Temple Square 2010

Our holiday tradition continues as the kids and I headed to Temple Square to see the lights. We had to go today, hello, it was 50 degrees. It was lovely. We talked to a sweet lady at the Trax station. She has 26 cats. Emma was very impressed. 

We wandered around Temple Square, ate dinner at the Gardens Restaurant, wandered around the Visitor's Center, and then headed to Deseret Book for hot chocolate and cookies when it started to get crowded. Then back on trax with NO tears this year

Temple Square is fun with these two. I recommend going around 3:00 or 4:00 because once 7:00 p.m. hit, it was packed. 

Temple Square is beautiful this time of year. See photos here.

Family Photo

Santa's helper

Emma is right on the line about Santa Clause these days. Not to sure about his "authenticity". She's been asking a lot of questions regarding his abilities to show up everywhere and give gifts to everyone, or "does he just use mom's and dad's?"

When Brax was about her age, I explained Santa in a way that put the Savior as the greatest gift giver (a lot like Santa), the wise men bringing gifts (so we continue to give gifts), and then receiving the ultimate gift of living with the Savior again by 'believing' and 'giving to others'. We talked about how we celebrate the spirit of Christmas as well as the 'fun' part of Christmas. When I explained it to Brax, he was enthralled and seemed to grasp how it is really better than a Santa Claus. I tried to give the same speech to Emma, and I thought I was doing quite well, sounding so good, but at the end she just looked at me and said, "so what you're saying is - No Santa". 

Not quite the response I was going for.

Never fear though, a happy day, she got to be Santa's helper for over an hour at Chelle's Ward Christmas party last Saturday night.  Here she is in all her glory.

The invention convention

She made a Laugh box.

"You reach in and pull out a funny photo or a joke. It makes you laugh. Do you get it mom?"

Yes I do. 

Her own invention. I supplied the paper and glue. She picked the jokes, pictures and decorated.