We're having lots of Christmas fun here at Myers house. On Saturday we went to a Kris
Kringle Market at a beautiful church in
Brookside. They had a wonderful German Christmas festival complete with food, crafts and
activities for kids. Father Christmas greeted us.
The kids made these great gingerbread houses.
Jackson's featured candy cans and gummy bears.
Erin used a lot of red hots and green gummy bears. Oh and
marshmallows. With about every other
marshmallow ending up in her mouth!
We then traveled a few blocks west to "Journey to
Bethlehem" at a
Presbyterian church. It was simply amazing.
We became travelers awaiting the census. We appeared before magistrates to declare the number of goats, sheep and cows. We ventured through a market place complete with live animals. Spent time with King Herod just as the wise men appeared before his court. Saw the shepherds keeping watch over live sheep (one of whom pooped tic tac turds to the great giggles of the kiddos), saw the angel Gabrielle appear from what appeared to be layers and layers of sheer curtains and talked with some inn keepers who offered their manger to the very pregnant Mary. And then finally we found the baby Jesus. The entire experience made a big impression on every body. The girls just loved it. Lauren nearly raced to the front after each scenario because she couldn't wait to see what would be next.
Then for our evening finale we went to a KC landmark "that house on Falmouth Street." This couple has outfitted their house into the most amazing Christmas display ever. Folks come from far and near to gawk at all sorts of animated characters. Every inch of their garage is stacked. The side of their house has been fashioned into a nativity. Then the front of their house has about 10 store window displays. You stop, park and then walk on the yard to get the full view. There must have been about 30 people at any given time just enjoying the displays.
It's Christmas in Kansas City!
Our baby went to visit Santa today. He was very curious about all the Christmas commotion. And he chewed on Santa's fur. Need you think I'm completely crazy. We weren't the only dog in the line with all the children. A pretty yellow lab was a few folks in front of us.
Authentic, rugged and simple. Warm fires to brace against the winter's wind. Cozy cabins filled with Christmas bustle. Fiddles and banjos belting out Christmas hymns.
Christmas traditions from the people's that settled these parts.
Fun things to learn. Deb's teaching Lauren how to string popcorn. We also made home made pot pouri bags, pulled taffy, put cloves in oranges, drank hot cider, sang lots of carols, and ate the best lemon drops in Jackson County purchased from the little mercantile store.
My beautiful sister Debbie.
Nick and Jack tried out the sledding.
The kids made these great gingerbread houses.
Jackson's featured candy cans and gummy bears. 
Erin used a lot of red hots and green gummy bears. Oh and marshmallows. With about every other marshmallow ending up in her mouth!
We then traveled a few blocks west to "Journey to Bethlehem" at a Presbyterian church. It was simply amazing. 
Jackson's always had a special touch with animals, especially cats. So it was no surprise that the little fluff ball became his good friend.
Lauren gets congratulatory greetings from Grandpa Harold and Grandma Joyce.
The Gingerbread man ran away because he was lonely. So the kids came up with the idea of making more gingerbread men so that he wouldn't be alone. And with the pull of a hoodie every kid in the first and second grade became whola a gingerbread man. Very cute.
Lauren and Erin attend almost every one of Jackson's football and baseball games. (Even that frigid cold one with wind chills in the 20's) So this was a chance for Jackson to be a part of her fan club!
Uncle Johnny was the president of the fan club!
