Boston Temple 2009

Our first day in Massachusetts in October
we went to the Boston Temple
which actually is in
Belmont, Massachusetts.

Standing atop a wooded granite hillside in the
northwest suburb of Belmont,
the Boston Massachusetts Temple
is a striking landmark along
the busy Concord Turnpike

We drove right by the sign and almost
missed it! Then we thought we'd
turn around, but oh no!
It was a one way street.
Then we drove around in a
neighborhood and finally found
the street again and saw
a sign for an LDS church. We went there
and the missionaries directed
us back to the temple.

Of course the Temple is beautiful and
we enjoyed our time there.

There was a tree-bush that
had these dazzling flowers hanging
from its branches.

Another dazzling flower!

They were pretty.

Here is the actual plant.

Behind the temple with Barry.
The Boston Massachusetts Temple was
the first temple built in New England.
The Boston Massachusetts Temple holds the
distinction of being the 100th operating
temple of the church --fulfilling
President Gordon B. Hinckley's desire
to have 100 temples in operation
before the end of the year 2000.

More flowers on the Temple Grounds.

The Boston Massachusetts Temple site was
originally purchased for the meetinghouse
that adjoins the temple. And although the
architect was asked to design the
meetinghouse for the center of the
property, he could only wrap his mind
around a design that placed the
building in the lower corner.
Despite repeated attempts at the
urging of Church leaders,
he finally insisted that another architect
would have to be hired
if they wanted the building elsewhere.
The design was accepted.
This decision left a large empty parcel
at the top of the granite crag—
perfect for the temple.

The Boston Massachusetts Temple was
dedicated steepleless due to a second law suit
contesting the proposed height of the steeple.
The Church eventually won the case on appeal,
and the steeple was added about a year
after dedication. The angel Moroni statue
was installed atop the
Boston Massachusetts Temple
on September 21, 2001, honoring the
178th anniversary of the
first appearance of Moroni to the
Prophet Joseph Smith.

Location: 86 Frontage Road, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Phone Number: 617-993-9993.
Site: 8 acres.
Exterior Finish: Olympia white granite.
Temple Design: Classic modern, single-spire design.
Number of Rooms: Four endowment rooms and four sealing.
Total Floor Area: 69,600 square feet.

Pirate Island Pizza with Cousins

Cec, Ryan, & Beckett getting ready
to enjoy the 'Pirate' experience.

Chris & Deserae look
forward to seeing what the
'Krakin Pizza' looks like.
It came and it was HUGE!
Should have taken a pic...
maybe next time.
Des bought a $50 gift certificate
for 25$ and treated us all
to Pirate Island Pizza!
A BIG, HUGE THANKS TO DESERAE!!!!!

Very slyly we finally got Ethan's face
in the pic with Liz & Tyler.

Darrell, Brianne, & Brynn with her bow.
Darrell came and did some homework, and
Brianne missed her Relief Society Meeting
to come. We were happy to see them!

Jessica, Jordyn, Chris, Beckett, & Deserae.
We really had to watch
all of those little fingers!
Jordyn tipped over a glass of water
on herself, the table & Jessica.

Arghhhh! We love Pirate Island!

Beckett really didn't really want to play pirate!

Saying Goodbye to Daddy Pirate
as he leaves to sail the seas.

Jordyn in her new outfit after
her little bath!

Jordyn showing off her strawing abilities!

Mommy loves her Beckett!

2nd Cousins Beckett & Jordyn
enjoy playing together.

Hi everyone!
I'm more fun than a video game!
hahahaha!

I visited Max after Church on Sunday--
notice his white shirt & tie.
Max was in the pack n play
& Joanna started talking to him.
This beautiful smiling picture
of Max was the result!
I love it!

More Thanksgiving Memories 2009

Joanna & Max at the Jenkins' home

Max wondering what the
fuss is all about.

Eric & Joanna kissing their
precious baby, Max.

The Bennetts smiling
after eating some yummy
cheese stuffed manicotti.

Joanna & Max,
Cecily & Beckett,
talking baby talk.

Max & Beckett wondering
who will be the first to
spit up.

Beckett just loves his
cousin, Max!

Max laughing after Beckett
tried eating him.

Finally Beckett is sound asleep
with his bear on his head.

Cecily & Joanna doing
an 'in the guitar case'
photo shoot with Max.

Daddy! Will you take me to school
in your guitar case?

I promise I won't make a sound!

I'll just lie really quiet and be really cute!
See how I fit so well?

I had a very filling Thanksgiving.
That turkey was good!

I'll come again to Idaho someday!

Anodyne Red Plays in Rexburg Toy Drive

Eric, Derek, & Randy playing in Rexburg at the
Christmas Celebration Toy Drive.

They sang a mixture of Christmas Songs & their own music.

It was sooooo cold!!! Brrrrrr!
Eric couldn't feel his fingers!

This is the gazebo where they
played in the cooooold!
They played so well even though
their fingers froze!

What Christmas Celebration is
complete without Fireworks?
First time I've seen fireworks
in Frigid Idaho.
It was Great!

How Rexburg does a Christmas Fireworks Display:

Thanksgiving 2009

Well, I did it again! I will start with the
end of Thanksgiving because I keep forgetting
that the first picture I put on
my post is always the last.
Here is Grandpa & Gigi holding
Beckett & Max after having a
Great Thanksgiving!

Here is Grandma 'Tutu' being funny.
She likes to make necklaces and
here is her latest!

Grandpa Bennett & Jenkins with Beckett

Of course what would Thanksgiving
be without a serenade from Eric?

Auntie Em & Ryan being brother
& sister....just plain goofing off!

Gigi & Max laughing together!

It's Max's 1st Thanksgiving &
he really enjoyed the day!

It was also Beckett's
1st Thanksgiving with Grandpa!

Beckett's Auntie Em played with
Max and made him smile & smile!

Max relaxing after the big Thanksgiving Feast!

Grandpa & Max talking about
the first Thanksgiving Feast in 1691.

Grandma & Grandpa Jenkins
taking turns holding Beckett.
Where is Emma? She usually holds him!



Auntie Emma, Gigi, Grandpa Barry, Cecily, Ryan & Beckett

Auntie Emma, Eric, Joanna,
Great Grandma Marlu,
Grandpa John, & Grandma Virginia.

We missed Deserae, Mark, Ginger, & Alexis.

We had a delicious Thanksgiving Feast!
The table was set with a Thanksgiving-themed
paper tablecloth & napkins that Barry
bought on our trip to Boston. (Remember--
by where the first Thanksgiving took place)
We had Turkey, dressing,
whole cranberry sauce,
brown sugar & walnut yams, green salad,
Idaho potatoes & gravy, KFC coleslaw,
cranberry-jello salad, & fruit salad.
We drank diet pomegranate soda, &
diet 7-Up mixed with white grape juice.
For dessert we enjoyed pumpkin cheesecake,
chocolate pecan pie,
banana coconut creme pie,
pumpkin pie, & apple pie.
Needless to say we were all full & happy!
We went around the table and shared
what we were thankful for.
Many included Family, Jesus Christ,
the Temple, Health, the Gospel, America.
I might think of
more after people read this...
Oh --- and of course everyone
was thankful for Virginia!

After we played a roaring game of Quiddler.

I hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for those brave pilgrims
who came to America to be able to
worship freely. And I'm also grateful
to the Indians who welcomed them and taught
them to survive and fed them!

The Lord prepared America to have the fullness
of the Gospel restored on her shores.
There was no other place
where freedom of religion existed.
I'm grateful for America!