An Evening of Lights, Bells & the Nativity

For Family Home Evening this past week, the Woodburys invited a bunch of us to join them for a Bell Choir performance at the DC Temple Visitor's Center. We also got to look at the beautiful (and very bright) lights adorning the temple grounds as well as some beautifully crafted Nativity scenes from around the world.

All kids (Elise, Elijah, Damon, Ethan, Lizzie & Andrew) were so good during the performance! It was just long enough to captivate their short attention spans.

We were sitting behind the Browns and I thought it was so cute that Lizzie, a motherly & precocious 3 yr old, scolded me for wearing a skirt - "Jackie, you're supposed to wear pants!" I almost believed her, she spoke so knowingly.

A highlight for us was seeing Brother Brewer outside, greeting the masses. He is such a warm, uplifting individual.

I love the way the temple looks and the peace I feel when I am there. I love how the Savior's outstreched reflection appears in the window overlooking the temple.

Where are the kids?

I think the pictures are a sufficent answer. : ) I think Rachelle was telling me about a good book she is reading called 'Covenant Hearts' and everyone was playing so quietly, that we had to find out what they were up to. (pictures: Lizzie, Elijah, Elise & Andrew.) We always have so much fun with the Browns! The other night I got lost while driving and called Rachelle for help - she's such a good sport - because she had been to this person's aptartment before (and my husband's cell phone was dead!). She was really patient and I was verging on frantic. Thanks to her and a lot of heavenly help, I got there finally. : )

Banjos Slideshow

"Banjos Rock!"

Last Saturday, our good friends, Sarah and Ethan invited us to go downtown to the the National Theater to watch a free banjo performance by "BanjerDan." (Click HERE for the full schedule of free outreach events put on by the National Theater.)

The kids loved it! Elise and Elijah sat and listened for the most part... Ethan was so cute - dancing and crawling in circles around Elise. At times he seemed more interested in Elise than the performance, giving her hugs and bonking heads with her. BanjerDan was really talented but it seemed he was expecting an older crowd. However, Elise and Ethan really loved dancing to the song at the end. Too bad it was just one song. At the end he had everyone shout, "Banjos rock!"

Sarah always knows the great events and programs put on by DC and the suroundng area, and she's so great about getting out with Ethan - I swear she must have a playgroup or an event to go to every day! I'm exhausted by one or two a week! She's even getting close to her due date, which is around Dec. 25th, hopefully by which she will give birth to her second little boy and yet she still gets out... yup, she's amazing and such a great mom!

I'll never forget that Sarah and Muriel R. that were the first ones to welcome our family into the Chevy Chase Ward. Heavenly Father knew we needed friends like them. We felt so much aloha and were so glad that they had (Muriel was pregnant) kids too! Sarah has been an answer to my prayers many a time. I used to have to ride the bus to my doctor's appointments during my pregnancy with Elijah, something I began to detest as I grew bigger (and bigger!) and because I had to break down the stroller and haul it, along with Elise, the diaper bag and my large self onto the bus. Not to mention the exhausting task of keeping Elise from running into the street while waiting for the bus. Anyway, on a particularly rainy day, and feeling a little down, who should come driving around the corner but Sarah & Ethan! It must have been right after a playgroup. I was so grateful that she drove me to a covered bus stop despite my protestations (I didn't have a carseat or she probably would have driven me further!). I think it was soon after that she insisted on watching Elise during my appointments and I think she even drove me to the appointments as well. That's just the kind of person she is... generous and always serving others. I try to be the kind of friend that she has been to me.

I think I could write a tribute about each of the friends we have been blessed to have here in DC/MD - we have been so fortunate to be surrounded with good people and neighbors and our lives have been enriched greatly by our friends!

US Botanic Gardens

Every year the US Botanic Gardens has a special holiday exhibit that features a model train display, a nature photography display, and miniture replica of various national buildings. For more info click here.

This was a fun outing - but the wind was biting cold! I'm so grateful for Becky Hawkes who lent me some gloves, before my hands froze off. We had a fun bunch that bundled up and made the trip: Michelle & Damon, Sarah & Ethan, Gina & Mark, Rachelle, Lizzie & Andrew, Kaelene, Kiara & Maka, Heather and Pavolina.

I was most impressed with the miniture replicas of US buildings. My camera had a spot or something on the lens unfortunately, however it kind of adds to the surreal feeling of the pictures... The kids didn't even care that it was just a few trains. They stood, pointed and giggled with delight.