Christmas at the Greenwoods (25 Dec 2025)

Christmas at the Greenwoods (25 Dec 2025)

Fantastic kids chilling during a wonderful visit to the Phoenix Temple open house.

A Christmas message for Brady, Emily, Claire, and Ethan- our favorite Arizona Greenwoods!

Christmas traditions vary from home to home. We’re finding they also vary as children grow up and start leaving home. We hope that you all, including Brady who has returned home from his foray into Santa’s winter wonderland, truly enjoy this Christmas season. As you enjoy your Christmas traditions, may we reflect on some traditions and memories of days gone by.

Christmas at the Greenwoods, circa 1978.

A long time ago in a land far, far away…

… several young boys received yellow Tonka Trucks for Christmas. These trucks provided hours of enjoyment, including along the banks of the ditch where the industrious boys only occasionally fell into the ditch.

… a family of boys went to the church to play basketball in the cultural hall. This voyage was a change from the typical basketball venue, a gravel driveway, but permitted the competition between brothers to continue unabated. Of course, I know of no greater competition than that between Wayne and his equally competitive older brother Keith. Wayne’s relentless pursuit of athletic dominance on the court (or gravel driveway) resulted in just enough 1v1 wins against Keith to feed both of their desires to strive even harder. Unfortunately, this made it very difficult for Lyle to win in a 1v1 matchup:).

… a Christmas break from the routine allowed for additional activities and games where occasionally that competition continued. Who could sled the furthest and fasted down the hill by the barn (watch out for cars!), sit-up or jump rope contests, marathon games of cards (including War, the worst game ever), and board games. Much to the chagrin of Keith, Wayne was particularly gifted at chess, so after Wayne would win the first game, Keith would insist on playing best 2 out of 3, then 3 out of 5, then 4 out of 7, until forced to go to bed.

… Wayne’s two-year old brother, Roger, received the timeless present of Curious George for Christmas. Little did Roger anticipate the endless hours of entertainment Wayne would provide using Curious George as his puppet.

Christmas at the Greenwoods circa 1977 with Curious George. He had just arrived and was already the center of the Greenwood home.

… Wayne explained to his clueless and innocent younger brother where Santa kept his presents (in the back of their parent’s closet) in preparation for Christmas Day delivery. His life would never be the same!

… a mother of nine boys spent hours sewing in her bedroom in the weeks preceding Christmas. The slippers (better than Uggs) kept our feet warm and snug for years despite the frigid Idaho winters inside a sometimes drafty home (especially in the cold big bedroom).

… an older brother, Scott, gave our parents the gift of an Alabama music cd for Christmas. That became our Christmas soundtrack on repeat for years following. My favorite of those songs was obviously “Thistlehair, the Christmas Bear”. As your favorite uncle, I recommend that you complain very loudly to your dad if he hasn’t yet introduced you to that amazing song. It may not be as great as “Farmer Tan”, but it does come a close second. 

We wish we lived closer and were able to gather more frequently. But we are grateful for the memories we have together. It was fun to see you all a few times while we lived ‘close’ to you in California. We loved visiting Arizona. We loved spending time together, seeing the Phoenix Temple open house, meeting your dog, doing a New Year’s Day cold plunge, watching “Little Lunch” together, and even learning to play the trumpet.

Wayne teaching Kelsey how to play the trumpet.

Only the kids were tough enough to enter that frigid water!

We also really enjoyed your visits to California. They were wonderful events as we jumped on the trampoline, swam in the cold ocean (mostly the kids) and an even colder swimming pool (definitely only the kids), chased seagulls, ate pizza on a rooftop, visited the San Diego Temple and the Mormon Battalion Museum, as well as many other fun activities. 

Some crazy cousin kids at the San Diego temple.

We love hearing updates from your lives. It definitely adds to my kids aura to know they have such amazing and talented cousins! It would probably add to my aura as well if I knew what that was. We are proud of you, grateful for your examples, and look forward to the next time we see each other. We hope you are having a wonderful Christmas break together, building memories for a lifetime.

My memories may have shifted slightly over time. Your dad might even disagree with some of them, but I insist that most of them are mostly true. There are other great memories to tell, of both your mom and your dad (Gucci watches, Garth Brooks, Washington DC trip, Boston - where your parents were such a huge blessing to Marci and I, and many others). Unfortunately I don’t have time to share them all today, but hopefully these stories provide a glimpse into your dad’s Christmas memories. Merry Christmas - we love you!!!

Love,

Roger and Marci Greenwood Family

A reminder of how cute your father was..

And a reminder of how your father saved the garden, extinguishing one weed at a time.