Brigham in August

On our way home from Bear Lake this summer (was that June or July? Who can remember?) we had to stop in Brigham to feed Alice. So we drove past the temple. And Clara said, "Can we go inside?"

 Well, funny you should ask. So August 29, 2012, we headed to the open house. You just can't disappoint that little girl (actually, I do it all the time, and it's not fun). I'd wanted to do a family home evening about the temple that week to get the kids ready. But, I forgot. So, Wednesday morning, as we were getting ready, Levi and I tried to explain the importance of the temple. Get ready guys, this is something special.

 They were over the moon when we got on the bus. Their very first bus ride! It kind of ruined the reverent sort of behavior we were trying to encourage. No seatbelts in the bus! Can you believe it? I can stand up while we're driving! There's a TV and a bathroom in here! The excitement was palpable.

And then we had to sit. The movie was cool for about five minutes. I hoped the sister missionaries didn't mind we had to break out the animal crackers we found in the diaper bag. By the time the movie was over the kids were ready to move.

I'd tried to prepare them: people will put some funny white things on your feet, and it will be okay. But Nathan nearly threw a fit when I made him put them on. Clara followed suit. Levi passed the baby off to grandma because our kids then refused to walk or speak in a civil voice. If we hadn't been hemmed in by people already, I might have bailed. How about another bus ride, kids? They would have been happy again.

 As we went through the temple they got over it, luckily. Nathan really liked the baptistry. Clara liked the "sparkly lights" and asked me, "Is that a trampoline?" while pointing at the altar. So what could have been a disaster, or a really special experience, turned out moderately successful. That's all we could ask for.

 They perked up again when rewarded with cookies and water, and, of course, a stop at Maddox drive in on the way home.

Thanks to grandma and grandpa for coming with us, and for stepping in as photographers when I left our camera in the van...

Temporary (?) insomnia

Monday morning I was up at 4 am. That's pretty early, I tell you. Alice woke up to eat (she goes through phases of sleeping/not sleeping through the night) and after she easily went back to bed, I didn't. I tried. I even tried on the couch in the living room (sometimes this works). At five, when Levi got up to get ready for work, I gave up. I got up and started cleaning.

Because, as you know, Relief Society presidents must keep their houses perfectly clean. It's a requirement.

Not because I had anything else on my mind, of course. I just needed to get my house clean.

It's still not clean (Thursday evening). This morning I was up at five, but I decided to read the Ensign instead.

I'm actually feeling a lot better about everything since I got set apart on Sunday. And I'm sure I'll start sleeping better again soon. There's just so much to think about. But it's amazing in the month since I've been called the outpouring of the Spirit I've received. It's a real thing, guys.

So that's why blogging hasn't been happening. But I promise I have Labor Day and Brigham City open house pictures. I'll get to them soon.