Durham History Museum: Christmas Tree and Santa Clause

 Went to museum with Charity's kids to see the tree and Santa Clause.  Santa Clause is in an auditorium underneath the museum.  We did some art and building projects, and visited the wedding dress and hockey exhibits.  These exhibits are not part of the permanent display so wanted to catch them while they are there.  Hockey was very fun.  They had a whole bunch of game like air hockey and hockey shooting cages.  All the kids took a turn, even Riley.  She was funny holding the hockey stick.  And of course putting the pucks in her mouth.

Welcome to Omaha/Bellevue: Omaha Riverfront Trail

 This trail follows the Missouri from North Omaha through downtown Omaha.  This informational plaque is at the John Pershing monument on John Pershing Drive.

Missouri River

View of a train

Welcome to Omaha/ Bellevue: First Trek to University Nebraska Omaha

 A couple weeks ago we went to Nebraska Omaha where my granddaughter has been doing orchestra.  I took a couple pictures.

The bell was pretty loud

Welcome to Omaha/Bellevue: Daniell Trail in Bellevue

 This is a trail that starts at Two Springs Park in South Bellevue.  It follows Whitted Creek.

Looking at the Spring

Welcome to Omaha/Bellevue: Two Springs Park in Southwest Bellevue

 I visited this park looking for Cold Springs, where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stayed in the summer of 1846.  This is probably not the place but it is somewhere close and would have been similar.  Our ward is called Cold Springs.  The park has a playground with climbing wall, covered picnic area and backstop.  It is just south of where the two springs start to form Whitted Creek.  The Daniell Trail follows the creek.

Our First Venture to Local Community Theater: Bellevue Little Theater

 Last weekend I and several of the women, wife, daughters and granddaughter attended the musical Miracle on 34th Street.  Even though the music was pretty corny, the acting and singing was very good.  I know my daughters were wondering if they should audition for the next show.  Or maybe next Christmas season.  We had a pretty fun evening. 

Welcome to Omaha: North Omaha Murals

 These murals are in the North Omaha area, around Miller Park.

Educational scene on Nelson Mandela Elementary across from Miller Park

store south of Miller Park as seen north bound

store south of Miller Park as seen south bound

Christmas Music Review: Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration

 Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration,  Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, with violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.  David Downes producer and arranger.  Manhattan Records, 2006.

For the past 20 years no one has made music like Celtic Woman.  This is an early Christmas album, in fact their second album.  Their combination of Celtic themes with traditional hymns is magnificent.  On this album their are 15 songs, inluding: O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Let it Snow and many more favorites.  I enjoyed this album very much.

Light the World CHristmas Video 2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released the video for Light the World 2025.  This is very nice as it combines scenes from the Bible video of the birth of baby Jesus and a children's pageant.  

I was moved to tears at several points; especially when the wiseman sees Jesus.

 

Omaha Children's Museum

 The Omaha Children's Museum is mostly an indoor playground for children.  There are several different themes which make it interesting.  This is a section with balls and the kids can put them through suction tubes and watch them move along until they come out again.  There is a section for art crafts, there is a playground upstairs with a merry-go-round.  There is an imagination section where you can retend to be a doctor, in a store, on a farm or also play with a lazy river.  

The museum is worth a visit; especially for younger kids.  The older the child is the most likely they will quickly become bored with this museum.  For them the Kiewit Luminarium would be better.