Family Temple Trip

This was several weeks ago now, but I thought I would post these pictures anyhow seeing the kids were so very excited for this little trip. 

Since living in Montreal, it's been a bit of an adjustment for the kids that Jason and I head off to the temple without them. Where we lived before it was a several hour drive so we all went together and Jason and I traded off for sessions while the kids got some time with the other parent walking the temple grounds and the area surrounding. 

Well, now that we live just 20-30 minutes from the temple (traffic dependant) we are able to sneak in a few more evening temple visits and the kids get to head to bed while a sitter stays with them. Sounds like a pretty good plan, but the kids are quite dismayed about not getting to go to the temple with us. So, in addition to mine and Jason's temple night, we also plan a day to drive up with the kids just to check out the temple, walk around (typically in below freezing temps, but the kids haven't minded) and take some photos. It's a really nice opportunity to talk to the kids about the purpose of temples, what happens inside and why it is important that we go. It's also prompted some talks about family history. 

All in all, we feel pretty blessed to have a temple nearby. It will actually be closing soon for renovations, so we feel pretty fortunate that we have been able to get some sessions in before we have to drive a pretty long way to get to the temple (~6 hours). And I am loving the interest that the kids are showing, so there is no better time than now to help them understand all the beauty, both physically and spiritually, that can be found inside the temple. 

Montreal LDS Temple

I especially enjoy when I get to go here:

Particularly when it's with this guy:

And his blaringly white smile.

So grateful to live so close to a temple.

September Date Night - Botanical Garden of Lights

Since our Mosaic Cultures International passes were good for two days, we brought the kids back on the second day in the morning to check out the Insectarium then Jason and I came back in the evening to check out the garden of lights in the chinese garden. It was nice to get out just the two of us especially since I don't foresee it happening all that often with how expensive babysitters are, how busy Jason is and how pricey things to do here are. But for now, I am still enjoying the pleasant memory of getting to go to the Garden of Lights together. It was lovely. We even got to check out the Japanese exhibit which was so cool. I love the Japanese culture. It's beautiful.

Chinese Garden of Lights:

The chinese Scholar rocks were really cool. I seem to think there was another name for them but I cannot seem to remember it. Basically, they are naturally occurring rocks that look like something and are gifted to scholars (or to a hostess...or something like that...I really should have read the information better in here but it was pretty packed).

moon cakes. Jason was pretty over-the-moon (hehe) about these.

Love, love, love the architectural lines.

After I took this photo I turned around and promptly walked smack dab into some man. We're talking a full head on collision. It was pretty dark in those gardens I tell ya. Good thing too, it helped to hide my embarrassment.

Thanks for the fun night, Jason!

Picnic at the Montreal Temple

This was a while ago now, within our first weeks in Montreal. After church and afternoon naps we headed out to the Montreal Temple to have a picnic and a little family home evening lesson. It was so great. I think we'd like to make a habit of doing this a little more often. 

I love living so close to a temple. And I love how much a little outing like this can help us all feel a little bit more together and happy.