Christmas in the City

Growing up, my family had a tradition to spend the week-end before Christmas in the city. All the shopping, wrapping and hustle 'n bustle of Christmas was to be done and be enjoyed! Now that I have my own family, Mike and I have continued that tradition each year and love to spend some fun time with the family in Salt Lake. We have a special service project that we complete while we are there and then take the evening to go visit the beautiful Christmas lights on Temple Square. No matter how many times we go, each time is special, breathtaking and full of wonderful memories. This year, for part of the evening, Angie and Ryan brought their families to join us for dinner, a train ride and to see the lights on Temple Square.  It was a lot of fun and with 12 kids, we had to do a constant head count with all the cousins!

Eating dinner at Rumbi Grill

Riding Trax to Temple Square

The kids loved visiting the Christus

Under the same tree

 While we were dating, 16 years ago, Mike drove down from Idaho over the holiday break to take me on a date to see the lights at Temple Square. We doubled with his roommate Frank and a friend of mine. We took a picture under this tree with the red lights. We were told that this tree was brought back from the Holy Land many years ago and planted near the gates to the temple grounds. To preserve this tree, lights are put on only every 3-4 years. It was lit this year and we had to take another picture of us under this big tree.

For some reason, there is an excitement and almost a feeling of magic in the city at Christmas time. To some it may seem frivolous to spend money on a hotel that is only 30 min from your house, but using it as one of the Christmas gifts we give our kids and lots of research online. We get a great deal thanks to priceline.com and for 1/2 price it's worth it! Not having to cook and clean up is worth it alone for mom, but the kids love the swimming, yummy room service breakfast and the late night popcorn and Christmas movie is just wonderful!  It something that can only happy at Christmas time. It also helps the craziness and excitement of Christmas with the kids to help the time pass. This year because Christmas was on a Sunday, after we checked out of the hotel and drive home, it was time to have our Christmas Eve dinner, our traditions for Christmas Eve and only sleep until Santa comes.  

Enjoying swimming with daddy

Megan is a fish in the water. I could hardly keep her still to take a picture!

Mike and Austin with hot tub bubbles. Santa look out!