Sunday, April 5, 2009

  
We had a wonderful Spring Break trip to Mississippi.  We began our touring with a stop at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN.  The kids were fairly interested and I think it will make Martin Luther King, Jr. Day each January a bit more meaningful.  The museum is in the hotel where he was shot and there is also a portion in the building across the street from where James Earl Ray shot him.  
We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with Marin and Tracey in fine style shown here.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Marin and finally warmed up to Muzzy on the last day in Meridian.  
On Wednesday, we drove to Vicksburg, MS to tour a civil war era city plantation house and the Vicksburg National Military Park.  This photo shows a cannonball that is still lodged in the wall of the house.  
Here we are touring the military park, looking at where the Confederates shot at the Union Army from one hill to the next.  
We returned to Meridian and celebrated Katie's #8 birthday and finally getting to see Uncle Boog.  
On Thursday, we toured Uncle Boog's Naval Air Station.  We all got to fly in the simulator and try on his flight suit, along with visiting his office and eating at the base bowling alley.

We were able to hang out and chat with Boog and Tracey and catch the beginning of the NCAA basketball tournament games.  
On Saturday, we hit the road early and visited a former working cotton plantation - Waverly, in West Point, MS.  Then, up the road a bit, we stopped to walk around the campus of Ole Miss, in Oxford, MS.  A grand time and wonderful way to get a flavor of the South.  Only thing that we missed was a true taste of the South - grits, collard greens, and fried chicken.  Maybe next time!

At the end of March, Annie was honored at the University of Iowa for her test scores on the Explore Test, an 8th grade level test.  She also was able to recognize a teacher and she chose her Independent Learning teacher, Mrs. Houseman. 
Last Thursday, the Middle School performed their rendition of Going, Going, Gone with the Breeze.  John was one of the mannequins in a costume department; he was a caveman and one of his friends was a leprechaun.  

Finally, last night, we survived a birthday slumber party for Katie.  

Friday, February 20, 2009

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!

Friday, January 30, 2009

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.  

Monday, January 12, 2009

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!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

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 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!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

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!"


Thursday, October 30, 2008

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.