We went to temple square to see the lights on Monday night.
It had been an activity we wanted to do for the whole season, but it hadn’t happened yet. We decided Monday night for FHE would be the perfect time for a trip to the downtown wonderland. (Plus, we had to run an errand for Wyatt in Ogden, so it would be a great activity on our way home).
But there were a few hick-ups to our plans:
1) Calvin was sick. He had been sick for four whole long days by the time this evening activity rolled around. It seemed to me he should be on the mend, but really, he wasn’t.
2) We didn’t have a stroller. I had loaned it out the night before. I tried to borrow another one, but it didn’t work out. This meant at least one (Roo) and usually two (Calvin) kids had to be carried at all times.
3) A big nasty winter storm rolled in. It didn’t produce lovely snow though, just slushy heavy rain.
I thought to myself – “Why are we doing this?” as we climbed out of the car in the underground parking at City Creek. But we forged ahead. After all, we had Christmas memories to make!
Upon arriving at ground level at City Creek, I spent the first 15 minutes in the bathroom with Calvin, while Wyatt entertained other children at the fish pond.
Next we rode the escalators upstairs (very exciting for Everett) where we ducked into the Disney store to get out of the rain.
Wyatt then spent the next ten minutes in the bathroom with Olivia.
Finally we were ready to go across the street to see the lights at Temple Square.
We crossed South Temple just above the Joseph Smith Building, walked behind the JSMB to the plaza, walked down the north side of the JSMB to the reflecting pond, and the walked in front of the JSMB where we again ducked in to get out of the rain.
If you know Salt Lake, you will realize this means we walked about 100 yards on the Plaza.
We never even actually went in to Temple Square.
Inside the Joseph Smith Building we got some cookies and hot chocolate. The cookies were gobbled/crumbled onto the floor, and the hot chocolate was promptly spilled into a scalding mess across the table.
By this time in addition to Calvin crying, Roo and Everett were upset too. Olivia was the only one who hopped along in silence as we made our way back to the car. But not before stopping for one last ten minute bathroom break.
By the time we were buckling babies back into their seats, everyone was frazzled.
Wyatt said “You know, I’m glad we do things like this, because it’s important to do activities with the kids, and you’ll post it on your blog, and it will look like a ton of fun. And I know looking back we’ll only remember the fun, but sometimes these things just drive me crazy!”
So – the truth is, our activities aren’t always fun. I wouldn’t even say they are usually fun (as in – everyone gets out of the activity without a major case of the grumps). But they are important, and still we do them, because as with pretty much everything in life, it’s the work that produces the harvest.
I hope to harvest memories and relationships.
You are right, it always does look like fun. Fooled me with your pictures. We sure miss you guys. I hope you guys have a great Christmas!
So true! I always look back at the photos and blog posts and remember the fun. When in reality, the boys fought the whole time while I yelled at the kids to get along and Peter to help!:)
Ha Ha! You do always make your activities look fun and pretty as a picture and sometimes I wonder what’s wrong with me when my activities are usually more like the one described above. 🙂