Even though we seem entrenched in this unusually cold winter season with no end in sight, Nancy and I have enjoyed a WARM holiday season with family and friends. We traveled to Dorrance on December 21 to spend time with my family, then returned to Manhattan on December 27 to spend a few days with Nancy's family, and then returned to Dorrance for an encore performance for the the New Year celebration. In addition to celebrating Christmas and New Year's during our visits to Thielenville, we also marked the fourth anniversary of Joe's death. I know many of us think of Joe daily and we certainly recognize lots of Joeisms. For instance, we tease Joey about being late to everything, but we know he is just trying to do 'one more thing' just like his dad did. I know Joe would enjoy these holiday photos so these are dedicated to him.
Garrett
Sweet Anna with the head band and flower given to her by her grandma in Topeka.
Kelly Jo
More Sweet Anna
Susan is the main architect of Thielenville. She has created a welcoming home that provides the main meeting place for all of us. Her home is grand central station because so many people stay there, visit, and work there.
Everybody loves the Wii
Joey - I took 'birthday' photos for the people who will be celebrating in the next few months. I am just like a little kid before Christmas - I can't wait until the day so I am sharing some of the birthday photos now. Enjoy
Kevin and Sam - If you are going to spend time at Thielenville, you have to love to play with children because there are always little ones around.
Sam and his version of what to do with an end-of-the-season gingerbread house.
More Sam
Kevin
Kelly and her 'It's midnight - Happy New Year' look.
Sam, Garrett and Anna did stay up to ring in the new year. We counted down the seconds and then danced and celebrated.
Garrett
Sweet Brooklyn - notice how her hair stand up on her head.
More sweet Brooklyn
Sweet Brooklyn
Youtube is a big hit with Garrett and Sam because they love to watch videos of tractors and combines and anything related to farming.
Sam
more Sam
and yet, more sweet Sam
Hallie in her Snow White outfit
Anna in the Cinderella outfit
Debbie and Anna
Sweet Hallie
Debbie gave Kelly and Joey a gift on New Year's eve. Kelly was a little unsure about opening the gift because she thought is might be something unusual.
She was right - Debbie gave Joey and Kelly an old cap from a family reunion. The woman pictured on the cap is a family relative, but we have no idea who it is. Update - thanks to LaVern we now know this woman is my grandmother Siefers. This is my dad's mom Sarah Peirano Siefers. Now we know.
Actually, Debbie sent Joey and Kelly on a scavenger hunt in Susan's house until they found the final gift. They are looking in the kids kitchen for something that will keep them warm.
Joey found it - a bottle of peach schnapps. Debbie gave them clues about the gift she was giving them: a candle to keep them warm, then a bottle of schnapps that would keep them warm.
The actual gift was a home made quilt from Debbie! Check out
Kelly's blog for more information.
Susan and sweet Brooklyn
Little miss Emily Kate
Emily
Kisses from big sister Natalie and daddy John
Smiles all the way around
I love this photo - Natalie doesn't fake sleeping very well.
Emily and her great-grandma Siefers
She's a star!
Great grandma Siefers is the best baby holder in the world. She performed her magic during her first visit with Emily. Nobody can put a baby asleep like great-grandma Siefers.
Happy B-day Candi! She is sitting in her brand new office in the new building.
We had a retreat on Wednesday at the new building - I will never get tired of saying our new building so get used to it. Anyway, this photo has about half of our team in it. The rest were either at other meetings or not feeling well or in the bathroom. Left to right: Mike, Sue, Trish Mary, Marcia, Olivia, Gilbert, Candi Dorothy, MK, Thea and Oscar.
We have a staff tradition to gather for a group 'subarashi' at the end of our meetings. Subarashi means marvelous or fantastic.
I love Gilbert's smile.
Mary and Candi - as you can tell the building is not quite finished. We have moved in, but will not have classes in the building for a couple more weeks. Notice the cords hanging out of the wall, that is for a flat screen monitor.
Hollar - Mike Finnegan
It's a girl - Emily Kate. Welcome to the world young princess. Emily was born today at 11:59 in Salina. I actually got to see her because I was on my way to Wichita today for a conference so I stopped by the hospital to see her. She looks like her big sister Natalie and a little like her parents John and Stacia. Thanks to Grandma Debbie for sending the photos.
Grandma Debbie and Emily Kate
Emily with her mom Stacia and big sister Natalie
Sweet, sweet, sweet
I think Natalie already loves her little sister.
The look of love
Be Funky Happy Birthday to Alicia! Her birthday isn't until January 6th, but I wanted to post today because I will be attending a conference this week and wasn't sure I would have time to say my happy birthdays. Since I posted early, I had a little time to have fun with the photos.
Happy Birthday brother Bill! I only did a little B/W work on Bill's photo.
Garrett
Sweet Anna with the head band and flower given to her by her grandma in Topeka.
Kelly Jo
More Sweet Anna
Susan is the main architect of Thielenville. She has created a welcoming home that provides the main meeting place for all of us. Her home is grand central station because so many people stay there, visit, and work there.
Everybody loves the Wii
Joey - I took 'birthday' photos for the people who will be celebrating in the next few months. I am just like a little kid before Christmas - I can't wait until the day so I am sharing some of the birthday photos now. Enjoy
Kevin and Sam - If you are going to spend time at Thielenville, you have to love to play with children because there are always little ones around.
Sam and his version of what to do with an end-of-the-season gingerbread house.
More Sam
Kevin
Kelly and her 'It's midnight - Happy New Year' look.
Sam, Garrett and Anna did stay up to ring in the new year. We counted down the seconds and then danced and celebrated.
Garrett
Sweet Brooklyn - notice how her hair stand up on her head.
More sweet Brooklyn
Sweet Brooklyn
Youtube is a big hit with Garrett and Sam because they love to watch videos of tractors and combines and anything related to farming.
Sam
more Sam
and yet, more sweet Sam
Hallie in her Snow White outfit
Anna in the Cinderella outfit
Debbie and Anna
Sweet Hallie
Debbie gave Kelly and Joey a gift on New Year's eve. Kelly was a little unsure about opening the gift because she thought is might be something unusual.
She was right - Debbie gave Joey and Kelly an old cap from a family reunion. The woman pictured on the cap is a family relative, but we have no idea who it is. Update - thanks to LaVern we now know this woman is my grandmother Siefers. This is my dad's mom Sarah Peirano Siefers. Now we know.
Actually, Debbie sent Joey and Kelly on a scavenger hunt in Susan's house until they found the final gift. They are looking in the kids kitchen for something that will keep them warm.
Joey found it - a bottle of peach schnapps. Debbie gave them clues about the gift she was giving them: a candle to keep them warm, then a bottle of schnapps that would keep them warm.
Susan and sweet Brooklyn
