Lighting Up the Season

Always exciting to watch the Plaza lights come on.

First Cousins, Second Cousins

First cousins above with the next generation below. Thanksgiving fun.

We have first cousins Lowell and Adam who are second cousins with Libby and George.

Snowmen Going Up

Howard, Scott and Morgan installing the snowmen in 2001 - a Thanksgiving Day tradition.

Gammy Selfie

Adam invited me to grandparents day at his day care but then gave me this look the whole time. I think he couldn't figure out why I was there because he usually comes to my house for Gammy time.

Beautiful Day at the Park

Beautiful day to be outdoors with this little sprite.

Riding the Polar Express

We took the Polar Express out of Baldwin City. Below, Lowell is receiving a bell from one of the reindeer's harnesses on Santa's sleigh, as in the book. Adam slept through that part.

 

Tiny Turkey

This inflatable turkey isn't really tiny but he is in relation to most of the inflatables I've seen. A cute size.

Celebrating el Día de Muertos

Ofrenda (altar) celebrating el Día de Muertos at Johnson County Central Library. It was created by children on the Day of the Dead on November 2. The art is very creative. I don't know how long it is staying in place.

Playing Some Tunes

Adam was taking a moment to play the toy piano and sing. Also, he's standing and that was the first time at our house.

Bearer of the Bird

Dad's masterpiece in 1993. He was always very proud of his turkey. They were tasty.

Stroller Spy

A happy face to see peering out at me from the stroller.

The Switch Is Flipped

We dedicated the new solar panels at 8:00 a.m. yesterday with the mayor of Prairie Village, members of the city council and the chief of police. Pastor Aaron was demonstrating a panel prototype. You can see the panels on the chapel roof. Unfortunately the sun wasn't out to power the prototype.

Companion Trees

Or perhaps dueling trees. However it strikes you, you can bid on them at the Festival of Trees.

For Something a Little Bit Different

Among the trees and wreaths at the Johnson County Christmas Bureau Festival of Trees was this entry entitle A Christmas Date. You can bid on it and all the trees through today as a fundraiser for the bureau.

Early Arrival

Santa Claus arrived as Overland Park lit its Mayor's Christmas Tree last night.

Cousin Squeeze

Lowell might be enjoying the hug more than Adam but he was a good sport.

Snow Cousins

Cousins in January 2009. What a difference 10 years makes.

Picking Up the Leaves

Lowell and I watched the guys vacuuming up the leaves. We raked them before the snow and weren't sure if the pick up would go as scheduled but it did. We were happy to watch from inside our warm house.

Seasons Collide

My Autumn Joy sedum (or frog belly as my Dad called it) was happily blooming until its snow cap arrived.

Blessings Abound

Several dogs and a hamster were blessed at Colonial as part of Animal Blessing Sunday. All were well behaved although one sang along on one of the hymns.

Strange Tennis Balls

I thought from a distance that someone left several balls on the pickle ball court but as you can see they turned out to be hedge apples.

Salute to Veterans

Opening ceremony at the KU–North Carolina Greensboro game last night was a salute to veterans. The game ball was brought down from the rafters by a soldier as well.

Checking Out the Trees

The kids and I visited Christmas Wonderland at Family Tree on a very winter like day.

Grandkids Circa 2003

How folks change in 16 years, at least some.

Autumn Ablaze

Our Autumn Blaze maple is displaying it's best color, which usually means it's about to drop all its leaves. Love this tree.

Day of the Dead

I missed the full display in Kirkwood Hall but here are some of the remnants. I would have loved to see all the colorful entries but the Nelson-Atkins staff is way too efficient at removing displays.

Blessings and Remembrances

As part of All Saints Sunday, we lit candles for all the births, baptisms and deaths in the past year. Our family was fortunate to celebrate the birth and baptism of Adam and the birth of Libby.

New Take on Little Free Library

These folks are using a microwave as their Little Free Library. Not sure this meets the regulations of the organization. They used to have a more traditional looking one but hanging on a tree, so they have always been creative in their thinking.

Still Sparkling

We may have had a deep freeze but the glorious color of fall prevails.

The Hedgehog and the Bird

Too much cuteness to go with just one picture. And both Bird Lowell and Hedgehog Adam had multiple dimensions to their costumes so not just one view suffices.