Christmas 2017

It was a wonderful Christmas this year!  On Christmas Eve I went to the final Christmas broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve!  The program was especially beautiful and I loved "Wexford Carol."  In the afternoon I went to see It's A Wonderful Life on the big screen at my local art house theater.  They show it every year and I've always wanted to see it so this year I decided to make it happen.  I love that movie!  In the evening Sean and Tashena opened their traditional Christmas pajamas.

We played shanghai rummy for the rest of the evening which is always so much fun!  Trent won!

Sean gave us very strict instructions about when we were opening presents in the morning.  I thought I was going to be late but I made it with two minutes to spare only to discover that he wasn't there yet!

Santa Claus came and he was very generous!

Sean got lots and lots of games for his Xbox, a wireless controller, and a drone (I kind of want one of those!).

Tashena got a bigger TV for her room, some new basketball shoes, a Kindle e-reader, and lots of body spray from Bath & Body Works (she has so much of that stuff).

I got some books, a sweater, a new chromebook, and lots of movies!  After a fantastic dinner we played shanghai rummy (Tashena won) and then Marilyn and I took Tashena (Sean didn't want to go because he has a million new games to play) to see The Last Jedi (it was the third time for me and I still love it!).

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday as well!  Just like last year, I plan on spending the rest of my winter break in a darkened theater trying to cross off a bunch of movies on my list (reviews will come in the new year). 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert

Last Christmas the Utah Symphony showed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the big screen with the score played live by the orchestra.  I absolutely loved it and, at the time, I hoped that they would continue with the whole series of films.  It seems as if they are because this year they showed the next film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and I got to see it last night!  This film follows Harry Potter's second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when the Heir of Slytherin opens the Chamber of Secrets which causes several students (as well as Mrs. Norris!) to be petrified after viewing the monster that is unleashed.  It was so much fun to see this on the big screen again and having the Utah Symphony play the lush score composed by John Williams added so much to the experience.  There was not an empty seat at Abravanel Hall and the crowd, many in costume, was extremely enthusiastic.  There were cheers and applause when every character appeared on screen for the first time (especially Professor Snape) and for all of Harry's adventures including the flying Ford Anglia, the Polyjuice Potion, the spider Aragorn, and the battle with the basilisk.  I especially enjoyed seeing Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) because they were so little and I thought Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) was hilarious!  It was such a fun night!  If you have not seen a movie in concert with a live orchestra I highly recommend it if you have the chance!  The Utah Symphony just announced that they will be showing Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in June and I am really excited!

The Nutcracker 2017

I am now officially on winter break and I am so excited (and relieved). The past week at school has been extremely stressful and, honestly, I didn't think I would make it! The one thing that got me through the day yesterday was knowing that I would be seeing a performance of The Nutcracker by Ballet West later that night. This is a cherished tradition every Christmas and I was even more excited than usual this year because it is all new! The new production retains everything that I love about this ballet, namely the incomparable score by Tchaikovsky and William Christensen's iconic choreography, and adds some beautiful new sets and costumes. I loved it! The set during the party scene has a very Baroque feel to it with lots of jewel tone colors.  I especially loved the falling snow visible in a picture window behind the tree. I also really liked the special lighting effects when the tree grows in size. The set for the Snow Pas de Deux is like a woodland winter wonderland with the Northern lights in the background.  I particularly liked the effect of viewing this scene through diamond paned windows as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince leave the house. The set for the Land of the Sweets has a very tropical feel with candy hued costumes for the pages and attendants (and monkeys!). The new costumes are incredibly opulent and my favorites were the Waltzing Flowers and the furry mice. I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing this ballet and I eagerly anticipate all of the divertissements offered by the Sugar Plum Fairy to entertain Clara. As ever, my favorites are the Arabian dance because it is so exotic and sensuous and the Russian dance for its sheer athleticism (it received the loudest cheers). I wait through the entire ballet for the Grand Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. I love this because Tchaikovsky's music here is so incredibly romantic!  The Sugar Plum Fairy was danced by Sayaka Ohtaki last night and she was fantastic. I think she is so classically graceful and she seemed to glide across the stage and whirl through the air. It was a wonderful evening and the perfect start to winter break! I highly recommend seeing this amazing update of a Christmas classic.  It runs at the Capitol Theatre through December 30 and tickets may be purchased here.

Gingerbread Houses 2017

My nephew Sean is the keeper of the family traditions and he started asking me about doing gingerbread houses last weekend when I was over playing cards.  Every year I keep expecting that Sean and Tashena will no longer want to make them but it seems like they still look forward to it and that makes me happy.  We planned our epic gingerbread party for last Sunday night and it was as fun as it always is!

Various stages of construction.  We eat as much candy as we put on our houses!

Sean's house.

Tashena's house.

Marilyn's house.

My house.

The whole village!

Sunday Ritual

Every Sunday in December I have been getting up early in the morning to attend the Music and the Spoken Word broadcasts.  It has been so lovely to walk through an almost silent city in the cold brisk air to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing Christmas music.  I have been loving it so much!  Last Sunday was such a treat because the broadcast featured a portion of the Christmas concert and both Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville were there!  My friend in the choir mentioned that some of the songs from the concert would be repeated but I didn't know that the guests would be there as well.  I was thrilled!  Sutton Foster sang "Christmas Time is Here" and "Angels From the Realm of Glory" and Hugh Bonneville read the Christmas story from the Bible.  The choir performed "Joy to the World," with the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble, "Unfold, Ye Portals," which was absolutely thrilling once again, and "Silent Night."  After the broadcast the choir sang "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again" to Foster and Bonneville and that was just incredible.  There is one more special Christmas broadcast on Christmas Eve and I am so looking forward to it!  Honestly, I will be a little sad when Christmas is over because this has been wonderful!