Happy New Year to all!!! We're back with Comcast and finally all hooked up at the house so it's time to update your address books with yet ANOTHER set of new email addresses: johncece@comcast.net for Johnny and jennjcece@comcast.net for Jenn.
January 6th 2005
Happy Birthday to my sister, Stephie! Happy Happy 29th (+2) ;-> It was so great to be back for my sis's Bday. We're the same age again!!! We're only 10-1/2 months apart so from Jan 6th to Feb 20th, we're both 31 :-) Uhm, I mean 29 (plus two) :-)
January 22nd 2005
Wow what a snow storm we have going here. My cuzin Heather sent an email out yesterday about the winter weather North Carolina! is getting and Ma Rose called this morning with news that they're due to get a Noreaster in this evening. As annoying as clearing the snow is, I still LOVE this stuff!!!!!!! Let's go make snow angels!!
February 2nd 2005
John will be leaving for Boston on Saturday :-( ... We're very disheartened by the job situation here in Chicago and LUCKILY this opportunity came up for him to fill in at his old job at the hotel while his co-worker is out having hand surgery. He'll be back home for Easter. I'll even be able to fly out and visit the family during his last week so we'll be able to fly back together. We're hearing things that a job he's been interested will be opening up about the time he's due to be back in Chicago so keep your fingers crossed!!! We can use all the prayers and good thoughts you've got!
January 30th 2005
We've had our 1st Beantown guest! Ok, technically he's from Florida but you know what we mean ;-> Walter was in Chicago on business and stayed a few days extra to visit with us January 28-30th. Unfortunately, Gus was unable to arrange a visit at the same time. But it was still great having him over!!
February 6th 2005
Zachary made his Confirmation today. We were so very proud of him :-) Kiki and Mom started crying the second he walked into the church with all the other candidates (haha). They were so cute. Check out a few of the pictures I took by clicking here.
February 5th 2005
Bon Voyage :-( John left for Boston today. Him being gone is going to be weird. Afterall, we've pretty much been together all the time since I started working at the hotel 2 years ago! And can you believe we're STILL not tired of each other!!! Heeheehee ;-)
February 25th 2005
It worked, it worked!! I flew to Boston Friday, Feb 25th to surprise John for the weekend. He had NO idea I was coming and was totally surprised :-) THANK YOU forever to Raquel, John, and the kids for helping me pull this off, even if it didn't go completely according to plan! You guys are the BEST!!
March 2nd 2005
I'm very sad to say my granduncle Joe Palko passed away on March 2, just 2 weeks shy of his 90th birthday. My sister & I weren't fortunate enough to know him most of our lives but the Askews are terribly sad to have lost him. Please pray that God be with the Palko, Riffle, and DeCarlo families... We love you Uncle Joe!
March 27th 2005
Easter was at our house this year but Mom still did all the cooking and BOY did it turn out DELICIOUS!!!! The Shutkos were either in St. Louis or North Carolina but the rest of the Leeneys made it by. It was so wonderful to see everyone and was just a beautiful, happy day :-)
April 1st 2005
Today was John's first day at his new job at the Renaissance Chicago! A position opened up in the Accounting office just as his 7 weeks in Boston was ending and he got it! Yea Johnny!! Also, I've applied for a job there in the Engineering dept. (same one I had in Boston) & am just waiting for everything to be finalized.
April 8th 2005
Happy Birthday to my Grandma. I love you and I miss you... I started my new job at the Renaissance today. It was nice to be working with John again and seeing him on and off during the day.
May 7th 2005
Today we celebrated my Granduncle Tom's 80th birthday with a sweet party at Aunt Barb's. It was great that most of the Dankovises made it, too, but sad the girls (Heather & Beth) couldn't. But seeing Alan was SOOOOOO great!!!!!!
May 8th 2005
Happy Mother's Day to Mom and Ma!!! We love you guys so much!!! While Ma Rose & Warnocks didn't make it down the Cape due to heavy rains, Mom Cathy and Steph spent the night at our house and for the first time in 4 years, I was able to spend Mother's Day with my Momma :-)
June 8th 2005
Jessica danced in her annual recital today. When I went 2 years ago, I had SUCH a great time! I wish I could have been there to see her. But at least I have an idea of what she was doing because Raquel took me to a rehearsal while John and I were there in March. LOVE YA JESS!!!!
June 12th 2005
We went to Aunt Bobbie's Noteables dinner concert this evening. The Noteables is a chorus that she's been singing with for as long as I can remember. In fact, tonight was her 25th anniversary with them!! Barb also used to sing with them but left the chorus a long long time ago. Congratulations Aunt Bobbie!!!
June 26th 2005
Happy Birthday Momma!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steph, John, and I surprised Mom with an early dinner at the House of Kobe Japanese Restauarant with Carol, Kiki, and Zack. We all headed back to our house for cake and fun drinks (except none for Zack ;->). I'm so happy I was here to spend Mom's BDay with her!!!!!
July 2nd 2005
Happy 4th!!! We had our first holiday at the new house - a 4th of July BBQ on Saturday July 2nd. All the Leeney (except for Heather & Carlos who couldn't make it from NC) plus Kiki and Zack and the Rogers fam were there. Thanks to Mom, Steph, Carol, and Kiki everything went off PERFECTLY!!!
July 31st 2005
The cat's outta the bag!! The surprise is sprung!! Ma Rose now has 2 weeks to get nervous about flying out to Chicago for a visit with Jo and little Billy!! We're so excited to see them and just can't wait for them to get here :-)
August 18th 2005
It's been a tough week. Ma Rose suffered a stroke sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. From what we're hearing, things are very difficult but there's improvement every day. We're flying out next week to see her. We were going to fly our today (8/18) but Uncle Tom, the only real grandfather I've ever known, passed away this morning. It was sudden.. Please keep my precious Aunt Bobbie and the family in your thoughts and prayers....
August 28th 2005
Our trip to Boston went well. Ma is making improvements every day, even if it's ust something small. By the time we left she was able to drawn her leg up. Her speech is the most difficult challenge she's facing right now but when she speaks loudly, it seems easier to get the words out. The doctors have a target release date of September 27th for her so I'm heading back the weekend before to get the house ready for her. Please continue your prayers for her speedy recovery.
October 2nd 2005
Ma is coming along really well. Steph and I went out to Boston last weekend and I couldn't believe how far she's come in just a month :^) Her speech has gotten SO much better (I'd say she's about 80-85% back) and she's even walking about 70' with a 4-footed cane! They were gonna release her from Spaulding on the 27th but are giving her 2 weeks longer because she had so much back trouble in the beginning. Please continue to keep her and the family in your prayers. And BTW: Jo, you are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 31st 2005
I think Steph has been most excited about us moving back to Chicago so she could go crazy decorating for Halloween again!! We had such a great time getting the house ready (even though we did get to do it until the weekend before and we didn't end up with as many Trick-or-Treaters as we hoped) and have BIG ideas for next year :^) We're gonna be the cool, must-see house in 2006!!! Check out our decorations here.
