Festival of Nativities

We did one of my favorite Christmas traditions last week. We drove up to Bellevue and went to their annual festival of nativities. It is an incredible event that is filled with the true meaning of Christmas. This was the first year that they had the giving machines at the church. The girls decided on getting some chickens and school lunches.

Then we started with the gym which is filled with hundreds of nativities. The girls got a scavenger hunt and we hunted and searched for specific things throughout all the nativities. 

McCall went from nativity to nativity, pointing at Jesus in every single one. It was pure goodness and sweetness even with the constant reminder of we don't touch, just look.

Then we made a stop so the girls could dress up for their own nativity. There were so many costumes that they could choose from and of course McCall chose a cow. I thought it was funny, cute, and so McCall. Baylor wanted to be an angel and Paige being a teenager wanted the simplest and decided to match McCall and was a sheep.

Then we went to my favorite room It is an instant feeling of the Spirit and the love of Christ that just washes over you as you walk through this room that has pictures and scriptures that depict the life of Christ. First starting with His birth, to growing up, the miracles, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, His Crucifixion, and Resurrection. 

I love how they use the baptismal font to create the empty tomb which is so cool.

Then they have a snowflake room with more nativities of course more finding baby Jesus.

Then I went through the life of Christ room again by myself because I love it that much and could go through much slower. I walked into the activity room and got to see this. The girls and Nate working on puzzles and doing some fun nativity activities together.

It was pouring rain but they had lots of lights set up by the temple that I wanted to walk through. McCall was the only one brave enough to join me. We we walked through the lights together and she loved to see the temple and all the pretty lights. Nate and the other two stayed warm in the car and picked us up in front of the temple.

It was a long drive home with traffic and even more than usual with roads closed due to flooding. I know going late on a Wednesday afternoon isn't ideal for the time we are driving home but I like going at that time so there are less people there. It was a wonderful evening spent together as a family!