Birthday Boy!

Will's 30!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's actually Ethan's birthday today (HAPPY BIRTHDAY my big 4 year old, I will blog about it after his party on Saturday) but Will turned 30 on Sunday so I thought I would blog about that first. For the life of me I could not get Will to tell me what he wanted to do for his birthday. I asked and asked and asked and all I got was "I dunno!" I had already used up my surprise party idea for his graduation so that was out. It's his 30th so I was trying so hard to figure out something great to do, but I was getting no help. So I finally just emailed his friend Quinn and that got things rolling. We ended up having a game night with a half dozen friends at our house. For Will's b-day I got him the Rock Band set for the WII so that's what we played all night. It was fun and Will had a great time and that's all that matters.

So with his present already given to him and his birthday on Sunday I decided to do a little birthday tribute to him. For every year of his life I found out something that was significant that happened to him. I made it into a game like an Easter egg hunt. Since our Church isn't until 1pm I let him sleep in and that's when the boys and I hid the birthday tributes around the house. Once he got up he, well actually the kids found them and gave them to him to read. (Thanks Myrna for your help with the facts for the game). Here is that tribute if you would like to read it.

1979 – You were born, then blessed on March 4, and you walked at 11 months old

1980 – Fell out of a stroller that was being pushed by your older brothers and hit your tooth. Your tooth then turned brown and from then on was deemed “The Golden Tooth”. You got 4 quarter from the tooth fairy for that tooth.

1981 – You had a stuffed animal you called “Donkey Hotey”.

1982 – Finally got potty trained.

1983 – Attended a neighborhood preschool.

1984 – In kindergarten you got on the bus because you thought it was going to the Zoo. You scared your mother to death.

1985 – You take after your Grandpa Dalley when it comes to your art.

1986 – You loved to write stories. I think I heard you mention one about a little Purple Smurf.

1987 – You were baptized January 29 and became a Cub Scout

1988 – You thought you were Catholic

1989 – You played Soccer.

1990 – The symphonic band from junior high came and played at your elementary school. This started your love of classical music.

1991 – You won a Geography bee March 5.

1992 – You started Junior High and received your “Arrow of Light” award. Started playing the French horn.

1993 – You were blonde until you hit junior high.

1994 – You started High school

1995 – You got your drivers license. You received the Aaronic Priesthood (priest)and your Patriarchal Blessing January 29.

1996 – Attended Europe trip.

1997 – You graduated from High school. We started to fall in love at the band party, and not to long after that we had our first date June 13th. You played 2nd chair French horn in the University of Utah Symphony Orchestra, November 21.

1998 – Served a mission in Seoul Korea

1999 – Continue to serve and see beautiful South Korea.

2000 – Returned from your Mission. We resumed dating and got engaged on October 31st

2001 – We got sealed for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple May 16th and then we had a lovely time in Hawaii on our honeymoon.

2002 - 1st Anniversary in Bryce Canyon.

2003 – 2nd Anniversary Park City, first hot air balloon ride.

2004 – Built and moved into the yellow house. Decide to become a Chiropractor and apply to schools

2005 – Become a father of your first-born son Ethan on January 27. Moved to Portland to go to WSCC.

2006 – Become a Father of Two Sons, Joshua was born on September 26.

2007 – Be an amazing husband and throw your wife a fabulous surprise birthday party.

2008 – Star as the fabulous Valet in the “Twilight” movie. Graduated from WSCC. Met your goal of graduating before you turned 30.

2009 – Became an officially licensed Doctor! Oh and Turned 30!

Happy 30th Birthday Will!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you!

Best Husband Ever!!!

So I am really not trying to brag it is just the truth, I have the BEST HUSBAND EVER!! Out of appreciation of all the sacrifices and hard work of taking care of our children while Will was in school, he (Will) decided to give me a wonderful SURPRISE VACATION. Boy did I have him fooled, because even though it was at times really hard it also was a really great time. So Will who never takes time off of work and I mean never! Well, unless he is absolutely ill. Anyways Will took two days off, and this is what we did. First off I knew something was up because a couple days earlier I had been bugging him about his birthday and what he wanted to do for it. I wanted to get somebody to watch the kids while we went and spent a night somewhere... anywhere. I didn't care I just wanted/needed some time with him. You know with out the screaming/demanding kids. Love them to death, truly I do. Anyways so he just kept trying to change the subject but finally getting frustrated and telling me we can't because he had a surprise date for me planned on Monday. So of course after that I kept grilling him and asking what we were doing and he would not for the life of me tell me what it was. So all I knew was that he had Monday off and we were doing something around 1pm. Finally Monday rolls around and I was so so anxious I didn't know what we were going to be doing. So 1pm finally rolls around and we were off, first to my pleasant surprise we dropped the kids off at his parents and then again we were off and I didn't know where. Finally after what felt like a long ride which really was not I just was anxious we finally arrived at a theater. He took me to see The Yes Man, with Jim Carry. Yea, I felt dumb. Here I was all anxious and we were just going to a movie.

The movie was okay, it had one really funny part and the rest was just entertaining, well other then a couple crude parts which I could have done with out.

Next we had a little time before our dinner reservations so we hit a couple of local shops before dinner. One was a little boutique the other a furniture shop. Then we went to Jasoh for dinner it is a restaurant in Ogden.

Again it was okay. You who know me well know that I am a very picky eater. What I have figured out from this evenings food is that I do not like what I would call stuck up food or fancy food some might say. I like regular old food. They had stuff like duck, lamb and yak. I just want chicken, beef or maybe even pork. So sorry just not my thing. But I loved the time with my Hubby.

After we were done at the restaurant we got in the car of course and this was the funniest part. Here is what happened Will started to fuss with his seat. I really didn't think anything of it at first but then he pulled over and got out that's when he pulled out a Michael Bubble CD that he had bought me. I don't know you probably had to be there but I just started to laugh. It was like a Magician pulling something out of his hat. So of course I was like what else are you hiding under there. I am sure you had to be there but we had a good laugh.

And last but not least we took a really long ride up to Providence Utah (it's just south of Logan) and spent the night at this quaint little INN called the Providence in. Here is a link if anybody is interested. http://www.bbonline.com/ut/providence/ On the way I started to wonder where on earth we were going, we just kept driving and driving so of course I started to ask. He at first denied all question but soon filled me in that we were spending the night somewhere. At this moment I had this really sad feeling come over me and it was that I wasn't going to see my kids that night. I just was not prepared for that. I almost started to cry. So I pulled myself together not wanting to freak Will out and just reminded my self that this is what I had been wanting and of how nice this was going to be.

We had a really nice evening. I would recommend this place, it was quiet, they served us cookies and hot chocolate, popcorn and free movies. And I can not forget the huge breakfast we got. I had a really, really great time. I wished I was still there. Which of course is way ironic because I could hardly stand it this morning I wanted to see my boys so bad.

Oh and I got a dozen red roses also. Thanks Will I had the best time! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chrstmas Day 2008!

Christmas Day!

So after the kids crashed after the festivities on Christmas Eve, Challene and I set to work. I'm very grateful that most of the stuff was put together before this night. It would have made for a very long evening. Fortunately for me, I have a wife with the foresight of a clairvoyant.

Looks great, eh?

BIG WHEELS!!! Given the incredible memories I had as a kid with a Big Wheel, we just had to get the kids one! It was a hit. Now they just need to grow several inches more so they can ride them properly.

I suppose this Christmas was one based on nostalgic fodder for Challene and I. The Big Wheels and now the bouncing horse. The nice thing about this horse: No exposed springs with which to snag your skin. The horse is padded so you can ride as rough as you want without repercussions... bareback even!

Like I said, riding it properly wasn't really an option at this time, but Ethan and Joshua, I believe, are really stunt-men at heart. I mean... look at him go!

We didn't get Joshy stuntin', but he's always good for a funny picture.

Beyond the contemporary updates, this horse makes galloping sounds and talks. It's a little hypersensitive, though. Some nights, we hear galloping sounds coming from downstairs. It's kind of freaky. Then you hear, "I'm a little pony. Clippity-Clop, Clippity-Clop. Such a pretty pony. Clippity-Clop, Clippity-Clop." Kind of eerie!

DINOSAURS!!! Yes, even these were somewhat reminiscent. Remember...

"I'm da baby! Gotta love me!"

Oh man, that's so classic!

Challene braved Black Friday to pick up this little gem at RC Willey for a measly $20. It's a giant novelty piano. Where's the childhood nostalgic heart twang for that? I give you....

TOM HANKS!



Trust me, the first thing I did with that piano was play chop-sticks!

What to do after a big day of presents? Take a nap and eat your own toenails, duh!

We hosted Christmas for Challene's side this year. It was nice to have it at our house. Mostly because we didn't have to risk our lives getting here like everyone else did. It was certainly a white Christmas.

Save the Cheerleader, save the world?
Precious... so precious.

Ethan finally crashed. He was watching Horton Hears a Who (another tid-bit from my past) and being very quiet about it. Finally, we walked over and saw him sleeping like this. I wonder if there will come a day where he will keep his pants on? Only time will tell.

My precious wife got me seasons 2-4 of The Office for Christmas. She did good.

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Decorating

We waited a while before we decorated the house. The kids really enjoyed it when we did, though. The pictures here will show just that.

Who'd've thunk a simple snow globe/music box could be so much fun? I suppose this was the first real Christmas that the boys could enjoy. Last year, Ethan was really into it, but became quite ill on Christmas Eve and ended up being sick the whole time. This time, they were both healthy and ready to celebrate.

Joshy in particular had to make sure that the tree was perfect.

Yes, they took great pride in the tree... until Joshua got a hold of a vacuum attachment and decided to use it as a baseball bat. I must give him kudos for such an accurate aim, but on the other had, he did 'splode an ornament. That wasn't the last time either. Three of our ornaments fell victim to Joshua's antics at one time or another. Also, an ornament at our friends the Turner's house bit the dust when Joshua, wearing his baseball goggles again, decided to pitch it across the room.

Christmas Eve with the Green's

It is tradition each year for my family to spend Christmas Eve together. We opted, this year, to have our celebration in a church instead of cramming all 23 (or so) of us in someone's house.

We started with the program and ate afterward. Typically, we do it just the opposite, but this year was full of changes!

Grandpa Green really got into icing cookies. Poor Ethan had to wait for Grandpa to hand over the red icing. Poor, patient Ethan.

Joshy got a little Fatherly for Dillon.

One of the benefits of having the Christmas program/dinner in the church gym? Dodgeball. It got a little rough for the young'uns, but fun was had all around.

Then we had a Christmas Miracle! Joshua, my little man, snuck some broccoli. Once confronted, he popped it in his mouth as if caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He actually loved it. What a weirdo! He's like that, though. Ethan is our carbohydrate man and Josh is our veggie/fruit lover!

Some of the fun.

Christmas Eve @ the Turner's

It is tradition to stop by the Turner's residence on Christmas Eve. The Turner's live next to Colleen and it has been the Anderson tradition to spend Christmas Eve with them. So we stop by after the Green family partying stops.

Shane showing off his Simpson's DVD. I already have that one, or he may have found it missing later in the evening.

What's a Christmas party without karaoke?

Ethan and Joshua got some special Christmas books.

Plus, they got crayons and a coloring book.

Don't forget the Christmas pajamas.

Nothing says Christmas like Lightning McQueen... KaChow!

I feel it must be mentioned that I, William Green, won two of the three contests had at the party. The first was a general Christmas knowledge trivia challenge. I decimated the competition with a 17/20, with the next highest being 12/20. For the prize? A specialty carmel (caramel?) apple from the... specialty carmel apple store in the mall. This apple was a granny smith with a rather healthy layer of caramel, followed by a thin (but luscious) ply of divinity. Finally, it was capped by a hard shell chocolate dusted with cinnamon and sugar. I fancy myself a lover of all things carmel apples and was grateful for the prize.

The second contest was a Christmas music contest. I didn't even place. The third, though, was a test of the Twelve Days of Christmas song. You simply had to name each gift for each day of Christmas. I won with 9 of the 12. I missed one and the rest were all off. Well the prize for that? The same carmel apple. Had I known then that this carmel apple would be the most exquisite, succulent, most desirable of all carmel apples, I wouldn't have given it to the runner up.

CURSE MY MORAL FORTITUDE!!!!!

And that was our Christmas Eve.

The kids were so zonked out by the time we got home we didn't even have them set out cookies and milk. Don't worry, Challene and I did.

Licensed to... heal!

Well, it's official. I am now a licensed chiropractor... with all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges contained therein. Years and years of school, money, sacrifice (mine and Challene's) all culminated into an eleven digit license number on a 5X9 piece of blue-ish parchment. Now I actually have to earn my keep! Freaky!

So anyway, that's about it. I'm supposed to tell you all that there will be a Christmas post coming soon. So you've got that to look forward to, so that's nice.

Go in peace.

Feeling nervous... inadequate....and last but not least overwhelmed!

Long story short I got a Church calling this morning. I am the new Relief Society Secretary. I am overall excited about the opportunity this will give me to get to know the women in the ward better and quicker. I am also excited about the opportunity to grow more spiritually as I serve in this calling. However as I mentioned in my title I am felling very nervous about what this will entail. I am also hoping that it will not be an overwhelming calling, time wise that is. And last but not least I am felling somewhat inadequate, I just want to do well at my calling.

& a Happy New Year!

Love, The Greens