It's the Hat

Colin is 10 months tomorrow.

 

The Magic of Christmas

Vala enjoys my tiny tree. She remembers it from Christmas past.

 

Angels Among Us

I'm demonstrating the selfie spot banner I designed for Colonial. It's the theme of our Christmas worship series.

 

Holiday Kickoff

The grandkids stood by their stockings. Below, we gave them Christmas jammies to wear for the season. Vala opted to change back to Halloween attire. Note: it is impossible for them all to be still and look at the camera at the same time. 😁

 

Celebrating Pops

Howard enjoyed a birthday chat with Vala and then some help blowing out his candles.

 

So Many Blessings

A wonderful Thanksgiving – from 4 little monkeys jumping on the bed, to daughters, to a large family gathering to Plaza lights.

A Pilgrim and Cousins

Stacy is showing off her pilgrim costume from Kindergarten (1984). Debbie, Erin, Drew and Hayden are unimpressed. And below is Hayden at the Alameda, just because it's so darn cute (1982).

I'll Stand Here

Colin is learning to stand and finding it quite enjoyable.

 

Turkey Artisan

Lowell created edible Thanksgiving table decor.

 

Advent in Advance

We had the annual Advent festival early because of renovations at the church. Lowell and Adam were delighted to see Santa. Below they are working on their holy family plaques. Colin enjoyed the atmosphere. Vala unfortunately was home sick.

 

Which One Is Not Like the Others?

Lowell said I wouldn't be able to see her among the stuffies.

 

Last One Standing

Looks like KC Wolf wins. Turkey and Jayhawk are down for the count.

 

GloWild

We had a fun evening at the Kansas City Zoo seeing the GloWild lantern exhibit. Cold but the lights were fantastic.

Inside the whale.

One Candle Each

Lee, Cindy and Howard often got to share a birthday cake. In this version, they each got one candle. 1986
 

 

Colin discovered that the toilet makes a flushing sound and the phone rings in the playhouse. After his first stunned reaction he liked it.

 

Healing Waters

This mural in downtown Excelsior Springs was commissioned to portray the elements of mineral water that shaped the city. Artist Jacob Duncan painted the mural in Carolyn Schutte Pocket Park from photographs. The mural includes the Hall of Waters on the right into which Lithia Water was pumped from nearby springs. The medicinal uses for the calcium bicarbonate was touted by the industry that grew up around the wells, of which there were more than 40.
 

Ready for Thanksgiving

Hayden once again created a beautiful Thanksgiving altar for Colonial. I always like to see our little pilgrims included.

 

They All Fall Down

Raked into piles for the curbside vacuum pickup on Tuesday. Quite a bunch.
 

Flooded Out

Miniature land found the rain to be too much. The rest of us were glad to have it.
 

Control Your Fear

Darth Vader appeared in my house, light sabre and all.
 

Family Dinner

A family dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Morgan's house on Madison. Unfortunately I must be taking the picture. They were getting ready to move so nothing on the walls. 1959
 

A Piece of the Floor

Colin was admiring the piece of the 2022 championship floor that we got at the KU-Omaha game Monday night. Cindy, Susan and I each got a green piece and we had to find this photo to figure out why it was green. I would have preferred a piece of the wood-looking parts but they could probably sell those.

It Looks Good Up There

I enjoyed seeing the 2022 National Champions banner hanging with the others during the game last night. Also hanging is "Just Load the Wagon," which is a favorite phrase of Bill Self's dad and which Bill used to motivate the team last season after his dad died. In context it is “Don’t worry about the mules; just load the wagon” – meaning don't worry about things you can’t control. Do the job, and if you did the job well, things would work out.

 

All Saints Celebration

Once again we lit candles for all those who were born or died in the past year. So we celebrated Colin and recognized the passing of Matt's grandmother Edna.
 

Your Move

Lowell and Vala were experimenting with the chess board at the library. Unfortunately on their way home, Hayden's car had an encounter with a buck that decided to cross the highway. Thankfully no one was hurt but the car. Even the buck ran off.

 

Last Showing

I believe the rain knocked down these ginkgo leaves along with many others but it was a nice showing.
 

Looming Large

The Day of the Dead exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum featured a quite large skeleton. Adam colored cards to add to the collection. We put the names of his great grandmother Mary Grace and great grandfather Ray on the pieces.

 

Traveling Wildcats

The K-State marching band performed at Washburn Rural High School on a Friday night because the director knew the high school band director. Mom and I went to see them because you can see the band up much closer in a high school stadium than a college one. 1998