HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today on a morning family hike I asked the girls what they are thankful for. They said:

Neeley = Max Worthen (go figure, but stated as Maxey)
Hattie = School and Mrs Willis

And then they asked me what I was thankful for and I responded:

Family, kids, and life's lessons that bring depth and experience.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

School Pictures 2008 & More Neeleyisms

Once and a while a picture comes a long that really tells the story - that would be Neeley's picture this year. I love this picture - it captures everything great about her personality. This will be the one in 20 years I wish I could hug and read stories to. We love her and she is a very, very important part of our family.

Dinner has been quite the adventure with Neeley lately. She's not afraid to tell us how she really feels about the food sitting in front of her. Well, on Monday night as we sat down to Taco Salad with homemade chips and tortillas from Carolinas (amazing for those of you who haven't been to this hole-in-the-wall place on the wrong side of the tracks), Neeley turned up her nose. Seriously, she doesn't love Taco Salad? Can she be part of the Peterson line? Well, with attitude she swiped her hand in front of her face - you know the swipe, the windshield wiper-like swipe with a head flip as if she has a little soul in her - and said, "I'm not eating one more freakin' bite."

Heaven help us.

Taani is particular about hair and our girls always look great going out the door. The photographer re-did Hattie's hair. I believe I should send a note into the company that did the shots and warn them NOT to mess with Mama's hair. But, this is the official Kindergarten picture! Hattie loves school. Today they were to have a Turkey Trot, but it was cancelled due to rain! After 90 days of sun, it rains on the day she is run her first race and she was so sad! She loves to run.

Front Porch Fishing

When I was a kid my brother Reed and I would fish for hours off our front porch with the rubber training things on the end - the kind that help you hone your casting skills on dry land. We would have contests to see who could cast farther and then we would race to see who could bring them first. This entertained us for hours. Good memories...

So, with their Barbie poles the girls beg to do the same thing. Actually, they hound until I respond: "Dad, Dad, Dad, please, please, please get our fishing poles down, please, please, please..." Once in hand they head out to the front yard and work to get the rubber butterflies (of course) to the other side of the street. And to top it off...a race back to see who can pull them in first.

What Happens When Neeley Meets Lip Gloss

Seriously, need I say more? It was a long day, Neeley had new lip gloss (lip gloss is hoarded and treasured) and put it on all day. In the end this was the result. Isn't being a kid great?

Halloween Candy BE GONE!

So this morning I took extreme action! After all the great suggestions for moving beyond Halloween candy, I offered the gals the following deal:

• Choose 10 peices out of your loot
• Give up the rest, in return I will give you five dollars

They were all for it - picked out their 10 pieces, got the cash and Halloween 2008 is officially closed in the Secrist house. I think we are on to something here! And it helps my kids are motivated by money. Now on to my favorite holiday...Thanksgiving.

Halloween 2008

We had such a great time last night! Since my sister and her family moved to Arizona we've had a tradition of getting the cousins together for dinner and then hitting our area's streets (Ahwatukee) to trick-or-treat. We always go to the same neighborhood in our particular area because the loot is the best I've ever seen! Whole candy bars galore! I'm tellin' ya - we hit jack pot. And then the next morning comes and we (the parents) start plotting how we can slowly make all this junk disappear without the kids noticing, unfortunately part of our exit strategy seems to be consumption. Bummer.

Sophie, Ellie, Hattie and Neeley (a tinkerbell who applied her own lipstick)

Trick or Treat!

This holiday was made for Neeley! She figured out she could hit more houses and be more efficient if she ran from door to door. Soon she realized she could save time if she yelled (and this kid can yell) Trick-or-Treat while running up to the house. And then as soon as she grabbed handfuls (very embarassing) she would take off running and yell "Thank You" as she cut across the yard. The candy monster surfaced and she was focused and determined.

I love our area! Loads of people out, fire pits in driveways with lawn chairs, good times!