Daddy's Not So Little Girl

McKenzie

M – melodious – She is always singing and can remember lyrics. She claims she has trouble memorizing anything – ha – I bet to differ
c – courageous – Being the oldest isn’t easy. However she is always trying her best. When she’s not annoying her brother and sister (along with parents) she is taking the utmost care of those who she loves
K – keepsake – She is 100% Green and she is all mine!
E – energetic – I wish I had 1/10 of her energy! Read, run, dance, sing, wrestle, school, ride, write, hug, clean, jump, laugh, yell and about 15 other things she does all in a single day and with out slowing down.
N – nice – When she is not beating up her brother and rolling her eyes at mom and dad, she is the sweetest person I know. I love to receive her notes and drawings. She truly cares and loves her brother and sister.
Z – zany – She has the typical 8 year old sense of humor – which I love. She laughs at the slap humor on TV and the bad jokes mommy, daddy, Indy and Grandpa Pead tells her.
I – intense – When she sets her mind to anything, consider it done. Competitions, habits, school work – you name it – when she wants something, or if there is anything in her way – watch out world she’s going to attack it with intense force!
E – emotional – since she was a baby if she even thinks about crying, her eyes flare up and she looks like a raccoon. However, she is also very aware of other people’s emotions.

McKenzie I am so proud to be your daddy. I love to hear youlaugh! I love to hear you sing! I love to watch you dance! I love to snuggle up with you on the couch! I love to wrestle and play games with you. I love to scare you (even though I know you hate it). You have truly made me a better person. You have brought me endless amounts of joy in my life. I couldn’t be prouder of the daughter you have become. I also couldn't be prouder of what you have and will continue to accomplish. Continue to chase your dreams! Always remember who you are – and what you were taught. Remember – WE don’t quit. Most important – know that I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.

Vive la France!

Vive la France! The year of 2008 has put a lot of wear and tear on me and my family. I missed most of the summer due to traveling. My most recent trip was to France. I spent a week in Versailles and Paris. All I can say is WOW!! The experience can be summed up with one word – Manifique! In Versailles I had the opportunity to walk the grounds and gardens of the Palace. The Palace is ENORMOUS and extremely non-frugal. I now know one of the reasons the French Revolution took place. If I was a peasant – starving and freezing and the King and Queen were living in the lap of luxury I too would revolt! The Palace has 34 gardens each with its own water fountain. I also had the opportunity of walking the ground of the Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette’s Estate). The grounds were fascinating and probably my favorite part of the entire experience at Versailles! I really enjoyed the Hamlet portion of her estate. The Hamlet is a village that Marie Antoinette wanted to provide country amusement and for herself and her children. There are 12 cottages encircled by vegetable and flower gardens. Please see the pictures!

Day 2 was spent walking the city of Paris. I loved every minute of this experience! I must have walked 10 miles – but we saw everything we wanted. We started off by seeing the Eiffel Tower. I had forgotten how large the tower is. I took pictures (see right) and then decided to hike to the second level of the tower (4 Euros). Well 700 steps later I was there and man what a view!! You could see all of Paris. It was magnificent!

We then took the metro over to the Arc De Triomphe. Once again I had forgotten how magnificent the monument was. It was incredible to see it! Because it was windy (and it’s always windy in France) the French Flag was flying in the middle of it. It was beautiful!

We then decided to walk down the Champs-Élysées toward the Louvre. Man what a walk. I should have jumped on the metro and saved my legs and feet, but I decided I was on one of the most famous streets in the world and I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. The Champs-Élysées is probably the most popular retail street in the world. You name a retail company or product – it was there. However once you get past all the hoopla of the retail shops, you found the more intimate and quieter side of the world famous street: parks, trees, cafes, benches and my favorite – street vendors selling baguettes.

Finally we got to the Louvre and its world famous gardens. I have to admit the crystal pyramid it sticks out like a sore thumb and is out of place. However once on the grounds, I did experience one of Paris’s unpleasant offerings: gypsy’s and street beggars. The gypsy would not let me go and insisted on making me a braided bracelet. I told him I didn’t have money and he insisted it wasn’t about money. He made me the bracelet and wanted $16 Euros ($24 USD) for it. I said I didn’t have any money and no way in the blessed world would I give him $16 Euros for a bracelet that cost $.20 cents to make. This is where I made my mistake – I pulled out my coins from my pocket – totaling $6 Euros and in the next second they were gone. He wanted me to ask my colleague for more money I told him no. He left angry – but at least he left!!

From the Louvre we walked over Pont Neuf Bridge and made our way to Notre Dame Cathedral. You literally walk around a corner and BOOM there it is. Words can describe how beautiful the world famous Gothic cathedral is. I couldn’t believe the detail of the sculptures both inside and outside of the monument. Once inside, I was immediately noticed how dark and dreary it was. The stained glass was incredible! There were thousands of people outside waiting to get inside, or taking pictures. However, I walked around the back of the cathedral and this is where the real beauty of the edifice is! Not only is the architecture amazing, but you don’t have to fight the crowds. There are also some swings and teeter-totter for the kids.

I left Notre Dame and went to the Paris Opera House (see below right) and again was amazed out the beauty and size of the building. In order to go inside the Opera House you need to pay $8 Euros which I didn’t have from the stupid gypsy I encountered at the Louvre. Just being in the lobby of the building you could see how beautiful the facility would be.

Once outside the Opera House, I jumped on the metro and headed for the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (see below). I remember when I was little going here with my parents and brothers and sister to feed the birds. My grandfather owned a home just across the street from the remarkable basilica. It was a very special moment for me because I could imagine my mother as a little girl running around with her sisters and cousins playing in the very spot I was standing.

Although the trip was short, it did give me a taste of what France is all about. It made me proud of my French heritage. It made me think of my parents – my mom being French and my dad loving everything about France. It showed me sights and sounds I will never forget. However, the one thing it taught me the most is – I need to come back again with Mandy, McKenzie, Indiana, Presley and Grandma!

What a trip! Vive la France !

Busy Summer!

A lot has happened since my last post! I have been to Sweden, Denmark, France and South Africa. I’m about ready to travel to France (2 weeks), Spain (1st of September) and back to South Africa. I am traveled out!

Also since my last post, I have recovered from the installation of our sprinkler system and now bask in the beauty of Sod City! We have truly enjoyed every drop of blood, sweat and tears – not to mention coinage ($$$$) that went into putting down GREEN sod! Now if it would just cool down so we can enjoy the grass during the day.

We have been extremely busy throughout the summer of 2008! McKenzie, Indy and Presley have benefited from the summer activities– camping, book signings, Wii games, trips to Wyoming, swimming, fireworks, movie nights, family reunions, Alpine Slide and many summer blockbuster movies. In fact, both Mandy and I are ready for the school year to start hoping it will finally slow down our lives!

However, even though we were running around like crazy people one thing has become quite apparent – WE LOVE BEING TOGETHER!! The summer of 2008 has been EXTREMELY memorable for both the kids and us as parents, too!

I’m grateful for my family! I love my wife! She is my greatest cheerleader and the crutch I fall upon when down. I love my kids – there are times you want to punt them, but then they say or do something that makes you fall in love with them all over again! They provide me with endless smiles and memories!

I LOVE BEING A HUSBAND AND DAD!

My Smoking Hot Wife!

May 8th is a just another day right?? WRONG!! Do you know May 8th is the date The Beatles released their final album - “Let It Be”? May 8th is also the date John Pemberton patents his famous syrup – who the heck is John Pemberton you say – holes have been burned in many peoples stomachs by his sweet tasting soft drink – Coca Cola. Another important event on May 8th is after five years, eight months, and five days of massive devastation, the end of the European phase of World War II is celebrated in 1945.

However all these events pale in comparison to what I deem the greatest event to ever take place on May 8th and that event took place in 1973 when Mandy Brooke was born in Provo, Utah to Brian and Corlie Ann Pead.

Yes-oh-yes, today my sweet wife is celebrating her 35 birthday. Although there may be some wailing and gnashing of teeth after adding one more candle to the cake. There may be some achy joints and wrinkles in places you didn't know exist. What ever the case may be, Mandy needs to know is she is still, and always will be SMOKING HOT!

Mandy has sure made her presence known over the past 35 years. She has changed the lives of hundreds who have crossed her paths. In 35 years, Mandy has made the world a better and happier place - with her ability to befriend anyone. Also, my wife has improved this world by laughing and showing us all how important is it to have a sense of humor! My wife has made the world better by flashing her radiant smile to everyone she comes in contact with. Let’s face it Mandy has a BEAUTIFUL SMILE (thank you head-gear)!!

Although it took me 25 years to find her, it was well worth the wait! She has changed my life. She has made me a better person. She is my greatest cheerleader – and I am hers! Although 35 years have passed and many events have come and gone, I believe the next 35 years is where Mandy truly shines! I Love you Sweetheart!! Happy Birthday!!

Sod City

In the past 33 years, I have come to realize many things: the sky is blue, Edward Cullen is a fictional character and we men will never live up to him, Hillary Clinton is a man (and an ugly one at that), standing in front of a moving locomotive will get yourself killed, I am proud to say, I learned another thing this past weekend–YARD WORK SUCKS ROCKS (no pun intended!).

Mandy and I decided it’s time to begin working on the outside of our home – it has only taken 7 years. On Saturday, we rented a sod-cutter and began the process of removing our lawn. Now many of you may say – you already had a lawn?? why remove it then? Well let me tell you, if you ran across our lawn – you would be rushed to the emergency room with a broken / sprained ankle. Our lawn was bumpy, lumpy and just unpleasant! If it wasn’t the bumps breaking your ankles, the weeds would jump up and bite them off.

We spent all day driving the sod-cutter (aka – SATAN’S MACHINE). The machine weighed in at a beefy 400 lbs. It chose its own paths, if it didn’t want to move forward, it would kick back just to mock you. If you know anything about Newton’s Law of Motion anytime you put a 135 lb person up against a 400 lb piece of hell-bent metal the person (ME) is going to lose badly. I got my butt kicked. Luckily for me, my brother Alan was there to help me. He was willing to take the abuse. Although we are both sore, we hope we never have to come across Mr. Lucifer’s Lawn Mower again!

Well as you can see by the pictures, we got the front yard done, thanks in part to Alan Green, Tara Mayoros, Gina Rawson, Phyllis Bradford and daughters, Richie & Whitney Green. Thank you to all who participated!

For those who didn’t participate – don’t worry you’ll have your turn! We will be putting in sprinkler and laying more sod.

WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO. Sweet Mercy someone put me out of my misery!

Indiana Jones

Seven years ago, we were in the final weeks of Mandy's second pregnancy. Then finally on May 22, 2001 our son was born. For months before his birth we tried to come up with a name we could both agree upon. Now I know wars have been fought, tears have been shed and blood has been spilt over the name game. However, while we were in the hospital, a treaty was signed and the white flag was waved and the name was given - Henry Alden. The names come from the two greatest men in our lives - our fathers. However, as we were leaving the hospital, Mandy said, "I really like the name Indiana." Since I was still recovering from the wounds inflicted upon me from the name game, I once again extended the olive branch and ran up the white peace flag. The past 7 years, we have had the opportunity to watch Henry Indiana Alden Green live up to not only to his grandfather’s names, but the scholar name of Indiana Jones. Indiana has many of the traits of his movie screen hero. For one, Indy is BRILLIANT! Also, as you can see by the photo, he has the ladies swooning around him and all at the age of 7. WOW!! Look out world.

We were SOOO excited to find out the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull comes out on his birthday. Coincidence? I think NOT! Indiana you were sent here for a reason. We love you! Thank you for filling our home with humor, sensitivity and adventures. Keep chasing your dreams!! We will be cheering you on

I'm Bloggin Baby

Laugh, Snicker, Jab, Mock, Tease, Scorn, Rib or even Ridicule. Say (or do) what you want. I'M BLOGGIN BABY! I am looking forward to giving you an update every-so-often from the life surrounding Brent Green. Currently, I am working at Curecrete Distribution, Inc. - yes you read it right - the most untechnical individual walking the earth today is working in the concrete industry. Sure, I have had to incorporate a few slang words into my vocabulary and began collecting every Van Halen album ever produced. I have even tried growing a mullet, but unfortunately, I'm as bald as a cue ball.

Life is GREAT for me and my little family. I have 3 kids - McKenzie (8), Indiana (7) and Presley (3). I am married to the sweetest and HOTTEST woman walking the earth. We have been married 10 years in August. Time sure does fly!

I LOVE life! I am truly happy! Again, I look forward to giving you updates here and there. Until then I'll be Runnin' With The Devil (Van Halen forever!).