TEAM SECRIST ANNOUNCES NUMBER THREE!

Just when we celebrate no diapers, bibs, cribs and sleepless nights...we decide to do it all over again. And we are thrilled!

Number 3 is on the way. Due in January. This is amazing news to us and comes at a very special time. This will be a very special baby and a welcome addition to our family. It's very right.

On another note...Saturday we were sitting in the kitchen and something happened where we had a glimpse of our pre-kid "Ryan & Taani were once cool and people wanted to hang out with us" lives. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hattie, your parents are SO cool.

Me: You know your Mom and Dad are really cool people, right?

Hattie: Yes.

Me: You tell all your friends how cool we are, right?

Hattie: No, its a secret.

There you have it. We aren't really cool and she already knows what to say to make us hush up. Great, just great. For the record...we are cool. Very, very, very cool (she has me second guessing).

The picture at the top? Of course, that is the day that started it all, when we were "really, really cool."

Stack 'Em Deep

We have bunk beds! We've been on the hunt for a great deal for a long time, however, when I saw that Neeley's feet were at the end of her converted crib (ok, how pathetic are we? She's over 3 and sleeping in a converted crib!) I knew it was time to figure this out.

Costco is piloting a new furniture store in our area called Costco Home. We found a smokin' deal on these bunk beds and hauled them home. The gals are crazy about them. They even stay in bed until after 7am! We've never had that! Ever!

And they love to go to bed...I hope it lasts...

Succulent Smoothies

The Dad in this family is a huge fan of smoothies for a nutrition boost. The kids love them too. We down a lot of smoothies. Taani bought me this great book with some amazing smoothie recipes and now with my amazing blender we are serving up a storm daily. I thought I post a new favorite we discovered for dinner tonight:

POWER PUNCH:

1/2 cup soft silken tofu (we use extra soft)
1 1/4 cups pear nectar (I just use a can of pears with juice and pears - works fine)
1/2 cup frozen diced pineapple
1/2 frozen banana, sliced (throw your browning bananas in the freezer - they make for great smoothie fodder)
1 teaspoon lime juice

Combine the tofu and pear nectar in a blender. Add all the remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Serves 2

**I add ground flaxseed or 2 tblsps of flaxseed oil.
**Double to serve more and so on...

From our family to yours - enjoy! Kids eating tofu without knowing it...it's great! They eat it up like candy.

A GRAND Day!

We gaurded Thursday night for a little re-charge of the family batteries. The Phoenix/Tucson area has several high-end resorts that are enjoyable to steal away to during the summer heat - especially when they have a waterpark. The Arizona Grand Resort (http://www.thearizonagrandresort.com/) is about 10 miles from our home and boasts a really fun waterpark. With newly rennovated rooms (felt like we were in the tropics), a great lush location, a waterpark, and 10 minutes from home (saved on gas), we had a great day away. Down-time is always appreciated! And since it was off season (summer is off season with the resorts in PHX) we got a great price. We highly recommend it!

This is the waterpark. Ok, Taani and I tried the big drop slides. I guess we wanted to feel 15 again, but when we started over the edge for the fall we both realized at this point in our life we have nothing to prove. And now the only thing I have to show for my ride down the slide - a sore body. Sheesh.

Summer & Swimsuit Tans

It's official....it's blasted hot in PHX. Somewhere during June the temps jump to HOT and remain there for what feels like a really long time. That's when we migrate to the pool and our kids live in their swimsuits. Yesterday the gals got new swimsuits and were more than excited to sport them everywhere. It's a very fun thing about PHX: Summer = Pools and swimsuit tan lines!

NEW TESTAMENT - HATTIE REVISED VERSION

Mark 10:13-14 King James Version:

13. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:13-14 Hattie Secrist Revised Version:

1. The kids were climbing all over Jesus

2. Disciples said, "Don't climb on Jesus and don't talk to him or sit on his lap."

3. The Disciples did this because they wanted to listen to Jesus.

4. Jesus said, "It's ok, I can handle it."

SCRIBE NOTES: Sunday dinner is a time where Taani asks the kids what they learned at Church that day. This revised cannon came out of Hattie's mouth as clear and as serious as anything. She was simply reporting back on what she learned and that-was-that. I hurried, grabbed a pen, and wrote it down. Out of the mouths of babes...

1982 & Beyond...

I missed Flashback Friday, so here it is a few days late. This is the last picture scanned from my Mom's pile of pictures she brought with her. I've pondered on this one long and hard. I've seen this picture my entire life, but for some reason it resonates now more than ever. Perhaps I am getting older. Perhaps I understand the importance and value of family. Whatever the reason, I simply like this picture, a lot.

My grandparents are at the core of this picture.

Al & Blanche Auernig were a driving force in my life. I miss them a lot. I grew up not more than 10 miles from them (ever). I loved Grandma's food, long talks, and sleepovers. I loved Grandpa's sense of humor, his dedication, his love of PBS and his constant reading. He was always reading and was especially fond of the power of the human mind - he studied all religions and books pertaining to the power of the mind.

And they were cool. How many grandparents had big screen TVs with MTV (when MTV actually played videos) in the early 80s?

Grandma's quilts now keep my kids warm.

Grandpa's books are now on my bookshelf.

And the memory of backyard parties flood my mind.

I remember doing a really dumb thing at age 14. My parents disciplined me and that was fine, but the transforming moment occured when my Grandma told me she was disappointed in me. That was something I couldn't bear. I still hate thinking of the moment she said that.

What would this picture would look like today if we could gather in from the four-corners-of-the-world? Here are a few thoughts:

• There would be 26 great grand children added (with more on the way - congrats Rick & Elvia!!! I put my $$$ on a girl)
• 10 spouses
• A lot of dogs
• A couple of cats
• I'm sure there are a few goldfish named Nemo out there too
• And loads of stories and life experiences that could fill a book

So, happy Flashback Friday (late). Family rocks!

Secrists Go Urban

Keith Urban that is! We scored four floor tickets from a friend of mine that had to go out of town so we headed to University of Phoenix Stadium (Superbowl, Home of the Cardinals, etc...) with my sister and her husband. Keith was amazing. I'm not a country music fan at all, but Keith changed all that. He has talent like the legends. His guitar talent is off the charts. We were on the floor but moved up top because we couldn't see the stage. That stadium is brand new and HUGE.

Sorry the pictures are so bad - my camera phone.

Video of Keith jamming. If you listen closely you can make it out. Way fun night to ditch the kids and enjoy good music.