Dowtown Salt Lake City

We escaped to Downtown SLC the weekend before Christmas! The crowds must have had the same idea! But it was magical and we didn't mind.

The Price/Wilson bash was local for us. We stopped on our way to see Grammie and say goodbye before she left to Cali for winter break. She wanted to treat us to her favorite hamburger--at Wendy's! I love that at 95 she is just figuring out fast food. She has always been one to make food from scratch just because but she is tasting so many new spots and finding lots of new favorites. 

 Lilly decided this is how she smiles!

We are sad for her to go to Aunt Jill's but also excited to see them in March. More details to come.

We arrived and sent the kids swimming with Aunt Emma!

After swimming we waited for Dad to come up from work. He took the trax and ran into my cousin along the way. They had the same idea and came down to see the lights.

The hotel was Marriot City Center and a couple blocks walk to City Creek. It was definitely faster than driving to park! The evening was warmish for December mid 40's. Still haven't had snow yet and it's December 20--it'll soon be coming I'm sure.

Chad and Anna came to see us in the room while we were getting dry from swimming. Lilly didn't know who this was but was excited to climb up on his lap and say hi! We miss seeing the Uncles now that they are away in ND so much.

We ate at the food court and waited for our turn to sit on Santa's Lap. They do not allow photography but Mike was sneaky. Lilly didn't especially like Santa and didn't want to be close to him. Last year Beckett and Lilly were screaming. What a difference a year makes!

After Santa we walked by the candy window displays at Macy's on our way to Temple Square.

My favorite was the penguin window--I also have a thing for black liquorish!!

We decided to see the Christus first since we always run out of time to see it. Along the way we ran into Laura and Rob again! It was fun to see them.  We stopped to snap a picture of the kids with the Salt Lake Temple in the background.

We waited our turn to go up to the top.


It was nice and warm inside, so our coats and hats and gloves came off. Lilly was in good spirits despite having a nap! Becket didn't make it to temple square and was crashed at the hotel waiting for us to come back to play games.

But we didn't make it back to the hotel either. We stopped at the Galivan Center, waited in line for about 30 minutes--it was crowded also--to ice skate! I didn't think this girl would last two long--ice skating is tricky--so I stayed on shoes while Mike took her skating. She Loved Every Minute of IT! And more.

Just as we laced up our skates they called everyone off the ice to let the Zamboni clean the ice.

But soon enough they were back out there!



Yes, Mike and Lilly skated like this all night! She loved every minute of it--and his back held up quite nicely.

Grama and Emma came to join us!

Soon the coats and hats and gloves started to come off. They claimed it was HOT!



I enjoyed spending time with my Dad while we watched the kids skate.

We got to celebrate Christmas with Chad and Anna also. They came up for the weekend from St George.



At 11 o'clock, I convinced the kids it was time to go! They didn't think so. We had ball games early and needed to get home. The rink was crowded but everyone kept moving. They keep asking when we are going back! I bought a Groupon and have 2 more passes to use--it was a HIT for all ages.

Saturday they (steve, tif, chad, anna, emma) stayed and shopped at watched bowl games. Jack and Maddy had basketball games and Lilly needed a nap so we stayed home.

We left the kids home with a babysitter and headed back up to see the Piano Guys Christmas Concert. We picked up Grandma Price and Linda along the way. The crowds were back on Saturday and all the restaurants had hours of wait times to eat so we dined at the food court again. Steve and Tif had made arrangements for us to eat at the Cheesecake factory--long story short my greek dinner was delish! Food court was packed also--45 minute wait for some places. It was fun to have the Wilson's come down from Logan for the concert.

We loaded up to head over to the Energy Solutions Arena for the concert. We had amazing seats! Thanks Steve and Tif for an amazing night. The music brought the Christmas spirit into my heart. I didn't know it was missing.  I also didn't expect to be so overcome with emotions and cry so much from the music but it touched me just the right way on more than one occasion.

When Tifani was planning our get a way back in September, she asked if we wanted to go to the Piano Guys. I didn't know who the Piano Guys were but I am a big fan now. 

Some of my favorites from the show!
The cellist-- Steve was amazing! I want Jack to play the cello now. I thought the Piano Guys only played the piano---didn't know the cello was even in the group.
Lexi Walker---A maz InG!
Cannon's bell
#sharetheGift
talents are not developed instantly but worked on and worked on for years to come! My hands hurt watching Jon Schmidt play for so long--he is a very talented pianist.
LOVED this scene! Angel's we have heard on high--favorite song of the night. I think! It is hard to choose.

Here is the video if you haven't seen it or see it again--it's worth it!

We were SURPRISED  with presents too from the parents. More spoiling in March & November. We have been invited to spend a week in Las Vegas and in November we (kids too) have been invited to spend a week in Cancun at the Moon Palace. March is the perfect timing. We will be off track again--and have plans to surprise the kids with a Disneyland Vacation in March for Christmas which is the week after Las Vegas.

This Downtown SLC get away was so fun. It was crowded but we really wouldn't want it any other way--everyone was able to partake of the spirit of Christmas!