Snowman Kiss

"Snowflakes are one of nature's

        more fragile things,

but just look what they can do together!"

  

                                                          -Vista M. Kelly

Merry Christmas and Blessings for a wonderful 2009 from the Meneleys!
You can view our Christmas newsletter at:
http://sendbigfile.net/download.php?sid=YPaZZIPV

The Martinez Family

Here is our most recent family photo!

Payton is 12 and is a pre-teen in every way.

Mason is 2 1/2 and always says something to make us laugh.

Braely is 11 months now...walking and into everything.

We still live in Greeley, CO and are busy with our kids and our jobs!

Happy Holidays!

Love,Sheilah (daugher of Tim Crough, Jim's granddaugher)

What's Your Favorite Grandma Jean Memory?

Today marks 7 years since Grams passed away...can it really be that long? 

This is one of my favorite pictures, taken one Thanksgiving out at the farm.

 Grams looks tickled, Mom looks guilty. Were they caught in mid-gossip?

I sure miss her. 

Happy Birthday, Dear James...Happy Birthday to You!

And now you've got one this size! Hope you enjoyed your day!

Love you!

Lys

"Awww....cheer up Kelly...birthdays aren't so bad!"

Besides, don't you have a steam engine to attend to?

Love,
Lys

Ryan and Lindsey Shriver Wedding/Honeymoon Pictures

Here are a few pictures from our wedding and honeymoon. Enjoy!

Just married! June 7, 2008

We just arrived to our first hotel (Peace Lodge) in La Paz, Costa Rica

On our way to our second hotel in Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

"Crocodiles live here, no bathing" - we had to cross this little lake in a tiny little boat to get to the entrance of the national park.

King Titan himself!

Lisa Dawn, what's that outfit you have on?

Happy Birthday from the niece that has always wanted to be just like you. Love you!

The engagement was no joke the Halloween picture was so here's a cute one.

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER

Tom and Robyn Hazard proudly announce the engagement of their son, Jordan Thomas to Siobhan Amie Sager.

Grandpa John & The Butterfly

John Maguire has a conversation with granddaughter Rylie while waiting for trick-or-treaters.

I took these pics on Halloween and thought they were so sweet.

It's somebody's birthday, I wonder who?

Happy Birthday, J-E-S-S-I-C-A!

Contributions from Cara Bridget

The following pics & comments were passed along by Cara Bridget (White) Schmieder:

This one was taken at our house on 72nd St in K.C., January of 1972. I believe Mike was visiting from return from his time in the service during Vietnam. The sideburns kill me and so does our choice in sofas. You can see Grandma's blanket in the background. 

This is a photo of Alyssa & Kelly at the Crough's house during Thanksgiving of 1982. I remember some great holidays at Jim & Jeans, especially during Thanksgiving—playing hearts, spoons, or just hanging out and eating!

Happy Birthday, Tony Crough!

I hope today brings you as much excitement as you were feeling in this picture!!!!

Front porch fun at 710 N. 9th

This gathering includes Chris, Grandma, Uncle Jim, Kevin, Kelly (and Lula-Belle) and Lisa. We spent so much time on this porch, talking, listening to the grown-ups, counting cars, eating DQ, waiting for the next batch of cousins to show up to play.

Just some pictures!

I just had these pictures randomly on my computer, and I love them! The older one is me with my Grandpa and Grandma and I have no idea how old I was! And the other one is from a couple years ago when all of the cousins lined up from oldest to youngest to get a picture. Unfortunately there were a few missing! Anyway, I just had some extra time and wanted to share them with everyone! :)

Picture purfect?

Pennacchi's Crow ?

This is a test, only a test, but there will be more when this test is completed.

Here's a picture of "The Dream Team"

Back in the day...

These pictures make me smile.

For those who are showcased below, how about a few details????

Cindy, Lisa, Kelly

Cara, Kelly, Lisa, Cindy

This ol' man...

Is even older today!  Wishing my dad (Mike) a very happy day!

Sept. 28th: A Double Birthday

Happy Birthday to "Little John" Maguire, as well as the late great Grandma Jean.


9-28-1984: Grams's 54th, John's 2nd.
She got a Donda doll; he got a Cabbage Patch Kid.
(Grandpa Jim & baby Patrick Maguire somehow end up taking center stage though)

Happy Birthday....love you both!

"Lordy, Lordy!" (posted by Laura Pennacchi)

This is one of the many things I remember Grandma saying. Some days those memories are so clear and this is one of those days! I always felt a special closeness with Grandma, regardless of the miles that separated us. Even now that her physical presence is gone, her memories will keep us close. 

My 2 guardian angels

Love & Take Care

Laura Pennacchi (Mary's daughter)

SPECIAL DAY

September 23, 1908
On this day a very SPECIAL PERSON was born.
and today
September 23, 2008
I hope you all will join me in celebrating the life of our
MOTHER...GRANDMOTHER...
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
AUNT and My Mother-in-law,

FAYE CROUGH

I believe that the devotion from the
"MAGNIFICENT 7"
and the love of all of her family had a lot to do with her longevity.
To MOM, Grandma and Aunt Faye

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again
May the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.

Are YOU in this picture?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Wishing
V.E (MIKe) Crough
and
Barbara Sorrentino
a very "Happy Birthday"
today September 21, 2008

pajocro (*-*)

Incredibly blessed...

Thanks again Alyssa for starting this blog and for inviting us all to post.  I agree completely that we were incredibly blessed to know our great grandmother.  I was always really impressed by the grace both physical and emotional that Grandma Faye displayed.  That's one of the reasons we decided to give our newest addition, Magdalena Faye, her name.  I'm still a little sad that ggma didn't get a chance to meet her in person, but I think it's fitting that the strong woman grandma was lives on through this little one and all of us!

*"Frau" is Meagan Meneley, daughter of Mike Crough, and granddaughter of Jim Crough.

Hello to you all from PaJoCro

I think this is a SUPER idea.....In remembering Faye....I thought I would post this photo of the collage that Kevin made for her 90th birthday.

*PaJoCro is Pat Crough, wife of Grandma Faye's son, Jerry Crough*

Grandma Faye's Legacy

I always knew that Gr. Faye was an incredible individual and felt lucky that I actually had a relationship with my 99-year old great-grandmother. How many people can say that? Whenever you'd go visit her, she had this way of making you feel like you were so special and amazing that you would leave her house feeling incredibly good about yourself and incredibly good about life. I know I did.

This is a picture I took with Grandma on her 95th birthday out at the farm. She looked happy and relaxed...I look like I discovered lipstick for the first time. Nonetheless, in typical Grandma Faye style, she probably told me I was an "absolutely beautiful young lady" and I probably left that day believing that I was.

Exciting New Changes

9 days until we are ghetto free! We are moving out of the ghetto next week!!!! Tony got a new job at The Oakridge School ( a private college prep school) in Arlington, Texas. He hit the motherload when it comes to perfect jobs. He is an elementary school PE teacher who teaches for a total of maybe 4 hours a day. He is also the Defensive Coordinator for the varsity football team, the assistant varsity basketball coach and the assistant baseball coach for middle school. He is in heaven. He will never be able to leave this job and find another one that is so enjoyable for him. He is LOVING it! He comes home with so many great kid stories. He was in shock after his first bathroom duty with 1st graders. He is amazed at how tiny and "babylike" they are. I am so excited for him. This is something he has been dreaming about for so long.

We have bought a new house that is only 5 minutes from Tony's new school in Arlington. The house is stuck in the 70's with lime green shag carpet and gold wallpaper. However, I have spent many nights laying awake thinking of all the great plans I have to bring the house into the "now." It is a corner lot with tons of grass for TONY to mow! We are so excited for all the new changes happening in our life. It is a great time to start a new chapter in our life together.



Please come visit us! We love having company. We have plenty of room for everyone. We miss everyone so much! Someone needs to get married so we have a reason to get together and gossip! Hope all is going well for everyone! Take care!



Much love,

Chrisy

*Wife of Tony Crough (Tim's Crough's oldest son)*

Welcome!

I'm hoping that this blog will give everyone an opportunity to share:

photos of you

photos of your kids

photos of your grandkids

photos of your dogs (we don't have any cat people in our family do we???)

updates

memories

life-changing events

day-to-day observations

Basically all that "catching up" that we don't get the opportunity to do very often!

Also, you're giving me an opportunity to practice working with a blog...which Hallmark claims is the future of the company!

So if you're apprehensive about participating, do it for me—so that I can develop the skills needed to keep my job! (just kidding...well, not really)

You can email me any photos or information and I can type it up and put it on the blog. Or, for those digitally-savvy folks who are laughing because this is old hat...I can send you the link and you can do it yourself.

You can comment on others stories and photos, or you can just log on from time to time to be entertained and informed. This is for all of us to keep in touch with each other and feel just a little more connected.

Enjoy!

Alyssa

*Daughter of Cindy (Crough) Shriver, granddaughter of Jim Crough*