Mesa Temple walks

 

My parents go on walks around the Mesa Temple nearly every day and sometimes Beatrix and I join them.  There are still fences around the perimeter of the grounds but the weather is nice in the morning and we get to see people working.  There's scaffolding up by the entrance in the photo above. 

We love seeing all the progress and comparing it to what we remember before all this.

We borrow Ruth's wagon to take Beatrix around and she always has a snack and a book.  Somehow she still ends up walking or wanting to be held part of the time. :)

Above is the new visitor center.  Not opened yet but Deseret Book next door is open now!  That whole area has gone through such a transformation the past few years, we can't wait for the temple to be open.  We look forward to the Easter Pageant next year too.  It'll feel so different.

Tucson Temple Open House

Somehow a couple weeks have passed since I last posted anything here.  I've been struggling with finding a good rhythm and getting enough sleep, but for the most part it's been a wonderful summer.  This week we have a break from Avery's swim lessons and Elliot's summer band ended.  He still has swim team all summer but we've kept this week open for a reason.  We're flying to Missouri Thursday night!  Lizette is getting baptized this Saturday and we are so excited to be there!

In the mean time, here are a couple pictures from the Tucson Temple Open House we went to a couple weekends ago.  We met the Mannings there, although not pictured, and ate at In-N-Out before heading back.  The temple isn't very big but it already had a special spirit there, even though it hasn't been dedicated yet.  Such a beautiful building.

^ ^ yum! ^ ^

Ammon & Ruth wedding part 1

 Yesterday was Ruth and Ammon's wedding and we are happy to welcome Ammon into our family and it appears Ruth fits right in with the Opie family.

Ruth was radiant, Ammon embraced his crown, and the whole day passed in a whirl.  So happy for my baby sister and her husband.  They have some great years ahead of them!

Denver Colorado Temple

My mom has a list of all the temples everyone in my family have visited (seeing from freeway doesn't count) and have done temple work in.  There have been only two temples I've done temple work in and they were the temples I lived near; the Mesa Arizona Temple and Preston England Temple.  Those two temples will always have a special place in my heart.

I love Zara's face here!

Let's see if I can remember all the temples I've visited the grounds:

:: Mesa Arizona

:: Snowflake Arizona

:: Preston England

:: Fresno California

:: Oakland California

:: Provo Utah

:: Salt Lake Utah

:: Orlando Florida

:: Denver Colorado

I don't plan on visiting all the temples in the world but I think it would be neat to dedicate a wall in my house to frame pictures of temples my little family have been to.  What temples have you been to?  Any favorites?

4th and 5th day of vacation: Sea World and Orlando Temple

Life has been very busy

(and that's an understatement)

but good.

I love being busy going on family vacations,

spending time with my new niece,

doing another triathlon,

making Easter memories,

visiting a new state (Texas),

helping out at my sister's bridal shower,

performing in my orchestra concert.

Those are the main high lights of the last few weeks.

More about some of those things later.

For now, here are some more vacation photos.

For the fourth day of vacation we went to Sea World again.

We saw three shows as well as many other attractions.

We all saw many animals and things we had never seen before.

I got to touch a sting ray,

Elliot and Avery got to meet and hug Elmo,

we saw sharks, flamingos, penguins, aligators, turtles, and more.

It was amazing!

After everything we had a lovely swim in our back yard.

Elliot has gotten so confident in the water, thanks to Rich.

* *

On Sunday after church we visited the Orlando, Florida Temple.

My mom keeps track of which temples

all her children and grandchildren have been to and/or done temple work in

and I have been to the least out of all her children.

It's nice to add another one on the list.

There was no visitor's center so there wasn't

much to do but walk around and take pictures

so that's just what we did.

What better place to take pictures of your family

than at a temple?