Brigham City Temple

Yesterday, we had the great opportunity to take our family to walk through the soon to be dedicated Brigham City Temple. This was such a fabulous opportunity because the girls often hear of the temple, but they know they are not allowed inside until a certain age, so they were all very excited to hear they could go inside on this special occasion.

We went once before as a family, (to the Draper temple) but I'm sure it was lost on most of them, considering their ages. This time around, I know that June and Robyn will remember pieces of their experience.

It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. When we got near, you could see the temple from the freeway.

We planned to eat dinner when we arrived, but we were running short on time, so we went straight to the buses that would take us to the temple. I wrote last time that the buses were their favorite part, but this time they were just a side bonus.

We didn't get any pictures before or during. They obviously don't allow photography inside. We watched a brief video and then waited in line as the crowds slowly progressed toward the entrance. Some things I would like to note:

The Costco game is always a favorite in large crowds. (And it is named such because I made it up at Costco one day.) We spent some time playing it to keep us busy in line. To play, someone picks something to find in the crowd. For example...find someone in a green skirt, or find someone with red shoes. You can make it as hard or easy as you like, but remember that the more difficult the object, the longer you will look and the easier it is for kids to become restless again. (I'm just saying that you probably shouldn't look for a checkered purse or someone equally rare.)

Another thing I want to remember is the white plastic booties they have you wear. They are a little itchy, and the girls were a tad bothered by them. Pearl in particular would stop every ten minutes or so and tug at her booties, hoping to rearrange them in a better position. Robyn even leaned in and whispered at one point, "Mom, when you come to the temple, do you always have to wear these booties?" I was happy to tell her they weren't normal attire. Everyone was happy to take them off. (Another note to self: People were sitting in a line to put the booties on you. You just lifted your feet and they slide them on. I made a Cinderella comment about them being a perfect fit and then told the lady that she had probably heard that dozens of times. She said it was the first reference to Cinderella she had heard the entire time. Seriously?!? I must be the only one living in my own personal fairy tale.)

The temple was amazing. It was a little busy keeping all five girls accounted for and quiet, but they did a good job, and I really think the older ones could feel the spirit. June even told me after that when she walked through the font room that the spirit flipped inside her and she was so excited to think that she could go there in just a couple years.

I personally love to see all the art they have chosen for the walls. I also love the details in the buildings, from light fixtures to ornate flooring.

After our tour, we stopped at the end for cookies. I remembered we took a family photo last time, so I thought that would be a good idea again. It wasn't exactly the same this time around.

I think part of the reason was because it was all in the underground parking garage. It just made for a very noisy atmosphere. We quickly departed and headed for the temple grounds.

We did see this impressive tile mural on the way out. We stopped to take a picture.

I should apologize now because we didn't have the wide angle lens, so everything is very up-close and personal, and nothing really fits, especially when you are standing by a large temple, but you will still get the idea.

The weather was perfect, and the sun was slowly setting. I love this picture. Pearl is standing by Robyn and you can barely see her peeking eyes. And Daisy is back with me, if you are wondering.

This is my favorite shot of the day, and Tyler took it. (He is not a bad photographer either.)

Nothing like the present:

I tried for another group photo. It wasn't meant to be, but you get the picture.

(I wish you could see Tyler's tie, because he was wearing the same one when he went to the Draper temple. Purely coincidence, but funny.)

I took some outside shots of the temple.

The girls did a mini photo-shoot by the fountain.

(June's bandaged hand is from some serious blisters from her school playground.)

Tyler eventually decided to walk back to get the car, so the girls and I crossed the street to the Tabernacle to wait.

I was finally far enough away to get a better shot.

It was such an amazing evening. We ended at a park where we ate our picnic dinner and then the mosquitoes ate us. We didn't stay too long on account of them.

I am so grateful for temples. I am thankful for the priesthood power that seals me to my family and the opportunity to bring temple blessings to those who have gone before. And I am very blessed to live somewhere where 14 beautiful temples are all within easy traveling distance.

Average Day

I'm falling a little behind. (Please do not mention Fete Day—all in good time.) It seems like I should have more time in the mornings since I only have two kids here, but sometimes we are out running errands and I am not home to get anything accomplished. Or I have enough stuff to do at home, that even after checking many things off my to-do list, I still look around and see dozens of other things I have yet to get to.

I thought it ironic that I was speaking to my mother the other day about how calm my mornings are and how the littles seem to keep themselves busy and I can get things done, only to be interrupted by Pearl who came downstairs with shampoo up to her elbows and hands syrupy enough for excess shampoo to be oozing out between her knuckles.

I told my mom that it was time for me to go, and I went up to assess the damage. Sure enough, she had painted the whole side of the tub with shampoo.

But that wasn't even the worst part. She had also taken a jar of powder out of my drawer and dumped the contents of it over everything inside.

Needless to say I spent most of that morning cleaning up something that wasn't originally on my list. But that is how is goes with a two-year old. (Remind me not to brag about how much time I have with three kids in school.)

We are mostly getting the routine down. Kids are gone, they come home. We have snack and try to read and do homework. I know it isn't all getting done. The homework, yes...but other things like piano are sliding into the abyss of good intentions. It is easy for rooms to be overlooked and extra laundry to pile up while we are making sure spelling words are organized. It is such a crazy balancing act. And June is starting to feel the pressure. She has more homework than ever and I've seen some tween angst over the last few days. Oddly, I had a thought that if I reminded her to be responsible and get her chores and homework done early, I think she would feel better. I personally feel that knowing I have all these things left to do in a time period that seems impossible is very overwhelming. But perhaps I can't tell her that and have her understand. Perhaps she just needs to experience it herself for a while.

I would love if I could hold my head to hers and transfer all the wisdom I have gleaned from my bad choices and foolish mistakes, but it just doesn't work that way. Pity.

There are still the joyful moments that make an average day better. Like last night when Tyler played the guitar and we made up silly songs about nothing and experimented with strange voices. I like Tyler's 'Arnold' voice, but it reaches new levels of ridiculousness when he sings with it.

Or good moments like when I came home the other day and the girls had found a pile of library books. I get the books so I can read with Daisy, but there is something so tempting about a pile of picture books. Simply irresistible.

And really, I should now go clean some part of my house. Or maybe do more laundry. Or look through all those school papers that are piling up...you know, just an average day.

Summer Reading

During the summer, I wanted to read with the kids more. It is convenient that they have a book contest in school every spring and they give you the reading list over the summer. It seemed reasonable to chip away at that list since I didn't have anything prior in mind.

There is a list of twenty books, and we only made it through 10 1/2, but I enjoyed the time with the kids and it was fun for me to listen to the stories as well. Most of these books are well known, but still I hadn't read a lot of them. And even the ones I did read as a child were fun to review.

I'll show you which ones we read and then give you my recommendations:

My top three picks from our summer reading were:

3. The House of Sixty Fathers- I include this book because while I was reading it, I was surprised it was on the list. It was VERY tragic, and a little violent. The whole time I told myself that it must have a happy ending for the kids. Don't worry. It did. And I cried. I would not recommend this book to read to your three year old, but something for kids to think about as they get older.

2. Henry Huggins- I read the Ramona books when I was little and avoided Henry Huggins because it was 'cleary' for boys. My mistake. It was really funny and one of the books I enjoyed the most.

1. Superfudge- I have my own opinions about Judy Blume, but I should give her credit for this book. It was hilarious. It did brush on some topics that might bring awkward questions, like how babies get here and the truth about Santa, but I am still glad I read it to the kids.

*I should note that although Rabbit Hill was on the original list, we did not get to read it, but hopefully will in the future since it got lost in the house and I paid the library for it. It is one of the hazards of borrowing. So let's hope it is a good one to own.

Friends

Family is the best. You can rely on them and they have to take you with all your crap in tow. (And yes...I know not all families fit this bill, but you know what I mean.)

Friends on the other hand...they take your crap too, but it is because they have decided to, not because they have to. I have been blessed with some amazing friends in my life. They come and go, and most recently, I am surrounded by astounding women who are strong examples to me. I kinda never want to move because it may mean leaving some of them.

But sometimes they move instead. Because life keeps going. And jobs change. And houses become too small. Or because it is their time to find a new adventure.

And the great thing is...you are still friends. Just farther apart.

Here is Susan. She moved last month. I miss her a LOT.

And I'm not the only one.

But then here is Jamee. She moved quite a while ago, but came back to visit last month.

Happy reunions.

It is all so bittersweet. But just to know someone special makes me stand a little taller. Sometimes it helps me get through a hard day, or yell less at my children. Friends inspire me to try new things, stretch beyond my limits, and see things in a whole new light.


If family is the glue of life, then friends are the glitter. 

Daisy's 4 Year Gallery

Ha. Love these galleries. I could make whole blog books out of them. (Wait, why have I never done that? Maybe because I do not have a money tree in my backyard. Darn.)

Anyway, really behind as usual, but these are always worth waiting for. Enjoy...

Ah, my sweet Daisy Cakes. She makes me smile. She is becoming so aware of her surroundings and the reactions of others. Oddly, this makes me want to cocoon her in bubble wrap to keep her soft spirit protected from the world. But as Dory says (in Finding Nemo) "Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo."

So I understand that Daisy needs the good with the bad, but I sure like it when she smiles.

The Many Faces of Tim

While Tim was with us, we grabbed a few photos of him. I'm not sure if I ever captured his real smile, but I sure like his multitude of moods here. He is such a great kid. Tim, we hope you enjoy these: