We were smart and beat the rush by showing up at Olive Garden around 3:30. They were able to get us a nice big table in our OWN, private room! We also had two servers and the manager came in to introduce them and make sure we were happy. It was soooooo great. They just kept bringing baskets and baskets of breadsticks. A couple of my kids came over and said, "I'm done Mom"...before we even got our food, lol! By 4:30 the entire place was PACKED so it was awesome that we got there when we did. The kids were able to get up from the table and run around if they wanted (without bothering anyone) and we all dumped our coats in a big pile in the corner. I couldn't imagine a more perfect time going out to eat with ten kids!
After we finished dinner, we walked to temple square to see the Christmas lights. They were certainly beautiful, but we made a sort of fatal error. We went on the night of the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert. :( It was so incredibly packed with people that we could hardly walk. Most of the people were bustling past us quickly, which made it even worse. It was like trying to keep track of ten little kids in the middle of a rushing river. We were able to see some of the lights, but finally just gave up.
We headed back to the car after a quick ride on the Trax. LOL. We were just riding one block on it for fun but we tried to get off early (the train stopped and we thought it was our stop so we all stood up and gathered around the door). It was NOT our stop and when it suddenly took off again, we all sort of fell into each other and the back of the train. I think the other people on the Trax thought we were pretty cool. We looked like pretty savvy Trax riders. :)
All in all, it was a pretty fun night. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the lights. I love them, but it was just so crazy and the kids were whining and stuff. I need to go out one year with just Joe and I. :)
Gideon waits to be seated. Even though we got there at 3:30, it was probably 20 minutes or so for them to get our room ready. The kids were impressed that it was so fancy, which was fun. :)
Teancum and Caleb wait
It's a good thing that we were the only ones waiting!
We stuck Bekah and Helaman on the end together. They have SO much fun playing. They were silly and laughing. It is crazy to see how big they've become!
Our table! We put the kids all down on one end with the grown-ups (and the toddlers) on the other. It was great!
The kids insisted that I take a picture of them outside of the Channel 2 newsroom, lol. We watch Channel 2 News a lot and always see people in the background. We watched the weather man with his green screen and the newscaster reading the news!
We made it to the temple!
Hannah by the reflecting pond
My Lizzie, Bekah, and Ammon
Sarah (6), Teancum (4), Gideon (8), Hannah (9), and Lizzie (8)
The Norton fam
The Boyers
1 comment:
That was a lot of fun! And the room at Olive Garden was perfect! I think our kids favorite part though was that very short trip on the Trax, ironically enough. And they loved throwing the snow in the fountain until their hands were cold and freezy. I do love the way the temple looks. And in some of the pictures you can see the crowds of people in the background. Crazy!
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