February Happenings...

  

Annie & Erin made a little snowman.  He's gone away for the Spring although he may make one more visit this weekend if the predicted storm comes.  

 

Katie has taken up Basketball this winter, playing on a combined 2nd/3rd grade team.  She has really come a long way in a short time and seems to enjoy this sport more than others that she's tried. 

 
 

Lastly, thanks to all for the many birthday wishes!  I spent the day realizing how very blessed I am.  I repeatedly thanked God for my first 40 years and for my family and friends.  I also requested another 40 years as I've only just begun!

John's News...

Now you see them; now you don't!

Yesterday was the big day for John.  The braces came off at 7 AM and he now sports a fashionable retainer.  He was pretty excited and I must say that his teeth look very nice.  For comparison, take a look at a picture from Joe & Kelly's wedding, only 4 months before the braces went on.  

Snow Fun!

John & Erin found a great way to enjoy the recent snow.  I have a video of Erin breaking free but it doesn't want to upload.  I'll keep working on it.  

In the meantime, it's FREEZING here - started at -7 degrees this morning and I have no idea how low the wind chill was!  I didn't even send the kids snow pants & boots because there was no way that they'd go out in this weather!

Here's to Spring!

Christmas & More

Sorry that all of these pictures are in opposite order.  I'll work on my posting in 2009 - I promise!

Today, Kyle took John out for his first hunting experience.  John got two roosters!  We'll be eating them for our New Year's celebration!

 We visited John, Suzanne, Clare & Kate for a long weekend and the Greening kids got their first taste of the famous "White Castle."  Actually, we had some on Saturday and then had to go back on Sunday for the Crave Case with 30 burgers.  John Greening had the most at 9!!! 

Clare found her calling in giving the Greening girls new 'dos.  Grandma C got one as well!

We celebrated Kate's 1st birthday a bit early on Saturday.  She hadn't felt good all day, but the cupcake seemed to cure whatever ailed her!  What a cutie!

Quite a few of us gathered at John & Suzanne's new house in Geneva, IL.  Mom, Maura & Heather, Sara & Greg, and all of us Greenings crashed their peaceful quiet Christmas time with the usual Cronley crazies!  Here we are all ready to head to Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family.  

Here, the Greening family is ready for Christmas Mass.  In typical fashion, we arrived 20 minutes early for the 8 PM Mass, but quickly realized that Mass began at 7:30 PM and so we were actually 10 minutes late!  

Back on December 12, Katie & Erin were in a local production of The Nutcracker.  Katie was an Angel and Erin was the lead Mouse.  

Here are Katie & Erin enjoying our first snow fall.  We had quite a bit of snow prior to this past weekend, then with the melting, we are back to facing flooding issues!  

Happy New Year to all - 2009!

Good Catholic Education...

We have been certainly getting our money's worth as far as Catholic Education goes.   First, we had John as St. John the Baptist for the 7th grade saint fair.  Then for the next 3 weeks in a row,  we had the 3 Greening girls participating in the School Mass.  Annie proclaimed the First Reading; the next week, Erin sang in the choir; and then, on Dad's birthday, Katie brought up the gifts!  

Some other big news for Erin is that her new favorite song is "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!"

Beggar's Night

 

Ok, Iowa is a bit different than the rest of the world.  The kids here go 'trick-or-treating' on October 30 for beggar's night and then Halloween itself is very anti-climatic.  Lucky for us, today's weather has been perfect - low 70s.  So anyway, for your Halloween pleasure, here are the Greening Goblins... John-the crazy clown; Annie-the annoying reporter; Katie-the sorceress; and Erin-Lucy Prevensie from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.  

Catch Up Blog

Sorry for the long absence from blogger world.  Here are pictures to catch everyone up on the lives of the Greening Family.  These are not in correct order, but my life is like that right now. 

Here is the first day of school - John-7th grade, Annie-5th grade, Katie-2nd grade & Erin-1st grade.

 

Our patio has had a makeover-stamped concrete overlay to be exact.  We love it and look forward to entertaining next Spring.

As you can see, the new look is considerably better!

Annie has been a wild quilting woman, finishing one for Patty's family and one for Joe & Kelly.  

Here is the Woods' family quilt - green and gold.  

And here is Joe & Kelly's quilt - blue & gold.

Early in September, I visited Park City.  Here we are with Kelly's family at Deer Valley Resort for a Dwight Youkam concert.  

On Sunday, Joe, Kelly and I climbed the PC mountain behind their house.  Joe & Kelly are standing on the top of the 'C' and then in the other picture you can see the PC behind Mom and me way up high.  It's amazing how huge those letters are.