MERRY CHRISTMAS

...from the Neumeyers!

A special Saturday

I invited the next-door neighbor boys over yesterday morning to play for a couple hours, while Leslie did some shopping.


Then, in the afternoon, Jack and I went to the Coterie Theatre at Crown Center for his first live theatre performance ever — “Suessical the Musical”! He was so excited that he wanted to hand his ticket to the usher all by himself. The show was great and we sat right in the front row.

We were going to go ice skating afterward, but even Jackson said it was too cold. But all the lights, the choo choo train and the giant nutcrackers were a sight to see. When Jack saw the Mayor’s Christmas tree, he said, “Wow, that looks like it’s a hundred feet tall!” He’s exactly right.

After grabbing something to eat, we stopped at our favorite frozen custard place (Jack got a candy cane concrete)...

...and we listened to a ragtime band play sing-along Christmas carols. On our way to the car, we made sure to stop by the huge gingerbread village as we headed for home.

Landon's two-month photos

A holiday card with a few bucks in it

In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer, the agency where I work presents Bernstein-Reindeer Rodeo.

Ride your way through three levels of bell-jingling bucks and rampaging reindeer in order to swagger your way into the winner's circle.

Happy Holidays from your friends at BR.

Christmas program at church

Ya know how when you hear a group of kids singing, there's usually one voice that seems to especially stand out? It seems to hold the notes a little longer and a little louder than the rest? And as the song continues, the entire audience pays more and more attention to just that one child? Which seems to encourage him to sing longer and louder? Until it practically becomes a solo and the rest of the children are his back-up singers?

That was our kid.

Afterward, when I asked Jackson if he realized he was so close to the microphone (and inching nearer with every verse), it seemed as if he was going to say, “Duh...”

But — being very aware of that fact — he replied, “I just wanted you and Mommy to be able to hear me. So I made sure to sing out loud and proud.”

Northwest's winter commencement

Before

During

After

First snowstorm of the season

This was the scene below my office window this afternoon. It's a long, gradual hill up to the left ... with a stop light at the bottom right. And only three lanes of traffic.

It looked like a parking lot. And there are back-up lights on the white van below.

'Tis the season

Friday night was the holiday program at Jackson's school. Looks like the time going from his classroom 'til they hit the stage was just too long for his shirt to stay tucked in. And for the finale, they sang the Hallelujah chorus (from Handel's "Messiah")!


Saturday morning we went to the Santa party at Leslie's work.


Landon with Mrs. Claus.


Playing "Pin the nose on the reindeer."

"Total PR"

Just livin' the dream...

Aunt Laurie

One of my sisters was in Kansas City for work a couple of days this week, and came over one night for dinner — and to meet Landon for the first time!


She snapped a family picture of us...


...and read Jackson a book before bed.


Thanks sis, come back soon!

A slow news day

Front page of the Northwest Missourian.

Jackson won

So when I asked him what he had wished for, he said, "Eight million ninety-one hundred ... sharks."

That's my boy.

Trimming the tree