Where's my Square?

There is a temple in Portland, but it is nestled in a forest, so there is no Temple Square. Thus, no pilgrimage to Temple Square to see the lights, stopping off at the food court at Crossroads mall for a Cinnabon. Wait, isn't Crossroads Mall a big hole in the ground right now? So no Cinnabon? Wait - that's not my point.

If you know Jonah, you know he loves holidays and celebrations and most importantly, decorations. In fact, we really mostly put up the decorations for him, because he loves them so. And he lurves lights on houses. It is the greatest thing on earth to him. When we lived in Salt Lake, we had a special route to drive home from Grandma's house to pass the most possible lit up houses and houses with inflatable penguins on Harleys in the yard. So since there will be "See the Lights at Temple Square" on our calendar this year, we did the next best thing: Zoo Lights.

Our kids, as previously noted, love the Portland Zoo. And every year, the Zoo gets all decked out in lights for the holiday season. It is pretty impressive, actually. The trees are all lit up, and the walkways and there a moving animal light sculptures all around.
The problem with photos at such an event is that the flash flashes, making everyone looked washed out and also dulling the Christmas lights in the background. We tried.

Good thing last years winter coats still fit! Notice the river of lights in the background with lighted fishes jumping out of it. Lovely.

The cherry on the cake was the zoo train, which we must ride every time we go to the zoo, even though it costs extra and mostly you see the back of the zoo. It was all lit up for the holiday and was quite simply Jonah's every wish and dream come true.
The picture doesn't quite do it justice. Luckily the kids were so enthralled by the lights we passed that the weren't listening to the man behind us discussing his latest trip to Hooters. Who goes to Hooters, anyway? The food is gross. And then why would you talk loudly about it on a train full of small children? I hate adults at the zoo.

So, hats off to the Portland Zoo! You did good work! And while the spirit of the Lord was not quite the same when looking at a giraffe with a heart in its mouth as it would have been seeing the live nativity at Temple Square, at least there is a Cinnabon in the Fred Meyer 1 block from my house.