A festive week

On Thursday, we were lucky enough to go see the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. Sean scored tickets this year and we went with my sister and her husband. My parents were nice enough to volunteer to babysit all the kids!

The concert was awesome! We have managed to go almost every year (since I was young and they used to perform in the Tabernacle) and it is another of my favorite Christmas traditions. This year the guests were Alfie Boe and Tom Brokaw. Alfie was AMAZING. I loved 'Bring Him Home' from Les Miserables. He got a standing ovation-- and rightly so. Such an incredible voice. 

It was cool to see Tom Browkaw, too. I have always like him and gained respect for him in my communications days. The story he told about a WWII vet was sweet, and when the WWII vet suddenly appeared on stage, it took it over the top! It is a concert that will stand out in my memory for a long time. 

On Friday we got to attend another Christmas concert-- Jackson's preschool program!

My parents got to come with us and I was so proud of him. He sang and danced his little heart out and was the cutest thing I had ever seen. 

He got to sit on Santa's lap again. We were laughing and telling him Santa really better not forget his Nano Speed Racers with all of the reminders he's gotten! ;)

It has also become somewhat of a tradition for our family to stay a night at Little America during the holidays. I have been going there since I was a kid and we love the indoor/outdoor pool! It wouldn't be Christmas for us without swimming and breakfast at the coffee shop.

Grandma reading the boys "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before bed.

The next morning we walked over to the Grand America to see their Christmas window displays, and when we walked in, who did we happen to see, but Mr. Boe himself! Sean walked right up and shook his hand and told him how much we loved the concert. Of course I wanted a picture:

He was such a nice guy and so genuine! He talked to us like we were old friends and was so cordial. Very,very cool.

And then there were the window displays:

The theme was "Christmas Around the World" and each window was decorated for a specific country.

Bode was also quite captivated by the monster wall in Jou Jou.

Max and Bode enjoying their cookies after the window walk. 

If you've never done this, I highly recommend it. The windows are so cute and the cookies they give you at the end are DELICIOUS. Hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner!