A Spectacular Weekend!

Hard to believe a week ago I was sitting in Jacksonville Veteran's Arena watching one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen! The Trans Siberian Orchestra concert was just as spectacular as the Rockette's Christmas Spectacular, and any of the Broadway shows I have seen...Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. It was awesome! The hubby and I both loved it and are planning to go again next year. Our hotel and the restaurant and concert venue were all in downtown Jax. This was our beautiful view while we were eating before the show. The harbor area is so beautiful at night!

This fountain was so pretty as were the palm trees and benches surrounding them.

We enjoyed a stroll along the waterfront and fountain after we finished eating and then we headed to the concert arena. We are early birds and were among the first couple hundred of the nearly 10,000 that were there that night. 

There was no way to capture just how amazing the show was, but here are just a few pictures to help you imagine. There were huge screens surrounding the stage and photos, graphics, and videos were changing constantly.

The fire that you see here is real. Every time the fired up the flames, we could feel the heat on our faces. We were not close to the stage either!

There were so many talented musicians and singers. I was in awe of their talent and the special effects throughout the show. I especially loved the narrator who told a story in between performances.

The laser lights were amazing!

You can click here to see my favorite. I tried to put the video on the blog, but it would not work. Not sure why, but maybe my Facebook link will work for you. Every performance was just as good as this one! I can't wait to see them again!

We enjoyed out evening and night on the town. It was a nice little getaway.

I attended a couple other Christmas events on Sunday. A new flower shop in town hosted our first annual Christmas Tree Walk. Local businesses and organizations were asked to decorate a tree. My principal volunteered a tree to be done by our school. I volunteered to help with the project and was put in charge of choosing the theme. So, I went with the same theme I used at home this year....Peace On Earth and Joy To the World. I had one class per grade level make a different ornament. I chose what I wanted them to make and provided the materials and directions for each one. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. Let me show you what I had the students make.

This was the Pre-K ornament. Their little hands were traced and then folded and glued into the peace sign with a heart.

My kinders made the Earth with a peace sign using recycled Cd's, construction paper, and popsicle sticks.

First grade made paper chains using old dictionary pages.

Second grade made these heart using very thin cardboard and dictionary pages.

Third grade traced doves onto dictionary pages and cut them out.

Fourth grade wrote about the gift they would like to give to the world. (Loved the things they wrote!)

The art teacher had a group of fifth graders paint planet Earth.

Fifth grade also made these tiny banners using map paper. They said Peace On Earth and Joy to the World. 

They also worked on the topper.

I made a faux chalkboard sign.

Here it is on the left. You can see some of the other trees as well. I love how some of the businesses decorated their trees to match their businesses. For instance, a baker who used cupcake wrappers to create ornaments. Or a lady who gives painting lessons who used paintbrushes and palettes to adorn her tree. I wish I had taken more pictures!

I truly love how our tree turned out and so did everyone else! It cost $1 to walk through and all the proceeds went to the local scholarship foundation for our local students.

After the tree walk, I went to church and watched the Living Christmas Tree performance by four local church choirs. It was beautiful!

Last thing and I promise, I am done! I just wanted to share the adorable candle holders my kiddos made this week. I had several glass baby food jars I had saved for years. They painted them white and added the faces. Aren't they cute? Even the one on the left who has a runny nose...lol! And, the photo ornaments I made for the parents. I do a photo ornament every year. I love how this one turned out!

And, that's it! After a busy week including both mine and my hubby's work parties, a night Christmas shopping in the big city, and my class party, I am pooped! I am officially on Christmas break though and am looking forward to the next two weeks! Tomorrow I have a graduation party to cook for and attend for my oldest niece, followed by a Christmas party and Christmas with my mother-in-law. The break is starting off busy, but it's OK! Life is GREAT and I am blessed!

Until next time....