Christmas Magic at the Grand America

My Grandmother hosts a brunch at the Grand America every

December for all her family to celebrate her birthday. Its been

a wonderful (and yummy) tradition where we get to see family and

catch up. After this years brunch my family stuck around to tour the

premises and view the christmas windows (a tradition we used to

look forward to with the candy windows at ZCMI) we were excited

that they were brining back the event. The widows where themed

the ABC's of christmas. The kids were given a check list that they

needed to fill out proving that they searched out and viewed all

the widows, which they then could turn into the candy shop at the

end of the tour for a free cookie.

The candy shop at the end was a sweet tooth wonderland, a pure fantasy.

We were ooing and ahhing over every treat and decoration. They did

such a wonderful job with the shop.

in the corridors between windows different kinds of gingerbread

houses where displayed. They were all magnificent down to the very

littlest details. I took notes as to what food/candy made stable and

interesting building material.

What a delightful afternoon.

Winter Sports

Our family skiing outing was again, a total blast. Im still super

impressed that Andrew and John are skiing this great with just our

once a year lesson.

Reece's pre-skiing stretches ;)

Apparently this is what I look like when Im waiting.

Both Andrew and John had put different kinds of bow

and arrow sets on their wish lists. We were a little worried

getting such gifts and then being responsible for any damages that

may be incurred which such objects. Since Reece, coincidentally, was

an olympic hopeful in archery when he was young, we came up

with a compromise. Reece found an archery shooting range close

by where they could rent gear as well. He took the boys separately so

he could give them the whole of his attention while giving them

an individual lesson in shooting. They both came home beaming,

proudly showing off their bulls eyes.

It turned out to be a ver fun present, for all involved.

Christmas Evening

In the evening it was time to pack up our presents and head over to

my parents house to celebrate with my side of the family. My mom had

created yet another fantastic tablescape. It was vintage with icey details.

A perfect wonderland.

There was a concert for Granna where the burtons played christmas songs

they had prepared on the piano. Karin and Ricky always do a duet. Followed by

the giving of home made gifts, made with love for Granna. I remember as

a little girl giving home made creations to my Granna. I loved to give origami

delights. Granna and Papa would always display such gifts on a small set of

selves behind the lazy boy in their upstairs family room.

This year I gave Granna a purple orchid, her favorite color is purple.

all the presents were so glittery and magical, I almost didn't want to

open them.... almost. Reece and I had wrapped our presents in

blue, dark green, turquoise, purple, and a few in peacock feather

motif papers. All to match the our tree at home. It was good we were

giving to the burton family, a family of all boys, who enjoyed all the blue.

Will helped everyone open presents, he also had an enthusiastic reaction for every one.

Andrew surprised his parents with this ceramic crech that he had painstakingly

hand painted every piece.

This is the first picture I took with the 100mm macro lens that

Reece had given me for christmas. I had been doing some product

shooting and had been really wanting a macro capability.

for those who I was giving gift cards, I made the delivery more

special by making snow globes out of mason jars with, where the

gift cards could be seen through the swirling clouds of glitter.

Always a ver merry time full of love with my family.