A Measuring Stick

For many years now, we have been going up to see the Christmas lights on Temple Square with Scott's parents.  It is something we look forward to during this season.  Each year we do the same thing.   Meet up at the Lion House after Scott's parents are done serving in the temple, eat dinner and then go see the lights.  We actually have the whole process down to a science so we can beat the crowds and congestion.

For some reason this event is one I always measure and look back on each year to see how it is gotten easier and how my kids are growing up.

In the early years with young babies and toddlers it was an exhausting evening.  Packing coats, hats, blankets, gloves and strollers was just the beginning.  Once we arrived downtown we had to haul everything across the parking garage and to the restaurant.

Dinner was always a chaotic event.   Carrying multiple trays of food to the table and pushing strollers through the line was the first part.  Then, cutting up food for the kids, helping them eat and hoping one of them didn't have a tantrum or start running around the restaurant before we all had finished.  I remember many years,  barely having time to shove down my food before the kids got out of hand.  There was also the worry that I would have to find a place to nurse Chase amongst the crowds as well. Been there. Done that too.

Chasey at Temple Square

Once the dinner was finished and all of the clothes were put on, it was the worry that they would get cold, we would lose one of them or one of them would start crying.  Or any number of these things happening all at once.  Once we finished and walked back to the car we would all be exhausted.  Let me re-state that.  Scott and I would be exhausted.  The kids were just getting started.

Each year when we have gone though, I have looked back at the previous year.  Soon, I wasn't nursing anymore. The next year, we only had 1 stroller and so on.  Slowly but surely it has gotten easier.  My boys now feed themselves and are responsible for their own clothes.  Yea!  I don't have to worry about tantrums and strollers.  Yea!   We can actually sit down and have a nice dinner and only tell Owen and Chase about 4 times to sit down and stop running around. 

On the other hand as it has become easier for us, it has become harder for Scott's parents.  Due to some health issues, Scott's mom no longer works in the temple and has a harder time getting around.  We are so grateful for the time we have to spend with them and hope we can continue this tradition for many more years.