Lazy Summer Days...err...I Mean Afternoon

School is out, Mom is back from Girls Camp, Dad is coming down from intense weeks at work, and the many demands of our daily grind seem to have passed us by today. THANK GOODNESS!

Hattie and Neeley played at home all day. I took the afternoon off. Taani cleared the calendar. And look what happens? All of us quickly took to this state at around 3:30pm today. The gals were decked out in their dress-up dresses and Hattie went "missing in action" and when we awoke we found her in her bedroom with her kid chair pulled over her body, and strands of her Belle Dress (Beauty & the Beast dress-up dress) coming out from underneath. She was SOUND asleep.

P.S. Mom's home - they have bows in their hair again!!!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

It's FLASHBACK FRIDAY! Thanks Lindsay for the awesome idea. And oh, Taani is going to kill me. This may be my last blog. It's been fun while it lasted.

I'm going to post a few favorites from the Secrist Family archives - even pre-marriage gems I find. Today is a good mix of a few favorites. Pictures bring a flood of memories back just as much (if not more so) than words. Interesting where an image takes the mind...

And this mental trail aint pretty. Oh man, where to start. This is sick and wrong. Hey, we were just comin' off the Wang Chunging of the 80s. Excuse me, I thought I ordered the large pair of glasses.

I love this picture. She's cute. I am so dead...

The glory years. So hip. So cool. So fashionable. Note the big guy's hair. Yep, permed. I just can't go there - my Dad actually permed his hair? Go Fro - I guess that was our family motto that year. Yikes.

I love this picture. I took Hattie with me today as I completed a few work items. You know, I couldn't help watch her from a distance and wonder where time has gone. Time flies. She was a very hard baby - it would take about four hours to stop her crying each night and the only way we could get it done was bouncing her on a fit ball blasting big band music (rocking chairs and classical music were not her gig). Wow, its a tad easier now to get her to bed. Just a tad.

And lastly, our very FIRST home in Batavia, IL (suburb of Chicago). We've moved so many times in our marriage, but this home represents so much to us. This picture was taken after we put in a little landscaping. We love this home. I have an artists rendering hanging on my real estate office wall. It reminds me of my first personal experience buying and selling. It also reminds me of a very good time in life. We loved IL and the people around us. It is a strong reminder that simple is good and good people are to be found everywhere.

HAPPY FLASHBACK FRIDAY! Let's see this on other friends and family blogs. The challenge has been issued!!!

Hattie Graduates!

Well, the school year comes to a close and today we celebrated Hattie's graduation from Pre-school. It was more a moment of awe for us as we saw this little person on the stage who all at once left baby-dom. Yes, we are young. Yes, we have many years ahead of us, but where have the 5.5 years gone already? Amazing! I was so proud of her.

She can read extremely well. She can read entire age appropriate books. She is an obedient kid. She loves her parents, is kind, and has such a bright personality that it is hard not to love her. And she is a good sister.

And she is ready for Kindergarten! Time to move on. We have a fun summer planned of swimming and a family vacation in the mountains.

Way to go Hattie! Fun day.

Wow! Those Are My Parents?

My Mom just arrived from Utah. We are so glad to have her as Taani is heading out to Girls Camp and I have a packed work schedule. "Grandma Sherri" brought with her some fun pictures of my family over the years. The unfortunate thing - we were raised in the 70s and 80s when style was beyond anything we've ever seen. I have some great pictures I am scanning and will add some to this blog.

I love these two pictures - one of my Dad before he served a mission in New York. The other is my Mom's graduation picture from Bountiful High School in Bountiful, UT in 1961. I love these pictures - the world is at their fingertips. They are so young. Having my Mom in our home sparks discussions and stories about when she was a kid growing up in Pocatello & Twin Falls Idaho and then to Bountiful at age 15. The plans she had for her life, the time at BYU, dating, and marrying my Dad. I enjoy the stories. My kids do too.

I love my scanner! Thanks Buddy for the inspiration. It's good to look back and learn of our family's past.

Oh Taani Where Art Thou?

The solo parent saga continues with Bruiser, my second daughter. What a morning! While cleaning up breakfast I hear Hattie scream, "Dad, Neeley has a comb stuck in her hair!" I turned my back for less than one minute and Neeley quickly picked a fight with a comb. She lost.

I tried everything. EVERYTHING! The comb was triple rolled. After 20 minutes of frustration and Neeley screaming/crying, we loaded up and headed for Supercuts. I forgot to take the camera, but shot this picture of the hardened criminal before taking her in for hair surgery. And don't you think I wasn't tempted to cut the thing out. Oh, was I tempted.

I love the workers at Supercuts. They were gentle, patient, and skilled. Not a hair was lost and Neeley (and Hattie) got a trim. Why not, we were already there?

The best part - walking into Supercuts there were several women having their hair cut and overheard me explaining how Bruiser fought a comb and lost. Instantaneously a unanimous moan bellowed forth with an understanding nod, as if they once were in my shoes. It was a bonding moment with a few unknown women.

And yes, AnneMichelle, I am raising you. I have you as a three-year-old. Guess what, I love it. She has spunk, just like you.

We pick Taani up from the airport tomorrow! We are so excited to see her. WE LOVE YOU MOM!

BAD BOYS

I am running solo while Taani is in San Fran visiting the sister. After running to the airport early, getting myself dressed, kids dressed, hair done (not impressive in the least), lunches made, and hauling two kids tucked under each arm like a football we dashed to pre-school. I dropped them off, dashed to the office, joined meetings, meetings, & more meetings, picked kids up, hauled them to my sister's as I have clients in town, showed 12 homes, solved problems, picked the gals up, raced home, brushed teeth, sang songs (working on the Primary Children's Song Book), read stories, and kids put dad to bed (yes, you read correctly). Sigh. But I want to focus on "picking Neeley up from School."

Her teacher (a very dear friend of ours) pulls me aside (remember, I am in high gear today shuffling kids, managing clients, etc...) and says, "Neeley is starting to gravitate to the BAD boys in class." In my new role as Mega-Mom/Dad-Solve-Everything-Parent, I blurt out, "What do you mean by BAD?" She informs me that Neeley is drawn to the naughty boys that do outlandish things for attention. She feeds on them, loves their silliness and crazy behavior. I asked, "Does she do BAD things?" The answer was, "NO, she doesn't participate, is just in awe and they love the attention." Oh, ok, I think, she's just a groupie. Sigh of relief...

BUT WAIT...

Immediately my mind went to some teenage boy with a tatoo showing up on my doorstep, long hair, leather and asking to see teenage Neeley. I wanted to see these bad boys immediately and tell them to stay away from my daughter, she just learned how to keep her panties clean and dry!!!!

Pray for us.

The Bikers

We love to bike. I got home from work today and we headed out to a new little local park down the street. I looked down and noticed that Hattie was wearing one biking sock and another regular tube sock. She was so excited to ride her bike "like Dad" that she was frustrated she could only find one of her Cat Cycling Socks (a very important gear item for all serious cyclists). Her solution is captured in the picture at the end of this post.

When in Austin I visited the coolest bike shop - The Bicycle Sport Shop in a very cool part of town. This shop was HUGE and had its own selection of kids bike clothes and even a cafe. Amazing. I found the Cat Cycling Socks in the girls seciton and brought them home to Hattie. It's a big deal to ride our bikes and we have to have the socks, if only one.

Mom's Day!

I had to snap this shot. We had Taani's parents in town and on Sunday morning (Mother's day) it was Galapalooza in the bathroom getting ready for Church. The Sunday hair ritual is tradition in our family. Thanks Grandma Debi for your help! We love you and Happy Mom's Day!

The gals and I made breakfast for Taani. We made crepes and a few other tasty items. As a bonus we were able to share our tradition with Grandma and Grandpa! It made our Mother's Day to have them with us. I put the girls in charge of cutting the strawberries. They were a bit mangled in the bowl in the end, but the job was accomplished.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I stumbled across this picture this morning and spent a few minutes pondering on it. This is my amazing Mom in 1945. Some thoughts on my Mom:

• One of the hardest workers I know. She was forced to go back to work when I was young, but I never knew it. She managed a home, job and four kids and never complained, once. She was home before I was home from school and never missed a beat.


• She could make a dollar go farther than anyone. She was very frugal and could magically make enough for everyone, provide gifts, do whatever she had to do on a dime. Amazing.


• She was incredibly caring. We had a blue rocking chair and many wounds were healed in long conversation in that chair (internal and external).


• She is incredibly intelligent. She has a love of books and could read an entire 800 page book in two or three sittings. She was always (and is always) reading.


• She sings beautifully. I've always found comfort in her singing voice. She sang in all the elite choirs in high school and at BYU. She still sings in her amazing church choir. I always found a spiritual depth to her as a kid when she would sing. I would look up and feel like the words were directly from her heart, as if she wrote them. At that time I believed she did write them.


• Her faith. Unmovable. PERIOD. She is steadfast and firm, never wavering. I am most grateful for this.


• Her humor. We've enjoyed many moments where we laugh so hard we are crying. Actually, laughing so hard one is crying - that's her thing and it's kinda funny.
• She is an amazing Grandma to my kids. My girls have affectionately called the guest room "Grandma Sherri's room" and they have in the past wanted their hair to be "Grandma Sherri hair." She is coming to visit in a few weeks and will stay for two weeks and we are thrilled. The gals can't wait to watch Enchanted with her.

WE LOVE YOU MOM!

BE SIMPLE - A FAVORITE WEBSITE

Had to share. I love this website and the more I poke around on it the more I love it. Scroll down to the "topics" area and see all the articles. This is one of my favorites:

52_TIPS on Zenhabits.net

Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

Ryan