison & Alix}

{TABERNACLE}

While walking inside around Temple Square we went inside the Tabernacle. I will always remember the last Saturday Conference that was held in the Tabernacle I sang here with the UVSC which is now UVU Institute Choir. It wasn't hard to get a spot even though it's the largest Instutitute in the world. All they did was walk around and listened to everyone sing and made sure you weren't too horrible. There was a list on the board who made it but I don't think they made much cuts. I made it so it wasn't that hard : )

The cool thing was when we sang at Conference (and I will always remember this) was all the Apostels turned around and watched us. We were so close to them and the whole time I was thinking "don't cry." I almost lost it when Pres. Faust gave us a thumbs up during one of the songs. HOW CUTE IS THAT! Don't you just love the brethren?

Oh one more thing. I think I got on T.V. two times, but my dad knowing I was singing never saw me and he was looking for me, so obviously it wasn't one that they really focussed in on me. Which was really good cause I was really nervous about looking at the camera, because they told us not to look at it, so of course that's the only thing I was thinking about. : )

I'm a dork I know!

. . . Let's continue . . .

This next picture is for fun. I took a picture of the outlet because my brother-in -law put it in. He worked on the Tabernacle for a long time. I guess one time he was walking with everyone and he said" see that outlet "I put that in there" : ) I love that story so I had to take a picture

{Visitors Center}

Alix's rock star pose may not be the more appropriate for this shot but oh well. The kids were having fun. I remember going up in this room when I was really little and it was this room that my testimony grew stronger for our Savior. I wanted my girls to experience a moment that's if they could with all the people, but still with all the noise and the busy-ness, it seems so quiet and still. I love this room in the Visitors Center.

{The Live Nativity was wonderful}

{All bundled up}

We drove up one morning and got to SLC that afternoon. Here is a picture of JOn and Emberlynn just getting out of the car to start the evening!

Here's another shot of them!

{MERRY CHRISTMAS}