DC Festival of Lights

{Washington DC Temple}

It's Christmas time!! I must say that in all the years we've lived in the DC area, that we had yet to see the Temple all decked out in lights for the Christmas season. I really wanted to go but was nervous about it since I'm 7 months pregnant along with John deployed...but I wasn't about to let that stop me from taking the kids to see them. I also felt it would be good to go up there so we could see my cousin and her family. I packed us up some dinner for later and we left early so we could avoid traffic. It worked out perfectly - and I was successful in making this whole trip a surprise for the kids. They had no idea where we were going and who we were getting together with. :)

 

Pulling up to the Temple and seeing all the beautiful lights was so much fun! The kids screamed with excitement when they saw where we were. They LOVE the Temple! I love seeing how happy it makes them. Especially when they saw that their cousins were there! So cute! The first thing we did when we did was walk around (in the freezing cold) to check out the lights and the lifesize nativity set.

It was getting way too cold outside and the kids were crying so we jumped inside the Visitor's center to get warm and listen to a few local choirs sing. After that, we wondered around and looked at all the decorated Christmas trees and nativity sets from all across the world.

I then had the pleasure of finding a missing Andrew!! That was beyond scary to have him next to me one minute and gone the next. My cousin and I ran around trying to see where he was and one of the workers asked what he looked like and off they went to help us find him. What seemed like hours later, I walked back to the area where they had a room set up as a living room and he was playing on the computer! Agh!! I wasn't even upset at this point! Just happy to find my boy safe and sound. I ran and hugged him and pretty much didn't let him out of my sight for the rest of the time! 

Besides this scary incident, it was such a fun night! :) I'm so thankful that my cousin and her family joined us in this last minute night at the Temple!

{My family with my cousin and her family}