After New York it was Christmas, Christmas, and Christmas. The house was decorated and the presents wrapped. The first to arrive was Jennifer, Adam, Becca and Henry. We decided it would be fun to go to the Crown Center and have lunch at the Crayola Cafe and then visit the Crayola Store. ON the ground floor was Santa’s Crayola Christmas Land and Santa himself. Children can play on super-sized Crayola products. A hugh gingerbread houses and train display is an attraction for children and adults alike. Factor in the Mayor’s Christmas tree and groups entertaining, it all creates a very festive atmosphere.

Lunch at the Crayola Cafe, note the crayon cups.

Becca coloring while waiting for our food.

After lunch we headed to the Crayola Store:

Henry and Becca in the Crayola Store at the Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

One of the activities in the Crayola Store.

We checked out the trains that traveled around and around through a city of gingerbread.

Becca and Henry watching the trains in the gingerbread city.

We then visited Crayola’s Santa Play Land:

And, of course,  a visit to Santa.

A visit to St. Nick!

Just outside Crayola’s Santa Playland was a very large Santa that use to be on display at a department store in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Emery, Bird, Thayer Department store traced its history nearly to the city’s origins as Westport Landing. It started in the 1860’s and closed in 1968. It initially outfitted travelers on the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail, but it soon became more upscale. Emery, Bird, Thayer’s laughing Santa was a tradition for years and years. The Crown Center shares it with everyone now.