Shelley Beatty

Living Life and Loving It

  • Home
  • Life
  • Church
  • Holidays
  • About
  • Contact

Coterie at Crown Center

December 29, 2017 by shelley

Coterie at Crown Center

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

Coterie Charlie Brown Christmas

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays, Kansas City Tagged With: Charlie Brown Christmas, Coterie, Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri

Collins comes and a field trip to the Coterie at the Crown Center

September 1, 2017 by shelley

Collins comes and a

field trip to the

Coterie at the Crown Center

“Garfield”

(more summer fun)

Garfield at the Coterie at the Crown Center Kansas City Missouri

Garfield at the Coterie at the Crown Center Kansas City Missouri

Garfield at the Coterie at the Crown Center Kansas City Missouri

Garfield at the Coterie at the Crown Center Kansas City Missouri

Filed Under: Family, Kansas City Tagged With: Collins, Coterie, Crown Center, Kansas City Missouri

Kaleidoscope, Hallmark Visitor’s Center and Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant at the Crown Center

January 20, 2016 by shelley

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is unique to Kansas City.  Provided by Hallmark Card, it is a place where children and their families are invited to be creative, have fun, and feel good about their own special ideas.

At Kaleidoscope, children use their imaginations to make art with materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. Some are cut into shapes, while others are left just as Hallmark sends them. And Hallmark provides different materials so the projects are ever-changing!

Kaleidoscope Kansas City, Missouri

Kaleidoscope Kansas City, Missouri

Henry

Henry

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Caroline at dryer

Caroline at dryer

Adam and Emily

Adam and Emily

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Becca and Henry

Becca and Henry

Becca and Henry

Becca and Henry

Carolyn

Carolyn

Becca and Henry

Becca and Henry

Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Hallmark Visitor’s Center is a walk through history.  There’s so much to see at the Hallmark Visitors Center. Interactive displays and fascinating exhibits give a glimpse into the rich history and creative spirit of Hallmark.

Becca and Henry at Hallmark Visitor's Center

Becca and Henry at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

The favorite is the bow making machine where one can watch a bow being made with the touch of a button.

Henry making bows at Hallmark Visitor's Center

Henry making bows at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Caroline making bows at Hallmark Visitor's Center

Caroline making bows at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Collins at Hallmark Visitor's Center

Collins at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Hallmark Visitor's Center

Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant

Fritz's Railroad Restaurant

Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant

Fritz’s is a Kansas City Tradition which dates back to the 1920’s. Fritz and Virginia Kropf started their own fifties-style drive-in restaurant at 32nd and Brown Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.Fritz added a second location on 18th street in the mid 1960’s. During this time, Fritz’s inventor skills lead him to the development of a food delivery system that he designed and tested in the basement of his home. The patented system was primarily intended to help with the shortage of labor which was a constant headache as he tried to operated both restaurants efficiently. Once the system, nicknamed the “Skat Kat,” was installed at the 18th street location in the early 1970’s, however, people began calling it a train. At first Fritz played down the railroad aspect of the Skat Kat, but he eventually decided to go with this popular theme. Train memorabilia and engineer’s hats for the kids enhanced this concept.  Fritz was still tinkering with the trains when he died in 2004 from complications following a wreck on his motor scooter at the age of 83! He and Virginia both believed in living life to its fullest. Virginia, now 83, still does some of the bookwork for the restaurants.Fred and Mary were approached by Crown Center Development to open a Fritz’s at Crown Center in conjunction with the re-opening of Union Station. Just when they thought they might be able to relax a little, they were thrown back into the frying pan so to speak! Installing a train that delivers food back in the 1970’s was one thing. Installing it to meet all the new government safety regulations was a true challenge.Shortly before Christmas in 1999, Fritz’s Crown Center opened. The tradition continues! 

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Train delivering our food

Henry at Fritz's Train Cafe at Crown Center

Henry at Fritz’s Train Cafe at Crown Center

Caroline at Fritz's Train Cafe at Crown Center

Caroline at Fritz’s Train Cafe at Crown Center

Collins and Becca at Fritz's Train Cafe at the Crown Center

Collins and Becca at Fritz’s Train Cafe at the Crown Center

Becca and Caroline at tFritz's Train Cafe at the Crown Center

Becca and Caroline at tFritz’s Train Cafe at the Crown Center

Henry, Adam, Jennifer and Emily at Fritz's Train Cafe in the Crown Center

Henry, Adam, Jennifer and Emily at Fritz’s Train Cafe in the Crown Center

Filed Under: Family, Kansas City Tagged With: Crown Center, Fritz's Railroad Restaurant, Fritz's Train Cafe, Hallmark, Hallmark Visitor's Center, Kaleidoscope

Christmas guests start to arrive.

January 28, 2014 by shelley

My daughter Becca was the first to arrive.  Not long after was my son B.J., his wife Jenn and their son Jack!

Jack comes to visit!

Jack comes to visit!

Jack and Bob

Jack and Bob

One fun activity was to go to the Crown Center.  Jack enjoyed Santa’s Gingerbread Village.  (Crown Center Shops, Level 1 Atrium.) Three locomotives travel through a Santa’s gingerbread village in the North Pole, all created by the chefs at The Westin Kansas City and Sheraton Kansas City hotels. You can see the reindeer stable, Santa’s sleigh garage, the elves’ dorm, a doll, rocking horse, and ball factory, and even Mr. & Mrs. Claus’ home.

Mayor's Christmas Tree at the Crown Center

Mayor’s Christmas Tree at the Crown Center

Santa Gingerbread Village

Santa Gingerbread Village

Jack at Santa's Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center

Jack at Santa’s Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center

Jack at Santa's Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center

Jack at Santa’s Gingerbread Village at the Crown Center

We also went to Sea Life. A most enjoyable afternoon!

Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center

Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center

Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center

Sea Life Aquarium at the Crown Center

 

Jack at the Aquarium

Jack at the Aquarium

 

Jack and his dad in the underwater sea tunnel

Jack and his dad in the underwater sea tunnel

Becca and Bob at the Aquarium

Becca and Bob at the Aquarium

 

And the colorful sea life at Sea Life:

A sea horse

A sea horse

Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Can you spot the fish?  They are the vertical yellow and black stripes!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

Colorful sea life at Sea Life!

The fish are the vertical yellow stripes.

The fish are the vertical yellow stripes.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Family, Holidays, Kansas City Tagged With: activity, B.J., Becca, christmas, Crown Center, family actiivity, Jack, Jenn, Kansas City, Kansas City Missouri, Missouri, Santa's Gingerbread Village, Sea Life

Pre-Christmas Activities…fun! fun! fun!

February 16, 2013 by shelley

Prior to Christmas we kept busy with lots of activities:

We did Build a Bear at Oak Park Mall…

Becca taking oath at Build a Bear to love her creation. Both Becca and Henry did build-a-"puppy" instead of bears.

Becca taking oath at Build a Bear to love her creation. Both Becca and Henry did build-a-“puppy” instead of bears.

Henry overseeing the stuffing process.

Henry watching Becca taking her oath.

Henry and Becca.

Henry and Becca.

 

We took a carriage ride on the plaza…

We took our ride in a Cinderella Carriage like this one:

5285011994_f23184ef3d_z
Our Carriage awaits….

Our Cinderella carriage.

Becca in front of our Cinderella carriage.

 

Jen and Bec.

Jen and Bec.

Becca and Jen.

Becca and Jen.

Henry and Grandpa.

Henry and Grandpa.

 

Enjoying the KC Plaza Christmas lights.

Enjoying the KC Plaza Christmas lights.

 We went to the Fairy Princess…

fairy

An old Kansas City Tradition.  The Fairy Princess first appeared in Kansas City, Mo. in 1935 in the toy department at Kline’s Department Store, one of the many department stores located within the downtown shopping district. Kline’s Fairy Princess delighted children for as many as 30 years until the closing of Kline’s in the 1970s.

princess4

Twenty years ago, The Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall revived the Fairy Princess tradition.  Thousands of area children have whispered holiday wishes in the Princess’ ear, and experienced the magic and splendor of the season at Corinthian Hall.

It us a very unique Christmas tradition and I think it is a Christmas tradition uniquely found only in Kansas City.

Henry waiting to see the Princess.

Henry waiting to see the Princess.

 

IMG_1948

Princess magic; Henry, Caroline and Becca with the Fairy Princess.

Princess magic; Henry, Caroline and Becca with the Fairy Princess.

Magic trunk opens.

Magic trunk opens.

IMG_1956

Becca receiving her tiara.

Becca receiving her tiara.

Making crafts.

Making crafts.

Becca making a craft.

Becca making a craft.

A new Beatty family tradition.

We started a new tradition this year.  Each Wednesday we visited grandpa at work.  We all got to see where grandpa worked and then we had lunch in the hospital cafe.

Henry and Becca learning about what grandpa does each day at work...at least on office day.

Henry and Becca learning about what grandpa does each day at work…at least on office day.

 

IMG_1919

IMG_1920

 

Of course we had to do a repeat of the train restaurant in the Crown Center,

Fritz’s cafe…toot…toot…

Becca.

Becca.

Adam and Jen.

Adam and Jen.

Food being delivered.

Food being delivered.

IMG_1888

Henry at Fritz's restaurant at the Crown Center, Kansas City Missouri.

Henry at Fritz’s restaurant at the Crown Center, Kansas City Missouri.

To see the train/food delivery system in action, watch this video:

Of course we had to visit Santa-land at the Crown Center and

A visit to Santa…

IMG_1912

Becca in Santa-land at Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

Becca in Santa-land at Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri.

 

IMG_1898IMG_1902

Henry in Santa-land.

Henry in Santa-land.

 

KOOKIEDOODLE…

We visited a new place in downtown Overland Park called Kookiedoodle.  Kookiedoodle Crafts is a family owned and operated arts and crafts studio for children ages 3 to 12.  It is an interactive, hands on, creative experiences that get kids imaginations going. It is a fun, unique place created completely and totally for kids.

logo3

It is located :

7924 Santa Fe, Overland Park KS 66204,  Phone: (913) 387-4065 www.kookiedoodlecrafts.com

Kookiedoodle fun…

Becca at Kookiedoodle.

Becca at Kookiedoodle.

IMG_1985

 

Nativity and the Paul Mesner Puppets.

Another very unique Kansas City experience is Paul Mesner Puppets.

Paul Mesner, puppeteer, author and performer became interested in puppetry at an early age. As a teenager he studied with Lee Ridge in Lincoln, Nebraska before starting his own puppet theater in Omaha. He toured his shows throughout Minnesota before studying at the prestigious International Institute of Puppetry in Charleville-Mezier, France. He moved to Kansas City where in 1987 he founded the Paul Mesner Puppets. His lively performances present classic stories recast in contemporary terms. Audiences across the United States have delighted in the precise craftsmanship, dynamic presentation and joyful blending of humor and education in all his productions. Paul Mesner believes wholeheartedly in entertaining his audiences and doesn’t mind including deeper meanings and life-lessons when no one is looking.

We all made our way to Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral to see the Paul Mesner Puppets in “The Nativity.” They were wonderful.

Are they puppets or marionettes? We wondered. But they seem like something unto themselves to me. Greater than full size … taller than tall … eyes of unusual size. The arms and fabric billow. The heads bobble ever so gently. The bodies sway in the space above the audience as they walk down the aisle. And for humor the sheep poke their heads into the crowd and go “baaaaaa” and the camels lean over and spit. “Putoey!”

When not being funny, the larger than life characters are mostly surreal and other worldly towering over us like figures in a dream. A good dream. In fact if I could hire the Paul Mesner Puppets troupe to star in my dreams every night and portray the contents of my subconscious, I think I would.

To watch go to:

IMG_1929

IMG_1932

Afterwards, learning how the puppets are operated.

Afterwards, learning how the puppets are operated.

IMG_1942

Liberty Memorial

National World War I Museum in Kansas City was another fun activity we did pre-Christmas.  In 2004 the Museum was designated by Congress as the United States’ official World War I Museum, opening to the public on December 2, 2006, as the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. The Museum presents a comprehensive interpretation of World War I (1914-1919) and its lasting consequences, providing a vivid and memorable experience for all.

IMG_1994

6328bf60-4f20-4716-87d5-f6a0959d8633

0a7742a9-dda5-438c-be06-d3ba158897c5

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri. Look carefully, you can see the rat in the trenches.

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri. Look carefully, you can see the rat in the trenches.

 

 

Poppies...World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Poppies…World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Henry, Adam, Becca, JenWorld War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Henry, Adam, Becca, Jen
World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Caroline at World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Caroline at World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

World War I Museum Liberty Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri

Fun making cookies with the Bennion family…

Quinn Bennion, Kacee Bennion (behind), Becca Long, and Liberty Bennion.

Quinn Bennion, Kacee Bennion (behind), Becca Long, and Liberty Bennion.

IMG_3135IMG_3138IMG_3139

Parker and Logan Bennion.

Parker and Logan Bennion.

Kacee Bennion, Becca Long, Liberty Bennion.

Kacee Bennion, Becca Long, Liberty Bennion.

 

Henry Long.

Henry Long.

Quinn and Heidi Bennion. Bob Beatty.

Quinn and Heidi Bennion. Bob Beatty.

Kacee Bennion, Becca Long, Liberty Bennion, Henry Long.

Kacee Bennion, Becca Long, Liberty Bennion, Henry Long.

Heidi Bennion, Kacee Bennion, Henry Long.

Heidi Bennion, Kacee Bennion, Henry Long and Logan Bennion behind Henry.

 

Becca Long, Kacee and Heidi Bennion.

Becca Long, Kacee and Heidi Bennion.

Becca Long and Kacee Bennion.

Becca Long and Kacee Bennion.

Becca Long, Kacee Bennion holding Caroline Long.

Becca Long, Kacee Bennion holding Caroline Long.

 Becca’s version of the Nativity…

Becca before baby Jesus is born.

Becca before baby Jesus is born.

and…

Becca after baby Jesus is born!

Becca after baby Jesus is born!

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Art, Christmas, Family, Holidays, Kansas City Tagged With: Build-a-Bear, Carriage ride, Christmas lights, Crown Center, Fairy Princess, Family, family tradition, Fritz's Restaurant, grandpa, hospital, Kansas City, Kansas City Museum, Kansas City Plaza, Kansas City traditions, Missouri, neurosurgery, Oak Park Mall, Overland Park Regional Hospital, Paul Mesner Puppets, traditions, trains

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Welcome

I'm Shelley. Mom of three and grandma of eight... living right in the middle of the country, Kansas City! I'm happy to be alive and enjoy sharing exciting goodies that I find and make. Here you will find ideas for LDS Young Women's activities, family updates, and a compilation of all things wonderful.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Stay Updated


Search


Categories

  • Art
  • Birthday
  • Christmas
  • Church
  • Crafts and Scrapbooking
  • Easter
  • Events
  • Family
  • Fourth of July
  • Friends
  • Genealogy
  • Halloween
  • Happenings
  • Holidays
  • House
  • Ideas
  • Kansas City
  • Knit and Crochet
  • Life
  • Max and Bunny
  • Memories
  • Missouri Church History
  • Nativity
  • Pioneer Day
  • Recipes
  • Salt Lake City
  • Salt Lake Temple
  • Thanksgiving
  • Theory of Mind
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Utah
  • Valentines
  • Young Women

Archives


Tags

Adam B.J. Becca Beehives birthday Bob Brigham Young University Caroline Chicago christmas Christmas Tree Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Collins Crown Center designer Easter Family flowers friends fun Henry holiday Home Jack Jennifer Kansas City Kansas City Missouri LDS Max and Bunny Minted Missouri Mormon Mormons Mutual Activity Nativity New Beginnings New York pioneer day pioneers Salt Lake City temple Thanksgiving Travel Utah Young Women

Blogroll

  • B.J. and Jenn's blog
  • Becca's Card Company
  • Jen and Adam's blog
  • Jenn's Crafting Blog!
  • Treasure Buddy

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in