the nutcracker

every year my parents take the girls to see the nutcracker.  we have seen it a couple of times here in las vegas and a couple in SLC, but agreed that the nutcracker in salt lake at the capitol theater is way better.  so this year we decided to fly up with my parents and the girls and make it a little girls trip.  it was so dang fun and plan on doing it every year.  we flew up monday morning before Christmas.  the girls were excited to fly together.  we flew into salt lake and took TRAX straight to downtown.  it was perfect, it dropped us off a block from our hotel.  the girls loved riding the train and seriously, i have to admit, i love public transportation (it's one of my favorite things about washington dc and new york - i'm weird).  we checked in to our hotel and then headed for breakfast.  my other sister lives in lehi and met us at a yummy waffle place.  after we ate i started taking them to some of my favorite boutique shops in SLC.  they seriously have the best little home decor and clothing shops.  i could spend several days shopping up there.  and it was finally so fun to take my sisters and mom to stores i have been telling them about!

we then went back to the hotel to just kind of chill out.  the little girls had so much fun playing around the hotel room and going down to the lobby to get the "fancy water".  after a little break we headed over to city creek to do a little more shopping and to walk around Temple Square before the show.  it was pretty cold out so we didn't walk around too long.  we then headed over to dinner and the nutcracker!  i LOVE watching the nutcracker.  i wish i had stuck with ballet because it is the more gorgeous dancing ever.

my mom always let's the girls pick out a nutcracker ornament each year.  i love seeing what andi picks.  the first year she got clara, but now she just gets nutcrackers.  the next morning we headed over to kneaders for breakfast (because honestly, i can't go to utah and not get their amazing pancakes).  then we flew home!

i am so grateful for my parents.  they are always so good about doing little things like this.  for as long as i can remember they have taken us on many trips.  i hope i can continue it with my kids too!  but, we did decide that every year we will be flying up to SLC for the nutcracker