Christmas entertainment

I don't recall doing much Christmas-light touring when we were kids, partially because I have a terrible memory and partially because I don't think there were near the number of houses with lights way back then.

We have taken Ellen out a couple of nights to see some light shows and she has loved every second. Last night she was practically a cage dancer in my backseat, literally hanging from the handle in the ceiling and partying for the full 13 minute show. (The birthday cake she ate just prior only fueled her fire). She, of course, threw a huge fit when it was time to leave.

We heard about most of these from friends, but here is an excellent listing that I just came across: Johnson County Christmas Displays. This guy takes his descriptions pretty seriously!

Here is the house at 79th and Fontana with the 13 minute show - really cute.

And we also visited this house at 76th and Falmouth, which we called Winter Wonderland growing up. This is the one house that I remember visiting as a child, though it was just a fraction of what it is now. Ellen loved walking around in the yard and staring at all of the moving creatures (every one of the boxes is filled with some kind of animated display). We discussed this with some friends the other night and all the adults agreed that the figures are kind of creepy, but I think kids just find it fascinating.

I still think my favorite (which isn't listed on the site above) is the display at 97th and Lee Boulevard. You can read all the details on their website at Wright's Lights. There are two "dueling" houses across the street from each other, and the music is great (especially the techno Amazing Grace and the Trans-Siberian orchestra). You can walk up close and the music plays in their yard, too.

I'm hoping to get to Paulie's Penguin Playground in Olathe, too, before the holidays are over. Ellen LOVES the blow-up figures and I think she would have a great time crawling around in here. (Better get there before the snow comes on Thursday, I guess).


Every time we get in the car to go somewhere these days she says, "I want see snowman", "I want see Santa Claus". A house down the street from us had a big Halloween display of inflatables, and she still asks, "Where peek-a-boo kitty go?", "Where punkin go?". I think she considers all of them to be the same thing, because then she will say, "Dat snowman is scary on me." "It scared you?" I asked. "Yes. Scary on me."

She is going to be sorely disappointed when the inflatable season ends ....