We're still here!

Although I have not posted in a very long time, the Greene clan is still alive and kicking!

Not The Biggest Loser...But Good Enough for Now

January 2009

November 2009

Almost a year and 51 pounds less...

Christmas Cruising

This Christmas, I made a spur of the moment decision to join my friend, Mechiel, and her family on a seven day Western Carribean cruise. The kids were super excited about it. Can't you tell in this first picture? They weren't terribly thrilled with the time it took standing in line to embark...

Our cabin was quite tiny, but it made it all the more cozy for us.

The first couple of days we were at sea. There was attempt to swim in the pool, but it was wicked windy. The kids swam for a few minutes anyway of course.

Mechiel and I pampered ourselves with a massage and facial.

Our first stop was Jamaica. Anna, PJ and Dorian went snorkling (Brennan called them the "Snorks"). Mechiel and I, even though we were hesitant, took Ella and Brennan of the ship and into Jamaica. It was going to be very costly to take the bus into downtown and I really wanted to get Ella's hair braided. We ran across a young girl who said she knew someone who could do it. That she would just walk us through the gates and get it done. Sounds good, right? We follow her, and get lots of looks as we are walking. We walk, and walk, and walk, through empty shops and behind buildings. I have to admit, I was feeling a bit nervous. I turned back to look at Mechiel. She was walking a lot further behind. I thought maybe we were walking too fast for her. Finally we got there, and Ella got her hair braided by a nice lady named Paula. I did a little bracelet shopping in the store behind them. Later, Mechiel confessed to being scared too. I said, "Oh, so you were going to let something bad happen to me and the kids?!?" Being such a good friend, she said, "No, I was going to go for help if something happened to you!" Thanks Mechiel...nice to know someone's got your back.

Brennan waited so patiently. The Jamaican ladies kept saying how cute he was. Anyone who knows Brennan, knows how tough that kind of talk is for him. He's very shy, but secretly, I think he loves it. I asked him if he wanted his hair braided to, but he refused. He did get a bracelet though and enjoyed saying, "Mon" after each of his sentences.

Once back on the boat in Jamaica, we had lunch and got this cute picture

of the kids with Jamaica in the background.

Each night there were different towel animals in the room. The kids took turns each night, not without arguing of course, with having the towel animals on their beds.

Here's Brennan with the frog.

Anna and I went on an excursion in Grand Cayman. We got up close and personal with the sting rays. Since there's no dock in Grand Cayman, we took a tender in. From there we took a bus ride and then got on a smaller boat. After about a 25 minute ride, we were ready to meet "Bubbles" and her friends.

Anna was a little skittish at first. The sting rays were very large. Believe it or not, and I don't have pictures to prove it, I touched one too. I even got a full body massage from one of the sting rays. Then, the guide told me if I kissed the sting ray, it would bring seven years of good luck. Who doesn't need luck? Besides, everyone was doing it.

I caved to the peer pressure and kissed it. It was pretty gross...

Another Attempt At Family Pictures

Attempting Family Photos

Believe it or not, this is the best of of all of us. It's tough to get everyone looking where they are supposed to and smiling at the same time.

I'm not liking this picture, but I'm adding it anyway. Most of you know, I've been working my tail end of at the gym since August. I still look like the backside of a bus...but there are improvements...

There Is No Laser In Rock, Paper, Scissors...Is There?

Today, while running errands with me, Brennan and Ella were playing rock, paper, scissors. You know the one. I'm listening to them, but not really listening, when all the sudden I hear Ella say, "Well laser burns paper!"

Halloween 2009

Did we celebrate Halloween early this year? It certainly crept up on me! Since my middle name lately has been "Procrastination" the kids' costumes were purchased and put together Friday night. Usually, I am the type of mom who pieces together costumes, but not this year. Anna was a skeleton, Ella was a witch and Brennan was some Bakugan character...all courtesy of Target and Walmart. Even so, they were cute as can be and so excited about the day. Brennan woke up Saturday morning and immediately wanted to wear his costume and started asking when it would be time to go at about 7:00 A.M.

Saturday morning the kids were playing outside when our sweet neighbors called them over. Not only did they have a new puppy to show the kids, but they also wanted to carve pumpkins with them. The kids had such a fun time carving their pumpkins with the exception of Ella not enjoying reaching into the pumpkin to get all the "stuff" out of the inside. She's my, "I don't like to get dirty," girl.

This year, we were invited again to join the Lange family and their neighborhood in their annual Halloween Hayride. We went last year for the first time and had a wonderful time. Ella also had a friend who gave us an invitation to their family's Halloween get together. Decisions had to be made. Although I hated to separate our family that night, I agreed to let Ella go to her friend's party while Anna, Brennan and I headed out to Sugar Mill.

For the kids, the day seemed like an eternity of waiting, but when the time finally arrived, we all got ready and headed out for some fun. One of Anna's friends joined us that night so we picked her up. After that we dropped Ella off at her friend's house. Then we were off for our hotdogs and hayride.

The tight-knit neighborhood is set just outside city limits. After visiting a bit with everyone and letting the kids run around and play for a few, we loaded up the trailers and started the hayride. This experience is quite possibly the best way to trick or treat...at least for the parent. Parents sit on the bales of hay, driver stops at intervals, kids run and scatter like little ants up and down the driveways and then race back to the trailers. This goes on for a good 3 to 3 1/2 hours. You can imagine the exhaustion that the kids feel about half way through.

Other than it freezing (not really freezing but we felt like it was even at 58 degrees) it was a close to perfect night. As soon as we got home, I turned on the fireplace, the kids got ready for bed and set up a pallet on the floor in front of the fireplace. Within minutes they were all three asleep. The kids had a fabulous time. And that's what it's all about.