THUNDER! RAIN! WIND! AND IT KEEPS COMING!

If one doubted that AZ receives a sizable monsoon season, this week has eliminated such doubts. It has rained nearly every day and some of the storms are downright powerful. Monsoon storms in AZ are filled with wild electricity, flooding down pours and house-shaking thunder.

Thursday night we experienced the most powerful storm I can remember in my four years living here. The next morning I was scheduled for a REALTOR tour in Central PHX, however, there was such devastation from the monsoon storm that ran all night that we had a modified tour and in the end, took a tour of the shocking damage all around.

FROM azcentral.com:
Severe storms rolled through the Valley on Thursday night, starting at around 8pm in the East Valley, and lasting through almost 2am! Downbursts within the storms, as well as straight-line winds, brought wind gusts from 69-85 mph that were reported from the east to the west Valley. National Weather Service radar recorded winds in excess of 100 mph just 1,500ft above the ground!

One report I read said this massive micro-burst on Thursday night was upwards of 50,000 feet tall. It was quite impressive and if you told me we were in the Midwest in the middle of a tornado I would have believed you!


One of my favorite neighborhoods in PHX is the Willo Historic District. It, unfortunately, was hit the hardest. It was choas there on Friday morning - downed power lines, homes destroyed, roofs missing, cars smashed, etc.. I took this picture of my absolute favorite home in Willo. I was so sad to see this historic home (that was fully remodeled) demolished by a 80 year-old-tree that once added to the presence of the home. Fortunately the owners were not injured even though they were home when it occurred.


Windows on high-rise buildings were popped out with curtains flapping out the windows. It was quite the site. Certainly a storm that will not be forgotten.

HANDS ON! THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

Today we found ourselves at the brand new Children's Museum of Phoenix. My friend and I decided we were going to take the gals on a dad/daughter afternoon as school lets out at 12:30pm on Wednesdays.

This fantastic hands-on place opened in June in the freshly rennovated historic Monroe School in the downtown area. This city is totally under construction and we get excited when things like this open!


This is the old Monroe school revamped to house the museum. It's very industrial and hip inside. A very hands-on-run-around-touch-everything-nothing-can-break sort of place.

In the jungle gym when we arrived. I forgot my darn camera, so the cell phone photos were all I had. Everything was so sensory.



Hattie and her friend Vivian F. These two served the entire museum patrons play ice cream cones. They were addicted to this booth. Behind the wall was literally a mock grocery store where they could shop, scan and bag items. It was incredibly brilliant - everything was done so well. They even could make pizzas in a fake brick oven that looked pretty real (even with the wooden pizza pallets too!).

There was a line for Hattie and Vivian's service. These two were cracking me up. On the 2nd floor they had a wooden house the kids could really paint - that was a favorite! Also, a crafts room (Vivian is wearing a headband she made). Other art below:

Hattie's self portrait.

Neeley's (aka Picasso) Self Portrait

These kids didn't even make it home awake. They played so hard. We are simply thrilled we found a huge place where we can go while it is still 110 degrees outside.

GOT THE T-SHIRT!

Taani scored tickets to the Dave Matthews concert last night. Aside from running way past our bedtime, we had a total party! It was held at the Cricket Pavillion which is an outstanding outdoor ampitheatre and contributed to the excitement of the night. This truly is one of the great bands of our era! His concerts are my favorite.

Dave and his band are true musicians. They sound better live than on CD which is saying a lot since so many "artists" these day are corporate conceptions with no talent (apparent when one hears a live performance).

Can you name the song in the video below?

Our un-scientific study: We realized we went to a concert while Taani was carrying Hattie - Harry Connick at the Chicago Theatre. Incidentally, when Hattie needed calming as a young newborn, big band music did the trick. No concerts while Neeley was being carried (which could explain something), and then last night it was Dave Matthews for our upcoming child (due in Jan). PERFECT! Can't wait for those "calmings." I volunteer in advance.

I've gotta sing in Church today. With all the screaming and cheering, I hope I'll sound ok.

Happy Sunday.

OH THOSE BOYS ARE MUCH TOO MUCH...

This is a gem!

Cheerleading Dad

Whaddyathink?

BIKER CHICKS!

Anyone that knows our family knows we like to ride our bikes...a lot!!! We used to tote Hattie around all over the Fox Valley while living in IL and one of our favorite rides was to the Purple Store out in the country. Now we have Neeley and loading up the bikes (all off them) is quite an adventure! I have a few bikes that have to come with us (mountain and road), Taani's mountain bike, the Burley attachment, tote bike for Hattie, trike and Hattie's main bike. It's a lot of fun.

So when I was in REI today I saw two bike jerseys that had Hattie and Neeley's names written all over them!

They were PINK...SCORE!
They had CUPCAKES on them...SCORE!
They had flowers on them...SCORE!

And boldly splashed across the back it reads "riding cupcake mountain." Ok, not what I would want on my jersey at the starting line, but for these kids they were beyond thrilled. Now they have "jerseys" with three pockets in the back "like Dad's!"
It was one of those times I just had to do it!


We can't wait until it cools off so we can ride bikes to school! Very, very fun.

Dancin' to the Music...

Today Neeley started Tap & Ballet. She was very excited (to say the least). Decked out in her new tights, tap shoes (which she loves over the ballet slippers), and leotard she was grinning from ear-to-ear.


Our local YMCA offers amazing programs. We love our Y! We are there daily - it is a new facility and is truly the community center for our area. Here she is in her class. Forgive the horrible pictures, but parents were banished beyond the doors so had to shoot these with my dying camera through glass. I found I have camera envy Tristen since seeing your new camera, so send some of that good kharma my way! I'm sure these shots would have been great with a better zoom and camera.

I also have to note that there's something satisfying as a parent watching your kid do something on their own and really enjoy it. It truly was fun to watch her from a distance and see her get into things. Next time, I have to video. It is very funny. She did great, listened and watched intently to make certain she had the steps.

The teacher stepped in front of Neeley on this one, but decided to include it anyway. She's behind the teacher on the left.

And this is the face we got when we told her it was time to go home. She can't wait until next Friday.

The Best Part of Day

Hattie has officially been in kindergarten for two weeks now. We ask all the time and get glowing reports of class, her teacher (whom she adores), friends, five-year-old gossip, etc... but when asked what she loves most she emphatically says, "Riding the bus!"

I take her in the morning, however she rides the bus home. She is grins ear-to-ear as she steps off the bus each day. It's great to be five!

We're off to take Neeley to ballet and tap. First day. That will be a blog too...



Wearing her official Sierra Elementary shirt! Glad to be home (we think).

Birthday's & Anniversaries

For our wedding we had Calle Lilies. So, every year we celebrate our anniversary with a surprise arrangement of Calle Lilies. I must say, AJ's Florist is the best floral department when it comes to making things shine on special occasions. They hit the jackpot with this this year. I earned big points...fun anniversary, however, I want the 1.5 hours of my life back spent watching Mama Mia. Major headache!

Why not pack birthdays and anniversaries in the same week! Easy to remember! For those of you who don't know, we share the same birthday of August 13th! How funny is that?

Another fun tradition is trying to see who can buy the most humorous off-the-wall birthday card. I've never been the one (ever in my whole life) to give the sentimental poetry type cards. Nope. Gotta go full on humorous. Taani has joined in and I think her card this year won the prize. My cousins Melody and Kevin were so good and finding crazy cards - I hope I am keeping in their tradition.

Great job on this one Taani! Warning, I took mine a little south this year (literally). There's a naughty word, so read at your own risk.

You vote! Who won out on the birthday card this year? Another year older...

8/8/08 Team Secrist Hits 8!

Today we celebrate eight years of marriage. Wow! Time flies. What's most interesting are the things we have learned about ourselves, the fun we have had and the wide open future in front of us. Here are some of my highlights from eight years.

• The most beautiful wedding ever in the Chicago Temple, an amazing reception at the Danada House in Wheaton, IL (thanks so much Buddy & Debi) and a 2nd reception in SLC (thanks Mom & Dad)
• Six places of residences, spanning three states (are we settled yet? We do have a tendancy to wander...)
• A magical trip to Boston before kids eating in great restaurants, staying in the Westin in Copley and running the Freedom Trail in the pouring rain. What more could you ask for in this most amazing city?
• Purchasing our first home near the Fox River in Batavia, IL and welcoming our first child into that home five months later
• A truly inspirational vacation to Charleston, SC when Hattie was one
• Moving to PHX and being so near family (what a blessing!)
• Welcoming Neeley into our home on a rainy February day
• Celebrating little moments
• Taani's incredible creations in the kitchen (she truly is a talented chef - we eat some amazing things. Typing this makes me hungry for her Salmon Salad)
• Loads of laughter, music, and fun in our home
• Truly trying moments that have made us stronger and more determined to achieve what we want in life.

Taani is an amazing force and a constant in our family. She is my best friend and we have celebrated huge milestones and quiet conquests and together we have so much more in store. I love ya babe! I'm excited for what lies beyond today based on where we've been.

1st DAY OF KINDERGARTEN! VIDEO BELOW.

The "morning of" interview. For some reason it won't let me uplaod the pictures and video in one, so this is PART I. Part II below with more details of the day. We are so proud of Hattie. She is has been beaming all afternoon...its a right of passage thing. Her parents have been boobs.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Well, it's official. Hattie is in Kindergarten at Sierra Elementary here in Ahwatukee. We literally walked in the door from picking her up at the bus stop. One gets a little emotional seeing this little being all independent (for a five year old) and grinning from ear-to-ear that she was able to ride the bus all by herself.

We dropped her off this morning and are thrilled for her. She has an outstanding teacher and our school is one of the top elementary schools in the entire State. We lucked out all around.

It was a BIG day around here. Neeley starts Montesorri Pre-school tomorrow. Back to the routine.