Remembering Traditions...

I love holiday traditions... whether they are new or old.  One of my favorite traditions growing up was going to the Nutcracker with my grandparents.  

It started when I was about 4.  I wore a fancy new dress, and had a beautiful fur coat with my hair ready in curls.  My grandparents would always get a room at the Inn on temple square.  I can still remember how beautiful those rooms were.  So elegant and lovely.  I loved to collect all the mini lotions, shampoos, and conditioners.  I would set them all up on my dresser at home, keeping a piece of the lovely Inn part of my own room.  

here I am in my fur coat waiting in the lobby at Capitol Theater

We would always go to the afternoon matinee show.  I loved seeing who was playing the part of Clara and dreamed of being her.  The music became so familiar to me, and I still to this day can picture all of the different dances and scenes when I hear pieces from the Nutcracker. 

After we had dinner, which was usually at the hotel... we would walk around downtown looking at the lights on temple square and watching the carriages ride by on the street.  I also remember walking past the glass window scenes on the sidewalk of ZCMI.  I always felt so special and happy walking alongside my grandma and grandpa.  

When we made our way back to the hotel room, I would have a present waiting for me.  A new nightgown or set of pajamas... which were usually made by my Grandma.  I would wear them and dance around the room acting out the ballet and playing with either a new nutcracker doll, or clara doll.  There was usually a fun little window seat in the room where I'd sit and stare at the lights across the street, and watch the people pass through with their shopping bags and puffy coats.  

After a few years, my sister Lisa joined in, then my cousin Emily, then our other cousin Tabby, then Amy... until one day it was all the girl cousins.

The last year I went was when I was a Junior in high school.  

This year Taryn was lucky enough to go.  My grandparents got last minute tickets... and even though the Inn on Temple Square no longer exists, and the window scenes at ZCMI are something of the past... the nutcracker remains the same.  

She was thrilled to go.  

We talked about it for days leading up and we read stories of the Nutcracker, watched the Barbie movie of it, and listened and danced to Grandma Mary's book that has a little Clara that spins around and around playing the song over and over and over again.     

Taryn has talked about her favorite part every day... "The part when the tree grows and the magician raises his hands and it gets bigger and bigger!!"




She was so excited to show off her new dress!

as far as her Christmas list goes, this is what she wants:

1. Pretend Puppy

2. Barbie

3. Nutcracker

I love that she got to experience the magic of the Nutcracker with my Grandparents, and I am glad they got to experience it with her.  I'm sure it will be a memory she will hold onto and cherish, just as I do.  

practicing her ballerina moves

                                                                                           Grandma Great and Taryn in their matching red coats!