Summer 2011

I uploaded these pictures almost a month ago. Sorry that I haven't posted in so long!

Quick descriptions:

(1) Group of ND friends in for our 20 year reunion! Note how we still coordinate after all these years - it was not planned!

(2) Katie & Erin had a wonderful trip to Alabama. They still talk about it, almost daily. (3 pictures)

(3) The cabin where we stayed in Wisconsin - beautiful, bald eagles flew around the lake daily.

(4)Sally (Goethals) and her family came through Des Moines in August. Molly (age 11) is next to Annie; Natalie (age 4) is in front; Carianne (age 2) is in Erin's arms. They also have Joseph, 9 years old, and Aidan, 6 years old.

(5) During Katie's tennis lessons, Annie, Erin and I learned how to knit; then we taught Katie as well.

** More info at the bottom**

(6) After he returned from Colorado for the Dowling Cross Country Camp at Estes Park, John began working at Adventureland Amusement park . He worked a couple weeks and then, when school started, he only worked Sunday afternoons. All done for the season now and signed up to work again in the Spring!

(7) Grandma Cronley came through Des Moines in both directions of her "Whirlwind Summer Tour of the Midwest!" Krispy Kremes were enjoyed and we introduced her to the Iowa State Fair!

(8) For a last 'hurrah' of the summer, I took the girls to Living History Farms. Shown here, Katie & Erin are working in the blacksmiths shop.

I'm working on pictures of the Fall activities of the Greening Family!

California!

Enjoy a slide show of our recent trip to visit Boog, Tracey, Marin & Bennett. We had a full schedule and thoroughly enjoyed our activities. Our time with family was truly the icing on our vacation cake.

Merry Christmas 2010!

This digital greeting personalized with Smilebox

Fall Stuff

So many fun happenings in our lives right now, so little time to blog about them!

Katie & Erin participated in a cheerleading camp with some friends.

Grandma Cronley joined John for Grandparents Mass at Dowling Catholic High School. Later that day, John ran in his conference Cross Country meet.

For John's German class, he is required to have a cultural experience so we decided to enjoy our local German Restaurant - Hessen Haus. The little old lady in the yellow dress was out dancing in the aisles and had a lapel pin saying that she was a Polka Dance Champion.

Annie was recognized for the 3rd year in a row at the University of Iowa. I'd be willing to bet that she was the first to recognize her RELIGION teacher for his inspiration.

Annie's volleyball team won 3rd place in the end of the year tournament.

Additionally, Katie took a couple tennis clinics this fall. She has made remarkable improvement. I watch her and think to myself, "I didn't even own a tennis racquet when I was her age!"

Erin is taking ballet, tap & Jazz dance and is going to be an Infantry in the Nutcracker in December. She also joined the Riptide Swim Team and has her 1st meet on Nov. 15.

Summer, Summer, Summer!

We spent the 4th of July in Waubay with Kyle's parents. One day we drove to Aberdeen to spend the day with Audrey & Al Dutenhoffer, Kyle's aunt & uncle. We also visited Storybook Land which has all of the nursery rhyme characters, the fairy tale characters and even the Wizard of Oz characters along with a farm house and the yellow brick road in munchkin land. As you follow the yellow brick road, you meet the scarecrow, the tin man and the lion. What fun!

Rounding out July, John was a pollinator for Pioneer in the corn fields. Annie had swimming lessons and volunteered at a Safety Town for kindergartners. Katie & Erin had tennis lessons and swimming lessons.

We spent a week up at Mid-Forest Lodge the first week in August, stopping on our way to visit Maura, Heather & Dale in Grand Rapids.

John caught a turtle and the girls all participated in the Kids Fishing Derby, bringing home 2 fishing rods and a live well, net thing from the raffle.

The Sugar Bowl is still so much fun to run down. There had been a few big rain events prior to our arrival and the wash out was remarkable!

We spent a great deal of time with Uncle Peter and one day, he found a tree over the fire tower hill road so he cut it up for his new wood stove. As you can see, the blue truck is still in business; licensed and with some kind of new brake parts.

Kyle thoroughly enjoyed the week, canoeing with Annie & John, fishing with all the kids (I think Erin had the biggest haul with 16 in one outing!). We also played ladder ball and kayaked at the Matuszak's, gave the kids rides on the 4 wheeler, hiked along the road by the old dumps, picked black berries & got wonderful tours of the club from Uncle Peter and later from Aunt Cece & Uncle Tim. All in all, we had a fantastic week and I'm so glad to have the opportunity to share Mid-Forest with my kids. They loved it and even asked if we could move to Michigan and get a cabin!

Now, we're on the final count down to school on August 23. Can John really be going into high school; Annie into 7th grade; Katie, 4th; and Erin, 3rd? Where does time fly?

Lots to catch up on...

So much has happened in May & June - We had Erin & Annie's dance recitals and all the kids' piano recitals. John & Annie were in the Middle School Musical - 'Twinderella'. Here are some of John's friends from the cast after their performance. Annie was in the 6th grade chorus and a member of the "Slow Motion Crowd." John was The Duke of Earl with many comedic lines.

Then, John graduated from 8th grade. I think I got video only of that event, but this is a shot of some of the guys in his class.

Annie won a scholarship for next year.

After Memorial Day, we headed to Kansas City staying at the Great Wolf Lodge. We toured President Truman's home in Independence, MO and also visited the Presidential Library. That night we attended the Kansas City Royals game and had great seats - even Kyle approved!

The next day, we swam, played, relaxed at Schlitterbahn (German for Waterpark). They are just opening in Kansas City with a couple down in Texas. Great Fun! Instead of a lazy river, they have a TORENT river with a wave machine so that it's the best of the ocean & Lake Michigan without the danger of riptides & undertow.

Of course, Annie turned 12 - her GOLDEN birthday.

This past weekend Katie & John had pieces in the Des Moines Art Festival. Their art was part of the "Nurturing A Students Vision" display. They were recognized in a ceremony and given memberships to the Des Moines Art Center. Their art will also be displayed all summer at the Art Center.

But, imagine our surprise, as we walked along checking out the professional artists booths, when Katie noticed John's art in a VERY LARGE WAY! We immediately started asking if we could have the banner after the festival and just today were told that it too will go to the Art Center for the summer and then we'll get it! What excitement!

Katie has been at Catholic Youth Camp this week and then Saturday we'll be heading to Waubay to spend the 4th with Kyle's parents!

Sacramental Weekend

What a BIG weekend for the Greening Family.

John was confirmed as John Joseph Paul Greening by Bishop Richard Pates on Friday evening. Annie served at the Mass as you can see in the 2nd picture. We all were able to enjoy an early dinner prior to the ceremony. John's Godparents (Kyle's sister, Nancy & my brother, Joe) were able to join us along with Joe's wife Kelly and their son JB who is 9 months old. John chose my brother, John as his confirmation sponsor and John's wife Suzanne and their daughters Clare (4) and Kate (2) joined us as well.

Saturday was fun and relaxing with family. Tom Appell (a friend of Joe's from high school) joined us and he, John G., John C. & Joe ran on the bike trails and over to the hotel where John & his family stayed. We all played in the pool and then headed back to our house for lunch. The weather was beautiful so we went to Campbell Park near our house for kite flying, swings, jungle gym climbing, bike riding, batting cages & volleyball practicing. A more perfect day couldn't have been ordered.

Sunday afternoon was Erin's 1st Communion. John & Annie served at the Mass and Katie sang in the choir. Erin's Godparents are John & Suzanne, my brother & sister-in-law.

See more pictures here .