Gingerbread Houses 2014

Ever since Tashena joined our family, we have had the tradition of making gingerbread houses (which is funny because I don't really remember doing this as a child).  This year we made them during the day on Christmas Eve.

Sean actually eats more frosting than he puts on his house (I have a picture like this every year) and we inevitably drop half of the candy on the floor, much to the delight of the dogs!

We buy the kits and then we use a hot glue gun to put them together (we never actually eat them).  We are impatient and we like to get to the fun part, which is decorating them, as soon as possible.  It doesn't really matter what they look like in the end because we have so much making them!

My masterpiece.

Marilyn's masterpiece.

Sean's masterpiece.

Tashena's masterpiece.

Our gingerbread house village!

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Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a pair of tickets to see the Utah Symphony New Year's Eve weekend.

A Christmas Carol at HCT 2014

Like The Nutcracker, another one of my cherished holiday traditions is seeing Hale Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol.  I've seen it so many times that I really think I could stand in for any part (happily, my services were not required last night) but it just wouldn't be Christmas without it!  The well-known story of Ebeneezer Scrooge's redemption after visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future is so touching that I always walk out of the theatre vowing to keep Christmas in my heart all year long.  Some of the actors (such as David Weeks as Scrooge and Brad Charon as Bob Cratchit) return again and again and I look forward to seeing them.  I also look forward to seeing new actors making very familiar roles their own and I particularly liked Brannon Killgo as the Ghost of Christmas Present and, of course, Jimmy Empey was adorable as Tiny Tim.  I love the familiar sets, the opulent Victorian costumes, and the beautiful Christmas carols sung by an octet throughout the play.  It is always fun for me to look for any subtle changes that are made to the production (again, I've seen it so many times I can detect any change in an instant).  This year there was a new set for Scrooge's Counting House, which I thought was highly effective because it put Scrooge above Bob Cratchit and the rest of the office serving to emphasize his isolation from everyone (I have no idea if Kacey Udy, the brilliant set designer for HCT, intended it thus but I literally cannot stop my brain from analyzing everything I see).  There was also a new costume for the Ghost of Christmas Future which I really liked because, quite frankly, the old one was rather scary!  Last night was another lovely evening filled with Christmas spirit but, unfortunately, it was the final performance of A Christmas Carol for 2014.  However, you can go here to check out HCT's 2015 season! I'm looking forward to it!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a pair of tickets to see the Utah Symphony New Year's Weekend.

Leaping Russians and a Sugar Plum Fairy

Last night I attended Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker. This is such a beautiful production (in fact, it is so amazing that Ballet West recently performed five sold-out shows in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts) and it is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. I look forward to it every year! No matter how many times I see it, I always feel like a child again anticipating those well-known opening notes of Tchaikovsky's magnificent Overture. I am just as excited as the children in the party scene as they await the unveiling of the Christmas tree and I marvel as the toy nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince in the first act.  In the second act, Clara and her prince travel to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy and I definitely enjoy the divertissements she arranges for their pleasure.  I love the Arabian dance, but my favorite is the Russian dance for the sheer athleticism of it!  The Grand Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier gives me goosebumps every time and, tonight, Emily Adams and Beau Pearson danced it beautifully.  I absolutely love Tchaikovsky's score for this dance!  I think it is one of the most romantic pieces of music in the classical cannon and William Christensen's original choreography really complements it!  I love everything about this ballet and it was such a wonderful way to start my Christmas vacation.  The Nutcracker will be performed at Capitol Theatre until Dec. 31 (with matinee and evening performances excluding Christmas Day) and I highly recommend it. Go here for information and to purchase tickets.  Whether it is your first time or, like me, you've been going for years, you're sure to be enchanted by this holiday classic!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a pair of tickets to see the Utah Symphony New Year's Eve weekend.

Lights at Temple Square

Every year millions of lights are illuminated around the LDS Temple in downtown Salt Lake.  About that many people, from all over the world, come to visit the spectacular display beginning the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.  Marilyn and I were among the crowd last night.  Actually, it wasn't too crowded and, more importantly, it wasn't too cold (we are having a very mild winter so far).  It is quite a sight to see.

There are also free Christmas concerts every night on Temple Square.  I was able to see the Hunter High School Concert Choir and Madrigals perform last night and I thought they were amazing!  The Madrigals sang one of my very favorite Christmas songs, "Lo How a Rose 'Ere Blooming."  You can go here for more information about all of the events on Temple Square.

Festival of Trees 2014

I have been volunteering at the Festival of Trees for many years (some years I even took students with me which was incredibly rewarding) and I had the opportunity to do so again last night.  The Festival of Trees is a holiday event where groups and individuals donate decorated Christmas trees (and other items such as wreaths, centerpieces, and gingerbread houses), usually in honor of someone who has died or who has been very ill.  Corporations, and sometimes individuals, bid on the trees at an auction and all of the proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital.  Then the trees, and other items, are put on display for the public at the South Towne Expo Center.  I volunteer as a hostess and my job is to monitor a small area of trees.  It is such a worthwhile cause and I look forward to it every year!  After my shift is over I like to wander around and look at all of the trees (and get one of the delicious sweet rolls).  Here are some of my favorites.

While I was working in my area, I kept hearing people talk about the Pirate Tree!  When my shift was over, I decided that I should try and find it.  So fun!

This was my favorite tree of the evening.  Obviously!

 One of the trees in my area was donated by the musicians of the Utah Symphony.  You know how much I love the Utah Symphony so I thought that was awesome!

This cute Frozen tree was also in my area.  I actually had to chase down a little girl who took a doll from the tree!

The most popular tree in my area was called "Unified Heroes."  It was donated in honor of a little boy named Gage who loved firemen.  All of the children (and some adults) wanted to touch it!

The Festival of Trees continues every day until Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.  Go here for more information.

Messiah Sing-In

The Utah Symphony's performance of Handel's Messiah is a long-standing Christmas tradition in Salt Lake City but, for some reason, I have never gone before.  Marilyn and I decided to go last night and it was absolutely wonderful!  The orchestra was joined by the Utah Symphony Chorus (they always look so impressive on stage), soloists Melissa Heath, Abigail Levis, Tyson Miller, and Christopher Clayton and a few thousand audience members who joined in during selected choruses (scores could be purchased in the lobby for $9.00).  The program mentioned that Maestro Thierry Fischer would be singing the baritone part but he told the crowd before the concert started that he had, mercifully, decided not to sing!  I wonder if this was a joke or if he really can sing?  I find Thierry Fischer to be so endearing!  As I mentioned, I had never heard Handel's Messiah performed before but there was much of it that was familiar, especially the "For Unto Us" chorus.  The music was beautiful, the words were powerful. and the soloists were incredible!  I was pretty much overcome hearing all of those voices sing the "Hallelujah" chorus with the fabulous acoustics in Abravanel Hall!   It was so amazing that Maestro Fischer had the orchestra, soloists, and chorus (including the audience) perform it again as an encore!  Both Marilyn and I enjoyed this concert immensely and I think this is the beginning of a new Christmas tradition!

Holiday Fun for the Locals

If you live near SLC, here are two of my favorite activities to do with the kiddos during the holidays (we usually rotate them every other year).  Normally I like to wait until after Thanksgiving before I start to get too excited about Christmas but I've noticed that tickets are selling quickly so it might be a good idea to get prepared!

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa happens in the Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point every Saturday in December.  First you have a delicious breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausage, French toast (with cinnamon-swirled bread), hash browns, orange juice, and hot chocolate.  So good!  Then Santa meets with each child (he sometimes brings visitors like the Grinch and Buddy the Elf).  Then there is a fun winter carnival with games and crafts.  Sean and Tashena always have a lot of fun (but Tashena says she is too old now).  Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children.  Go here for more information and to purchase tickets.

North Pole Express

The Heber Valley Railroad takes a magical journey to Santa's workshop in the North Pole.  Children ride in their pajamas while drinking hot chocolate and eating Mrs. Claus's delicious homemade cookies.  Santa comes aboard at the North Pole and gives everyone the gift of Christmas (but only if you believe).  There are two different prices for coach tickets and first-class tickets (more swag) and there are several discounted days so go here for more information and to purchase tickets.  They are going quickly!