ELF NIGHT AND DAVID

Elf night is the first Friday in December, where the children write their letters to Santa and the elf brings them back to Santa. The elf leaves a treat too. This has worked great to eliminate 'last minute requests' since it is already in Santa's computer. This happened a tad bit later for our family this year, due to a sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa, who really needed help putting up their Christmas tree.

Kate asked for everything pink and fun that she could think of. The list was around a dozen different items.

Dawson asked a World of Warcraft account.

Faith asked for a laptop, if possible, a game if he couldn't get the laptop, with a p.s. for ds pens.

Before Thanksgiving, my mom surprised me by giving me 4 tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She said that when she saw them, she realized that they should go to me. I hugged her for that, because it was a special present to me!!!

So on Friday, December 17th, Brandon and I were able to go down to Utah to a Christmas Concert featuring the David Archuletta with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We met Amy and Justin at Ruby River for a nice dinner and then headed to the Conference Center. We were on the very bottom on the right hand side. They have never been to the Christmas Concerts that they do. I hope that they had as good of time as we did!


All I can say is that it was a very amazing night full of spectacular talent. One of the camera man sat and watched us clap and clap, so I really think that we may be on the DVD for next year. (The consequences that you pay for sitting in the aisle seats!) My favorite: a holiday hoedown by the organist. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! The best thing I have ever watched! Half way through (enjoying myself immensely), I realized that he was doing the whole thing without music. Talk about talented.

Michael York and David Archuletta

The beautiful set up and decorations in the conference center

David, the choir, and more decorations

Singing beautiful music

David waving to the crowd

Here is what is on the official Mormon Tabernacle Choir page.

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson concluded four days of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas spectacular with "two words" to guest artists David Archuleta and Michael York. "Thank you, thank you," he said with his characteristic depth of emotion and genuine gratitude following Sunday morning's Music and the Spoken Word and the mini concert that followed. York chorused back, "Thank you, thank you" to the packed house of 21,000 people. Nearly 100,000 attended the string of concerts which have become the magical festivity of the season and glorious reminder of the Savior's birth.

Archuleta turned to the "home-town" audience after engaging them with his soulful "Silent Night," "Joy to the World," "Gesu Bambino" and "The Cat and the Mouse Carol" and expressed youthful exuberance and "awe" that he was on stage with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He described attending a Choir Christmas concert in 2006 and watching guest artist Sissel. He "never imagined" being on stage, he said, with the Choir and Orchestra a Temple Square.

York, the consummate and so distinguished performer narrated "Sing, Choirs of Angels!" describing the beginnings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with a Welsh choir in pioneer days. "Every good story begins in the middle" he said as he related the life of Welsh choir leader John Parry whose imprint on the Choir is still felt today. York, who is known for his audio recordings of the Bible also shared the Christmas story in Luke, a favorite tradition and always a stirring conclusion to the concert.

True to all expectations this "gift" to the community included traditional carols with the Choir and Orchestra, dancers in the aisles and on stage, bells chiming and the organ played by Richard Elliott whooping up a "Holiday Hoedown." The opening "Processional: A Christmas Roundelay" put a festive pioneer touch on the program complete with dancers choreographed by Carol Iwasaki. An elegant ball and music box ballerinas added elegance to the program.

The program will air next year on PBS as is the pattern with Mormon Tabernacle Choir programs. But for 2010 it was the ultimate Christmas celebration filled with music, dance, song and inspiration.

On the way home, we were in a snow storm. We left at 9:27 and arrived home over 3 1/2 hours later. Most of the way home was driving 45 miles an hour. It was fun to feel the Christmas spirit and to spend time with Amy and Justin for a night!