Now that our kids know what BYU is and where it is, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to show them where we went to school and where we met. We went to the Tanner Bldg (my old stomping ground) and saw the new addition they added to it. WOW, it's amazing.
Then we went to the new Humanities Bldg and it was also amazing. We even got to go and talk with one of Mike's professors that we still keep in touch with. It was really good to see Dr. Hallen. The boys also enjoyed a mini snow ball fight in the courtyard of this beautiful new building. It was so nice to be touring BYU with the kids knowing that I was just a visitor and not studying for finals like all the students there. I'm just glad I am done with all of that! Of course it wouldn't be a BYU experience without a trip to the Student Bookstore. We all got new sweatshirts and yes, we got an alumni license plate holder for our car sporting the BYU name. We will do whatever it takes to encourage our kids to go to BYU. Mike and I both loved it and had such a good experience both educationally and spiritually.
DAY 8
Today my mom and dad watched all four kids so that Mike, Jeff, and I could go skiing up at Snowbird. My parents are the best grandparents ever. They are always willing to watch the kids so I can have a break. There was a lot of snow on the roads but we made it to Snowbird just fine. As we pulled into the parking lot, however, we got STUCK. We were driving my parents old Tahoe and the 4 Wheel Drive was not engaging. We kept sliding and I was so nervous that we were going to hit another car. We finally got out of there and parked somewhere else. We skied for half the day and enjoyed doing some interesting runs. My brother Jeff is an awesome skiier but has now converted to Snowboarding. He is pretty much awesome at whatever sport he picks up. Mike was kind enough to go on some easier runs while I got used to my skiis again. Then it was up the mountain for some harder stuff. Lesson of the day - I could really use lessons to progress past my not beginner but not so advanced stage in skiing. By the end of the day we were tired and were so happy to be heading back to our kids so that we could have a little Christmas with the family. While we were gone, the kids had fun playing in the snow and building snowmen with Grandma and Grandpa.
*Grandma and Emma's snowman*
*Andrew's snow fort*
*Andrew's snowman*
*Just chillin Pete*
*Pete's shadow*
*Mike on the lift*
*Sara and Jeff*
*Mike and Sara*
Later that night we opened up gifts. It was so nice to be able to enjoy and little Christmas with family. The boys were so excited to get their remote control cars and Emma just loved here new set of pots and pans. Abby was just hanging out in her new joy - her purple bumbo seat.
Day 9
Day 9
Today we headed up to Salt Lake City to take a tour of the Conference Center, watch the Joseph Smith movie, and see the lights at the Temple Square. We took the boys to the Conference center 5 years ago but they were so little we thought they would enjoy it more this time around. There are so many neat things to see there and the construction and decor inside are beautiful. Inside the conference hall that seats around 20,000 people (give or take) it is magnificent and so BIG. We also enjoyed seeing the waterfalls outside, the hall of prophets, the Book of Mormon story paintings, and the little fountain that the kids were able to throw pennies in.
After touring the Conference Center we headed over to watch the Joseph Smith movie. I can't watch that movie without getting so emotional. That movie just makes me all the more grateful for Joseph Smith and his family and all the suffereing and persecution they went through in order to bring about the wonderful restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It makes you realize that sometimes your problems aren't that bad.
The reflecting pool outside of the Salt Lake City Temple
And of course our trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without seeing the lights at Temple Square. It was so cold and so we didn't stay out for long. We took a couple of pictures and then quickly walked to get something to eat.
*photo taken by my dad - he is amazing*
Day 10-12
We left my parents condo to go and spend two days with Mike's dad in Midway, Utah who had flown in to see us for the weekend. We were so grateful that the kids were able to see Grandpa and have some special time with him. We went sledding outside and enjoyed watching a live performance of "A Christmas Carol" in the downtime theatre. We were in the first row. It was quite spectacular for a small town production. The morning before we left to head home we had Christmas with Grandpa Al. Al brought a little tree all the way from VA just so that the boys could have a tree with presents. That was so nice considering he was flying.
*Al opening our gift to him - a coffee table book of the best pictures of our kids for 2008*
Our trip home was interesting. We basically traveled in the storm that hit the entire Northwest and it took us an extra day to finally make it back home safely. We did try and have fun along the way but were finally happy to be back home in our own house and our own beds! It was a great vacation.
No comments:
Post a Comment