FHE at the Temple

 "I love to see the temple..."

For Family Home Evening the Monday after Christmas, we decided that we needed to make a trip to the temple to see the lights there and feel the Spirit that is unique to temples and the temple grounds.  Though there hardly any people there (because the temple is closed on Monday nights specifically FOR Family Home Evening) there was a set of missionaries and a few people here and there.  The grounds remained open for the holiday season.  It was a CHILLY evening in La Jolla, but beautiful nonetheless.  And the first thing you see when you walk through the gate is the simple, white nativity.  Such an awesome feeling to know that in a world of turmoil, there was a baby who was born in the most humble of circumstances... with not even a bed to lay in... and that He came here to earth to do what none other could do, that He loved us so much that He would give his life so that we might all be saved.  King of kings, lord of lords, wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace.

I love the palm tree lights.  They crack me up a little because the lights aren't strung on actual branches, but they look real enough from a ways away!

Even our kids were quiet when in front of this.  A-mazing.

This is the nativity that is set at the top of the hill that looks straight down onto the freeway.

Ella taking time to smell the flowers!  {Don't you also love her mullet curl?}

Camera self-timers are amazing things... we don't have to rely on other people when there aren't any other people around!  :o)

Ella was memorizing (again) who the people were.  Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.  She cracks me up.  She wanted to know what the animals names were more than Mary and Joseph.

Can you see our breath right next to the light?  WE COULD... it was brrrrr... chilly!

When we left the temple we had a little treat box to drop off at the Smith's.  They were just getting home... and didn't even have the 2 oldest girls with them, but graciously hosted us for a few to catch up and have some fun with the pet rats... (Thanks again, Jordan and Jessica, for letting us drop in and play... especially since the kids were already in their pj's!)

Our kids conned Jordan into getting the rats out to play.  Damian on the left, then Ella, Camille, Lexi, Braeden, and Jordan

Whoa... even Ella got brave and pet them!!!  AMAZING!

Lexi just loves them.  She so badly wants a pet.  (Still working on Damian to give in... it's bound to happen SOMEDAY, right?)

Um... this is what my face looks like when they are even NEAR me... let along crawling over my shoulder.  EEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!  ;o)

And then we drove home. The kids watched a movie and we thought that they would fall asleep, but...