Family Temple Square Night 2013

Almost every year we try to go to Temple Square. Last year Shon and I didn't make it. I was getting a major ear infection and bronchitis while Shon was battling Pneumonia. So this year we planned it out our plan of attack! We drove to Sandy and hopped on the Trax Train from there...

This was before we started to get cramped...and Ashton didn't have to stare and someone's backside (not even kidding).

Little did we know there was a Jazz game, Utah Symphony Concert, and BYU vs Utah Basketball game AND and Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert...next time we will do more homework. Poor Jordan was stuck in this corner for about 25 minutes between Grandpa Frary and I...he seems thrilled right?

We had finally made it to Temple Square!!! This was after the 3 million people unloaded the Trax Train...

So after our adventerous ride, we were hungry! So we stopped to grab some food at JB's...the only decent restaurant within walking distance...

                                                           

                                      

                             

                  Meggie, Dez and Mr. Bradley all bundled up!

That's me...the annoying blogger and photographer. This was taken by my technician...see above pic of Shalynn. (No that is not my real smile)

Cousin Love!

We FINALLY sat down (actually it was only like a 20 minute wait cause everyone was on there way to the concerts so we cleaned house!) Uncle Joe taught Ashton David, Kaitlynn, Savannah and Jordan some "science projects" (PG rated folks)...the food was good...we ate and we left!

So we walked across the street in downtown to get to our destination...see how pretty it is outside. The weather was perfect. It wasn't too cold...it was about 30 degrees. And once we got cold enough to need to warm up, we were able to find an escape in either the visitors center or the tabernacle.

Getting closer...here is the old Tabernacle

We made it!!! Now prepare for more picture overload!

The Hoggans'

James, Shalynn, Kaitlynn, Savannah, Kolton and Bradley

Momma and most of her babies...

Dez, Shon, Kathy, Meghan and Shalynn

(Excuse the photo bombers to the right...I yelled at them as they walked by...) (No, not really)

Meghan & Joe

(I think Joe was a little cold...)

My Family!

Jordan, Shon, Ashton, Me (the mom, Cristina) and David

(What's up with David's neck?! and could Ashton be any more ginormous?!)

Grandma and the grandbabies...

I had to add another shot without the flash cause I just love this freaking picture...how gorgeous is the background and those kiddos?!

My most favorite shot of the night...I love it! The lights with the Salt Lake Temple showing through...amazing!

The Nativity Scene outside of the visitors center. If you look closely in the building behind is a large Christus...We didn't go to the Christus. We wanted to but the line was HUGE. We were all bummed, but at this point we were about done walking around. (See all the people on the other side?)

Another shot from the other side with the Temple in view

It goes through the story of Christ's birth...Once you get towards the end it shows this lit up... (see the snowflakes?!) :-)

 Manger Scenes

 The Manger...and when it announces the birth of Christ a light like this shows bright in to the sky...

 After the show we went inside to walk around and get warmed up again...Shon stopped to take his turn holding little Bradley

This is in front of a picture of Mary and baby Jesus...what a great scripture.

The we went outside and walked a little more towards the Trax train to go back home...I could help but get a side shot of the Temple

A lot of friends in Utah posted about how beautiful the moon was Saturday. I happened to capture this one as well...how pretty is that?! 

One last one on the square is this reflection pond...those white things you see are lights...it was simply breath taking. It was a great way for us all to remember our loving Heavenly Father. And those white speckles you see are speckles of light snow...this now making this photo my second favorite of the night.

Lastly (mostly because someone didn't charge the camera and the camera died on me), is the Bagpipe man. There is always a bagpipe player at Temple Square this time of year playing Christmas music. He was good and extremely friendly and talkative. 

We had a great family bonding time! And this was a great way to get in to the last week before Christmas!