Elf Rapelling

These guys are climbing the wall at Jack Stack BBQ. I believe they are there year round but are impersonating Santa's helpers at this time.

Bryant the Elf

This guy has joined our Christmas decor. I saw him in Winter Village in Bryant Park last Thanksgiving in New York and was excited to find he had moved to Kansas City.

Championship Bling

Taylor showed us his Spurs NBA Championship ring. As you can see below, it's replete with his name. Very heavy. He said he doesn't wear it a lot because it draws so much attention.

Skiing, Lego Style

This winter village is made entirely of Legos. I thought the trees were pretty cool.

The Magic Tree

This tree is decorated with more than 12,000 lights and is just in a field off I-470. The property owner wants to be anonymous but provides access to it. You almost need four-wheel drive because the road is terrible but the tree is quite impressive.

Elf Ears

Hayden is modeling the hat I received in the gift exchange yesterday. The top moves and plays We Are Santas' Elves. It's fabulous. And while the next person could steal my gift or select another, strangely, no one tried to take it away.

Merry Christmas!

Morgan, Stacy and Hayden are dressed in their Christmas finery on Christmas Eve 1988. If memory serves me, Frances had just been Baby Jesus in the pageant so she's in her swaddling clothes.

Merry Christmas Eve

The lights of the great hall at Union Station are spectacular. In the bottom right, you can see tiny versions of Holly, Hayden (red and white stripes) and Stacy.

Even Without Sun

So we've had only 4 days of sunshine in December and yet after a rainy, cloudy, dark day we get this incredible sunset. It's a crazy world.

One Enchanted Moment

Yesterday, Hayden got to be the Fairy Princess for a moment at the Kansas City Museum. Her aunt Cindy arranged it on Holly's last day as a princess. We always thought Hayden would have been a perfect Fairy Princess but we didn't know about the process to be selected until she had aged out. Below she waits in the wings.

Santa Rubber Ducky

I can see that it would be hard to choose between a Santa rubber duck or a Santa Mr. Potato Head so you would get both.

First Snow Snowman

This friendly guy sported some unusual hair - looks like the artist used pampas grass. In celebration of the first snow Thursday, snow people were popping up everywhere.

Pizza Toss

We enjoyed watching this guy toss the crusts while he made pizzas at Pizza 51.

Christmas Eve Candlelighting

Scott and Dad participating in our annual Christmas eve candlelighting. I can't tell if it's 1972 or '73.

Santas Are Gathering

... at my house.

Thanks Royals

These folks wanted to keep the Royals postseason fever alive for a little bit longer.

A Familiar Face

Cindy gave me this cookie jar because it looks very similar to the Santa mugs we had for cocoa as kids. How cool!

Mayor's Christmas Tree

As usual, the Mayor's Christmas Tree in Crown Center square is oddly shaped but I'm sure it will make excellent ornaments to sell next year. Below is one made from last year's tree to benefit the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund.

Divine Cuisine

We decided to test Q39 in Westport, a relatively new barbecue restaurant and it was divine. I highly recommend it.

One Large Turkey

This fellow appeared in the break room at work. He is solid chocolate and hand painted from Annedore's Fine Chocolates. He weighs a ton! It stands about 12 inches tall. We took a chisel to it and discovered it was very good dark chocolate. But, really, who needs that much chocolate and how much did someone pay for this?

Merry Christmas 1955

Not sure if I just sneezed or what. Susie and my curly hair is impressive.

The 1950s All-Electric House

This pink tinsel tree and the Krystal Glow (never get hot) Christmas lights are some of the displays at the Johnson County Museum's 1950s All Electric House. The house was used as a model home in 1954 for 6 months to demonstrate what electricity could do for your home. It has a hidden television, electric curtain openers, trendy appliances and special lighting. Cindy and I found a lot of the items displayed just looked like what we grew up with, so not really historic. We had the Krsytal Glow lights on our tree and Cindy reported that she has the strand (we only had one) and one of the bulbs still lights 60 years later.

Tuba Christmas

We saw more than 300 tubas perform Christmas carols at noon yesterday at the Kauffman Center. It was amazing and highly entertaining. We even got to sing along. The performers really got into it, wearing festive apparel and decorating their instruments.

Is Your Tree Warm?

These trees in Downtown Overland Park are festive in their sweaters.

Christmas Tasting

Stacy hosted a tasting yesterday of delicious sweet breads. We couldn't pick a favorite. They were all outstanding.

Eyes on the Prize

Each year the Cross-Lines Christmas Store for low income folk is in some empty building. This year it was a former school with some crazy art on the walls. This mural was behind our display for the housewares we give to each family. Kind of intimidating.

The Fairy Court

The Fairy Princesses have returned to Corinthian Hall at the Kansas City Museum. Holly is on far right.

Elfin Holly

Holly in 1993 as part of the Christmas program my girls and Cindy's girls presented. Below are other members of the cast.

Field of Dreams

This field of dreams is part of Train Town at Ward Parkway Center. Lots of trains run all around these miniature scenes. Train Town is operated by five model railroad organizations and is open on weekends with lots of engineers on hand to answer questions.

Lose A Tree, Make A Patriotic Statement

These folks in Cherokee, KS, decided to make the most of their fallen tree.

Concert Comments

Prior to the performance, Orion Weiss and Bramwell Tovey discuss the Kansas City Symphony's presentation of "The Planets and The Moon" Sunday afternoon. Weiss was the guest pianist and Tovey was the guest conductor. Stacy and I were guests of a friend from church.

No Separation of Church and State

Parsons does not have a problem putting Merry Christmas on its Municipal Building.

Go Lancers!

Shawnee Mission East High School (12-0) plays Hutchinson today for the Kansas 6A football title. They had a pep rally last night in the Prairie Village Shopping Center in preparation.

Lighting the Plaza

Once again the lights shine brightly. Appropriate that Alex Gordon and Dayton Moore of the Royals would have the honor of flipping the switch this year.

Two Turkeys

Happy Thanksgiving!! Howard and Cindy have birthdays that dance all around Thanksgiving. Today is Cindy's birthday (Happy Birthday!) and Howard's was the 25th. He was actually born on Thanksgiving. This is 1975, when Thanksgiving also hit Cindy's birthday.

Bowl Bound with the Wildcats

For Howard's birthday, we gave him a trip to whatever bowl game K-State plays in this year (with the three of us, of course). We won't know until Dec. 7 which one it will be so Stacy created these hints for the possible bowls.

Three Cat Pile Up

As the weather has turned cold, our felines have taken to sleeping in a pile for warmth.

Despite Wind and Rain

Hayden and I, and others from our church, helped feed the homeless last night in the wind and rain in Mill Creek Park. At least it was in the 50s and we don't have to live outside. It was a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings including pumpkin pie.

The Pilgrims Are Gathering

...in preparation for Thanksgiving.

How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?

These guys and several more (you can see a few sleeping on the sofa) are not for sale but are boarding at Puppy's Playpen near us. They all just hang out on the sofa, play with lots of toys or look out the window. Looks like a nice place for an overnight.

A Small Feast

The preschool at work had a Thanksgiving feast yesterday, which consisted of chicken nuggets, marshmallows (not sure why), banana-strawberry kabobs and corn. Who needs turkey?

Trash Bag Pilgrims

Stacy's kindergarten class had a Thanksgiving feast where they all used trash bags to look like Pilgrims. As a room mother, I had Hayden with me so she wanted to dress up too. Here they are showing Grandma and Grandpa Morgan. 1984

Brown Trees

I'm trying to figure out what this is. I took this a few weeks back and I was going to take a follow up but nothing has changed, except the grass isn't as green. These are dead trees they have staked in the ground with flood lights on them. I shall continue to watch.