Provo City Center Temple

We were able to visit the new Provo City Center Temple for the open house today.  Yay!  I really wanted to go to this one.  We didn't make it to the Payson Temple open house.  It was sooooo busy.  It was hard enough to get reservations for this one.  We basically had one option, so as soon as the older kids got out of school, we picked them up and drove straight down to Provo.
We've told the kids stories of how we used to go to firesides when it was the Provo Tabernacle and how a few times we had stake conference there.  One time (this was before we had a car), we were going to stake conference and we just got out of the parking garage and were crossing to the tabernacle when Nichole threw up.  She was just an infant back then.  So our sweet friends/neighbors drove us all the way home before coming back to go to stake conference.  Thank you, friends. 
We told the kids how we didn't like sitting at the front of the balcony because the rim was so low, it seemed if you stood up you were going to fall over.  We especially never liked having our children close to the front of the balcony.
I got to sing in choirs a few times in that tabernacle.  Good memories.  This is why we reeeeeeeeally wanted to take the kids through the open house tour of this temple.  I'm so glad it worked out.
We even got to put little plastic foot protectors on our feet.  They didn't have us do that when we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house.  Jeremy and I both remember from our childhood going to the open house for the Portland Temple and we remember putting the foot coverings over our shoes.  And later, that's where we were sealed.
It felt so good to go with our family to the open house today.  I am so grateful for my family.  I'm so grateful that the kids did so well going up and down so many stairs.  Lucky fell asleep on the drive there and woke up when we got out of the van.  He wasn't cranky, though.  He just wanted to be picked up and set down a lot.  Jr. Jr.'s comment after the tour was over was that being in the temple made him want to be nice to someone (and he was so well-behaved after we left).  Nichole said she could feel the Spirit.  I felt so calm on the way home.  I'm so glad we went.
I love my family and I love that we can be a family forever.  I was again reminded of how grateful I am for the husband I have and I'm glad that we are both improving together.
Today was a great family day.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We didn't take any pictures of the outside of the temple since we didn't want to have to leave our camera in the car, but before we went, Jeremy and I gave each other haircuts, so I figured I'd post before and after pictures of mine.

I regretted not taking the kids to the Draper Temple open house while it was going on, so I felt it was a real blessing that there was another new temple in the same general area. Nichole is very interested in going to the temple, so I'm glad we got to take her when she could go inside. "Aunt Nessa" came with us. I was expecting Jr. to be a little bit of trouble as he is an almost two-year old boy. Nope. He was calm throughout. Nichole started out fine, but that changed when she saw the first elevator. All she wanted to do was ride the elevator, but we were walking on stairs today. And every time she saw an elevator, that's what she focused on. Sadly it made things a little difficult at times. At one point, Nichole and I slowed down for a bit while Jeremy and Jr. waited for us and Nessa went on ahead. Another time Nichole and I slowed down while Jeremy and Jr. went on ahead. So, by the end we were all separated from each other (don't worry, the kids were always with one of us).

When Nichole and I came out of the temple, Jeremy and Jr. were waiting for us, then turning to look in the direction of the refreshment tent, we saw... my cousin, Mikaela. She was helping out at the temple today. It was great to see her there. I'm so proud of my cousin and the choices she's making and the good example she's setting for her nieces and nephews who look up to her. Way to go, cuz.

All in all it was a good experience. I know that Nichole did enjoy it even if at times she was sad. There are certain things that made her happy, so we'll remember those.