Crown Center Christmas - Did You Know?

Did you know that Crown Center was named after the Hallmark corporate symbol? But before Crown Center, the area in which the shopping center stands, was once a part of the Union Square neighborhood. During World World I, downtown Kansas City was a hustle and bustle of businesses. But like everything else, times changed and by World War II, most families had moved out South leaving downtown to dry up. Hallmark maintained their headquarters, which opened in 1922, at 26th and Grand Boulevard, and was one of only a couple of businesses left standing in this vacant part of the city.

 Did you know that in 1966, Donald J. Hall, Sr. took over as President and CEO of Hallmark? His father Joyce Hall, wanted to develop an area around the existing headquarters, and Hall Sr took the reigns to develop the entire area. Over time, he acquired all the land around the headquarters and worked with local architects to create a "city within a city" concept. 

Did you know that in September of 1968 they broke ground and the entire complex was completed in 1971? There were five interconnected, seven story buildings that existed as office complexes. Today, there are three major law firms that reside in the office buildings that surround Crown Center Square. It also maintains Hallmark headquarters and our favorite spot for the holidays, Crown Center!

Did you know that Crown Center offers nearly 300,000 square feet of leasable space? And I can't wait to share some of my favorites soon. Places I love to shop, eat, and find entertainment are all housed inside Crown Center! This weekend, you can find so many new things to do! A Spectacular Christmas, brought to you by Musical Theater Heritage, opens this weekend and runs Wednesday through Sunday until the 23rd. This annual holiday show is a Crown Center tradition. It offers classic holiday tunes and original arrangements. There are some safety protocols in place, so make sure you head to their site to find out all the details and to get your tickets. 

Did you know choir performances are still taking place in the Atrium? Has your school performed this season? If you want to get a list of current, and upcoming performances, check the schedule here.

Did you know that Hallmark released their first Christmas card in 1915? A staple for our family, and now their line of ornaments, I find that I spend lots of time browsing the aisles of the Hallmark store on the second floor of Crown Center! I can truly get lost reading all the sweet sentiments, stocking up for birthdays and other occasions, and adding a few extras to the pile I've already created! 

Did you know that SpongeBob Square Pants lived in a pineapple under the sea? In the Coterie's current production of The SpongeBob Musical For Young Ages, SpongeBob proves to his friends that optimism can save the world! Get your tickets for this family fun event here!

Did you know that the Crown Center Fountain has 49 water jets and 48 water shooters that can shoot up to 60 feet in the air? And if you get there at just the right time, or stay for the next show, the water dances all around the square! It's so much fun to watch. And, they are currently playing lovely holiday music to help you stay in the spirit! 

Did you know that if you head down to Crown Center this weekend, you and your family will end up creating memories you didn't know existed? What are you waiting for? Get to Crown Center now!

XO,

Andrea

Holiday Bucket List 2019

So, here we are on December 9th, with roughly two and half weeks until Christmas, and I'm just now sharing my Holiday Bucket List for this season. Guess what people, life is crazy right now, and I am just glad I got the list created!

I love this one! I tried to come up with some new things to do this year, but as always, there's the same fun traditions we do every year! That's why they're traditions, right? Check out this years Holiday Bucket List!!

We have been able to check two items off the list so far. We've already hit up Crown Center and McKinley got his first dose of play under the Mayor's Christmas Tree. He loves this tradition! We took him on his second Christmas, at night to look at the lights, but it wasn't until he was two that he got to play! Now in addition to playing, we take in a little ice skating at the Ice Terrace, but on this day, we ran out of time. I'm sure we will be back!

This year we had a first. We took McKinley to see The Kansas City Ballet's The Nutcracker at Kauffman Center and it was a gorgeous production!! I was a dancer growing up, and The Nutcracker was my first ballet production at age five. It is such a magical show and McKinley loved watching the larger than live tree grow! Definitely something everyone should see once in their lives. We are planning to see his sweet friend in "Clara's Dream", the Miller Marley production, later in the month. And as always, we are taking in the Coterie's production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in a couple of weeks. I am a huge supporter of theater arts!!

We have our reservations for the Holiday Train at Union Station in a couple of weeks as well. This is such a fun, free, family event!! Tickets, which again are free, go on "sale" to the public starting December 13th. It helps reserve your time to visit the train and you can get a pic with Santa too! The trains rolls into town on December 18th and will be on display until December 21st. Get all the info, and more about the Holidays at Union Station, here.

One of my favorite things to do is bake sweet treats for our sweet neighbors! Our next door neighbor does that same thing! She bakes up cookies and brings McKinley an ornament every year. It's so kind! And he remembers every year when placing them on the tree! I also bake breads for hostesses so they have something to wake up to the next day and not feel like they have to make breakfast after entertaining the night before. I shop for darling trays and cookie tins to make the gifts extra special! And while your baking, you should add sugar cookies to the list! We love to add frosting and gobs of sprinkles to ours!

After school today, McKinley is planning to decorate the Gingerbread house I assembled yesterday. I'm not even going to pretend that he helped! But he loves to decorate it and I've been collecting sprinkles, cookie gel for "glue", holiday candies and more, to make it as festive as he desires!

Have you ever been to the light display at Deanna Rose? It's so spectacular that we could see some of the lights from my parents house! (They happen to live less than five minutes from the farmstead!) Take a blanket to wrap up in, a Thermos of hot cocoa, and tune that radio dial for a festive display! Also, if you haven't seen the one at the research lab on 103rd and Metcalf, you need to go! Just park in the church parking lot across the street, and take in the dazzling display! These are staples during our light night!!

New to the list this year is the Johnson County Museum's Vintage Tree display! I saw a friend post about it last week and immediately added it to the list! If you haven't been to this museum, it's a must! It's all about the history if Overland Park and there's a fun Kidscape play area! Get a yearly membership while your there. You'll definitely go back! Check it out here! 

Lastly, I plan to introduce McKinley to some old fashioned Christmas movies and I plan to start with White Christmas!! Find a classic that everyone will love and put it in your rotation this year. I have tons that he needs to see! What is your  favorite?

That about covers it for this year! Are you going to play along? And if so, what is the first thing you plan to tackle? Let's check in next week on our progress!

I love the holidays!

XO,
Andrea

Holiday Bucket List - Crown Center and Union Station

I've always loved Crown Center at the holidays, but it wasn't until we started taking McKinley that I truly appreciated its magic! The lights at dusk, the larger than life tree, the squeals of children as they play on over-sized wooden toys brings the holidays to life.

For McKinley's first Christmas, we made our way at dusk to Crown Center and carried him around the giant play area to let him sit on a few things before whisking him off for a good nights sleep. As he's gotten older, we go earlier in the year, and more frequently, so he can take full advantage of all the things this area of wonder has to offer. 

And now our tradition includes Union Station! We've always gone for the train ride around the Grand Hall and checking out the enormous train exhibit they create every holiday season. But it wasn't until last year that we took part in the Holiday Train that arrives at Union Station the week before Christmas! And I'm not sure why we've waited so long. It's so wonderful! Each car is decorated in a different holiday theme and McKinley is mesmerized by it all! And to be completely honest, so are we! My husband is just like a big kid walking through, pointing out something here and something there. It's truly a family evening you need to mark on your calendar for next year!

 Here are some highlights from this years train tour! 

It's four days until Christmas! After the holidays, I'll be moving into the Winter portion of the bucket list! Tonight is our city light tour, however we're going to make it a two night excursion this year since we'll be on the downtown end of the city tomorrow. Check out this link for all the neighborhood light displays! It's definitely the best one I've found. If you're working on the list, how are you coming along?

XO,

Andrea

Holiday Bucket List - Kids Holiday Craft

Who has been working on a holiday bucket list? Anyone working on mine? Me! I'm working on mine! HA!

Every year, McKinley makes a homemade holiday gift for family members which include his Meme, his great aunt, great great aunt, and great grandmother. This is his gift, but I think it goes beyond that. I love giving a little sweet something to family that his little hands have created and I know they cherish it year after year. Two years ago, he made these Christmas trees out of paper plates. You cut a paper plate in half and wrap it to create a tree. Staple or glue it closed. Paint it green and decorate with mini pom poms! So cute!!

Last year, he decided he wanted to make these cute snowmen. For some reason, I didn't capture photos of him making them, but I assure you he did. You paint a clothes pin white and decorate the face with markers. He added a little extra detail along the body of the snowman. Create the scarf out of pipe cleaners!

This year we tackled reindeer and they have to be the cutest things I've ever seen! I saw a quick glimpse of these when scrolling through Pinterest and knew immediately we had to make them. They also had a snowman version which was painted white and had earmuffs! Here is what you'll need for the reindeer!

We have small terracotta pots, brown pipe cleaners, red mini pom poms, wiggly eyes, scissors, and a glue gun/glue sticks.

You also need a super cute crafter!

Fold each pipe cleaner in half and then cut in the middle to create two pieces.

Take each individual pipe cleaner and make a loop at the top of the cleaner. You are making the antlers!

Thread two pipe cleaners through the hole in the pot. 

Place a dot of glue on each side of the inside of the pot and press the ends of the antlers into the glue.

Now it's time to make the face! Add a dot of glue for each eye and give it a second to cool slightly. You don't want to burn little fingers. Add two eyes to the front of the pot.

Do the same thing for the nose and add a mini red pom pom. 

And there's Rudolph!!

You can leave it alone or add a smile. McKinley said they all needed a smile!

And he signed each one. I went back in later and added the year.

Aren't they darling!!!

Now it's time to make the hanger. When we got started, I didn't have the ribbon hence the background change! 

Cut a small piece of ribbon, enough to create a loop, and use that one piece to be your guide for the number of ornaments you made.

Loop your ribbon.

Add a small dab of glue to the back of the ornament and adhere the looped ribbon to the glue.

And now they are ready for a hook and the tree! 

 And here is the finished product hanging on my parents tree! It's so cute! And so easy for little hands to create. And I know your family and friends will love this super sweet gift!

What do you for holiday gifts from your kids? Do you have them make something? I would love to hear about your crafty gift giving ideas! And if you make this craft, please share with us some pics of the final product!

XO,

Andrea