Grand America

Friday
Melanie and Angela both got 4 tickets each for the MoTab and David Archuleta Christmas concert in Salt Lake. All of us tried to get them, but only those two were lucky enough. Children under 8 aren't allowed, so we all booked rooms at Little America and we watched Max, Korver, Brinlie, and Jake while they went to the concert (we did this last year too, I think it's becoming a tradition). I got off work at noon, came home, packed and we were on our way to Salt Lake. We stopped at the Centerville Target and met the Harris's there. While there, we got a text from Monica saying, "Please join us at the Grand America tonight. Merry Christmas." Monica was driving with mom and dad, but we were all like, "What the heck?" Turns out mom and dad switched our reservations to the Grand America! We have always talked about wanting to stay there and now we finally get to! When we got there, we checked out the rooms and had a little photo shoot with Harper in "the coat of her dreams" (Melanie saw it at Old Navy and named it that, it was $35 and I wanted to buy it so bad, but I kept my eye on it and was able to get it for $9).

She wasn't sure what to think about Max.

The Clarks and the Copes went to the concert and the rest of us got McDonald's and went swimming. The pool was pretty cold. I brought Harper's tube that she liked during the summer, but she wasn't a fan of it tonight. She just wanted to be held in the pool. We sat in the hot tub for a while to get warmed up after being in the pool.

Nixon

Harper and her crazy smile! (Thanks Ang for the pictures)

Miss Brinlie

The Clarks and Copes got back from the concert right as the pool was closing, so those of us that swam got showered and then we all just hung out in each other's rooms, explored the lobby a little bit, and hung out. We were all in our pajamas and Angela made us take this picture by the tree, just as a party was getting out, yeah we felt pretty foolish when all the fancy dressed people walked by!

The reason we went to the lobby was because someone saw a limo pull up to the hotel and they were like, "I bet David Archuleta is in there." So after our photo shoot by the tree, Monica, Amy, Harper and I were still in the lobby by the elevators and sure enough, David Archuleta walked right passed us, I was the only that saw him and was like, "That was David Archuleta" and as he was getting on the elevator, Monica screamed his name and chased after him. Lucky for him the elevator doors closed just in time. Who knows what Monica would have done to him!
I guess Amy was up with Nixon all night, so she took him to play on the elevator cause that was the only thing that would keep him from screaming. They were at the lobby and Amy could hear singing, so they got off to check it out. It was some lady and David Archuleta, so to break the ice, she asked Nixon if he wanted to give David Archuleta high five, so he did. They chatted for a minute, and he was wondering what she was doing at 2:00 am in the lobby with her baby (in her pajamas with freshly blow dried hair and no make up on).

Saturday
Mom brought donuts and chocolate milk, so we all went to their room for breakfast.

This is the courtyard from Angela's room. It was really pretty, especially at night with all the lights.

Jake and Alex on the balcony. Jake was a little nervous!

They had a Holiday ABC's window stroll where you go around the hotel and find the letters of the alphabet in the windows and then you turn in your paper for a treat. We had fun finding what all the letters stood for, but we got side tracked a lot and it ended up taking a long time to finish!!

This was probably the best part of the Grand America. The had these jars everywhere filled with gumballs, jawbreakers, and sixlets.

They had some amazing gingerbread houses.

Kenzie played us a Christmas song on this piano.

They had so many cute trees and Christmas decorations, it was hard to pass up photo shoots.

Mom and dad can never just be normal and cute for a picture, but Ang got a pretty good one (thanks again for the pic)

Before we left the hotel to go to lunch, we caught Santa and Mrs. Claus on their way out. They were in a hurry, but stopped for a picture with the kids (yes Jason, I said kids, you fool).

We went to Crown Burger for lunch (that is what the majority voted on), then went to the Gateway for some shopping.
It was a great weekend with the family and such a great surprise to stay at the Grand America!