Goodbye 2025

 

Chef Vala

Vala also had a cooking lesson with me. She picked chocolate chip pancakes. They were "so good"!

 

Chef Lowell

Lowell's Gammy experience this year was learning to bake. We were making gluten free chocolate chip muffins. She deemed them excellent.

 

The Furever Tree

Colin studied the pictures on the Furever tree in Loose Park. It is dedicated to pets that have died and people are invited to put photos on the tree.

 

77 Years Later He Watches

As the story goes, this Santa head was stolen by Ray from a hotel in Miami during a trip to the 1948 Orange Bowl, which featured KU vs. Georgia Tech. He hung in our living room every Christmas. He is made of cardboard so I framed him to reduce the handling. 
 

Handprints Are Growing

New handprints on the tree skirt. The prints are getting bigger. Some complained that the painting tickled. I wasn't fast enough to catch Colin.

Young Thespians

Adam, Vala and Lowell portrayed a sheep, a donkey and a camel (respectively) in the Christmas Eve pageant. They took their parts seriously.

Colin took his candle seriously.

Joseph took his part seriously as well, from above.

The cast.

Ready for Santa

Dressed in our Christmas jammies with eggnog in hand. Merry Christmas!

 

The Stockings Are Hung

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Cookie Elves

Decorating cookies for Christmas Eve. All hands on deck.

Christmas Swim

I took advantage of an indoor swim to wear them out of Christmas energy. Team work turned the rain umbrella.

All in the Family

Several cousins joined to celebrate Holly at her wedding shower.

 

Making Work Fun

The crossing guard at Tomahawk Elementary School dresses up for every holiday. It's fun to see what he will be when I pass the school on my way to water aerobics. While his expression here is not friendly, in his defense he likely was freezing and no kids were in sight yet.
 

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Colin and classmates gave a lively rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town in the Willow Woods Christmas program.

 

Fire Academy Graduate

It's official. Joseph graduated from the Johnson County Community College Fire Academy last night. 

Who Is This Man?

Dad was Santa for one of our playgroup Christmas parties. Fortunately his grandchildren did not recognize him and of course he couldn't see without his glasses so he probably didn't recognize them. Mom dropped him at the door and waited in the car. 1986
 

King of the Mountain

Colin was actually giving instructions on how to climb up but he looked like he was keeping everyone off.
 

Fireman Blessing

Joseph was given a fireman's blessing in church as he completed the fire academy. He is explaining the significance of the rope, which is a safety feature that can help with many things including rappelling out of a two story window. We also enjoyed a fireman cake.

 

A Day of Music

The Colonial Christmas Concert featured many of my family members - in Bell Choir, a Bell Duet (which the video is much more amazing because of all the bell movement), Choir, piano.

And a behind the scenes look by the kids as their mothers practiced.

 

A Visit with the Fairy Princess

We enjoyed a lovely visit with the Fairy Princess. Everyone received a crown. Then we went downstairs to the Billiards/Game Room for a cookie, etc.

Twinkle Christmas Pop-up

We stumbled upon a Christmas pop-up at Tanner's.  They used a whole lot of lights.

 

This Santa Is Big!

This guy and his reindeer (off on the left) are huge. Eudora goes big. The house is dwarfed.