Angels we heard up high

The day after Jack's own Christmas program, the two of us went to see my YouthFriend Paul in his Kansas City Boys Choir concert at St. Theresa's Academy. During intermission, Jackson and I wandered up to the balcony to explore.

Afterward, I took Jack on a meandering drive through the Plaza lights for the first time. He was in awe. As we were headed south down Broadway and came to the first stoplight at Ward Parkway, I could audibly hear him gasp in the back seat at the thousands of colorful lights in front of us. When I asked how many he thought there were, he said "Three thousand google." Then we went to Winstead's for hamburgers and a shake. He fell asleep on the way home and I carried him up to bed.

"Jesus Is Born"

Jack was recently in our church's Christmas program — a classic retelling of Christ's birth by 4- to 12-year-olds.

Since his age group was the "animal choir," it literally was like herding cats.

Front and center, singin' out loud 'n' proud.

I felt like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" had come to life.

Afterward, at the meet-n-greet with his fans backstage.

Landon and Lloy.

Happy winter solstice

Through our bedroom blinds one evening, the week before last.

Seein' Santa

The first Saturday in December, we always look forward to the Kids' Holiday Party at Leslie's office, which she plans.

It's a great time, complete with arts and crafts, sugar-cookie decorating, snacks, professional entertainment, a movie, games, face painting, and custom balloon animals for the kids. And all for free!

But the best part is the big guy himself. Santa — an attorney, who doesn't even work at that law firm anymore — is the same every year. And he has a real beard! And no standing in line at the mall!

Jack is at the perfect age where he's totally "in" to Santa Claus — hook, line and sinker.

"A marshmallow bow 'n' arrow ... and a cell phone ... and a laptop..."

I made sure to take these because we have a picture just like this of Jackson when he was this age.

He's a genius! For this parting shot (in the lobby of Leslie's building), I told Landon to go touch the junction of two tertiary hues on the color wheel where they run parallel at a 45 degree angle.

Santa Bobby

Photo by Darren Whitley.

A Place like no other

After all these years, I recently went to Conception Abbey — in rural northwest Missouri (i.e., the boonies) — for the very first time. The basilica was built in 1890 and I'd always heard it was really impressive.

Unfortunately, it was for the funeral of a great, great man. Chuck Place was a valuable mentor who I respected very much; he truly was the salt of the earth. A past president of the Northwest Foundation, Chuck and I served together on Northwest's presidential search committee throughout the past year. He is sorely missed.

Though I arrived almost 30 minutes early, hundreds of people were already there and I sat in the second-to-last row.

With Kay and Sully, the two previous presidents of the Northwest Alumni Association, at the luncheon afterward.

Barely beyond the grounds of the abbey, just around the corner of this building...

I was surprised to see these huge wind turbines.

The Conception Wind Farm includes 24 turbines and supplies more than 20,000 homes with energy.

A local landmark on my way back to civilization.

I heart the seniors, too. (Heck, with only 11 in the class, they really could've fit their whole names on there.)

Thanksgiving

For the second year in a row, we stayed in Kansas City but Dan & Linda, Dulsey's in-laws who we've gotten to know really well, had invited us to join them for dinner. It was exactly how you want Thanksgiving to be — relaxing, fun, special, comfortable and delicious.

Fully homemade pumpkin and apple pies. Linda even made homemade whipped cream — I haven't had that since living at home when we milked our own cow!

Some after-dinner entertainment.

Landon and Danny, our godson. (You know your guests plan on having a good time when they bring their pajamas.)

Thank you Dan & Linda!

JD's birthday party

JD and Jack were best buds last year in pre-K, but go to different schools now. So it was great to be invited to his birthday party the afternoon before Thanksgiving break. Landon and I picked Jackson up after school, and off to Chuck E. Cheese we went.

Sunday with Aunt Laurie

My sister, Laurie, stayed overnight after Landon's baptism and hung out with us the next day. We went to church that morning, had lunch together and leisurely watched the Chiefs beat the Steelers — the reigning Super Bowl champs — in overtime!

The day before, my oldest sister, Nicky, gave Jackson and Landon their Christmas gifts early: marshmallow guns! So Laurie and Jack made sure to try them out.

Loading the ammunition.

Ready, aim, fire!

"Gosh, Jack, I dunno. Why do you think your tummy hurts?"

Landon's baptism

Landon playing in the baptismal font.



Jack holding the (lit) baptismal candle.



Pastor Neil & Pastor Sacia.


Landon's baptismal sponsors, Desiree and "Cici Ninny."











The traditional baptism gift from Momo & Papa — a pocketknife.

This stuffed bear from Aunt Laurie is really cool — when you touch both of the metal spots on its paws at the same time (to make a complete circuit) it prays! We discovered that it also works through multiple people by holding hands in a circle!

Cousin Lexi reading Jackson bedtime stories.

Landon learning to text — "i wuv my cuzn dani"