Culinary Music

Piano player during dinner provided a nice atmosphere.

How Big Was the Sleigh?

This reindeer is as tall as the house so how big was Santa's sleigh?

Ringing in 1991

Stacy and Hayden are festive and Morgan is wearing appropriately festive head gear. George appears to only be observing.

Hanging On

This cute little guy is hanging on tight to the car antenna. It made me smile. You'll be happy to know I was stopped at a red light when I took the photo.

Color of Clean

Enjoying the view of the soap in the car wash. Not sure why they are this color but the car was nice and clean.

Can't Look

George with his parents following his baptism. He was very well behaved. He's wearing the baptism gown I made for his Aunt Frances low those many years ago.

The Child Has Come

Little George as Jesus.

The Stockings Are Hung

Thanks to Susan for making Hayden's and Matt's to match the ones that Mom made.

A Moment Alone

A rare moment when people weren't swarming the tree in Union Station to take family photos. See below for how busy it usually was.

"Mary" Christmas

Morgan as Mary in the pageant in 2003. Seems appropriate since little George will be Jesus on Saturday. Morgan didn't get the part of Baby Jesus her first Christmas because she was in Pennsylvania.

Christmas Flowers

Yesterday my thoughtful husband brought me this beautiful floral arrangement in an elaborate ornament. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Santa Doesn't Scare Me

Little George wasn't the least bit intimidated by his visit to Santa at Crown Center. Santa accommodated him by stretching out.

Ready to Ring

The Colonial Bell Choir rang out despite a small crowd on a very cold, snowy morning.

Enjoying the Snow

My new snowman likes the falling snow, and subzero temperatures.

58 Years and Counting

Candy Cane Lane is a cul de sac in Prairie Village that goes together - continuously since 1958. Below is one of the original displays.

Flowering in Miniature

I love this tiny poinsettia that my coworker gave me. 

Christmas Eve Candlelighting

Scott preparing for the Christmas Eve candlelighting in 1980. Looks like he's trying to light one of the pillar candles that were so tall and the wick was so far down you could never get them lit. Our Christmas Eve tradition.

New in Town

New trash bins for Prairie Village await in the old Meadowbrook Country Club parking lot. The city is changing trash pickup companies and the new bins are being delivered to homes over the next week.

Let It Go

... the cold never bothered me anyway. (Frozen) These folks decided to just let the fountain run and so they now have an ice sculpture. I'm guessing that's not good for the plumbing.

Say Cheese!

Hayden and Missy were mugging for the camera during rehearsal for the Colonial Choir's Christmas concert yesterday.

Which One is Not Like the Others

One person is not looking at the tree. 

35 Years of Christmas Dinners

It was good to get together again with friends for a holiday celebration. We've been together for 35 years.

First Snow

Wasn't much of a snow but my snowman looked at home in it.

Real Life Marionette

Stacy was a marionette in the Somerset Ballet Nutcracker in 1992.

Last Minute Handiwork

Stacy and Stacey (from Colonial) were reassembling some of the health kits created for the church to use as part of the housewares department at the Cross-Lines Christmas Store. They were refolding them so you could see the toiletries that are inside the towel. The building didn't have heat so we were all bundled up.

Preparing for Operation Santa Claus

Some of us on the staff from Country Club Christian Church worked at Della Lamb Community Services yesterday to help prepare for Operation Santa Claus, which provides Christmas bags for low-income families. We were bundling clothes for children. While we were working a group brought in hundreds of backpacks for distribution.

A Refreshing Take on an Old Story

The kids did a great pageant yesterday during our Advent Festival.

Laser Lights That Weren't

We went to Union Station last night to see Luminate: A Holiday Laser Light Installation at Pershing and Main but it didn't live up to the hype. Too much light from the street lights and not enough surfaces to bounce the lasers off I guess. This lighting of the streetcar was better.

Overland Park Tradition

This jolly guy has been adorning the bank at 79th & Metcalf for years. The bank has changed hands/names but every year he comes back out. It's good to have things you can count on.

Dreaming of Christmas

Not exactly a dream catcher but of the same design only with crystal Christmas lights.

Christmas Outtakes

Mom and Dad are preparing to take our Christmas card photo. Looks like Steve is trying to make that tree look like something - balls seem a bit large for it. Who knows what I'm about to do with the box. Susan and I are intently watching something or someone.

Huddle Up

Jayhawks huddle during a game against Long Beach State at Allen Fieldhouse. We won 91-61. Love my new lens that makes these shots possible.

Introducing the Parklet

This seating area on a downtown Oklahoma City street is part of Downtown OKC's placemaking project to create miniature urban parks. A novel idea but it seems like there would be limited times when that would be pleasant.

Outdoor Dining

Stacy (in white coat) and I helped feed the homeless last night on the Plaza. Wet, cold and windy but we served about 70 meals. Happy to help and also happy not to be living outdoors.

Christmas Has Landed

This giant ornament is on the grounds of Devon Energy in Oklahoma City. It dropped hard enough to go half way into the ground. 😎

Bricktown Ballpark

Howard and Gordon are looking at the names of Yankees surrounding a statue of Mickey Mantle at the ballpark in Oklahoma City. Mantle was born in Oklahoma. The stadium is the home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Let There Be Light

... and fireworks. The Plaza lights are on.

November Birthday Celebration

On Thanksgiving in 2005, Chris, Howard, Lee, Cindy and Kelly tried to blow out the candles together but it went about as smoothly as you might expect. They all have birthdays on or within a few days of Thanksgiving. Howard is the only one actually born on Thanksgiving.

Where's Waldo?

If you look carefully, you can see the Pilgrim man and woman on the left of this Thanksgiving display. Those are the candles that have been a part of the Morgan family Thanksgiving since I was a kid. We had to replace some a few years ago and Susan found these. No one has ever lit one although they have gone swimming.

Unusual Religious Art

I found this statue at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lansing curious. It's almost as though Jesus is pushing a button on his chest and sending out beams. I'm guessing that's not what it means. No explanation was with it. 

Reaching Outside the Walls

Members of the Colonial Church Choir joined the East Hill Singers of Lansing, KS prison and others for a concert yesterday at a Lansing church. The East Hill Singers are in the blue shirts (Hayden is in pink). Our church choir director is director of the prison choir.

Road Trip by Capitol Christmas Tree

The tree that will stand on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington DC made a stop in Kansas City yesterday afternoon. The top of the tree was visible through this part of the truck but the rest was enclosed. It is traveling from the Payette National Forest in Idaho. It will be lit on December 6.

Lighting Up the Season

Downtown Overland Park lit the Christmas tree last night, complete with Santa and hay rides.

Last Gasp

Between the wind and the plummeting temperatures, I fear these color pops will not be with us long.

Waiting for Donations

Dad, Hayden and Mom were at the donation table at the Mayor's Christmas Tree lighting in November 1996. You can see the bottom of the tree in the background. They were in Crown Center so out of the cold.