Provo City Center Temple Open House

On January 20, we attended the Provo City Center Temple open house - bright and early 

(or more accurately, dark and early) at 7:00 am

Having been to several stake conference meetings in the old Provo Tabernacle, I was familiar with the building, and was really sad when it had the large fire in 2010. It was neat to see how they rebuilt it, and tried to decorate the interior with a similar time period feel. Two details I thought were really interesting were the exit signs, and the ornate door hinges.

At the end of the open house, they had an informational display about the history of the tabernacle, the reconstruction and also a photo booth where they would take your picture with a photo backdrop of the temple and email it to you:

We took a few pictures outside of the temple before heading back home, and taking the kids to school.

Here are a few professional pictures from the LDS Newsroom:

The welcome desk

Staircase - there was a lot of beautiful woodwork

Lots of beautiful stained glass, too

Celestial Room

Sam VIP

Sam was the VIP for a week in the middle of January. He was so excited about it! I went to his class to introduce him as the VIP and show everyone his posters and tell about him. He is sure a cute kid!

The picture poster

His info poster

Japan Crate and Universal Yums - Box 3

The kids were super excited when the next Japan Crate box came, and they couldn't wait for Mike to get home from work so we could open it!

A cute little pencil and pen

This is candy that looks like gum, but eventually dissolves in your mouth like candy. This is the kind of gum that is good for Sam since there is nothing left to stick onto random surfaces around the house...

This was probably my favorite candy - sweet potato white chocolate cubes. Mike was not a fan. Hehe.

Orange soda candy

Where's Wally gum - real gum this time.

The Universal Yums box this month was items from Turkey.

The selection of treats - they were all really good. The chocolate did have a little different taste than American or European chocolate. 

This was probably the most interesting looking thing - grape molasses with walnuts. It had a very mellow flavor and a jello-like consistency

4 flavors of Turkish Delight - the lemon one was the favorite.

New Years Day - Family Star Wars Movie Night

We had a relaxing New Year's Day

Grammy and Nora working on some coloring

I did a puzzle

Playing some games

In the evening, we had a family movie night and we all went to see Star Wars VII

My two little Stars Wars fans were SOOO excited

Kate had gotten us tickets in the theater with recliners, which was really nice!

Waiting for the movie to start

After the movie:

Everyone really enjoyed it - even Nora who isn't really into Star Wars

The theater had a fun backdrop for taking pictures

Vienne slept through most of the movie. Good job, Babes! 

Reece took a group shot with all of us

December Misc.

Here are a few more pictures from December:

 Nora hard at work sewing Christmas presents

This is what happens when a certain little girl doesn't hang up her coat...

I tried to do take a few holiday pictures of Dorie. Things were going well at first...

Max sleeping

and sleeping

and sleeping

And a sleeping Sadie for good measure

Evie and I went on a little dinner date to Eleanor's Bakeshop, a gluten free bakery. We brought home a box of cupcakes to share with the family, and they were really good!

Nora performing her Christmas violin music at Sunday dinner

Max hanging out with me in the kitchen late one night

Sam after his class Christmas party - with elf ears and a bell necklace from the Polar Express

Max cuddles

Evie and Sam having a Star Wars movie night

Nora doing a little present wrapping

The results of brushing Dorie with the Furminator

Oh hey...

There is a lot of excitement over the new Star Wars movie in the air. We saw two different droid snowmen up in my parents' neighborhood

R2D2

BB-8

Here is our Star Wars pets collage - Obi-Wan Catnobi, Rebel Pilot Dorie, and Darth Sader

 Nora had a coloring party in her room one day and handed out invitations to the rest us us

It was lots of fun

Max is the official blanket tester at our house. The two new blankets from Christmas - the faux fur and Star Wars - passed his test with flying colors. Hehe.

 Nora made this cute ornament at school

Nora, Evie and Dorie had a sleepover one night

We put up all the Star Wars things Sam got for Christmas in his room, and he is thrilled with the results!

He said this is his scared face

Sam and "Space Kitty" (Sam's new nickname for Max)