Drink in Support

Shatto Milk Company has once again come up with a milk for a special season. It is red velvet flavor, which doesn't sound appealing to me, but I appreciate the effort and the Chiefs look of it. So drink your sorrow on the end of a great season.
 

Sunny Nap

Isabella and Bruno are settling in. They do like to sleep together.  

Howard snapped the photo.

 

Better Late Than Never

My Christmas cactus is finally blooming. It was knocked off and the pot broke before Thanksgiving so that may have delayed the bloom.
 

Popping Up Everywhere

 

A little Chiefs love.

 

Stylish New Pinto

Susan with her brand new Pinto in 1972. Her first car. Happy Birthday to Susan on Saturday.

 

Puppeteer

Lowell was quite creative in her puppet show for us, using 5 finger puppets all at once.

Tent Time

As when I was a kid, what's more fun than building a tent out of chairs and blankets? Lowell is inside and Vala is trying to bust in.
 

Meet the Newest Members of Our Household

Isabella and Bruno have taken up residence and we are delighted.

 

Gnomes houses that were part of the Luminary Walk last month at the Overland Park Arboretum were auctioned off this month but they left the display up through the end of January. They are quite intricate although it's hard to show as they blend in so well with their surrounding. Lowell gives you a sense of their size.

 

Board Game Delight

The Cardboard Corner Cafe at 91st and Metcalf is delightful for folks wanting to play board games and eat. They have everything from children's games to Risk to Dungeons. And fascinating food - all made with waffles. Worth checking it out.
 

Sand Sculpting

Too cold for outdoor activities so we tried out the kinetic sand. Adam liked it and had some success. Vala thought it should hold together like play dough but it does not. It's squeezable but doesn't hold its shape just from squeezing.
 

New Cousin

Not really a new cousin at this point but Morgan wasn't very old. Hayden and Stacy are having a good time but Morgan seems stunned. 1986
 

The Secret Lives of Bears

 

After a two-year hiatus for COVID, we finally were able to use our National Geographic Live tickets again at the Kauffman Center. Showing vaccination records and ID and wearing masks but it was enjoyable. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a carnivore ecologist, is an engaging speaker on her work with bears.

 

Alien Prints?

I found these alien imprints on my patio. On further investigation I learned that Lowell and her mom had created these during winter fun. What a relief! 😎

Bold Signage

Martin Luther King Jr. Park now has this new sculpture to mark it. A ceremony today will dedicate it on this Martin Luther King Day.
 

Sledding, Snow Angels and Snowballs

We had success with the snow angels and sledding but not so much with snowballs. Not a very packable snow. It was Lowell's first experience with snow angels and she really got into it.

 

We'll Do the Reading For You

Adam was perusing a talking book - it reads the book to you, chiming when it's time to turn the page.

Battle of the Books 2022

I've enjoyed attending these competitions among middle school readers but this year we had to watch online. You can see Mrs. Ferguson (who was facilitating the competition) on the left. They were gathered at Hocker Grove. Hayden had five Indian Hills teams there but Hocker took the trophy. She has been very pleased with the participation this year at her school.
 

Burkhardt Gathering

Not sure of the occasion but we're in Topeka and it appears to be 1968 since Ingrid is in it. It's us, Vala and the Jensens and Gussie but not sure of the two others.
 

Bedtime Puzzle

Lowell and I are doing a jigsaw puzzle on my iPad before bed.

 

Cozy Shelter

As we are in the bite of winter, I thought it was a good time for this tiny house in DeSoto. It's a bus stop shelter for school kids. They can wait in it for their bus to get out of the weather - rain or snow. Matt said they had these in Minnesota. Thanks to Hayden for the photo.
 

Feline Hoodie

Hayden got a hoodie for Lola since she had to have her knotted hair shaved. Wanted to be sure she was warm enough.
 

Some Days are Just Too Much

Vala was expressing her opinion of the day. She wasn't sleeping - just flopped down. I've felt this way many times over the last couple of years.
 

The View from Above

Hayden participated in a spouse experience provided by the Air Force to see what the refueling crew does. Matt was not on the flight with her. She was able to lay above where the crew member handling the refueling would be so she could see Matt's perspective on a flight.

 

Make a Match

It was too cold to go adventuring so they tried their hands at matching. Some were better than others.
 

Browsing the Market

I and my friend Jane (to the left) browsed the Straw Market in Nassau in 1978. As I'm vacation planning, it seemed appropriate to travel back to the Bahamas.
 

The Time of Day

 

From Day to Dusk is a fascinating view of Monet's Water Lilies with the different light throughout the day making a profound impact on how you see the painting. Through 10 minutes you can observe the painting change at the various times of day. Here's dawn, midday and dusk but there is so much more to see. Well worth the visit to the Nelson-Atkins.

 

Rock Artist

Lowell received a rock art kit for Christmas and is beginning her design.

 

A Cold and Frosty Start

With temperatures hovering near zero, yesterday dawned with frosty patterns as decoration.
 

Welcoming 2022

 

Haircuts for Kids

Lowell got the Frozen treatment for her haircut. Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids cuts hair in cool cars. Lowell then had her hair braided like Elsa in Frozen.