Christmas in the City

This year we were fortunate to get tickets to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert.  We decided to make a weekend out of it and booked a room to stay downtown.  It turned out to be a perfect weekend and I think may become a new tradition to do every December.

We left Friday afternoon and met Tim's mom who took the kids to her house for a sleepover.  After getting checked in to our hotel, we met my parents at Market Street Grill for dinner before the show.  They were not supposed to have tickets that night, but had rearranged some plans and ended up with Friday tickets which made it so we could all go together - perfect!  After dinner we walked to the conference center  for the concert.  I didn't know anything about Kelli O'Hara before this, but man, she was incredible.  All of the songs were amazing, but my very favorites were A Cradle in Bethlehem and Angels from the Realms of Glory.  After the concert we were able to spend a little time on the grounds of Temple Square with my parents - I don't think we have done that  for a very long time so it was a really special experience to be there together. 

Saturday morning Tim and I slept in (glorious!) then went to Kaysville to pick up the kids.  We headed back downtown and straight to the Grand America to see the windows.  This year the theme was based off of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and we had fun looking at the scenes and reciting the poem with the kids.  And of course the gingerbread house...it was especially impressive.  

The toy store was full of treasures

We stopped back at our room to rest for a minute and put on warm clothes, then headed up to Temple Square.  Despite the crowds, the cold, and kids who get tired from walking, it really is one of my very favorite things to do at Christmas time.  The lights are magical, and I love the spirit and feeling.

And no trip downtown would be complete without the windows at Macys. 

By the time we made it back to our room, we were all exhausted, and so grateful that we didn't have to drive back home.  We slept hard, had a lazy morning, and then headed back to Kaysville for the Whitesides family Christmas party.  The kids are all growing up and seemed to have a lot of fun together.  Luke was so excited to sit at the big boys table.  Ruby is definitely outnumbered in this crowd, but bounced between playing with the boys and chatting with the adults. 

Bingo is always fun because grandma gives away money

And of course the nativity...the best part of the party for me.

As always, it was just so nice for everyone to spend the afternoon together.