This is a birth day for Emily Kate

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

Happy Birthday to my brother Bill and my niece Alicia

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.

It's been a great holiday for Nancy and me!

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

Christmas Fun with the Fager Family Sisters - Nancy, Barbara and Jane

Nancy and our Christmas wreath that was given to us by Nancy's cousin Alan.

Harvey and Jane

Nancy and sister Barbara

As you know, Barbara is a massage therapist in Manhattan. For Christmas, she arranged for all of us to have a massage at Body First where she works. It was absolutely wonderful! Thanks Barbara.

Sweet Sara found humor in Rob's eating style.

If you look closely at Rob's face and thumb, you will see the remnants of a Thielen Beef t-bone steak.

Um, Um, that steak is good.

Rob got every last bit of meat from the steak.

Hugs of sisterly love for Barbara and Jane

More love for Barbara and Harvey

Rob serenaded us with guitar music from my 40 year-old guitar that my uncle Booty gave me when I was a young girl. If you look closely, you will notice it only has four strings left. I think that is from the great nieces and nephews who play it when they visit. Rob still played beautiful music with only four strings. He really is quite talented.

The Bieber family from Lincoln, Nebraska - Sara, Rob, Harvey and Jane

The Bieber children - Sara and Rob

More Bieber youth with Rob and Sara

Frances was able to spend most of the day with us on Monday. Frances lives at Meadowlark in Manhattan and is doing well.

Pearl loves Harvey, she sat with him during the present opening. As you can see, she looked at him adoringly. I think Harvey might remind Pearl of Joe.

Harvey and Pearl

Sweet Sara looked good in the purple santa hat to balance the red from the husker sweatshirt.

Jane seemed pleased with her gift from Christopher and Banks.

Rob doing what college kids do - messing with some high-tech gadget.

Nancy and Frances

Mother/daughter - Sara and Jane

More sisterly hugging from Barbara and Nancy

Barbara and Nancy

Three of the Fager sisters - Barbara, Nancy and Jane. The fourth sister, Becky, lives in Montana.

Rob and Kramer took a nap together - how sweet.

The view from the upper level. Notice the nativity scene on the glass table - Nancy combined two different sets into one display. Mom gave me both of these nativity scenes, or as Hallie says, tivity scene. Now Deb and Susan will probably be jealous to learn that Mom gave me two sets.