KC Parent Magazine December 2015

FREE | Dec 2015 | KCParent.com

PARENT M A YE A R S

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making memories

gift guide to fave kc attractions

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15

tips to eat smart

during the holidays

10

creative ideas for a KC family fun night in

BANISH THE GIMMIES THIS SEASON

physicians

lee’s

summit

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Scheduled appointments Mon-Fri 10:00 -12:00 pm & 1:00 - 4:00 pm Free Prenatal Consults Mon-Fri 10:00 -12:00 pm & 1:00 - 4:00 pm

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Angela Stott, C-PNP Kimberly McNerney, C-PNP Tiffany Vitt, C-PNP

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Inspire your little rockstars this holiday!

Baby it’s cold outside...

Swaddle your little one in comfort and charm this holiday season and all year long.

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913–288–6327 800 – 407–5000

DEC

2015

DEPARTMENTS

12-PAGE HOLIDAY GUIDE, PG. 36

FEATURES

10

18

30

14

Healthy Kids

15

Women’s Health

26

Craft Corner

32

Faith & Family

39

Media Mix

47

Word from Dad

SPECIAL SECTIONS

2015 WINNER

family faves Babysitter

Family Faves

Social Skills

How to find and keep a great sitter

Reader chosen winners from annual contest

Nine things kids can learn from dining out

18

Family Fave Winners

29

Party Guide

36

Holiday Guide

50

Calendar of Events

Our cover features Colin from Shawnee. Cover and select interior photos by KiaBondurant.com.

FREE | Dec 2015 | KCParent.com

PARENT M A YE A R S

KC

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Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

15

Creative Nights-In Ideas

34

Experience Gift Guide

40

When Your Kids Want Everything

46

making memories

gift guide to fave kc attractions

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85

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30 15

tips to eat smart

during the holidays

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creative ideas for a Kc family fuN NiGHt iN

BaNisH tHe Gimmies tHis seasoN

2014 WINNER

2015 WINNER

family faves

family faves

DANCE • THEATER

DANCE • THEATER

EDITOR’SLETTER DEC 2015 Publisher Michael Gimotty Michael@KCParent.com

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Art Director Kim Tappan Tappan Design Kim@KCParent.com Advertising Sales Darrell Dean Advertising@KCParent.com Electronic Media Manager Kristina Light Kristina@KCParent.com Event Calendar Susan Hawke Calendar@KCParent.com Copy Editor Susan Crainshaw Susan@KCParent.com Distribution To be added to our distribution list, e-mail Distribution@KCParent.com

LOCAL CONTENT

Local Contributing Writers Bill Bartlett (Belton), Melissa Bellach (Overland Park), Jennifer Bosse (Kansas City), Julie Collett (Overland Park), Tisha Foley (Belton), Jessica Heine (Olathe), Christa Hines (Olathe), Karen Johnson (Olathe), Megan Kapple (Kansas City), Kristina Light (Kansas City), Sarah Lyons (Olathe), Laura McEachen (Overland Park), Jena Meyerpeter (Lenexa), Jessica Samuel (Kansas City), Tori Walker (Shawnee), Melanie Yunger (Shawnee)

Mailing Address 11936 W. 119th #335, Overland Park, KS 66213 913.782.3238 phone • 913.681.5139 fax OUR PRODUCTS FREE | Dec 2015 | KCParent.com

kansas city’s #1 travel guide KC

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winter 2016

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. on pg etails See d

Editor Margaret Sarver Margaret@KCParent.com

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o win Enter t asses np seaso avorite rf to you ctions. ra KC att

Associate Publisher Darrell Dean Darrell@KCParent.com

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making memories

gift guide to fave kc attractions

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kcgoingplaces.com

500+

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#KCProud tips to eat smart

during the holidays

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creative ideas for a Kc family fuN NiGHt iN

tHis seasoN

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liday o H g i B ay! w a e v Gi

ever say never.

Certainly you have uttered those words a time or two. And if you look to the left at the picture from our most recent photo session, you will see this applies to me.

All of my life I have sworn up and down that I would never be a dog owner. Not ever.

And I wouldn’t be a dog owner if it weren’t for my girls, especially my younger, who for years has lobbied for a dog. Her allergies and asthma made me figure having a canine was a nonissue. After retesting for allergies and meeting with us recently, the allergist gave her the green light for a dog. It was on like Donkey Kong after she got the clearance from him. I did some soul searching and decided I loved my girls more than I disliked dogs, so for her birthday, she received Spork. I am still adjusting to life as a dog owner, but I will admit, he is one cute little puppy—which works to his advantage when he potties in the house. For the 100th time.

Because December is upon us and it’s a month of giving, we have some great ideas on gifts that, in my opinion, are the best kind (you’ll notice, dog is not on the list). These are experience gifts, not things that take up space in your home. This year, give the gift of time together with a season pass to a local attraction. It’s a win-win and something your family will enjoy long after the tinsel, lights and tree have come down. Check out the list on pg. 40. And with so many holiday events all month long, you’ll want to be sure to explore the calendar both in the back of the magazine and at KCParent.com.

Facebook.com/KansasCityParent Pinterest.com/KCParent @KCParent

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Circulation verified by:

Happy Holidays, Kansas City families!

Margaret Sarver, Editor

Kansas City Parent Magazine is published 12 times a year by Family Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout the Kansas City area. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect KC Parent’s opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Kansas City Parent Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

All photography and letters sent to KC Parent will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. KC Parent often includes websites that may be helpful to our readers. We verify each site prior to publication. However, content changes frequently. We encourage you to use caution and discretion when visiting a website.

Postmaster, please send changes to KC Parent, 8691 W. 96th St, Ste 1B, Overland Park, KS 66212.

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9

If your sitter is great with the kids, great with the family and overall just keeps you happy, KEEP the sitter happy!

how to get and

KEEP

a babysitter

I

t’s so hard to find and keep good help. So hard, that when you do eventually find good help, you want to do whatever you possibly can to make sure nothing goes wrong. If your sitter is great with the kids, great with the family and overall just keeps you happy, KEEP the sitter happy! At this point you’re probably scratching your head wondering how to do that. It’s simple. Just follow these tips.

Pay well.

If you love your babysitter, show her with your pocketbook. There’s nothing worse than a cheap boss. When paying a babysitter, consider this: You have to pay someone for a service that not only benefits you, but also your loved ones. Do you really want to take the cheap route with this one? If you decide to be too thrifty, understand you not only get what you pay for, but you also face the prospect that higher-paying parents in the area may be more attractive to skillful sitters.

Be clear on the expectations.

If you hire a babysitter to watch your children when you are not present, have

her do just that. Your babysitter is not your personal assistant, so don’t send her out for coffee, groceries or make her feel like household duties are her responsibility.

Be clear with the expectations you have, because if you are, there is no room for error or false expectation. Everyone gets what they want, and everyone goes home happy.

Promises versus delivery.

Emergencies happen—we get it. But if you say you’re going to be home at midnight, do just that. Breaking promises is the quickest way to lose the best help you could ever ask for. Be open and honest and never over promise and under deliver.

Lead by example, not by fear.

Understand that whomever you hire has to meet an expectation in order for her and you to feel comfortable leaving your children in her care. Threats are never the way to go. If you threaten your babysitter, you may not get a positive response. Lead by example. If you want your children cared for in a certain manner, demonstrate what

you mean. As a parent, you are looked to as a head of your household. If you let your babysitter get away with breaking the rules, soon your children will think they have the same green light. And if you don’t allow your babysitter to grow within the position, you will never be happy—and neither will your babysitter and children.

Make sure your children are comfortable!

Don’t forget that a babysitter is for your children. While you may have your own expectations and preferences, keep in mind that so do children. If your children don’t like the person with whom they are sharing their lives, the relationship will not work. Kids want to have fun and feel free; parents want the best for them and also for them to have fun and feel free. Make sure your babysitter has the same values and intentions you do— but with your children in mind.

Jessica Samuel is a native of St. Louis and current Kansas City resident, journalist, photographer, graduate student, ALLY.

Is your child old enough to babysit? Find out at KCParent.com.

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kcparent.com december 2015

Live without a fear of food, and enjoy the holidays Discover allergy at the cutting edge, and breathe easy Dr. Zachary Jacobs and The Center for Allergy & Immunology believe that patients should not have to learn to live with their allergies and asthma. Your experience as a patient matters. We will understand who you are and where you are coming from, and make decisions with you, not for you.

OUR PROMISES TO YOU: • Our goal is to treat and substantially improve the quality of life in kids and adults with allergies.

• We pledge an open and honest discussion on allergies and their treatment.

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PLAZA: 4330 Wornall Suite 40 Kansas City, MO 64111

NORTHLAND: 9411 N Oak Trafficway Suite 160 Kansas City, MO 64155

Learn more at www.kcallergycenter.com, or call us at 816.531.0930

kcparent.com december 2015

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Advertorial

Children’s Mercy Hospital: A Shining Star in Kansas City

P

arents throughout the KC area often choose Children’s Mercy Hospital when their children are in need of medical care. As the recipient of honors such as “Best Children’s Hospital in Orthopedic Care” by U.S. News and World Report in 2015 and “Best Orthopedic Care”

by Parents Magazine in 2013, CMH has certainly earned its spot as top choice for KC area parents.

Inside Pediatrics, a four-part, Emmy Award-winning television series, highlights some of the reasons for CMH’s excellent reputation. A major component of the program is the stories of patients at Children’s Mercy; one such patient is Aveon. Aveon has had several surgeries and procedures done throughout her 14-year life span, all at Children’s Mercy.

Born with one foot pointed straight down, Aveon began having surgeries to repair her malformed foot as a very young child. Her most recent procedure lengthened her leg so that now she can walk comfortably on equal footing. This

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kcparent.com december 2015

treatment was done with the use of cutting edge magnet technology, one of the many modern medical practices that have made Children’s Mercy so well known.

LaShanda, Aveon’s mother, has had to put all of her trust and confidence in Dr. Bradford Olney and the orthopedic team at Children’s Mercy as she and Aveon embarked upon their journey to fix Aveon’s foot and leg. LaShanda has been able to do so, saying, “My fears for my daughter’s future began to immediately subside after Aveon’s first surgery.” She truly believes Dr. Olney and his team know how to heal her daughter and are 100 percent committed to making her well. She has been impressed with their compassion, as well as knowledge and modern medical techniques, that all combine to create a successful plan for Aveon.

One of LaShanda’s great concerns for Aveon was that “she would be comfortable in her own skin and be able to interact with her peers without being bullied” for a deformity. And now, thanks to the team of

doctors at CMH, her daughter is a happy and confident 14-year old girl. In fact, this last procedure was Aveon’s own choice, and she went into it willingly, knowing she was in good hands with Dr. Olney.

When asked why he believes Children’s Mercy Hospital has earned such prestigious honors and high rankings, Dr. Olney attributes much of the hospital’s success to its “advanced technology in all areas, including radiology, spine surgery and pediatric anesthesia.” He also says parents should understand the incredible value in taking their children to a pediatric orthopedic team, specifically. “Pediatric orthopedics differs from a generalized orthopedic center, as pediatric orthopedic specialists are trained differently and are far more qualified to treat pediatric fractures than general orthopedic doctors,” Dr. Olney says.

Check out Inside Pediatrics, premiering its second season on Wednesday, Dec. 16, on KMBC, to see more of what goes on within the walls of Children’s Mercy Hospital. Narrator actor and Kansas City native Paul Rudd will lead viewers along the journeys of patients like Aveon and learn about their experiences at Kansas City’s very own top-ranked, award-winning children’s hospital.

Olathe mom Karen Johnson has three children, ages 6, 4 and 2. She writes at The21stCenturySAHM.com.

Inside Pediatrics Premiers Dec. 16 at 7:00 on KMBC

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13

HEALTHYKIDS

K

ids will be out of school in a couple short weeks, and celebrations with family are coming soon. Meal planning and gift buying may already be in full swing. Shoppers have many choices, and if you are buying for kids, options may seem endless. An average of 516 kids every day report to emergency departments for toyrelated injuries (SafeKids.org), so safety should be a top priority. Follow these tips to make this holiday season the safest one possible!

Have you ever noticed the age guidelines on toys? All toys intended for use by children 12 years of age and younger must be tested by a third party and certified as compliant to the federal toy safety standards set up by Congress (CPSC.gov). The age guidelines take into account multiple factors, such as size of pieces, material used in production and complexity of the toy.

While all children of the same age are not at the same place developmentally, guidelines are set for the average.

While Craigslist and garage sales may seem like great places to buy toys, steering clear of older toys is often a better

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tips for toy safety idea. Although used toys might be more affordable, they may not meet current safety standards and may be worn out and therefore break easily (KidsHealth.org).

Watch for recalls. Cars, food, toys and more can be recalled for different reasons, such as the item’s breaking, malfunctioning or injuring children. Recall information can be found in a variety of locations. Many baby stores post recalls every month for the

items they sell. When a recall is large enough, broadcast and print news outlets cover this info as well. Finally, if you have any questions, you can go online and search Recall.gov. This website allows you to sign up for alerts to be notified when something is recalled.

So many toys these days make some sort of noise. While this noise most likely complies with all standards, kids do not always play with the toy the way a manufacturer intends. They may hold the toy up to their ears or play multiple toys at the same time to increase the sound in the room. When looking for toys to purchase, remember, lights and sounds are not necessarily beneficial. Educating kids on proper use is key.

Thousands of toys are on the market, and probably the most important aspect of keeping a little one safe is for a parent/ caregiver to supervise the child’s play.

Jessica Heine lives in is a labor and delivery nurse. She lives in Olathe with her family.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

WOMENSHEALTH

cookies, cakes and candies! oh my!

W

hy people fall into such bad eating habits around the holidays is easy to figure out.

Everywhere we go someone is gifting us with cookies, cakes, chocolates, wine and beer. Refusing would be rude, right? Sigh.

Let’s not forget about the work parties, the friend parties and, of course, the school party. Then we travel to the grocery store and see all the wonderful treats in colorful packages tempting us. “It’s the holidays,” we tell ourselves, “a time for celebration with our friends and family.” Justifying why we should just give in and forego all the hard work we’ve put in throughout the year is too easy!

Food, friendship, family and festivities will always be major parts of the holidays— as they should be. However, keeping up during this stressful time requires lots of energy. That’s why eating right, exercising and getting plenty of rest are so important

throughout the season. Here are a few more tips for making it through! u When attending a party, don’t arrive on

an empty stomach! Don’t skip a meal thinking that allows you to indulge at the party. Rather, eat your usual healthy meals throughout the day and fill up on fruits and vegetables before the party.

u Offer to bring a healthy dish to a party. u Alternate alcoholic beverages with water

when at parties.

u Continue your exercise program. u Moderation is the key: Eat smaller

portions when you’re out.

u Eat slowly, especially at a sit-down dinner. If

it’s appropriate, leave the table when done.

u Remember the people! You are at a party

to visit and socialize, not eat.

u If you don’t love the food, don’t eat it. u Chew gum instead of eating.

u Keep your hands busy, talking or carry a

bottle of water to drink.

u Wear snug clothes around your waist. u Fill up at the party with vegetables and

fruit instead of the heavier snacks.

Most importantly, enjoy the holidays.

Plan time for something you truly enjoy.

Attempt to incorporate healthy recipes into your meals and don’t restrict yourself from your favorites. When you find the balance, your body will thank you.

Melanie Yunger is a local wife, mother and nurse practitioner who will never give up sweets at the holidays but will incorporate many more fruits and vegetables!

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.

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kcparent.com december 2015

15

choose your hats wisely M

oms are constantly challenged and bombarded with things to do, places to be, committees to help with, meetings to attend, roles to take on. As if being a mother isn’t enough, all these “extra” tasks and commitments get added to the list. Then add in the fact that many of us typically struggle with saying no and you have yourself a problem. So just how do we moms choose and prioritize which “hats” are our most important ones?

In order to figure out how to manage your various roles or hats, you need to take a look at your priorities. It may sound silly, but make a list of all the hats you wear, down to the very smallest. Be honest with yourself and number them in order of priority. Don’t worry about what others will think or what you think you should put.

Once you have finished, take a good look at what you have in front of you. What is it telling you? Are your priorities where you want them? If not, what needs to change? Where do you need to give more? Less?

Once you’ve been honest with yourself about what changes need to occur, it’s time for action. Choose a date for the changes and make them happen! Set boundaries for yourself and your family that are realistic. Know your limits, set them and stick to them!

You’ll be better off for it—and so will your family and friends.

Michelle, an Overland Park mom of two, shares honestly what didn’t work for her family and how she made changes. “I have certainly made the mistake of overcommitting one too many times. When my boys were younger, I said yes to everything! I also made the mistake of feeling like I needed to sign my boys up for everything...I felt pressure to keep them involved because everyone was doing it or I feared they would fall behind other kids (particularly in sports),” she says. “I quickly learned what a mistake overcommitting was for my family. No one was happy, so I had to eliminate things and prioritize to keep my family healthy and balanced. I don’t have to commit to a large task to be involved in my children’s lives. Instead of being the team manager, I’ve offered to help with a social event or community service project. While I am doing less than I used to, I feel very involved in my kids’ lives and am happier overall. I strive to do my best with what I have

committed to do, so for me, this means volunteering less but getting more out of what I am doing.”

Be sure to include yourself on your list of priorities. Oftentimes, we moms overlook ourselves because we’re so busy with everyone else. If you don’t take care of yourself, it’s difficult to take care of anyone else! Tammy, mother of four, agrees. “I try to remember to make time for wearing my most important hat, the one that lets me be myself,” she says.

What is Tina’s advice as a Lenexa mom of three? “As moms we are going to be asked to get involved in our children’s classrooms and teams. Choose areas you like and things you are good at to work or volunteer for. Have fun with these ‘hats’ and enjoy the time with your kiddos and their friends! Don’t be afraid to say no sometimes either, because we can’t be all things to all people.

And don’t compare yourself to other moms!” As author Harvey Mackay puts it, “No one ever went broke by saying no too often.”

Life is short, and the hats you choose should be ones you look forward to, fill you with joy and lift you up, not do the opposite.

Kelly, an Olathe mom of two, drives this point home by saying, “Moms take on many roles these days, and we all just need to make time for the important things in life.”

Make time for the important things in life.

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Julie Collett writes from Overland Park, where her three children have her constantly changing hats throughout the day!

What makes it hard for you to say no? a. fear of letting others down b. guilt c. FOMO (fear of missing out) d. the classic “it won’t get done unless I do it” thought e. a little bit of each

Thank You, Kansas City!

OLATHE, KANSAS Est. 1858

For selecting our SUMMER FAMILY NIGHTS as a Favorite FREE Attraction!

Start your holiday season with a visit to our free

Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 5 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1200 Kansas City Road Olathe, KS

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17

2015

family fave winners

2015 WINNER

family faves After tabulating 60,000+ votes, we are pleased to announce the businesses readers have chosen as KC Parent Family Favorites 2015!

Winners are listed in alphabetical order.

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kcparent.com december 2015

Medical Categories: Favorite OB/GYN Practice Women’s Clinic of Johnson County Women’s Health Associates

Favorite Pediatrician Practice Leawood Pediatrics Lee’s Summit Physicians Group

Favorite Family Practice Mosaic Life Care Shawnee Mission Primary Care

Favorite Dental Practice Kansas:

Missouri: Pediatric Dental Specialists Shoal Creek Pediatric Dentistry

Favorite Orthodontist Kansas: Fry Orthodontics Roth Orthodontics

Missouri: Creekwood Orthodontics Christensen Orthodontics

Favorite Allergy Care Allergy/Asthma Clinic at Children’s Mercy Center for Allergy and Immunology

Favorite Place to Have a Baby Kansas: Overland Park Regional Medical Center Shawnee Mission Medical Center

Missouri: Liberty Hospital St. Luke’s Health System

Favorite ER / Urgent Care Children’s Mercy The Urgency Room

Jenkins & LeBlanc Parks Children’s Dentistry

Kansas City Area Attractions: Favorite Animal Attractions Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead Kansas City Zoo Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure (Fleming Park)

Favorite Museum

Favorite Live Show

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Museum at Prairiefire National Toy and Miniature Museum

Coterie Starlight Theatre Theatre for Young America

F​ avorite Garden and/or Nature Center Kauffman Gardens Overland Park Arboretum Powell Gardens

kcparent.com december 2015

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Kansas City Area Attractions: (continued)

Favorite Sports Family Experience Kansas City Royals KU Basketball Sporting KC

Favorite Festivals & Fairs Celebration at the Station Oktoberfest (Downtown Lee’s Summit) SantaCaliGon Days in Independence

Favorite FREE Attraction Kaleidoscope Mahaffie Summer Family Nights Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Best-Kept Secret Kansas:

Free Summer Movie Series at Legends Outlets JCCC Performing Arts Series Kids Series Scheels Ferris Wheel

Missouri: Harley-Davidson Factory Tour Steamboat Arabia Union Station Model Train Exhibit

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kcparent.com december 2015

Favorite Parents Night Out

Favorite Programs & Classes

Crossroads New Theatre Restaurant Pinstripes

Dance:

Favorite Outdoor Family Destination Kansas City Zoo Shawnee Mission Park Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun

Favorite Indoor Family Destination Bass Pro Shops Great Wolf Lodge Science City

Favorite Place to Have a Birthday Party Kansas City Zoo Matt Ross Community Center Paradise Park

The Culture House KC Ballet School Miller Marley

Gymnastics: Elite Gymnastics Gage Center McCracken Gymnastics

Drama/Theater: Christian Youth Theatre The Culture House Kansas City Young Audiences

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21

tips for kansas city families On average, Americans throw away 25 percent of the food they purchase.

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kcparent.com december 2015

I had to get a new refrigerator recently after our old one quit working. I was appalled at the amount of food I threw out that didn’t make the cut to be transferred to the new fridge. It got me to thinking about how much food our family wastes and what I could do about it.

Evaluate what types of food you throw out on a regular basis. Write it down if you have to so you can track patterns. Did you buy too large a quantity and some of it went bad before you could consume it? Do you keep hoping you or a family member will eat a certain food but it never happens? What about leftovers from a restaurant? Did you let your child pick out a food at the store and now he claims he doesn’t like it?

Once you know what situations lead to waste, you can begin to seek some solutions.

For example, I am always throwing out the remainder of packages of green onions that have spoiled. I use about half the package in a salad or recipe, and the rest gets left to rot. My solution? Trim and freeze the rest.

Frozen foods may not taste exactly like fresh, but in a soup or casserole you likely won’t be able to tell the difference. Buy one carrot from the bin instead of a whole bag if that is all you need. I have never once needed an entire package of celery for a recipe, so I buy a half-cup of chopped celery from the salad bar. This still costs less overall.

Another cause of food waste at my house is my “healthy eating fantasy.” I say to myself, “Boy, I wish I (and my kids) would eat healthy cut up veggies instead of chips or crackers. I think I will buy these convenient, already cut up packages of broccoli florets and baby carrots.” Two weeks later, out they go in the trash, untouched. Yes, I have put them in clear containers at eye level

on reducing food waste in a well-lit refrigerator. I just don’t want to eat them. But apparently I still think I should buy them, just in case! Same with the vegetable juice disguised as fruit punch.

I can pour the juice in a plain cup, no labels in sight. My kids just know. They don’t even have to taste it. “MOOOM! This isn’t my regular juice!” Be realistic and spend your food dollars on the healthy foods everyone does like, not the ones you think they should.

Are you throwing away leftovers that come home from restaurant meals? This could be because they are poorly packaged.

Transferring the contents of your doggie bag to an airtight container when you get home will keep the food fresh a few days more.

Do you often order an entrée or dinner portion in a restaurant even if it exceeds your hunger level? I sometimes think, “Well even if it is too much, I can take some home and have it tomorrow.” Reheated or soggy restaurant food rarely tastes as good the next day (exception: cold pizza, yum!).

Order a smaller appetizer or lunch portion at the restaurant or share with your dining

companion. Yes, it might not be as good a value, but you still will spend less overall and avoid throwing away the leftovers.

Our family seems to constantly bring home leftover kids meal French fries from restaurants—and then throw them away a few days later. Ask kid-friendly restaurants whether you can order a hamburger or chicken fingers a la carte, or substitute apple sauce or fruit for half or all of the fries. For example, one appetizer of chicken fingers costs less than two kids meals and provides enough for two kids to share without leftovers.

If you shop at warehouse stores such as Sam’s or Costco, compare with a friend notes on items you commonly buy. Do you both buy certain crackers or cookies, but they go stale or your kids tire of them before the vat is gone? Do your kids only like certain flavors in the giant variety packs?

See whether doing some co-purchasing might be worthwhile. You don’t both have to go, just agree on the purchase, how you will deliver the goods and how you will get paid.

If you don’t want to go to the trouble of co-

shopping, be realistic about the warehouse store savings. If I want to buy a big box or package of snacks that is a good value at first glance, I have to stop and think. Is it still a good value if it takes so long to consume that some portion will have spoiled before we finish? Is it still a good value if I or my kids only like one or two of the varieties in the combo pack? Do I have room to store it accessibly?

Do friends or relatives push food on you?

My mom will be headed out of town and give me a bag of grapefruit, despite the fact that I have never eaten a grapefruit in my life. Hmmm. I should give it to someone else who might enjoy this now, not let it rot on my counter for two weeks and then throw it out.

Laura Miller McEachen is a part-time attorney and full-time mommy.

What should you do when you end up with excess that has not spoiled, but you know will not be used?

• • • •

Unopened and individually packaged items can be given to a food pantry, depending on their acceptance guidelines. Some also will take produce. See FoodPantries.org for a list.

Ask your school, especially the aftercare program, whether they can use any extra snacks. Don’t forget breakfast items for the early care kids.

Bring the leftovers to a youth group meeting, sports practice (even if you aren’t on snack duty) or potluck social gathering.

Store a few less perishable items in your car. Kids who would not eat these foods at home might reconsider if they are out and about with no access to other choices.

kcparent.com december 2015

23

loving your inner “mean mom”

A

s mothers, there are so many things we strive to be. We want to set strong examples for our children. We want to be the ones who nurture them, love them and laugh with them.

One thing most moms do not want to be is the “mean” mom.

“Mom, you are so MEAN!” are words we dread to hear.

“My daughter has a special face she makes when she tells me that I am being mean. It involves eye rolling and hair tossing, and I hate hearing it. The tone of her voice when she calls me mean makes me feel like I am ruining her whole world,” says Shelli Stiller, Overland Park mom.

Despite the unhappy shrieks of our children, are there times when it actually pays to be the “mean” mom? According to data from the FBI and the National Highway Association, being a kid

in America has never been safer. Fewer children ages 5 to 14 are abducted, fewer children are hit by cars and fewer children are murdered than at any time in the last 40 years. If our children are safer, parents must be doing something right. And that includes being the mean mom on occasion. So, to remain on the path of safety and do what is best for the kids, when are the best times to be the mean mom? Metro moms weigh in on when being mean is the best thing.

When they are experimenting with technology.

There is a lot of technology in our children’s lives. It helps connect the world and provides unlimited amounts of information and

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access to ideas. It also can bring your child into contact with people they would never otherwise meet. “I worry about who might try to contact my kids on social media or when they are online. I use parental controls and have pretty strict rules for screen time. I just want them to be safe,” says Coleen Sands, Kansas City, MO, mom.

Technology also can open the doors to social pressures and bullying that rises to a level well above what kids faced before the age of social media. “I monitor texts and social media for my children,” says Nancy Watson, Kansas City, KS, mom. “They hate it, but it is my job to keep them safe.”

When they are meeting new people. As children grow, their social circles grow as well. When they are branching out and meeting new people, it is good to check in and make sure they are staying safe. “My son doesn’t understand it, but I always insist on meeting new friends before he goes out the door with them.

Especially if he is spending the night or riding with their parents,” says Monica Cameron, Olathe mom. Knowing the friends with whom your child spends time, as well as their parents, can ease your mind and help maintain a set of rules and expectations, even when your child leaves the house.

When they are breaking the rules. We set rules to keep our children safe and guide them in a healthy direction. When children break those rules, parents have choices to make. “If my daughter is regularly breaking the rules, I know it is time for a talk,”

says Gail Reed, Olathe mom. “Either she needs more attention or something else is going on, but even if I have to be the mean mom, I have to rein her in when she is breaking the rules.” Children who are allowed to break the rules often continue to push boundaries.

Whether the rule is not crossing the street alone or not attending parties where there is underage drinking, the rules are there to be followed for the child’s safety.

Children who are allowed to break the rules often continue to push boundaries.

In the world of parenting, no one enjoys negatively impacting their child’s happiness. If you are having challenges where you need to set strong boundaries and feel you are saying no a lot, you might feel like you are the mean mom all the time. This can be rough on mom and on the kids. Try to find little things you can say yes to and find ways to connect with your kids over positive things. Encourage family time together and remind them of all the positive things you share! If you need additional help, reach out to your pediatrician or a family counselor for support.

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer and mom of two living in Overland Park.

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25

CRAFTCORNER

Step One: Gather twigs that are about 3-4 inches long.

Kids of all ages can make some easy and colorful yarn ornaments with just a few supplies!

Step Two: Cut pieces of yarn to measure about 8 inches.

Step Three: Fold a piece of yarn in half and pull the ends of the yarn through the folded loop, around the twig. Continue looping the yarn onto the twig until it is full.

mini yarn ornaments Anyone who has been on Pinterest lately has probably noticed a trend in yarn wall hangings. From weavings to fringe, colorful options abound for buying or DIY-ing some yarn home dĂŠcor.

Why not get the kids involved in this hot trend by making their own tiny versions of colorful yarn creations? Not only are they are easy and cute, but they make great ornaments!

Step Four: Trim the ends of the

Materials needed: Twigs | Yarn | Twine | Scissors

yarn into a straight line, V shape or diagonal.

Step Five: Tie twine onto the ends of the stick to create a hanger for your ornament.

Megan Kapple is a blogger from Kansas City, MO, where she lives with her husband and three young daughters. She loves anything DIY and crafty and blogs about her adventures at HomemadeGinger.com.

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kcparent.com december 2015

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10 Years of Changing Lives

t is 5:30, and you are desperately rummaging through your fridge and cupboards trying to come up with something resembling dinner. The kids have to be at their next activity soon, and you finally give up and announce you’ll be hitting the drive-through again.

Sound familiar?

Busy families know how difficult it can be to put a dinner on the table that doesn’t come out of a box or sack. And in those rare instances you manage to cook a healthy meal, you might find it’s a party of one, as everyone else has sports practice, work or other obligations that prevent them from being home at dinnertime.

Jana Day knows the struggle families face when it comes to providing healthy, inexpensive meals and sitting down together at the dinner table. It was her own experience with these struggles that led her to become a franchise owner of Dream Dinners in Overland Park.

Day grew up around the dinner table. Her mom planned menus ahead of time and cooked dinners for the family each night after coming home from her full-time job. After Day became a mom herself, she found that nightly dinners weren’t always so easy.

“I found that as a young mom, I was failing at dinnertime. I would go to the grocery store, spend hundreds of dollars…and I still could not get dinner on the table,” Day says. “We were eating out three or four nights a week. And when we weren’t eating out, we were eating the same things over and over again.”

Enter Dream Dinners. In 2005, Day and her family relocated from Wichita to open the franchise, after much research and an extensive interview process at the company headquarters in Washington. A decade later, the business is thriving.

The goal of the Dream Team—employees of the company—is to take the frustration out of dinner by providing guests with the ingredients and instructions they need to prepare meals, cutting down shopping time, planning and prep work. In just 60-75 minutes at Dream Dinners, guests assemble around 12 meals to take home and put in the freezer. On busy nights, families can cook these dinners in less than 30 minutes.

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kcparent.com december 2015

“We help families grow great kids by getting families back around the dinner table,” Day explains. “By helping families get dinner on the table, it allows them to feel like, ‘I am a rock star!’ and that’s really what we’re about.”

Each month, the company offers 17 entrees with a variety of beef, chicken, pork, seafood, pasta, kid-friendly foods and more.

Guests can go online to sign up for a session and choose the meals their family will enjoy, then come in to assemble the meals. Each entrée is priced individually, which allows customers to monitor their budgets. At an average of 400-500 calories and $5 per serving, the dishes are healthy and affordable. Some side dishes are available, but Day says home cooks often need the most help coming up with main food ideas.

Not surprisingly, the core demographic of guests at Dream Dinners is families with children at home, but there is a small percentage of empty nesters who are trying to get out of the rut of dining out frequently. Single people—or families of one, as Day calls them—are not uncommon either.

Dream Dinners is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has some big events planned. Throughout the month of December, Top 10 lists, in which guests share their favorite things about Dream Dinners, will be posted on a wall inside the store. Photos of guests, staff and the business over the years also will be posted on the wall.

On the agenda, too, is an open house Dec. 12 that will include samples, drawings and meal giveaways.

Day encourages folks who haven’t visited Dream Dinners: “Try us once. We are not a membership business. We do have an amazing loyalty program and an awesome introductory offer. If you’re not completely satisfied, we will work with you. You have nothing to lose.”

To learn more about Dream Dinners and to sign up for a session, go to DreamDinners.com.

Tisha Foley wishes she had a personal chef, but she does cook spaghetti and tacos well, according to her children. The family of four lives in Belton.

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nine social skills

kids learn from eating out

W

hile your budget might put the squeeze on dining out regularly at restaurants, don’t completely cross the option off your mealtime menu.

Eating out, even occasionally, can help kids develop communication skills and learn acceptable behavior in a public place.

Manners. Basic etiquette informs those around us that we’re sensitive to them and aware of our surroundings. Consistently practice manners around your family’s dinner table to lay the groundwork for eating out. Whether you choose to dine at the mall food court or a sit-down establishment, role model how to place a polite order.

Coach your youngster to say please and thank you when the server delivers beverages and food. If your vigilant pupil observes another’s lackluster manners, ask him how he’d conduct himself differently.

Speaking up. Just when you think your child doesn’t have volume control, her voice drops to a whisper when ordering a drink.

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kcparent.com december 2015

Before the server arrives, discuss the menu choices and prep her about what to say.

Remind her that because restaurants can be noisy, she should speak up in a clear voice while ordering.

Eye contact. When your child orders, remind him to look at the server.

Eye contact denotes confidence and signals polite respect. The skill isn’t easy for many people, especially kids who are apprehensive about interacting with people they don’t know. With time, repetition and maturity, kids can develop this valuable skill.

Eating out together fosters small talk skills and family connection.

Self-confidence. Uncertainty is the root of fear. Start small, role model and practice. Preschoolers can order their own drinks (limit choices to ease decisionmaking) and work up to ordering a main

meal. Encourage them to make specific requests like “May I please have some ketchup?”

Got a kiddo who clams up when talking to adults? Avoid labeling him as shy. Instead, place the order for him by saying, “You wanted the cheeseburger, right? What kind of cheese would you like?” This gets him involved in the process. Eventually, he’ll grow more confident. Further support him by responding to questions that he’s unsure how to answer.

Social cues. Eating in restaurants helps kids recognize social cues like body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and boundaries. These nonverbal messages help us discern appropriate behavior in a particular environment.

For example, you might say, “People talk quietly in this restaurant. We need to keep our voices down too so that we don’t disturb them.” Or “See how everyone is sitting down in their seats at their own table? We don’t run around or reach our hands across to other people’s booths because that bothers them.”

Self-control. Dining out often requires kids to stay seated for longer periods of time than they do at home. Set your family up for success by initially choosing kid-friendly places that don’t have long waits.

If possible, call ahead to put your name on the waiting list when headed to a popular spot or beat the rush by arriving early. Warn your waiter if you think you’ll need to make an early exit due to an unpredictable or tired toddler.

Patience. Waiting is tough for adults, but it can be excruciating for a hungry tot. Bring a light snack like crackers, apple slices or raisins that will help ease hunger pains. Pack activities like crayons, blank paper, chat packs and a deck of cards. Draw pictures, play I Spy, tic-tac-toe, “Would you rather...” or a game of old maid to help pass the time.

Small talk. According to the Family Dinner Project, mealtime conversation can help build a child’s vocabulary. Furthermore, eating out together fosters small talk skills

and family connection. Ask each other questions. Discuss sporting events, the weather, the upcoming weekend or tell a humorous story.

Flexibility. Even if you’re packing up your meal early on your first few outings, keep trying. Restaurant experiences don’t always go smoothly. Kids may not like the food. They’ll complain, whine and express boredom during long waits. But over time, they’ll get better at going with the flow.

Remember, you’re treating your youngsters to more than dinner out. They’re indulging in essential, real-life social skills that they’ll (someday) be grateful you taught them.

From pizza to sushi, writer Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband enjoy sampling a variety of Kansas City restaurants with their 8- and 10-year-old sons. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

Fun ways to practice manners

• Play pretend restaurant at

home.

Dress up and have a tea party.

• • Get silly by goofily imitating bad manners your child exhibits.

• For parents with strong stomachs: Have a “no manners” meal (might want to do this outside!).

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FAITH&FAMILY

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heard the ticking of the family room wall clock as I crept down the dark stairway. I had forgotten to unplug the Christmas tree lights before going to bed, so when I woke up just after midnight I snuck downstairs to turn them off.

Rounding the corner, I paused in awe of the soft, delicate glow of gleaming, white lights. The shine reflecting off dangling ornaments threw beams of light in all directions of the otherwise dark room. I had seen the Christmas lights in the evening while washing dishes and overseeing kids’ homework, but in the dark stillness of this night, I experienced their brilliance in a deeper way.

In the darkness of a night with no street lamps or city lights to illuminate their fields, shepherds stood watch over their vulnerable flocks when “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.” (Luke 2:9, emphasis mine) God chose the dark stillness of night to send His promised Savior to our salvation-starved world. It’s not ironic Jesus

An Unexpected Light

calls Himself “the Light of the world” (John 8:12), because His presence literally lit up the night of His birth, and continues to be a light to Christ-followers today.

Jesus offers us a contrasting perspective to the darkest parts of our world, sin and death. When held up against those two dark realities, His free gift of salvation and freedom shine brighter than our fears and

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doubts. Rest assured, though, He is present and shining in our most mundane days as well. Candles don’t burn brighter at night than they do by day. It’s our ability to see that changes, not the light itself. Jesus is the Light that fills your soul with peace in an unexpected moment, the Light that calms your fears as you tuck children in at night, the Light that reminds you just how loved you are when you feel unlovable. Jesus is the Light that took on the darkness of this world one day at a time. First, as a tiny baby lying in a manger on a dark night and finally on the day He left a dark tomb and overcame darkness once and for all.

Christmas is a season of lights. As we shift our perspectives to see the contrasting beauty of an eternal Light against the darkness of this world, we have reason to celebrate. Let’s do our part to reflect Jesus’ light of hope this Christmas season.

Faith & Family columnist Jena Meyerpeter loves celebrating Christmas in Kansas City, where lights and traditions are renowned.

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IN KANSAS CITY

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he newest film in the Star Wars series comes to the big screen this month. Fans can celebrate all month long with these local events:

Star Wars Toys at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (5235 Oak, Kansas City, MO, ToyAndMiniatureMuseum.org). Star Wars figures appear in several areas throughout the museum, and the collection includes one of Kenner’s “Early Bird Certificates.” Kenner didn’t begin toy production until months after the movie’s premier so they sold “Early Bird Certificate Boxes” to eager fans.

Teen Screen: Star Wars Party Dec. 10, 6:30-8:30, Woodneath MidContinent Public Library. Not so long ago... in a library not so far away...teens could celebrate the countdown to the newest Star Wars movie release. Register at MyMCPL.org.

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Star Wars Skate Dec. 11, 7:00-10:00,

Skate City Overland Park. Games, prizes and a raffle for movie tickets. Admission $8, skate rental $2. SkateCityKansas.com

Teens Star Wars Party Dec. 12, 2:00-3:30, Boardwalk Mid-Continent Public Library.

Celebrate everything Star Wars at your local library. Register at MyMCPL.org.

The Clone Wars & Star Wars Trivia Dec. 17, 6:00-8:00, Claycomo MidContinent Public Library. Teens are invited to test their Star Wars knowledge with this fun trivia night. Register at MyMCPL.org.

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens Opens Dec. 18 and shows through Jan. 8

on the Extreme Screen (KC’s biggest screen) at Union Station, UnionStation.org. Three decades after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his army of Stormtroopers.

Plan ahead! Make plans to see Starlight’s indoor production of One-Man Stars Wars Trilogy Jan. 26-31. KCStarlight.com

SPECIAL OFFER 4 weeks for $99 and a FREE uniform

14024 W. 119th STREET., OLATHE, KANSAS 8645 W. 135th STREET, OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS 913-829-8818 | KCTIGERROCK.COM

kcparent.com december 2015

33

10 Game night is the best! As our kids get older, we pick different games and have started keeping score. We are even starting to learn some card games. It is always quality time.

Creative Ideas for night-in family fun in Kansas City

l

ots of activities in Kansas City bring welcome diversions as the weather gets cooler. For parents, cooler weather also means the approach of winter and lots of indoor together time.

Keeping children entertained through the winter can be a challenge! So, how do you beat the boredom and find some family fun inside? Our metro moms weighed in, and here are our top 10 ideas for a night of family fun indoors:

Game night. This is a time-tested and always popular option when the family is spending time indoors together. Board

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games, video games or word games all enhance priceless time together. Games like I Spy are even good for the younger kids. “Game night is the best! As our kids get older, we pick different games and have started keeping score. We are even starting to learn some card games. It is always quality time,� says Laura Pope, Kansas City, MO, mom.

Bake-a-thon. The family that bakes together stays together! Pick out your family’s favorite recipes and spend the evening in the kitchen together baking some delicious treats. Let the kids help with the

Check out KCParent.com for a list of great board games the entire family will enjoy! measurements, checking the ingredients and watching the oven timer. It is a great way to incorporate some math lessons into a fun evening. Enjoy the treats together or pack them up as gifts for neighbors and friends.

Campout.

Bring out the tent and sleeping bags for a family campout in the living room. Tell ghost stories, sing campfire songs and don’t forget the treats! “Sleeping in the living room with the family is one of my favorite childhood memories. Everyone under a big pile of blankets—it was so cozy and such a special thing because we didn’t do it very often,” says Elizabeth Hoffman, Overland Park mom.

Role reversal. It’s time to shake things up. Let each member of the family choose someone else’s shoes to live in for the night. Take on that person’s tasks and responsibilities and enjoy the time learning a bit more about that member of the family.

Make sure to keep it safe—no young kids’ cooking on a hot stove!

Dance party. Turn up the

Theme night. Select a theme for

music and turn on the fun! Dancing is great exercise and a great way to make fun memories. Let each family member have input in the music selection and try teaching each other some new moves. Make some home movies of the kids learning how to do the Robot or the Roger Rabbit to enjoy watching later!

the evening and make sure everything fits into it. Depending on the ages of your children, the theme could be a letter or number or even a period in history. Make sure your dress, meal and evening activities all fit in with the theme! “We always had fun planning menus around theme nights when we were teaching our kids their letters.

Meals with the letter Q were challenging!” says Kristen Woods, Shawnee mom.

Contests.

From setting up a bowling tournament in the living room to playing a marathon game of table tennis, there are lots of possibilities for inside sports. “Our favorite inside sport is Wii Bowling. No mess and no cleanup, and everyone loves it. My youngest wins most of the time, and he loves bragging about it,” says Kathleen Pease, Olathe mom. You can even invent your own sport based on your family’s interests. Don’t forget to plan a fun celebration for after the game!

You call it. Let each member of the family choose the activity for one night.

This takes the pressure off Mom and Dad for having to come up with the entertainment and also allows you some insight into each person’s interests. From learning a new craft to trying a new game, you will be surprised at what the kids can teach you!

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer and mom of two living in Overland Park.

Scavenger hunt. Create a modern day treasure hunt! The reward can be anything your family would enjoy, from a treat to eat together to tickets to a family event. Hide clues around the house and watch the kids use their detective skills to find each one. Once they find all the clues, they can put them together and solve the mystery of what or where the treasure is. You can even try letting the kids put together a hunt for Mom and Dad and see what they come up with!

Movie night.

Movie night is a great way to share old traditions and create new ones. Parents can see old movies from their childhoods become new again for their children, and the family can enjoy watching new movies together. “Watching Peter Pan with my kids meant a lot,” says Donna Rivers, Kansas City, KS, mom. “It was my favorite movie when I was a kid, and seeing them enjoy it, singing those old songs—it was just great.” Pop some popcorn and cuddle up! kcparent.com december 2015

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HolidayGuide 37 gifts kids can give

44 top toys 1985–2015

38 edible ornaments

46 when kids want everything

39 media mix

47 word from dad

40 experience gift guide

48 Christmas characters in KC

42 a different Christmas

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kcparent.com december 2015

gifts KC kids can give on a small budget

t

here is nothing more heartwarming than a gift made by a child. Handmade gifts are affordable, fun to make and can be given to parents, grandparents, teachers and siblings. Here are some gifts that are sure to make someone special smile this holiday season.

prints All you need is a child’s cooperation, some paint and a little creativity to make a gift that will be cherished for years.

Handprints, fingerprints and even footprints can be used to make a variety of crafts and art. Websites like Pinterest are full of ideas of how to make a handprint into a picture of Santa, a Christmas tree, reindeer or snowmen. There are literally hundreds of possibilities. Try putting your child’s prints on an apron, ornament, tea towel, oven mitt or T-shirt to give to a special someone.

Make sure to follow the directions on the paint to ensure that the design lasts for years. Truly, the possibilities are endless. As a bonus, your kids will love getting messy during the process.

tasty treats Kids love to help out in the kitchen, so why not put together some tasty treats for some sweet people in your life? Get the kids involved in the holiday baking and put together a plate of cookies the kids can help deliver to a neighbor or friend. Putting a homemade cookie mix into a mason jar also makes an easy gift that kids can help with. Finish the jar with a holiday bow and instructions and it’s ready to be delivered.

it frame Photos make a favorite gift for any proud aunt, uncle, parent or grandparent. Get kids involved in picking out favorite photos from the past year and putting them into a collage with handmade drawings or a poem. Try making a scrapbook page that can be framed

for a special gift. Picture frames can be made with decorated Popsicle sticks, clay, or an existing frame can be painted or decorated with mosaic tiles, buttons or other craft supplies. Affordable frames can be found at local thrift stores or the dollar store.

al persotns gif Nothing is more thoughtful than a gift made to fit the recipient’s personal tastes. Talk to your child about family members favorite hobbies and tailor the gift to their interests.

For example, use permanent markers to decorate golf balls for the golf lover in your life, decorate a white coffee mug for the coffee lover in the family, have your child create a special bookmark for the bookworm in your life or use fingerprints to decorate wooden utensils for your favorite chef. Kids also can use scrapbook paper, stickers, craft supplies and cardstock to make custom stationery.

Making personalized gifts also helps teach kids to be observant of other’s interests that may be outside their own.

make your own holiday themed plate what you need: • Sharpie brand pens in a variety of colors (recommend using only name brand) • White plate (Affordable plates can be found at the local dollar store.)

have children decorate the plate however they wish.

Some fun ideas: cookies for Santa, string of lights, Christmas tree, Happy Birthday, You are loved, Santa face or other fun design.

bake plate for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

Hand wash plate for best results.

TheChirpingMoms.com

spa Do you know someone who needs some rest and relaxation? Try mixing equal parts white or brown sugar and olive oil for an easy sugar scrub that is a great gift for anyone who deserves a day at the spa. There are many recipes for homemade soaps, sugar scrubs and bath salts available online.

Many can be mixed together in just minutes and cost very little to make. This luxurious gift may be quick and affordable, but it is sure to make your recipients feel loved and appreciated.

There is great value in teaching kids to give gifts to others. They learn to be generous and thoughtful and experience the joy of giving. They also learn the important lesson that gifts do not need to cost a fortune to be cherished.

Sarah Lyons lives in Olathe with her family. kcparent.com december 2015

37

ornament treats you can

eat

easy Christmas ornament pretzel treats (Family Features)

a

s you set out to make this a holiday to remember, don’t limit your creativity to your craft room. Let your imagination loose in other areas, such as the kitchen, for delicious treats that taste as good as they look.

These simple pretzel candies, created by the crafting experts at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, are sure to be a hit, whether you let them brighten up the dessert table at a holiday party or package them in clear cellophane with a bold bow for a sweet gift.

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kcparent.com december 2015

Prep time: 1-2 hours Skill level: No experience necessary.

Makes: 12 pieces

Dip food-safe scissors in granulated sugar. Cut 1/8 inch off top and back of marshmallows.

4 oz. red Candy Melts Candy 4 oz. dark green Candy Melts Candy 2 oz. bright white Candy Melts Candy Christmas nonpareils Gold sugar pearls Pretzel rings Granulated sugar Mini marshmallows

Melt white candy in disposable decorating bag according to package directions. Use candy to attach marshmallows to top of pretzel ornaments. Allow to cool in refrigerator, about 3-5 minutes.

Reserve remaining melted white candy.

Wilton food-crafting supplies: Parchment paper Cookie sheet 12-inch disposable decorating bags Food-safe scissors

Use reserved melted white candy to pipe line across top and bottom of pretzels. Add nonpareils. Use melted red or green candy to pipe line across the center of ornaments. Allow to cool in refrigerator, about 3-5 minutes.

Place pretzels on parchment papercovered cookie sheet.

Melt red and green candy separately in disposable decorating bags according to package directions. Cut small point off tip of each bag. Use melted candy to fill hole in pretzels.

Allow to cool in refrigerator, about 1015 minutes. Reserve remaining melted red and green candy.

Use melted green or red candy to pipe lines across top and bottom of pretzels. Use melted white candy to pipe line across the center. Add gold sugar pearls. Allow to cool in refrigerator, about 3-5 minutes.

Source: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores

MEDIAMIX

wonderful winter reading

warm up with new books this december

By McGeath Freeman

Waddle!

Waddle!

The Thing About Yetis

Revenge of the Angels

By James Proimos

By Vin Vogel

By Jennifer Ziegler

Best for: Ages 4-8

Best for: Ages 8-12

Best for: Ages 4-8 Comic bookstyle illustrations, bright colors and quick text propel at a fast pace this book about finding friendship. Young readers will eagerly engage with the bold illustrations that convey big emotions.

They’ll worry along with the main penguin as he struggles to find his new dancing friend. The other penguins he meets along the way are interesting, but they don’t dance. He keeps on looking until he finds a polar bear by mistake.

That’s when all the penguins he has met on his journey show up to save the day.

Waddle! Waddle! is a great book to engage children on picture walks and in read alone time.

What’s good: The “friend reveal” will make children laugh.

What’s bad: Comic book style makes it difficult for read aloud story time.

Definitely not abominable, these cute yetis show us that fun can be had in every season. That yetis would enjoy snowball fights, building snow castles and ice skating is a no-brainer. However, when the cold drags on, hot chocolate is running low and the winter blahs begin taking hold, yetis—like humans—miss the warm summer months too. Vogel takes the reader from the stark white winter landscapes into lush green summer environments as the yetis remember building sandcastles, watching fireflies and playing on slip-n-slides.

These adorable snowmen are out in time for children to enjoy their antics all through the winter.

What’s good: The yeti facial expressions will engage readers and draw them into the story.

What’s bad: A little simplistic for some children, this tale is best for the youngest set of readers.

Fans of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will enjoy this screwball comedy.

Like its predecessor, Revenge of the Flower Girls, this story rotates narration among triplets Dawn, Delaney and Darby. The girls want the roles of the wise men in the upcoming Christmas pageant, but alas, they’re cast as angels. The triplets are not allowed to be the wise men because they’re girls. That revelation sets them scheming, plotting and planning to set everything right.

The antics are fun, daring and keep the pages turning.

What’s good: Children will relate to the triplets and laugh through almost every chapter.

What’s bad: Some of the antics are over the top, but that just makes them more fun.

kcparent.com december 2015

39

nc e i r e p s Ex

e

E D I U G GIFT the gift of r

KC’

give s this yea rie memo

Union Station

S

eason passes and family memberships are fantastic holiday gifts: clutter free, memory making, educational and fun.

Members enjoy free admission, exclusive members-only events, members-only newsletters and often receive discounts at gift shops and concessions, along with other great perks. We love receiving memberships from grandparents and relatives. These are our favorite places for memberships locally and our favorite membership perks.

Paradise Park

Powell Gardens

1021 NE Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO 816.246.5224 Paradise-Park.com/family-adventure-pass/

1609 NW US Hwy. 50, Kingsville, MO 816.697.2600 PowellGardens.org/membership

favorite perk: You can choose the level

favorite perk: Members enjoy free

of membership to purchase according to the attractions your family enjoys most.

Members are invited to attend exclusive FAP appreciation nights with fun and seasonal activities.

admission to top-notch annual festivals (including the Festival of Butterflies) and free or discounted admission to more than 200 gardens and arboretums.

Kansas City Zoo 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO 816.595.1234 KansasCityZoo.org/membership

favorite perk: Season pass benefits include half price summer admission coupons, great savings on souvenir cups, cabana rentals and food and exclusive early ride times and free fountain drinks on select days.

favorite perk: The zoo offers various levels of memberships so you can select the perks you will use most (e.g., unlimited rides on the train, carousel and Sky Safari), but all members enjoy FREE or reduced admission at more than 150 other zoos and aquariums across the United States.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures 5235 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 816.235.8000 ToyAndMiniatureMuseum.org/membership/

LEGO KidsFest Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO LegoKidsFest.com

favorite perk: You decide to buy a pass for up to two, six or 12 guests per visit and bring any combination of guests each time you visit. This is a great way to share a favorite local attraction with out-of-town guests. Passholders also enjoy discounted classes

favorite perk: May 13-16, 2016, experience more than 3 acres of dozens of Lego activities including race ramps, bridge builds, challenge zones and much more!

The Lego KidsFest brings all of your favorite LEGO experiences to life!

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kcparent.com december 2015

Schlitterbahn 9400 State Ave., Kansas City, KS 913.312.3110 Schlitterbahn.com

Nelson-Atkins Museum

The National WWI Museum and Memorial

favorite perk: Free or discounted admission to nearly 300 museums in the United States and around the world, making this a top pick to have on family trips to visit science museums and city museums on vacation.

100 W. 26th St., Kansas City, MO 816.888.8100 TheWorldWar.org/support/become-member

favorite perk: May purchase additional

Wonderscope

museum tickets for guests at half price plus enjoy 10% discounts at their Museum store and Cafe.

5700 King St., Shawnee, KS 913.287.8888 Wonderscope.org/membership/default.aspx

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

favorite perk: They offer varying membership levels. Some members enjoy free admission to swim at Splash Cove, others enjoy 50 percent off admission to almost 200 children’s museums around the country.

4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 816.751.1278 Nelson-Atkins.org/Membership

favorite perk: FREE admission to featured exhibitions and FREE parking.

Upper levels also include free admission to other art museums.

Worlds of Fun/ Oceans of Fun 8000 NE Parvin Rd., Kansas City, MO 816.454.4545 WorldsOfFun.com

favorite perk: Includes admission to both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun. With gold level passes you also receive free parking, opportunities for early park entry, special price on bring a friend days and discounts on food and merchandise.

Big Holiday !

Giveawasy es to

pas Enter to win s! Head to ction these attra k on m and clic o c t. n re a P r.

KC ys” to ente “Giveawa

Union Station’s Science City 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 816.460.2020 UnionStation.org/membership

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP / Explore a 2015 KC Parent Family Fave free for an entire year!

Choose the number of people your recipient would like to i’m making a list!

bring with them each time they visit. At least one named member must be present at the time of admission; the rest of your party can change for a total of two, six, or twelve people! For more information, call 816.235.8000 or visit toyandminiaturemuseum.org/membership.

A collection that speaks for itself.

open daily: 10 aM – 4pM, CloSed TUeSdayS

5235 oak STreeT k anSaS CiT y, Mo 64112

816.235.8000

ToyandMiniaTUreMUSeUM.org

kcparent.com december 2015

41

a different kind of

Christmas

Sometimes I get to January and feel like I kind of missed Christmas. I mean, I was there, but I was so busy and stressed that I didn’t really have any time to rest and relax and enjoy it.

O

On Sept. 25, I reminded family and friends we had exactly three months until Christmas. There were some positive reactions, but the first person I told responded, “Don’t remind me!”

Other responses included “Ugh!”, “Oh, nooooo!”, anxiety, “Where’s my Xanax?” and “Money—will we have enough?” An internet search for “holiday stress” yields 18 million articles! Clearly, there is an issue here!

Unfortunately, the season of joy and peace has, for so many, turned into a season of guilt, stress, debt, discord, fatigue, selfishness and materialism. How sad that Christmas has become a time some of us dread instead of anticipate? So what can be done? How can we get back to truly embracing this beautiful season?

Begin with intentionality. Even today, you can have a discussion with your family

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about the upcoming celebrations and determine what is really important. What really matters to you during the holidays?

(This article addresses Christmas, but the suggestions apply to whatever holiday you might be celebrating!) Think about your past Christmastimes and evaluate what you might want to change. Get everyone’s input and develop a plan to make Christmas different this year.

Here are some choices our family is making:

choose family. What is better than making special memories with family, whether it’s your immediate or extended family? Perhaps it’s everyone’s going on an outing to Journey to Judea or Crown Center.

Maybe it’s sharing pictures of Christmases past. Perhaps you want to do some kind of service project together, like bell ringing

for the Salvation Army, making cards for soldiers or caroling at a nursing home.

Perhaps it’s just sitting around the Christmas tree reading Christmas stories together.

Maybe it’s baking and decorating sugar cookies. It is easy to become so wrapped up in the busyness of all the Christmas activities that we actually have very little quality time with those we love the most.

And when you’re with family, why not actually be there? When we’re having a family gathering and someone is engrossed in a cell phone, I jokingly comment, “Too bad so-and-so couldn’t be here with us today.” Our time on earth is relatively short.

We must use it wisely. Don’t miss out on amazing family time this Christmas.

choose generosity. Christmas is a wonderful time to focus on others, to instill in your children the trait of generosity.

Most of you reading this magazine probably don’t actually need many, if any, Christmas gifts, right? I know that if I really need something, I pretty much just go and buy it.

(Thankfully, I don’t have extravagant tastes!)

And really, how much do our kiddos need?

I know I am tripping over toys and stuffed animals in our home. What if we taught our children—and actually practiced the idea— that Christmas is about others, about giving?

What if our children and others were more excited about what they are giving, instead of what they’re getting? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Some relatives of mine are going to go shopping for children in need instead of buying presents for each other.

What a great idea! There are numerous organizations around Kansas City that can use food, supplies, hands-on assistance and support (see sidebar). Focusing on others will be a tremendous blessing to your holiday celebration!

choose financial peace. As my man Dave Ramsey says, “Christmas is not an emergency. It comes on Dec. 25 every year.” A 2014 Gallup survey found that U.S. adults projected they would spend an average of $720 on gifts, with nearly 25 percent planning to spend $1,000 or more.

Certified financial planner Kurt Rossi says, “Big spending can lead to big problems after the holidays. The sad reality is that

excessive spending, finance costs and interest expenses can cause many consumers to end up paying for 2014 holiday expenses for years to come.” It is unwise and—dare I say—completely foolish to run up our credit cards for Christmas. If you haven’t done it yet, make a budget—quick! If you spend only what money you actually have, you will have so much more peace during and after the holidays. You do NOT have to go into debt this Christmas. You will not regret cutting back, and if you do make that choice, it just might be your best Christmas yet.

choose simplicity. Which of the things we do to celebrate the holidays are really crucial? Do we really need to spend hours and hours shopping? Do we have to make six side dishes or would just two or three suffice? Are three Christmas trees really necessary, and would just one work this year? With the ease of social media, is it essential to send “snail mail” Christmas cards to people we haven’t seen in decades?

Is the annual cookie exchange we host something we can skip this year? Do we have to attend every holiday event to which we’re invited? I’m sure we all have different answers for these questions, and that’s okay.

I just encourage us to take some time to think about how we can find rest within this season, so we feel like we have been able

to enjoy Christmas, not just survive it. Do those things that you love about Christmas, but let the things go that are not really that important. Allow yourself to take a deep breath! Choose simplicity to allow some time for rest this season.

Sometimes I get to January and feel like I kind of missed Christmas. I mean, I was there, but I was so busy and stressed that I didn’t really have any time to rest and relax and enjoy it. In The Year Without a Purchase, Scott Dannemiller details his family’s search to discover and embrace what really matters. He says, “So our prayer is that we learn enough to avoid the lure of stuff and have the wisdom and willpower to find the value in what is right in front of us.” What a great goal for this Christmas (and all year long)! My family will strive to recognize the value of each other, of giving and serving generously, of living within our means and of embracing simplicity. How about you? From my family to yours, we wish you a different kind of Christmas!

Shawnee resident Tori Walker blogs at Mom-in-Progress.com and looks forward to making Jesus and serving others the focus of her family’s Christmas celebration.

serving/giving opportunities • Reach out to children in foster care. (MFCAA.org/get-involved/ christmas-adopt-family-program)

• Ring a bell for the Salvation Army. (SalArmyMoKan.org) • Serve a meal at Kansas City Rescue Mission. (KCRM.org) • Buy necessities for the homeless. (CityUnionMission.org) • Help families with a severely ill child through Ronald McDonald House. (RMHCKC.org)

• Care for the children of prisoners through Angel Tree.

(PrisonFellowship.org)

• Support a soldier through Holiday Mail for Heroes. (RedCross.org) • Love on a senior adult through “Be a Santa to a Senior.” ( BeASantaToASenior.com)

kcparent.com december 2015

43

PARENT M A YE A R S

GA

30 KC

Z I NE

19

85

–2 0

15

W

top toys for Christmas

1985-2015

hen the first issue of KC Parent was published in 1985, Cabbage Patch Kids were at the height of their popularity and appeared under a lot of Christmas trees. Today, top toys include electronics, as well as old favorites such as Legos and Barbies.

As KC Parent celebrates 30 years, we take a look back at the top toys for each Christmas since 1985.

1985 Cabbage Patch Kids, Teddy Ruxpin,

1998 Furby, Rugrats dolls

Care Bears, Transformers, G.I. Joe DYK: Total sales of Cabbage Patch Kids in 1985 exceeded $600 million.

The doll has made a comeback in recent years, though sales have not come close to the mid-’80s mania.

DYK: Furby sold more than 15 million units in its first year alone.

Barney the Dinosaur

1992 Barney the Dinosaur, Barbie Dream House, Polly Pockets

1999 Pokemon, LeapPad 2000 Razor Scooter, PlayStation 2, Thomas the Tank Engine, Amazing Babies

1993 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Talkboy

1994 Power Rangers (for the second year

Thomas the Tank Engine

in a row), Pogs, Barbies Cabbage Patch Kids

1986 Pound Puppies, Lazer Tag, WWF action figures

DYK: Many schools banned Pogs, a Hawaiian disk game, because kids were getting into fights over them.

1995 Beanie Babies, Toy Story merchandise

1987 Koosh Ball, Pogo Ball, My Pet Monster

1988 Ghostbusters toys, Nintendo DYK: A complete Nintendo system, including two games, could be purchased for $99.99.

1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys, My Little Pony, Super Soaker, Game Boy

1990 The Simpsons toys,

Beanie Babies

Mermaid toys, Sega Genesis system

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kcparent.com december 2015

merchandise, Bionicles, Xbox DYK: Professor Snape’s Potions Lab

by Mattel enabled Harry Potter fans to mix potions in a cauldron and drink their concoctions.

2002 BeyBlades, FurReal Friends, Dancing Dora, Yu-gi-oh

2003 Barbies, Hot Wheels, Legos, 1996 Tickle Me Elmo, Nintendo 64 DYK: The demand for Tickle Me Elmo was so high that the doll was being resold for $1,500; suggested retail price was $28.99.

My Pretty Ballerina

1991 Nerf Bow ‘n’ Arrow, The Little

2001 Bratz dolls, Harry Potter

1997 Tamagotchi, Spice Girls doll set

American Girl dolls DYK: Classic toys and old favorites were popular this holiday season.

2004 Nintendo DS, Robosapien, Vtech Vsmile, Leapster Leapfrog, Elmo on the Potty

2005 Xbox 360, Tumble Time Tigger

2006 TMX Elmo, Nintendo Wii,

2008 Elmo Live!, Webkinz,

2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

PlayStation 3

Ripstik Caster Board

toys, Doc McStuffins, Frozen toys (still going strong!)

DYK: More Wiis were sold in the first half of 2007 than PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 combined.

DYK: Elmo Live! took Tickle Me Elmo to the next level; the interactive toy talked, told jokes, moved and sang.

2009 Zhu Zhu Pets, Imaginext,

DYK: Ninja Turtles, which first came on the scene in the late 1980s, made a comeback thanks to a hit Nickelodeon show and a live action movie.

Nintendo DSi

2010 Squinkies, Monster High dolls, Xbox 360 Kinect

2011 LeapPad Explorer, Let’s Rock! Elmo Elmo

2007

iPod Touch, Hannah Montana toys, Barbie as the Island Princess, Transformers DYK: The mid-summer release of the Transformers movie resulted in a surge of related merchandise sales during the holiday season.

2012 Furby, Angry Birds, Lalaloopsy DYK: Furby made a comeback, with an app to translate Furbish.

Ninja Turtles

2015 (projected) Minions toys, Lego sets, Girl Scouts Cookie Oven Furby

2013 Frozen merchandise, Zoomer, Rainbow Loom

Belton resident Tisha Foley has fond memories of playing with Cabbage Patch Kids and Pound Puppies when she was a kid.

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45

when your kids want

every thing

t u o b a o hat to d

(and w Deck the halls with boughs of holly…

Tis the season... of too much stuff? The holiday of giving is upon us once more, but in the mad rush to tick off every box on our children’s lists, we may be setting them up for future disappointment. According to a study posted on Today.com, parents spend an average of $300 per child for Christmas gifts. This can rise significantly as the child gets older.

Some families reported spending close to $1,000 per child! Let that sink in for a moment. When did “more” become the norm?

I often think back to a couple of years ago when my husband and I spent weeks planning what we thought would be the “perfect Christmas.” We forwent our typical gifting strategy that year, which was to purchase one item in our four categories: want, need, educational and read. As we meticulously arranged the presents under the tree, I was filled with expectations of a magical morning when the children would awaken to find just how generous Santa had been. My excitement quickly waned as they tore from one gift to the next, without so much as a glance at the previous item.

Sure, they enjoyed it. They played with everything eventually. They would’ve been just as thrilled, however, had we stuck to our usual minimalistic strategy.

So what’s a parent to do when kids want everything? Stuck between today’s culture of consumption and raising grateful kids, fellow KC parents weigh in on their strategies for keeping expectations and budgets in check.

Gift an experience. Mom of two Cristina Moore says, “After years of feeling guilty for buying too many gifts, I decided to change things up. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Great Wolf Lodge. They still received one gift from Santa and one from us, as well as a few little things in their stockings. I worried that they would be upset when we got home and realized there weren’t any more gifts, but they were absolutely fine with it. In fact, they asked if we could do it that way again this year! Spending time together is, by far, the best gift.”

Not only is sharing an experience a memory-maker, it can be a great opportunity to collaborate as a family. For example, each member can write down one place he or she would love to visit or always wanted to do. Afterward, you can take turns presenting your places or ideas to the rest of the family. The one with the most votes wins!

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it)

Avoid peer pressure. Independence mom Sally Flinn says, “As parents, I think we get caught up in the guilt of getting our kids things based on what others are saying they get their children.

From the beginning, my kids have received one pair of pajamas, one toy and some type of food (candy, cookies, etc.). I know that may sound harsh by today’s standards, but we set the scale on what the kids expect every year as they get older. Now with that being said, the older kids do make a list in case other family members need ideas for what to get them. Ultimately, we focus on what works best for our family.”

It’s easy to get caught up in what other families’ gifting styles are, and even easier when it’s continuously posted to social media. We’re inundated daily with Pinterest perfect ideas. When you begin to feel overwhelmed, back away from your electronics and get back to basics. In other words, make your own rules.

Create a teachable moment. I have a friend who sits down with her children every year and together they pick a place at which they’d like to volunteer or to which they’d like to give.

One year, they worked at the local soup kitchen. Another year, they hosted a clothing drive where they collected hats, mittens and coats to donate to children in need. Seeing others who are less fortunate can have a tremendous impact on the way our kids view the world around them. Rather than focusing on how much they’re getting, they’ll start to think about how much they’re giving back.

Curbing your child’s desire for more during the holidays can be difficult, but these small changes can effect great transformation.

We love our kids. It’s natural that we want to show it in a variety of ways. We also want them to have the happiest memories on which to look back when they’re grown with families of their own.

We sometimes forget, however, that it was never particularly the memories of “stuff ” we dwell on. Rather, the feelings of love and joy we remember are what make us smile as we think of holidays gone by. Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Jennifer Bosse is a former Kansas City gal. She now lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband and two sons. She enjoys alternative gifting with her family.

WORDFROMDAD

the perfect present

“b

ill, what do you want for Christmas?”

I didn’t have to think. “An electric race car set.” The same thing I’d wanted the previous two years.

Mom was noncommittal, but I held on to my hopes. Since the Christmas catalog had arrived in September, I’d pored over and studied every page. Sports gear? Not my thing. Snow skis? We never had enough snow. Board games? More like bored games.

Always, my fingers flipped to the pages that held the sleek plastic cars, the black tracks, the handsets. Still years away from driving, my thoughts focused on speed and the elegance of the cars that always caught my eye. I almost drooled with longing as I stared at the colorful enticements. Large scale or small? Formula 1 or grand touring?

I could hardly wait ’til Christmas.

The price tags at the bottom of the pictures always hinted at the real reason for my delayed gratification. Christmas was never extravagant with five brothers and sisters in the family. But each year I

feasted my eyes on the printed pages while I dreamed and hoped.

Until that Christmas morning. One large box under the tree caught my eye, and I ignored everything else. My name was on the tag. My name! But, what if it wasn’t my race car set? I almost forgot to breathe and my heart pounded, but I tore off the bright paper and my jaw dropped. Two cars, red and white! Fifteen feet of track! Bounty beyond my wildest dreams! I would have hugged it, but it was too large.

I played with that toy for years, almost up to when I learned to drive, but it wasn’t until I became a parent that I realized what I’d received. Electricity may have propelled the cars, but it was love that made them run.

William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.

kcparent.com december 2015

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the

Christmas stories that almost

weren’t

come to life in Kansas City

S

crooge, the Grinch, Clara’s visions of sugarplums and Linus’ reading of shepherds’ worshipping a newborn King—these are beloved facets of stories we’ve come to know and cherish at Christmas, stories that reconnect us with the true meaning of the holiday. They are stories that have inspired imaginations for generations, that make us laugh, cry and reminisce. And they are stories that were almost never told...

It’s almost Christmas, Charlie Brown!

This year is the 65th anniversary of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip,

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celebrated in November’s Peanuts film.

One of the key reasons the Peanuts gang is still beloved by modern families is because of our deep love for A Charlie Brown Christmas, originally aired on television for the first time 50 years ago. CBS executives almost pulled the show over a variety of issues. They thought the program was too slow, disagreed with the choice to have children voice the characters and thought Linus’ reciting the gospel from the book of Luke would be too controversial. However, urgency won the day, and as they didn’t have time to come up with a new program to satisfy the commitment to sponsors, they reluctantly aired the program—which

became an instant hit! The show was second only in ratings to Bonanza and went on to win an Emmy for outstanding children’s program. This year, in addition to reading A Charlie Brown Christmas (book available at local libraries or for sale at local Hallmark stores) and watching the holiday special, take your family to see the show LIVE on stage at the Coterie at Crown Center (TheCoterie.org), showing Nov. 17-Jan. 3.

Bah, Humbug!

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, originally published in 1843, is one of the most familiar holiday tales of all time. But it almost never happened. Dickens was at one

of the most difficult times of his career. His popularity as an author was plummeting, and he was near bankruptcy. When he presented the tome, Dickens’ publisher Chapman and Hall refused to take it on, thinking it foolish to publish a book about a holiday that barely mattered. Lee Standiford writes in The Man Who Invented Christmas that before the mid-19th century, Christmas did not tower over all the other Christian holidays and was actually a minor holiday.

Dickens was considered a huge risk and the topic of Christmas even riskier. Dickens decided to scrounge up the money to pay for the publication himself. He was so confident in the book’s potential that it was the only Dickens first edition to feature handcolored plates. The entire run of the first 6,000 copies sold out on the first day....and the rest is history! The story is one of the best-known in all of literature and easily can be read aloud as a family in a few evenings.

Kansas City Rep (KCRep.org) brings the mystery and magic to life with its 35th production of A Christmas Carol, this year at the magnificent new Spencer Theatre. The theater transforms into a page right out of Dickens with fabulous sets, costumes and special effects taking you back to Victorian London and the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his holiday ghost story.

ever since. Reading the story aloud and watching the original animated classic are favorite traditions for families. This year, take your little Who to the City Market (TheCityMarket.org), where he can celebrate Whoville Holidays. Snap a picture with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who in the warmth of their humble Whoville home.

Little Who’s can make Whoville-themed holiday crafts in the children’s activity area.

Whoville Holidays will be open Saturdays (Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 12 and 19) 10:00-1:30.

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who will be present for photos 10:30-11:30 and Noon1:00. Whoville Holidays is located on the north end of the City Market and is FREE, although donations are requested for the “Help-a-Who” campaign. Bring three canned goods for Harvesters OR a new, unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army.

He’s a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! debuted on television in 1966. The book, published in 1953, was transformed into the television special

by Chuck Jones, director of the classic.

Jones tells in an interview with Emmy TV Legends how he showed the film to every potential sponsor he could think of—cereal, candy and toy manufacturers—and they all rejected the idea. Without a sponsor, there would be no Christmas special.

Finally, the Foundation for Commercial Banks sponsored the program, much to his surprise, with the tag line “Christmas doesn’t come from a store.” Refused by so many, the tale finally made it to screen and has been loved by families

The Grinch

Sugarplum Fairies Dancing in Their Heads...

The Nutcracker is one of the best known ballets of all time, a miracle because most productions aren’t given second chances.

The show premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on Sunday, Dec. 18, 1892, and audiences were sorely disappointed. The show was not a critical success either. The story and choreography were viewed as confusing, uninteresting

and uninspired. In 1919, choreographer Alexander Gorsky staged a new production of The Nutcracker and rewrote several scenes. The show began to take on a new life. For years, the production made the circuit in Europe and, on Christmas Eve 1944, it was performed for the first time in the United States, by the San Francisco Ballet. The Kansas City Ballet (KCBallet. org) has been presenting The Nutcracker for years, but this year they are introducing a brand new production of the beloved ballet, Dec. 5-24 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Kansas City Ballet artistic director Devon promises “a traditional yet boisterous, adventurous and reimagined production,” and we can’t wait to see it!

’Twas the Night Before Christmas...

One of the oldest holiday classics did not face challenges making it into print, but it is not without controversy. The poem was originally published anonymously on Dec. 23, 1823, in the Troy, NY, Sentinel and titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” The poem had been sent to the newspaper by one of Clement Moore’s friends who loved the holiday epic. For years the poem was reprinted anonymously, because Moore, a professor, did not originally want to be known for writing a childish poem. Then, in 1837 Moore was credited as author and, in 1844, included it in a book of poems he published. At that time, many other writers were also claiming its authorship. Most historians now agree that Clement Moore is the author, but a few attribute it to others, including Henry Livingstone, Jr. The poem is still read annually on Christmas Eve by many families. This year, The Night Before Christmas is narrated by Mrs. Claus as StoneLion Puppet Theatre presents the tale with hand and rod puppets at local libraries.

The Mid-Continent Public Libraries (see MyMCPL.org/events for a complete schedule) are hosting the event at various branches throughout December.

Kristina Light’s favorite Christmas story is found in Luke chapter 2.

kcparent.com december 2015

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THE KCPARENT.COM CALENDAR FEATURES OVER 1,000 EVENTS EACH MONTH!

december

CALENDAR

A Christmas Carol at the Spencer Theatre

No part of this calendar may be reproduced in print or web format.

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kcparent.com december 2015

watch

see

celebrate

listen

relax

A Christmas Carol returns for its 35th season this year and runs thru Dec. 26 at Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance is a favorite holiday tradition!

KCRep.org

Head to Union Station for the Holiday Classic Movie Series throughout December. See holiday movies on the big screen for only $3!

For a schedule, visit UnionStation.org

Visit the Lanesfield School on Dec. 5 for a Country School Christmas. Enjoy Christmas tales, ornament making, holiday storytelling and Santa!

913.893.6645

Get into the holiday spirit with the Jim Brickman Comfort & Joy Tour, Dec. 12 at 8:00 at the Carlsen Center (JCCC).

A one-of-a-kind concert event.

JCCC.edu/theseries

Take a break from the hectic holiday season and enjoy traditional holiday tunes at Music in the Museum on Dec. 20 at 1:00 at National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.

816.235.8000

1 Tuesday

2 Wednesday

Toddle Time 9:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Open playtime with an array of toys, including blocks, balls and puzzles. $1-$2.

913.895.6350

Instagram Contest Thru Dec 16, Legends Outlets. Take a photo in front of the 45-foot tree and post to Instagram using #LegendsHoliday for a chance to win prizes.

LegendsShopping.com

Best Christmas Pageant Ever 10:00, H&R Block City Stage. The story of the Herdmans, who help everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas. TYA.org Homeschool Program: Lego Club 1:30, Olathe Indian Creek Library. Each month, receive a theme and then create with bricks provided by the library. Pre-reg at 913.971.6874.

Kids Klub Thru Feb 15, Hoffman International.

Children ages 4-8 learn runway modeling, manners, dining etiquette, acting and more.

913.642.1060 Mayor’s Tree Lighting 5:30, City Hall (Blue Springs). Entertainment and refreshments.

Santa and other special guests join the festivities. BlueSprings.gov Preteen Class Thru Feb 15, Hoffman International. Girls ages 9-12 learn visual poise, hair care, wardrobe planning, public speaking and more! 913.642.1060

FREE

Baby Bounce Story Time 9:30, Plaza Branch.

A special story time for babies (newborn to 18 months) with parent or caregiver. 816.701.3481

A Very Fifties Christmas Thru Jan 3, Johnson County Museum. The 1950s all-electric house is decorated for Christmas. Celebrate the holidays 1950s style! 913.725.2550

Gallery Walk: Christmas in the West 2:00, Nat’l Frontier Trails Museum. Learn about holiday observances of pioneers in the American West.

816.325.7575

Animal Tales 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center.

A 30-minute program that includes stories, songs and a visit from an animal friend. Today’s theme: winter homes. $2. 913.764.7759

Kids Lab: Candy Cane Oobleck 4:30 MCPL (Excelsior Springs). Come play with some oooey, gooey fun that smells so good! Ages 6 and up. Free. MYMCPL.org

Create Your World 5:30, Google Fiber Space.

An interactive workshop where kids can experience the power of coding and the Internet. Fiberevents.WithGoogle.com

Journey to Judea Thru Dec 6, Countryside Baptist Church. Experience the sights and sounds of God’s story as you walk through the tale of the Bible. Free, but tickets req’d.

913.592.3270

3 Thursday Free Play Cedar Ridge Christian Church. Daily free play for young children while parents enjoy a coffee drink. 913.393.3000

A Country School Christmas Sat., Dec. 5th 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Sensory Time 9:00, Johnson County Museum.

Kidscape can be loud; this special time is for kids with sensory integration and processing needs. 913.715.2575

Parent Information Meeting 7:00, Primrose School of Overland Park. Learn more about the new Primrose School coming to North Olathe.

PrimroseNorthOlathe.com

TRAIN RIDES Kids under three FREE

Join us for a 1904 Christmas celebration!

Santa Train * Visit with Santa Claus * Christmas Caroling * Christmas Tales

Drop in throughout December to see the school decorated for an old-fashioned Christmas! Write your letter to Santa with a quill pen and ink, and learn how Christmas was celebrated in 1904.

Make an ornament.

Lanesfield School 18745 S. Dillie Road Edgerton, KS 913.893.6645 www.jocomuseum.org

Departures are 9:00, 10:30, Noon, 1:30 and 3:00 Sat., Dec. 5 and Sat., Dec. 12 Check website for price.

Reservation required for this event.

Charters • Field Trips or Birthday Parties, plan by appointment.

Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad Co. 502 Walnut • Belton, Missouri 816-331-0630 • www.beltonrailroad.org

Tickets go on sale one hour before train departure time. kcparent.com december 2015

51

Little Women Dec. 4-6, The Culture House. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, this performance will fill you with laughter and tears and lift your spirits. CultureHouse.com

On the Worst Day of Christmas 7:30, Blue Springs City Theatre. A small town experiences a Christmas miracle when it’s reminded why the angels sang. 816.224.0551

Santa’s Wonderland 6:00, Gillham Park.

Celebrate the holidays with festive live music, light displays and a visit from Santa and his friends. Free. KCParks.org

4 Friday

Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting 6:00, Raymore City Hall. Christmas carols, live petting zoo and, of course, Santa! Bring canned food donation. Raymore.com

A Charlie Brown Christmas 10:00 & Noon, Coterie Theatre. See this animated classic come alive with a real jazz trio. TheCoterie.org Story Time 10:30 & 11:15, Wonderscope. Join us in our ArtWorks Exhibit for story time. This is free with museum admission. Wonderscope.org First Fridays 5:00, Crossroads Art District.

Galleries and shops remain open the first Friday of each month. KCCrossroads.org Sar-Ko Aglow 6:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (Lenexa). Come to the park to see it lit up for the holidays. Enjoy cocoa and carolers.

Lenexa.com

Tween Night 6:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire. Don’t spend Friday at home; spend it with us! $25 for drinks, pizza and pottery. PaintGlazeAndFire.net Redeeming Birth: A Walk Through Bethlehem 6:30, Grace Christian Fellowship Church. An opportunity for the whole family to experience the Christmas story. Free.

913.202.9056 Holiday Luminary Walk Today & tomorrow, Overland Park Arboretum. The arboretum transforms into a wonderland of candles and lights, music and holiday fun. $8. OPKansas.org

Little Women Thru Sunday, The Culture House.

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, this performance will fill you with laughter and tears and lift your spirits. CultureHouse.com The Nativity 7:00, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. Paul Mesner Puppets brings 7-foot biblical puppet characters to life. $9-$15.

816.756.3500 Festival of Lights Parade 7:00, Historic Downtown Lexington. Holiday parade through historic Downtown Lexington.

VisitLexingtonMo.com

Santa’s Secret Workshop Pine Ridge Church’s Small Mall Shopping, Crafts and Visits with Santa

E x p E r i E n c E t h E S t o ry o f c h r i S t m a S datES & timES 5:30-8:30 pm on Sunday, nov. 22nd 6:00-9:00 pm on thursday, dec. 3rd 5:00-9:00 pm on friday, dec. 4th 4:00-9:00 pm on Saturday, dec. 5th 4:00-9:00 pm on Sunday, dec. 6th

Location countryside Baptist church 14150 W. 175th St. olathe, KS 66062

morE info deaf (913) 937-9546 Vp hearing (913) 592-3270 facebook.com/journeytojudea

frEE admiSSion JournEytoJudEa.com

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kcparent.com december 2015

Saturday, December 5 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Open tO the COmmunity 7600 N.W. Barry Road (across from Park Hill High School)

816-741-5118

www.pineridge.org

Candlelight Homes Tour Thru Sunday, Weston. Start the holiday season off right with a tour through five historic homes in Weston.

WestonMo.com

5 Saturday Santa Train Various times, Belton, Grandview & KC RR. Winter train ride with Santa includes hot cocoa and a cookie! Tickets at BeltonRailroad.org Santa’s Secret Workshop 9:00, Pine Ridge Church. A small mall shopping experience for kids ages 4-12. Pineridge.org Holiday Wild 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Santa will be at the zoo, and this is your chance to tell him what’s on your wish list and enjoy polar-ific activities! KansasCityZoo.org Coleman Open House 10:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. See the museum’s 9-foot-tall dollhouse decked out for the holiday season. 816.235.8000 Santa & Me Saturdays 10:00, Paradise Park.

Bring your own camera and enjoy quality face time with Santa at Paradise Park—for free!

Paradise-Park.com

psst...

Family here for the holidays?

we’re busy whipping up a juicy new issue for

Adults $12 | Under 12 FREE

january • birthday party guide • new year, new attitude • little ways to save big

Through January 3 45th & Oak | 816.751.1ART | nelson-atkins.org The Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, organized this exhibition in collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.

Nelson-Atkins_Benton_KC Parent_Dec2015.indd 1

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Fill a Bag for $5 10:00, Children’s Orchard (KCMO, Olathe & Blue Springs). Fill a bag as full as you can with selected resale clothing and just pay $5! ChildrensOrchard.com

Fairy Princess Saturdays & Sundays thru Dec 20, 10:00, Kansas City Museum. Arts, crafts and a visit with the Fairy Princess. $10.

KCMO.gov/KansasCityMuseum

A Country School Christmas 1:00, Lanesfield School. Christmas tales, caroling, ornament making, holiday storytelling and Santa. Free.

913.893.6645

NFTM Happy Holidays 10:00, Nat’l Frontier Trails Museum. Free wagon tours, refreshments and great deals in the museum store.

816.325.7575

Sugar Plum Fairy Ball 10:30, Sheraton Crown Center. Dine on a delicious lunch and have photos taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Then enjoy KC Ballet’s The Nutcracker.

KCBallet.org

Holiday Nature Crafts and Smokey Bear 1:00, Burr Oak Woods. Craft up some fun using nature-made materials and pose with Smokey Bear for a holiday photo.

816.228.3766.

Holiday Party 11:00, North KC Community Center. Enjoy entertainment, reindeer games, arts and crafts projects, prizes and holiday goodies. 816.784.6100

Christmas on the Farm 2:00, Watkin’s Woolen Mill. Stroll along lantern-lit paths to the Watkins family home. Enjoy crafts, refreshments and more. 816. 580.3387

Holiday Open House 10:00 Mahaffie Stagecoach. Kick of the holidays with music, ornament making and more! Mahaffie.org Nutcracker Tea Party 10:00 & 2:00, Ritz Charles.

Enjoy finger food and tea while watching a condensed version of The Nutcracker. $50-$75.

NutcrackerTeaParty.org A Visit from St Nicholas 10:00, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Experience a 19th-century Christmas. $5; free/under 5.

816.792.2655 Santa Express 10:00, National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame. Visit Santa in the historic depot in Farmtown! Cookies and train rides! AGHallOfFame.com

Santa Dives with Penguins 11:00, Kansas City Zoo. What’s red and swimming with the penguins? Santa! Get a photo as penguins torpedo around him. KansasCityZoo.org Wintry Snowglobe 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Get into the winter spirit by creating a winter themed snowglobe. Free.

LakeshoreLearning.com Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade 11:00, Downtown Lawrence. Exclusively authentic horse-drawn carriages parade down Massachusetts Street. 785.842.3883

Christmas Around Town 4:30, Shawnee Town 1929. Visit Santa, greet live reindeer, sing along with carolers and much more! 913.248.2360 Santa’s Wonderland 5:30, Penguin Park.

Experience the wonder of the season at Kansas City’s holiday tradition, Santa’s Wonderland!

Free. 816.513.7500 Sundown with Santa & Mayor’s Tree Lighting 5:30, Merriam Marketplace. Holiday music, games, hot cocoa for all and good cheer!

913.322.5550

Living Nativities & Pageants 2015 Journey to Judea Nov. 22 and Dec. 3-6 at Countryside Baptist Church, 14150 W. 175th St., Olathe, KS. Five separate nights of outdoor tours this year. New tours will begin every 10 minutes and will take about one hour to complete. You can select your departure date and time, as well as print your ticket, when you register for the event. FREE admission, but please register in advance at JourneyToJudea.com

The Nativity Puppet Show

In all of the Christmas celebrations, be sure to take time to attend one of the following events that reminds us of the reason for the season.

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Dec. 4-6 at Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO. Come see beautiful 7-foot-tall puppets gracefully move through the aisles of the cathedral as puppeteers, movement artists and volunteers perform this enchanting story of grace and love. PaulMesnerPuppets.org

Heart of America Christmas Pageant Dec. 4-6 and 11-13 at First Baptist Church Raytown, 10500 E. State Rte. 350, Raytown, MO. A dazzling blend of heart-stirring music, drama and dance will transport you back

to the very first Christmas in Bethlehem, as well portray Christ’s miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and Second Coming.

FirstBaptistRaytown.com

Christmas at Resurrection Dec. 9-13 at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS. Christmas at Resurrection is a Kansas City musical tradition! This must-see musical presentation features more than 300 actors, singers, dancers and instrumentalists in a celebration of Christmas and the depiction of the traditional Christmas story. COR.org

Giant Puppet Nativity Dec. 24, 4:00-5:00, at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 110th & Holmes, Kansas City, MO. The public is invited, and children are especially welcomed. The Christmas story performance features larger-than-life wise men, each with three church members inside to move the puppet figure and arms. A Christmas Eve candlelight service, including communion, also will be held at 11:00 that evening.

KCSPUCC.org

HOLIDAY EVENTS / Visit toyandminiaturemuseum.org for more details.

All events included with museum admission.

Coleman Dollhouse Opening Saturday, December 5, 2015 10AM - 4PM Father Christmas Comes to T/m Sunday, December 13, 2015 1 - 3PM Music in the Museum Sunday, December 20, 2015 1 - 4PM

Frosty?!

Oh, deer.

A collection that speaks for itself.

open daily: 10 AM – 4PM, CLOSED TUESDAYS

5235 OAk STrEET k AnSAS CiT Y, MO 64112

816.235.8000

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kcparent.com december 2015 TOYAnDMiniATUrEMUSEUM.Org

The Ultimate Christmas Show 8:00, Carlsen Center (JCCC). The Reduced Shakespeare Company takes an irreverent yet heartwarming trip through the holidays. JCCC. edu/theseries

6 Sunday Hanukkah begins at sundown Holiday Party 10:00, Westport Roanoke Community Center. A family event with entertainment, reindeer games, arts, crafts, prizes and holiday goodies! 816.784.5200 Santa’s Wonderland Thru Dec 24, Bass Pro Shop. Enjoy an interactive play area, make crafts, write letters to the North Pole and visit Santa. BassPro.com Da Vinci: The Exhibition Thru May 1, Union Station. Explore Leonardo da Vinci’s genius and experience his creations. UnionStation.org art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Santa’s Workshop 5:00, Cornerstone Park (Gardner). Visit with Santa, see the elves in action and receive commemorative ornament and candy cane. 913.543.5305

Christmas in the Park 5:30, Longview Lake Park. Drive through the park to view it turned into an enchanted winter wonderland.

JacksonGov.org

7 Monday

8 Tuesday

Story Time for Toddlers 9:30, MCPL (North Oak). Enjoy a fun and interactive story time just for toddlers and their caregivers. Free.

816.436.4385

Coffee Playground 10:00, OP First Assembly of God. Free play in the gym for kids 5 and under. Inflatables, scooters, balls and other toys!

OverlandParkMOPS.com

Christmas at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate 10:00, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. Take a guided tour or wander at your leisure and then relax in the third floor tea room. BWEstate.net

Best Christmas Pageant Ever 10:00, H&R Block City Stage. The story of the Herdmans, who help everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas. TYA.org

All You Can Play Day 10:00, Cool Crest. For only $10, enjoy unlimited mini golf, two go-kart rides and 10 arcade tokens. CoolCrest.com

Creative Story Time 11:00, Ceramic Café. Read a book and then paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story. Finish with a snack. $9.50.

CeramicCafeKC.com

Toddle Time 10:00, Bonner Springs Community Center. Kids 9 months through 5 years will enjoy playing on the large assortment of toys. $2. BonnerSprings.org Power Hour 1:00, Little Monkey Bizness.

Arrive between 1:00 and 3:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and admission is just $5 plus tax!

913.631.7000

Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane 5:00, Deanna Rose. A holiday light display showcasing pictures, animations and effects all synchronized to music. DRFarmstead.org Night Hike 6:30, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Venture into the darkness to find out how different and alive habitats are after sunset. Pre-reg at 816.228.3766.

A KANSAS CITY

WITH LENEXA BAPTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 | 5PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 | 5PM A festive Christmas event featuring LBC’s full worship choir and orchestra.

Free to the public | Dessert Buffet included Childcare provided - ages 3 and under 15320 W. 87th St. Pkwy | Lenexa, KS 66219 | 913.599.6447 www.lenexabaptist.com |

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Lenexa Baptist Church

|

@LenexaBC

9 Wednesday Ice Princess Sessions Kia Bondurant Photography. Schedule an appointment for these magical sessions. KiaBondurant.com Pop ‘n Play 9:00, Johnson County Museum.

A drop-in program with age-appropriate activities for children 9 months to 3 years old.

913.715.2550 A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 26, Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 35th season. A favorite holiday tradition!

KCRep.org

10 Thursday Preschool Bowling 10:00, Mission Bowl (Olathe).

Receive one game of bowling, shoes, ball and a soft drink for only $3. MissionBowl.com A Very Fifties Christmas Thru Jan 3, Johnson County Museum. The 1950s all-electric house is decorated for Christmas. Celebrate the holidays 1950s style! 913.725.2550 Open Gym Noon, Integrity Gymnastics. A great time to practice, get familiar with the gym and for kids to release energy. $6. IntegrityOP.com

Parkville Winter Wonderland 6:00, Downtown Parkville. Main Street is decorated with lights and Santa is in his house ready for a visit.

ParkvilleMO.org Now Playing for Kids: The Polar Express 6:00, MCPL (Excelsior Springs). Escape to the library for an adventure on the big screen!

816.630.6721 The Nutcracker 7:30, Kauffman Center. The Kansas City Ballet performs a reimagined performance with new sets and choreography.

KCBallet.org

11 Friday Ice Skating 10:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace.

Take a spin on the ice at Kansas City’s only public outdoor skating rink. 816.274.8411 Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins 10:00, White Theatre. The trickster Hershel uses his famous wit to rid an old village of wicked goblins trying to hinder Hanukkah celebrations.

913.327.8054 Paint Me a Story 10:30, Paint, Glaze & Fire.

Paint a pottery piece that goes along with a favorite story. Snack included. $13-$15. Pre-reg.

913.661.2529

at MCPL Join us for a variety of FREE holiday programs at Mid-Continent Public Library in December!

Santa is Coming

to a Branch Near You!

Jim "Two Crows" Wallen Presents: A Visit with Santa Claus Santa With a Tune Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Plus

these holiday favorites!

• Simple Strings Dulcimer Christmas Music

DECEMBER: 19th: REC Meet (Holiday Invite) 21-31st CLOSED (Christmas Break) 21st: 9am-4pm CAMP (Santa’s Workshop) Make gifts for your family.

22nd: 9am-4pm CAMP (Holiday Treats) Make and decorate cookies to take home and share.

28th: 9am-4pm CAMP (Arts and Crafts) Enjoy a day filled with crafts – using all kinds of supplies.

• Santa’s Helpers • ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas with Stone Lion Puppet Theater • Dinosaur O'Dell: Christmas Time is Here • Happy Kwanzaa • Mr. Stinky Feet’s Christmas • Christmas Posada

29th: 9am-4pm CAMP (Frozen) Anna, Elsa, Olaf and more!

30th: 9am-4pm CAMP (Game “Night”) Board games, team games, gymnastics and trivia!!!

For locations and to register: mymcpl.org/holidays

Preschool Gymnastics, Recreational Gymnastics, Team Gymnastics, Tumbling, Dance, Cheer, Birthday Parties, Open Gym, Clinics, Camps

435 & Metcalf • 913-766-8918 tumble@integrityOP.com • www.integrityop.com kcparent.com december 2015

57

The Nutcracker Dec. 5-24, Kauffman Center. The Kansas City Ballet performs a reimagined performance with new sets and choreography. KCBallet.org

Drive Thru Living Nativity 6:00, Lone Jack Baptist Church. Celebrate the season with an interactive journey through HIStory. Free.

LoneJackBaptist.org Nighttime Christmas Tour 6:00, Strawberry Hill Museum. See the museum illuminated using Victorian oil lamps. Drinks and dessert follow tour. $20. Pre-reg at 913.371.3264.

The Gingerbread Boy 6:30, Kansas City Public Library (Plaza). This family-friendly show is full of holiday goodness as sweet as sugar.

KCLibrary.org Candlelight Tours 6:30, John Wornall House.

Explore Christmas on the frontier by using all five senses to experience Christmas traditions from the Civil War era. 816.444.1858 Middle School Teen Night 7:00, Paradise Park.

We’re looking for the best ugly sweater in town! For only $15 get a “pick 3” wristband.

Paradise-Park.com

12 Saturday Breakfast with Santa 8:00, T-Rex Café.

Full hot breakfast buffet, games, prizes, activities and Santa! TRexCafe.com Santa Train Various times, Belton, Grandview & KC RR. Winter train ride with Santa includes hot cocoa and a cookie! Tickets at BeltonRailroad.org Santa Breakfast 8:30, Mahaffie Stagecoach.

Enjoy the holiday decorations of the Heritage Center while you eat pancakes with Santa.

Must pre-reg at Mahaffie.org.

Christmas Celebration 9:00, Missouri Town 1855. The customs of English, German and French settlers are brought to life at this celebration. $3-$5. 816.503.4860 Happy Birthday Jesus: The Night Jesus Was Born 9:00, St John’s UMC. A fun event to help children learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Free, but pre-reg at StJohnsUMC.org.

Kris Kringle 5K 9:00, Swope Park. The wintry cross country course will take you up and down hills and over fields through historic Swope Park. KCParks.org Holiday Marketplace 9:30, Roeland Park Community Center. Children will enjoy crafts, a visit from Santa and a special shopping experience just for kids! 913.826.3160 Dream Dinners 10-Year Anniversary Celebration 10:00, Dream Dinners. Help us celebrate 10 years with food, fun and giveaways! DreamDinners.com

C elebrating 10 Years

of changing lives

Anniversary Celebration Open House on December 12th, 10am – Noon

New to Dream Dinners – Stop in During Open House and Make a FREE 3 Serving Entrée (Sesame Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice) Register for Great Prizes and Enjoy Food, Fun and Fellowship

Herb Crusted Flank Steak

LET DREAM DINNERS HELP! TRY US ONCE WITH 6 MEALS FOR ONLY $74.95!

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Parmesan Pesto Salmon with Cheese Crisps

Sesame Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice

www.dreamdinners.com OverlandParkKS@dreamdinners.com 913.491.6733

®

Christmastime Is Here 10:30, MCPL (North Oak). Dino O’Dell serves up old Christmas favorites in this sing-along, dance-along show.

Must pre-reg at 816.436.4385.

Festive Wreath 11:00, Lakeshore Learning.

Kids will love creating this wreath to add to your Christmas decorations! Free.

LakeshoreLearning.com Wonderpalooza 11:00, Wonderscope.

Jump, shake and wiggle to the beat with top kid-friendly musicians! Today, Rockin’ Rob. Wonderscope.org Cookies with Santa and Mrs Claus Noon, Atkins-Johnson Farm. Visit with Santa and Mrs Claus while enjoying cookies and cider.

816.536.1721

13 Sunday

1945 Film Series: White Christmas 2:00, Harry S Truman Library and Museum. Folks team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

TrumanLibrary.org

Instagram Contest Thru Dec 16, Legends Outlets. Take a photo in front of the 45-foot tree and post to Instagram using #LegendsHoliday for a chance to win prizes.

LegendsShopping.com

Second Saturdays 4:00, Downtown Weston.

Stroll into unique gift shops and galleries for late night shopping and in-store specials.

WestonMo.com Gardens by Candlelight 5:00, Powell Gardens.

Take a family stroll through the gardens aglow with hundreds of luminaries. PowellGardens.org A Kansas City Christmas Today & tomorrow, 5:00, Lenexa Baptist Church. An evening of Christmas music featuring the LBC choir and orchestra followed by dessert buffet.

LenexaBaptist.com

Father Christmas Visits 1:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Father Christmas comes to the museum to share stories of holidays past. Bring a camera for photos! 816.235.8000

Holiday Express Pajama Party 6:30, NKC Parks and Recreation. Take a ride on the northbound train and watch The Polar Express on a big screen. Pre-reg at 816.300.0545.

Soaring Eagles 1:00, Burr Oak Woods. Learn about this powerful force in nature and discover where you can go to see bald eagles in the wild. 816.228.3766

Jim Brickman Comfort & Joy Tour 8:00, Carlsen Center (JCCC). Celebrate the holidays with Jim Brickman in this one-of-a-kind concert event. JCCC.edu/theseries

HOLIDAYS Bank Midwest presents

Santa’s Gingerbread Station Noon, Crown Center. Meet Santa, climb aboard a train engine and visit Gingerbread Village.

CrownCenter.com The Polar Express Multiple Times, Union Station Extreme Screen. Watch the holiday classic on the big screen. Kids who attend movie get free mini train ride.

UnionStation.org A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 26, 1:00 & 5:00, Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 35th season. A favorite holiday tradition! KCRep.org Story Time for Preschoolers 1:30, NelsonAtkins. Join us the second Sunday of each month for a special story time for preschoolers.

Nelson-Atkins.org

Your Kids will love it!

THIRD ANNUAL

at Union Station

S CIENCE C IT Y.COM

12.31.15 Noon-7 pm

Join us for events all season!

Holiday Classic Movie Series kicks off Nov. 27 Board the KC Southern Holiday Express Train & meet Santa Dec. 16-20 (FREE) Special Quixotic Performance Dec. 21 (FREE)

Full schedule at UnionStation.org

• A Special Appearance by the S.T.E.A.M. Team • Science demos

• Fun, Hands-On ACtivities

• Music, Dancing and Treats

• 3,000+ balloon Drop! and MORE!

Avoid the line.

Preorder your tickets today!

Regular admission rates apply.

FREE for Union Station Members!

kcparent.com december 2015

59

take note: december ’15

Dec. 4, National Cookie Day: McLain’s

Dec. 21, Crossword Puzzle Day: In 1913, the first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World. Purchase a crossword puzzle book at your local bookstore or, for the true enthusiast, buy the World’s Largest Crossword Puzzle, measuring 42.25 square feet with more than 91,000 squares and 24,000 clues from Amazon.com.

Dec. 24, National Egg Nog Day: Enjoy locally-made egg nog from Shatto Dairy Farm (ShattoMilk.com), whose concoction is frequently voted the best egg nog in Kansas City.

NEED COPY

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Bakery (McClainsBakeryInWaldo.com) has been serving delicious baked goods, including cookies, to local customers since 1945. Famous for their chocolate cup cookies, they offer goodies that are a delicious way to celebrate Cookie Day.

Dec. 9, Christmas Card Day: For more than 100 years, Hallmark Cards has called Kansas City home.

Visit the Hallmark Visitors Center (HallmarkVisitorsCenter. com), where you can watch as cards are manufactured, enjoy the magic of Hall’s Christmas trees and more.

Dec. 12, National Hot Cocoa Day: Christopher Elbow (ElbowChocolates.com), the city’s most famous gourmet chocolatier, makes drinking chocolate in three flavors.

Dec. 14, National Monkey Day: The Kansas City Zoo (KansasCityZoo.org) is open year-round. Treat the family to a winter outing and visit the monkeys (and their animal pals) at the zoo.

While you’re there, check out FOTZ memberships—they make great Christmas gifts!

Dec. 20, Go Caroling Day: Gather some friends and go caroling.

Visit neighbors, grandparents and friends and serenade them with your favorite Christmas carols and some goodies.

Dec. 27, Make Cutout Snowflakes Day: Make intricate paper snowflakes using classic instructions from The Old Farmer’s Almanac (Almanac. com/content/ how-make-papersnowflakes).

14 Monday Messengers of Goodwill Thru January, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.

Special exhibit on how dolls were used to mend diplomatic relations. $5. 816.235.8000 Moms FREE Monday 9:30, Paradise Park. Moms are free at the Children’s EduTainment Center with a paid child’s admission. 816.246.5224 Parkville Winter Wonderland Thru Dec 28, Downtown Parkville. Main Street and English Landing Center are decorated with lights, displays and Santa. ParkvilleMo.org

15 Tuesday Snowland Thru Jan 3, Great Wolf Lodge. The lodge is transformed into a winter wonderland with decorations, life-size gingerbread house, Santa and more! GreatWolf.com Creative Story Time 11:00, Ceramic Café. Read a book and then paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story. Finish with a snack. $9.50.

CeramicCafeKC.com Tots on Tuesday 11:00, Kemper Museum. Bring in your preschooler for a fun and fashionable get-together every third Tuesday. 816.753.5784 Two-For-One Tuesdays 5:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. After 5:00, pay one full price admission and receive a second for free!

CrownCenter.com A Visit with Santa Claus 7:00, MCPL (North Oak). Come visit with Santa, listen as he tells an exciting holiday story and make a craft. Must pre-reg at MyMCPL.org.

16 Wednesday Christmas at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate 10:00, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. Take a guided tour or wander at your leisure and then relax in the third floor tea room. BWEstate.net Santa’s Wonderland Thru Dec 24, Bass Pro Shop. Enjoy an interactive play area, make crafts, write letters to the North Pole and visit Santa. BassPro.com Animal Tales 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center.

A 30-minute program that includes stories, songs and a visit from an animal friend. Today’s theme: a visit with Santa. $2. 913.764.7759 Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Thru Sunday, Union Station. Visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. UnionStation.org

Winter Solstice Hike 5:00, George Owens Nature Park. Enjoy the beginning of winter with a walk along a torch-lit path and then warm up at the outdoor fire. 816.325.7115

Story Time 10:30 & 11:15, Wonderscope.

Join us in our ArtWorks Exhibit for story time. This is free with museum admission.

Wonderscope.org

Inside Pediatrics 7:00, KMBC. Catch the season two premiere of this series that takes a look inside Children’s Mercy. InsidePediatrics.com

Third Friday Art Walk 5:30, Englewood Station Arts District. Tour the art galleries. View live performances and artists on the sidewalks in front of shops. EnglewoodStation.com

The Nutcracker 7:30, Kauffman Center. The Kansas City Ballet performs a reimagined performance with new sets and choreography.

KCBallet.org

17 Thursday Sensory Time 9:00, Johnson County Museum.

Kidscape can be loud; this special time is for kids with sensory integration and processing needs. 913.715.2575

The Mystery of Christmas Thru Dec 20, Goppert Theatre (Avila). A Christ-centered, fulllength Nutcracker ballet that tells the true story of Christmas! DramaticTruth.org

19 Saturday Breakfast with Santa Today & tomorrow 8:00, T-Rex Café. Full hot breakfast buffet, games, prizes, activities and Santa! TRexCafe.com

Baby Bounce Story Time 9:30, Plaza Branch.

A special story time for babies (newborn to 18 months) with parent or caregiver.

816.701.3481

Breakfast with Santa 9:00, Powell Gardens.

Join Santa and Mrs Claus for a fun morning.

Enjoy pancakes by Chris Cakes, storytelling, craft and more. $5-$13. PowellGardens.org

Preschool Bowling 10:00, Mission Bowl (Olathe). Receive one game of bowling, shoes, ball and a soft drink for only $3.

MissionBowl.com

Kids in the Kitchen 10:00, Jo Co K-State Research and Extension. Learn the basics of baking and decorating holiday cookies. We also will cover food safety. $10. 913.715.700

Gallery Walk: Christmas in the West 2:00, Nat’l Frontier Trails Museum. Learn about holiday observances of pioneers in the American West. 816.325.7575

Holiday Swags 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Fashion a festive swag to hang using prairie grasses, wild nuts, berries and seeds. 816.759.7300

Third Thursdays 5:30, Martin City Business District. Eat, drink and shop and support local businesses the third Thursday of each month.

MartinCity.org

Nikita’s Going Away Party 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Help us say good-bye to Nikita with polar-rific crafts, activities and more!

KansasCityZoo.org

’Twas the Night Before Christmas 6:00, MCPL (Excelsior Springs). StoneLion Puppet Theater presents this wacky show the entire family will enjoy! 816.630.6721

Whoville Holidays 10:00, the City Market.

Calling Who’s of all ages! Celebrate the season with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. TheCityMarket.org

18 Friday

Scavenger Saturdays 10:00, Kemper Museum of Art. Follow the clues on this “ART-astic” adventure! 816.753.578

Candy Cane Hunt 9:30, Lenexa Community Center. Hunt candy canes outside then come inside for hot cocoa and music by Mr Stinky Feet. Ages 6 and under. Free. Lenexa.com Best Christmas Pageant Ever 10:00, H&R Block City Stage. The story of the Herdmans, who help everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas. TYA.org Victorian Winter Wedding 10:00, Vaile Mansion. With ribbons, lace and garland, each room is ready for a winter wedding. $3-$6.

VaileMansion.org

Cheerful Card Holder 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Create a snowman or reindeer card holder to display your holiday cards. Free.

LakeshoreLearning.com Open Gym 12:30, Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics.

Run, jump and play in the foam pit, rope swings and more. EliteGymSwim.com Skate with Santa 2:00, Line Creek Community Center. Join the jolly big man for some fun and festivity on ice! KCParks.org

kcparent.com december 2015

61

A Very Fifties Christmas Thru Jan 3, 10:00, Johnson County Museum. The 1950s all-electric house is decorated for Christmas. Celebrate the holidays 1950s style! 913.725.2550 Clara’s Dream Today & tomorrow, 2:00 & 7:00, Olathe South High School. Miller Marley presents a condensed version of the Nutcracker along with a holiday revue. 913.492.0004

art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Kids Night Out at the Y 5:00, North Kansas City YMCA. Children ages 2-11 will enjoy a fun night at the Y while parents get a night out. $15-$25.

816.300.0531

Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Union Station. Final day! Visit with Santa and his elves and tour the inside of three cars of the festive six-car train. UnionStation.org

Film and Float 6:30, High Blue Wellness Center Lap Pool (Belton). Bring the whole family out for this night at the pool. Movie, popcorn, glow sticks and more! BeltonParks.org

The Nutcracker 1:00 & 5:00, Kauffman Center.

The Kansas City Ballet performs a reimagined show with new sets and choreography.

KCBallet.org

Winter Solstice 6:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center.

Take a break from the holiday busyness with a stroll through the woods. 913.764.7759

Christmas in the Park 5:30, Longview Lake Park. Drive through the park to view it turned into an enchanted winter wonderland.

JacksonGov.org

20 Sunday Music in the Museum 1:00, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Take a break from the hectic holiday season to enjoy traditional holiday music. 816.235.8000

21 Monday Santa’s Workshop Camp 9:00, Integrity Gymnastics. Enjoy a day of fun while you make gifts for your family. IntegrityOP.com

Gingerbread across Kansas City Enjoy gingerbread, the traditional holiday treat, across the metro at our favorite attractions and restaurants

Winter Break Mondays 10:00, Science City (Union Station). Science City will be open on Mondays during winter break. $11.50.

UnionStation.org Power Hour 1:00, Little Monkey Bizness.

Arrive between 1:00 and 3:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays and admission is just $5 plus tax!

913.631.7000 Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane 5:00, Deanna Rose. A holiday light display showcasing pictures, animations and effects all synchronized to music. DRFarmstead.org

Largest Gingerbread House

Great Wolf Lodge (GreatWolf.com) goes all out for the holidays as the entire resort transforms into Snowland. The centerpiece decoration is the life-size gingerbread house. The unique-as-asnowflake masterwork welcomes you with amazingly detailed gingerbread walls, candy trim and plenty of white icing snow.

Giant Interactive Gingerbread House

Paradise Park (Paradise-Park.com) is home to a bigger-than-life gingerbread house creation and is the coolest place to warm your holiday spirits and have a blast too. Enjoy a laser light show, holiday music and indoor snow for an enchanting, fairy tale memory your whole family will love!

Best Real Gingerbread Houses

Mely’s in Corinth Square (4051 Somerset Dr., Prairie Village, KS, 913.381.9642) annually sells freshly baked gingerbread houses, both decorated and undecorated for those who want to adorn their own as a family activity.

Largest Gingerbread Man

Kansas-based company Copper Gifts (CopperGifts.com) sells handmade

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cookie cutters for any occasion, and the classic gingerbread man is one of their specialties. You can purchase gingerbread cookie cutters in a wide variety of shapes and sizes from Copper Gifts, ranging from a 3.5-inch classic gingerbread man all the way to an enormous one measuring 15 x 22 x 3 inches!

Best Gingerbread You Can Drink

EggTc. is known for their scrumptious breakfast. They serve all your favorite breakfast classics and, in time for the winter holidays, they serve a delicious gingerbread latte. EggTc. has two locations in the metro: 5107 Main St., Kansas City, MO, 816.561.0116 and 7182 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS, 913.631.4400.

Visit EggTc-kc.com/home.aspx to see their menu.

Tastiest Gingerbread Cookie Served in a Gingerbread House

Okay, Hi Hat Coffee (5012 State Line Rd., Westwood Hills, KS, 913.722.5000) isn’t located in an actual gingerbread house, but it sure looks a lot like one. This Westwood Hills coffee shop is adorable, offers friendly service, delicious coffee and quality baked goods, including delicious gingerbread cookies.

22 Tuesday Toddle Time 9:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Open playtime with an array of toys, including blocks, balls and puzzles. $1-$2.

913.895.6350 Coffee Playground 10:00, OP First Assembly of God. Free play in the gym for kids 5 and under. Inflatables, scooters, balls and other toys!

OverlandParkMOPS.com Creative Story Time 11:00, Ceramic Café. Read a book and then paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story. Finish with a snack. $9.50.

CeramicCafeKC.com

23 Wednesday Santa’s Wonderland Thru Dec 24, Bass Pro Shop. Enjoy an interactive play area, make crafts, write letters to the North Pole and visit Santa. BassPro.com Olaf’s Splash Bash 10:00, Roeland Park Aquatic Center. Make a marshmallow Olaf, have a wish granted by Queen Elsa and then enjoy a pool party. 913.826.3160 What’s for Dinner? 3:00, Burr Oak Woods.

Watch as captive amphibians, fish and turtles are fed their nghtly feast. Also, tonight see the snakes fed. 816.228.3766

26 Saturday

A Christmas Carol Thru Dec 26, 2:00 & 7:00, Spencer Theatre. The KC Rep’s performance returns for its 35th season. A favorite holiday tradition! KCRep.org

A Very Fifties Christmas Thru Jan 3, 10:00, Johnson County Museum. The 1950s all-electric house is decorated for Christmas. Celebrate the holidays 1950s style! 913.725.2550

24 Thursday Cookies and Card Making 10:00, Lenexa Community Center. Decorate three cookies and unlimited cards for Santa or someone special.

All ages. $5. 913.477.7100.

Nature Film Festival 10:00, Burr Oak Woods.

End-of-the-year film festival featuring movies and short documentaries throughout the day.

816.228.3766

Candlelight Service Various times, Colonial Presbyterian. Celebrate the night before Christmas at one of our candlelight services.

ColonialKC.org

Happy New Year Glasses 11:00, Lakeshore Learning. Get ready to ring in the new year with these festive glasses kids make on their own!

Free. LakeshoreLearning.com

Christmas in the Park 5:30, Longview Lake Park. Drive through the park to view it turned into an enchanted winter wonderland.

JacksonGov.org

Open Gym 12:30, Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics.

Run, jump and play in the foam pit, rope swings and more. EliteGymSwim.com

27 Sunday

25 Friday Christmas Day

Merry Christmas from KC Parent!

Thanks to the Kansas City community for 30 years of readership and support!

Messengers of Goodwill Thru January, National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.

Special exhibit on how dolls were used to mend diplomatic relations. $5. 816.235.8000 Daddy Daughter Dance Feb 5 & 6, Providence Community Church. Purchase tickets for this fun evening! Event will sell out!

SovGraceKC.org/Dance

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Overland Park, KS 12501 W. 137th St., OPKS

3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Kansas City, MO 9500 Wornall Road, KCMO

5:00 and 10:00 p.m.

What are you waiting for this Advent season?

Reconnect with the true meaning of Christmas at Colonial.

advent.colonialkc.org

Colonial Presbyterian Church, EPC Encounter God · Grow With Others · Impact People

colonialkc.org

kcparent.com december 2015

63

art + family = FUN 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for free activities for all ages!

816.751.1278

Creative Story Time 11:00, Ceramic Café.

Read a book and then paint a ceramic item that goes along with the story. Finish with a snack. $9.50. CeramicCafeKC.com

Open Gym Noon, Integrity Gymnastics. A great time to practice, get familiar with the gym and for kids to release energy. $6.

IntegrityOP.com

28 Monday

Two-For-One Tuesdays 5:00, Crown Center Ice Terrace. After 5:00, buy one full price admission and receive a second for free!

CrownCenter.com

31 Thursday

Holiday Break Specials 9:30, Paradise Park.

Each day of winter break enjoy great deals.

Today, unlimited video game play for one hour between 9:30 & Noon. Paradise-Park.com Victorian Winter Wedding 10:00, Vaile Mansion. With ribbons, lace and garland, each room is ready for a winter wedding. $3-$6.

VaileMansion.org Feathered Friends 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Make a bird feeder, learn to indentify birds and take a bird hike.

816.759.7300

29 Tuesday Santa’s Gingerbread Station 10:00, Crown Center. Meet Santa, climb aboard a train engine and visit Gingerbread Village.

CrownCenter.com

30 Wednesday

New Year’s Eve

Game “Night” Camp 9:00, Integrity Gymnastics. Board games, team games, gymnastics and trivia. IntegrityOP.com

Wonder Eve 9:00, Wonderscope. Ring in the “noon” year at Wonderscope! Music, crafts, balloon drop and more. Wonderscope.org

Free Play Cedar Ridge Christian Church. Daily free play for young children while parents enjoy a coffee drink. 913.393.3000

Zoo Year’s Eve 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Watch the “ball drop” to the animals at noon during Zoo Year’s Eve. Enjoy other festive activities.

KansasCityZoo.org

Dino O’Dell 10:00, Johnson County Museum.

Come enjoy Dino’s unique blend of folk-rock and reggae! $3, reservations recommended.

913.715.2575

Noon Year’s Eve Noon, Science City. Welcome 2016 with family activities in a safe, kid-friendly environment. UnionStation.org

Wagons Ho! 10:00, Nat’l Frontier Trails Museum. Discover the history of Westward Expansion in the special guided tour that includes a wagon ride. 816.325.7575

New Year’s Eve Party Noon, Paradise Park.

Ring in 2016 early with the legendary ball drop in the Foam Factory. Early-evening, kidfriendly party. Paradise-Park.com

Dance

daddy & daughter

with special guests

Queen Elsa & Olaf

fri., feb. 5 & sat., feb. 6, 2016 6-9 pm providence community church 10113 lenexa drive 913.307.0710 register at www.sovgracekc.org/dance

all inclusive:

price includes jack stack and chick-fil-a dinner and photo with elsa & olaf.

All proceeds will go to Forest Avenue Family Shelter, Bolivia Orphanage

Register by Jan. 10th and take advantage of the early bird discount: $70 per couple ($15 for each additional child).

Registration after Jan. 10th is $80 per couple.

event will sell out. tickets must be purchased in advance.

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9 am - 1 pm Thursday, December 31 • Music by Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove • Balloon artist • Countdown to noon with balloon drop • Art activites, games and goodies

Buy your tickets now at wonderscope.org 5700 King in Shawnee, Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2015 – 2016 PERFORMING ARTS SERIES

“A crowd pleaser ...

His rhapsodic melodies coupled with considerable stage charm have made him a phenomenon.”

JIM BRICKMAN COMFORT & JOY 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 With featured musical guests, feelings of comfort and joy are fused together with Jim’s most beloved hits like Valentine, If You Believe, The Gift, Angel Eyes and Sending You A Little Christmas. You’ll be reminded of what we cherish during the most wonderful time of the year … Togetherness.

Tickets on sale now! jccc.edu/TheSeries | 913-469-4445 NO ONLINE FEES | FREE PARKING | WINE & BEER AVAILABLE

– Boston Herald

EXPLORE KANSAS Dec 5 & 6 Dec 5 & 6

Holiday Wild — Meet Santa Claus

Dec 12 & 13

Santa Dives with Penguins and Penguin Waddle

Dec 12 & 13

Lions Unwrap Presents Under the Tree

Dec 19 Dec 19

Nikita’s Going Away Party

Dec 19 & 20

Santa Dives with Penguins and Penguin Waddle

Dec 31

Zoo Year’s Eve

Santa Dives with Penguins and Penguin Waddle

CITY ZOO Check On li for Zoo-am ne azin Education g al Experienc es!

kansascit y

zoo.org

Goodbye Nikita, Hello Berlin Polar Bear Overnight

Always a New Adventure!

Meet Milo!

Meet Masika!

OPEN YEAR ROUND OPEN DAILY kansascityzoo.org 816.595.1234

The Kansas City Zoo, a private, non-profit organization is operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, partially funded by the Zoological District in Jackson and Clay Counties in MO, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

MORE Shows. MORE Laughs.

STARLIGHT Indoors.

Starlight Indoors presents unconventional shows in the intimate settings of our two indoor theatres.

“Not your grandmother’s Tupperware party!”

— NBC Today

JANUARY 12–17

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Adult Comedy

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