Gilbert temple

We had the opportunity to take our family through the Gilbert temple open house.  Shortly after Em was born we went down to the Gila valley temple open house, it was a special experience for our family.  Since this temple is in close proximity to us we have been able to watch it be built from the ground up which has been so neat.  At least once a month if not more driving over to check on its progress.  One trip we went inside the information center and the kids each were given a piece of the rock used to build the temple.  They have kept them on their dressers and talked excitedly for months about getting to go inside.  

It was great to see that there were so many people there and we only waited a few minutes before we were taken in to see a video about the temple and start our tour.  The girls got cold waiting in line and decided to snuggle for warmth :) :)

There were so many people to get through the tours that the tour moved very fast and so Deke and I hung in the back of our group and talked quietly to the kids about the different rooms we were seeing as we went along.  It is so beautiful.  The agave plant is a special part of the decor of the temple and the kids kept finding the flower symbol everywhere as we walked.  The kids were so reverent and whispered excitedly to us about the different things they saw.

When we walked into the celestial room it was breathtaking.  Hudson who had been quietly looking around with his binky in the entire time pulled his binky out, tossed it to the floor and said "wooowwwwww" and stared up at the incredible chandelier.  The entire time we walked through the room I kept trying to quiet him down because he kept saying "wow, wow, wow" over again over again.  Staring and pointing and saying it.  It was precious.  Everyone around us kept smiling at him and the kids tried to stifle their giggles.  It was such a genuine expression I think of what everyone else was thinking.  When I think of this day I will remember that moment in that room with all of our little kids and our sweet baby's expression of wonder at this sacred place.  I am so thankful to get to have our kids go inside the temple.  We have been having a lot of discussions about it since then and look forward to going back on Valentine's Day again before it closes.

After that we went out to dinner and just had a really great night as a family.  Every time I look at this picture of Ave I can't believe how big she looks :( These are my favorite days :)