Sunday, February 27, 2011

Happy Birthday Garrett



At eight years old, Garrett is the oldest of my nine greats. Needless to say my nieces and nephews have been very very good to me in the last nine years.  Garrett is a fine young man who likes anything related to farming, sports and computer (DS) games.  It is making me feel just a freckle old to know that my GREAT nephew is eight years old already. Of course, that makes my oldest nephew Joey seem rather old, too. But, we will talk about his birthday next Friday.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Happy Birthday Kelly





Let me know which photo of Kelly is your favorite.

Leah's First Visit to K-State

 Leah and Jody visited K-State on Wednesday. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed walking from Aggieville across campus to the Leadership Building and back to Aggieville.  We stopped by Calvin Hall to take Leah's picture in front of the building where her daddy Tim spent a significant amount of time when he attended K-State.

 The famous Higginbotham Gate, all K-Staters should have their photos taken here.

 Oops,  I don't like it that the STATE doesn't show up in the background.

 At the Leadership Studies Building, Jody and Leah spent time visiting with Candi and lots of other folks at Leadership Studies.

 Sweet, sweet Leah

Oh, now that is a sweet photo, Leah with her favorite great aunt in front of her favorite great aunt's office.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

It was a Big, Big, Big, Big Weekend for Nancy and Me: dancing, swimming, birthdays and baptisms

 Meet the parents: Tim and Jody
Meet the godparents: Kelly and Joey
The baby: Leah
The priest: Father Frank

Leah was baptized Sunday morning in Salina.

Sharon's birthday was Saturday. I am sure her best birthday gift ever was her daughter Avery.

 Hallie and Anna competed in a dance competition in Clay Center. Nancy and I watched these two all-stars do their thing. I hope to post a video of the dance later in the week.  After the dance competition, Susan, Hallie and Anna returned to Manhattan for a mini vacation.

 The final celebration was that of Debbie's birthday!  
As you can see I was responsible for the birthday cake. 

 Back to the dancers. They competed in the pre-school category and received a 2 rating and a trophy for their efforts.



 Most mini vacations to our house involve time in the hot tub.  I am not sure we got Hallie's bathing suit on correctly.

 Hallie gave her cousin Avery a loving hug.

 I think Avery is teething, she loved biting on the toys.

 Birthday girl Sharon

 Foolery with the cousins: Anna, Hallie and Avery

 Foolery and then love

 Kevin and his daughter Avery

 That is a sweet look from Kevin

Riding a pillow down the hard wood stairs - no injuries resulted from this idea.

 
Avery

 Hallie and Anna ready to go to Leah's baptism

 We attended mass in Salina and had Leah's baptism after that. As we waited for the baptism, Joey and Garrett just couldn't contain themselves.  I think Kelly is getting ready to tell them what she thinks about their foolery.

 On to the baptism - baby Leah wore the same baptism gown that her mom Jody wore when she was baptized. Leah's cousin Natalie made sure things went smoothly during the preparations.

 This photo started as a picture of Kelly and Leah, but the kids just kept coming.
Emily and John mock each other as they stick out their bottom lips.

 Jody, Leah, Tim and Sister Rose

 Mom Jody and daughter Leah

 We started the baptism near the door to the church, then moved to the holy water station, then ended the ceremony at the altar.

 The moment of baptism

 I love this photo because the godparents are intently watching the baptism. Their son Garrett, however, was busy looking at his reflection in the water.

 Debbie, are you sneezing, crying or laughing?

 Debbie and her entourage - Natalie, Hallie and Anna

 The baptism team: Joey, Kelly, Father Frank, Jody, Leah and Tim

 Debbie's family: Greg, Natalie, Debbie, Jody, Leah, Tim, Stacia, Emily and John

 Leah's great-grandma Siefers

 Sweet, sweet Emily

 Natalie helped Leah open her baptism gifts


 The cousins - Leah, Natalie and Emily

 The day was a little too much for Greg.

 Baby Leah tried her best to get Nancy to hold her close enough to get a taste of Debbie's birthday cake.

 I see a theme here, Emily also tried to get a taste of the cake.

 Leah and her favorite great aunt Mary Kay

 Stacia and Emily share a laugh

 More foolery from Joey and Kelly

 Sam spent most of the time at Debbie's playing outside. 

Garrett spent part of his day in the tree, just watching time pass.


 So sweet, my mom Velma

 Natalie and cousin Leah



 Jody and daughter Leah. I didn't crop this photo too close because I wanted to show Debbie's front yard in February.  It will be just a few weeks and things will begin to blossom and turn green.

 Sisters Natalie and Emily
At the last photo of the day - Leah sticking out her tongue at her grandma Debbie.