Back Row: Melissa, Micah (18mo), Matt, Jordan, Katie, Allison
Front Row: Madison (4), Russell, Mason (18mo), Kay, Emma Kate (2mo), Haley (10)
Back Row: Melissa, Micah (18mo), Matt, Jordan, Katie, Allison
Front Row: Madison (4), Russell, Mason (18mo), Kay, Emma Kate (2mo), Haley (10)
Merry Christmas from the Greens!!! Here are some thoughts (or is that thought-less?) about the holidays. Slightly irreverent, sometimes reverent, but hopefully entertaining, this is truly a group effort. I (Russell) enlisted the help of my brilliant family members, so hang on!
Christmas lights
have no warranty . . . and there is a reason --
Russell
There are 300 tiny
bulbs in a typical strand of icicle lights, each one waiting to wreak havoc on
my ability to spread Christmas cheer. As I am married to a direct descendent of
Santa Claus himself, I have no choice but to place a few thousand of these bulbs
around our home in early December. I try to think of it as my little
contribution to spreading holiday cheer for my wife. In the event that a strand
of icicles decides to decline my holiday invitation, I must respond to the
offending strand of (non)illuminated merriment immediately.
Case in point,
earlier this month I was making my annual trip(s) up the ladder to spread the
aforementioned merriment when what to my wondering eyes did appear, a dead
strand of lights that brought forth a tear! Of course it was only part of a
strand, already in place on the house, and in the middle of a series of
connected strands! The only thing worse that putting up Christmas lights is
putting them up twice!
2010 was a very busy year for us. Kay’s business – Mypreciouskid.com – continues to do well. She is a social network and Internet sales genius with more than 7,000 Facebook fans and over 12,000 followers on Twitter. Hey, I’ve always been known as “Kay’s husband” – no sense in changing that now! Kay continues to spend time with young moms in her Mommy2Mommy class. I work with our church youth group and facilitate a Financial Peace University class. My softball team had a winning record, but my golf game is still lousy!
“Why didn’t the innkeeper give Joseph and Mary his room!?” – Haley
Haley’s contribution to the letter is short and sweet, but well worth pondering. Why DIDN’T the innkeeper give up his bed for the mother of Jesus?! It makes you wonder what we can do to lend a hand to others, and how often we overlook opportunities when they are staring us in the face.
Haley is in the middle of fifth grade and doing well at Emmaus Christian School. It isn’t unusual to hear Taylor Swift tunes seeping out from under her bedroom door. In July, Kay and I took Haley to Nebraska to visit her maternal birth family. It was a great time of getting to know Haley’s other favorite family, including some cousins and two half-siblings. She says “I love my family more than the entire universe!” I think that is a lot! Haley also began piano lessons with Auntie Tami this year.
Mall parking lot
chaos outside the lines – Russell
Why do people find
it necessary to spend 30 minutes waiting for a parking space to open near the
mall, blocking my path to a spot farther away? Precious time slips away as the
little blue hybrid in front of me sips on its batteries while I sit behind them
contributing negatively to my carbon footprint impatiently revving the engine in
my SUV. Next year I think I will spend some time walking among the cars with a
few bags, acting like I am going to my car to leave. Watch all the crazy people
slam on their brakes, turn on their turn signal, and clog traffic!!
Why do we have
Christmas programs? Because it means cuteness . . . and motivates the parents to
keep the tuition checks a-comin’! –
Melissa
It is amazing how
quickly a preschool Christmas program can take on the appearance of a paparazzi
attack. Everyone fighting for adequate placement to capture their little one
dressed their best, singing half the words and in a whispered voice. Of course
no parent or grandparent can resist this parade of cuteness. It almost seems as
the first Christmas program is a parenting right of passage that we enjoy every
moment of. I was so proud of my little girl looking adorable waving from the
stage. I cannot wait for the next one. :)
The Marteney clan is keeps itself busy with lots of family
activities besides cute Christmas programs. Melissa started a new party
decoration and card
business called
5M Creations. Twin
brothers Micah and Mason (19 months) keep them all busy, while big sister
Madison (4) is, well, she is the big sister! Matt is putting the finishing
touches on his 1971 Chevelle, which was accepted to participate in Hot August
Nights in 2011. Matt and Melissa also led a Financial Peace University small
group at our church.
There are
still three wise men – now they are dressed in green and yellow (and grey, and
white, and black and …) -- Allison
As all of you
historians out there may already know, it is common knowledge that the Christmas
miracle occurred on December 4th by all experts' accounts and not the nationally
acknowledged day of the 25th.
There was a
certain magic in the air, I'm sure, as those who had travelled from far and wide
gathered to follow through with the duty at hand. It was a sacrifice to leave
their homes and brave the icy winds, but it was necessary to ensure things went
according to plan.
The main
roads were clogged with people hurrying to their destination. A great steady
flow of gleaming caravans sluggishly crossed what seemed like an unending barren
desert-land while families boasted their colors and allegiances with pride.
Not all was
peaceful or friendly between those who trekked to the great city, but all went
for one goal.
Yes, that's
right. I am talking about the state of I-5 on the way to the Civil War. It was a
blessed day and the air held such hope for Duck fans, who were the reigning
and nearly invincible team. LaMichael, Darron and Casey led them out like the
three shining wise men with gifts of the highest worth - speed, agility and
strength. And a great Christmas gift was given that day - a trip to the National
Championship. Amen, Hallelujah!
So in
reverence for this great season, I propose that we change the traditional
Christmas colors to the TRUE Christmas colors - from Red and Green, to Yellow
and Green. Quack, quack. Go Ducks!
Obviously
Allison turned into quite the football fan! This transformation occurred early
in the season, and well before our beloved Ducks marched through their
undefeated season. We attended the Stanford game, but she watched every other
game on television. When not cheering the Ducks, Allison spends time writing and
recording music by night and works for the county’s district attorney by day.
Jordan and I helped her move into her dream “home" in August, a studio apartment
in trendy Northwest Portland, where she has a base of operations from which she
can deploy to any music, restaurant or coffee house venue that matters.
Laws of
gravity still outweigh holiday decorations --
Melissa
Weighted Stocking hangers can look
beautiful adorned with sparkly stockings, but can inflict wounds quickly when
combined with a 19-month old's curiosity. This will end in tears and a black
eye. Guess Santa will be filling stockings from a higher location this year.
(Micah’s eye
is fine)
Twin note: They are fraternal not identical. And yes we can tell them apart
(except Jordan). Madison was able to tell them apart correctly as little babies.
It took Poppi a bit longer. :)
Boy Scouts
are always prepared, even at Christmas. Why aren’t you? (or
subtitled “Snow Tires, an in depth
look on preparedness and winter
chaos from behind the tire iron…”) –
Jordan
Winter
sucks. Snow sucks. Ice sucks.
While the
fluffy white stuff makes for a paradise of wonderment on the eyes, it will
always wreak havoc on our daily commute. You know what?...get over it. It
happens every year. Sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes for only an
hour…regardless of how it happens, it’s going to happen, and it’s going to suck.
Why can’t we as a collective people decide to be prepared…and for the record,
calling me or any other local tire vendor the day the proverbial “crud” hits the
fan is not considered being prepared. Be prepared, the Boy Scouts live by it,
why can’t we all.
Let me wrap
this up by saying I get it, I know it’s painful opening that billfold. Every
bill that slips its way out stings a little bit more. I’ve known some who
clearly consider this process to be equal to the pain of childbirth (don’t tell
my wife I said that). Everybody hates spending money, let alone on something
that won’t see a week of use during the year (Unless it’s that beautiful
treadmill/coat hook that hangs out in the garage). Let me tell you though, we
ALLLLLL love to complain when we slide into that guard rail.
So let’s just
agree right now that winter sucks, snow sucks, ice sucks, and next year…next
year we’ll be prepared.
Jordan and
Katie’s biggest news came in the smallest package. Emma Kate was born on
September 29! Preparations for Emma’s arrival were complete in time, including a
pink and brown nursery. It is fun to watch them become such awesome parents.
Katie will take a break from her job at the credit union, while Jordan continues
to manage the shop at H&M Motorsports and restores old bicycles . . . when he
isn’t changing (cloth) diapers!
And speaking
of small packages . . .
In the most
brilliant stroke of gift-giving irony, why do you suppose God chose to send us a
savior by way of a teenage virgin, in an obscure town, in a setting barely fit
for animals? If man had been charged with introducing Jesus Christ to a world in
this day, there would have been a public relations campaign like no other –
complete with Facebook fan pages, Twitter updates, a huge arena with lights, red
carpets and A-list celebrities. Instead, a single star marked the spot, with a
few shepherds and noblemen to bring gifts. Pretty amazing, huh?
Here’s hoping
you have an amazing blessed Christmas season and Happy New Year!
Madison, Micah, Mason, Emma Kate
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