Kansas City Temple

 Ever since we passed the new Kansas City Temple during our drive out to Utah last summer, we knew we wanted to go back to really see it. The open house was all last month, so we decided to make a little overnight trip of it. We found a hotel nearby with a kid-friendly pool...

 ...and played all afternoon in it to recover from the four hour drive. Unfortunately, Benjamin was just a few inches too short to ride the giant three-story slide, but there was a small kiddie one that they all enjoyed.

 Nora took a little warming up to the water, but by the time we were leaving, she was the hardest to drag out.

 Peter was having a blast, and would not hold still for any pictures.

After we got our wiggles out in the pool, we got dressed and headed over to Liberty Jail. It was a really special place, and I think the kids learned a lot.

 The camera was in the car for some reason, so these phone pictures were all we had.

 Knowing what the harshest winters here are like, it was almost unbearable to imagine what it must have been like for Joseph Smith and the others who were imprisoned here. That was a really trying time in our Church's history.

 After the Liberty Jail tour, we had dinner at the small-town Mexican joint. It was SOOOO good. I miss real Mexican food.

The next morning, we left the hotel and went to the temple. The kids weren't too jazzed about standing in line...

 but I think they really liked it once we got inside.

 I had a conversation about the artwork and symbols used throughout this temple with a man who I think must have been heavily involved in all of that. He pointed out to me that the olive branch motif was everywhere- etched on every window, on all the carpets, on many of the fabrics, and on the stair railings. Paul noted that among the many meanings of the olive branch, perhaps one possible meaning here was "extending an olive branch" to the people of western Missouri, who just four decades ago- by law- could shoot a Mormon. Given the peaceful feeling that was there, I think that statement was probably accurate.

By the end of the temple tour, the kids were done, so we just got back in the car and headed home. It was a short trip, but so worth it. I'm really glad we could go!