Knotts Berry Farm

We may or may not have ditched work.  We may or may not have pulled kids from school.  We may or may not have enjoyed ourselves.  We may or may not have had a lot of fun.  Family Ditch Day was a success.  

And seriously, I think we have a coaster rider!  No one prompted him to do this.  He climbed up on my lap and the moment we crested, his hands shot straight up!  As a coaster buff, I was so proud.  

Neeley's Violin Recital

The Young Violinist Group:

We are so proud of Neeley.  She not only performed with the group, she also performed a solo.  She loves the violin.  I love watching her play.

Go Neeley Go!

She was baptized on Feb 16th - working on posting pictures from that AWESOME morning.

Happy Easter 2013

Is it really Easter already?

For me it has been a perfect weekend.

Morning run - took all the kids.  I had to figure out a way to give them rest AND keep me in motion so I actually got a workout.  And I figured it out!  Kinda proud of myself on this one.  We ran The Strand and there are several sets of stairs.  They could rest while I did intervals on the stairs.  Except when they wanted to run the stairs too!  Ocean to our left, stairs to our right...perfect!

The girls are great runners and love to run.  We have x-country and/or track stars in our future.  It was an enjoyable thing for me to run with them and talk about their lives and things that are important to them.

Easter Eggs colored.  Check.  Who knew it would be so fun to use a white crayon before dunking them in color?

Then off for a bike ride to Kelly's Corner for lunch.  Its a great little old-time cafe/shop/post office/horse supply store hybrid a mile or so from our house.  Aside from its Norman Rockwell qualities, it offers a tasty sandwich.  And there are two owls that live in the big palm tree out front and are easily visible.  Its unbelivable how many cool little things exist just out our door.  This is one of them...nothing fancy but a great bike ride for lunch and ice cream.

The air is filled with spring out here - flowers in bloom and the smells are amazing.  I used to turn my nose up to the thought of living in LA, however, its a big city with many different options of cities to fit anyone's tastes and we have found our perfect slice of paradise - hills, ocean, horses and white fences everywhere.  For example, this Church (below) is tucked away on a green hill around the corner from us and is one of my favorite spots to run by on morning runs.  Seriously, look at that.  Makes me want to start attending church there...

And lastly...

Last week our ward (Crestridge Ward) and the Lunada Bay Ward combined for breakfast, games and an Easter Egg Hunt.  It was outstanding!  Taani was one of the organizers and did a great job (see her below directing the affairs of the egg toss game).

Westy Boy Turns Four!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WESTY BOY!

We can't imagine our family with out this kid.  

His giggles are contagious.

He loves bikes, trucks, airplanes, and sports.

He is PASSIONATE about whales!  

He hates shopping.

He loves the beach.

He loves his sisters.

He loves apples and clementines.

Things we love:

When I whisper "I love this kid."  He always whispers back, "I love this Dad."

My most treasured recording is of us laying in bed singing "I Am A Child of God" and having him sing tenderly.  He loves to sing.

We love you WESTY!

Merry Christmas from the Secrists...

There's a New Sheriff In Town

I drove the girls to school and West came along for the ride.  We walked on campus and I turned around and he was shooting everything in sight with his toy gun.  Neeley said, "Dad, I don't think you can even have toy guns at school." By number three, these are just details I don't stress about or think about anymore.  On the way back home, while in the car, I turn around to say something and see that Sheriff West is finger sucking, gun wielding (notice its placement in the picture), and blanket carrying.  I'd hate to meet up with him in a dark alley.  

San Diego Color Run

Best. Day. EVER

With my brother Kyle.  West demonstrating how he feels about taking pictures. 

2012 Primary Program

Yesterday was our 2012 Primary Program.  Taani is in the presidency and wrote the program and did an outstanding job.  The closing number was an arrangement of I Am a Child of God and they sang the 1st verse in Chinese (our Ward is part Chinese Branch) - amazing.  Violins, amazing arrangements, great talks.  It really was touching.  

And a highlight for us...Hattie and Neeley played a piano duet.  See movie below.  It was great to have Taani's parents visit too - so good to live close that they can come to things like this.  

What?

Me (Ryan) after scripture reading this morning:  Let's see, who's turn is it to pray.  It was Neeley yesterday so it must be West today.

West:  BOOYAH!

Amen.

Happy Halloween!

Tonight we had our Ward Party.  There was a pumpkin carving contest...which we take VERY seriously.  First place...bring it.

We Miss 'em.

The best highlight of our October has been a visit from the Worthen family.  We miss this crew terribly and although Lindsey has not forgiven me (Ryan) for taking our crew to CA, we felt lucky for having them in our home.  These kids all care deeply about one another.  What a great family!

Down On the Farm!

Yesterday I took the kids and we headed north to Faulkner Farms in Santa Paula (http://www.faulknerfarmpumpkinpatch.com) and enjoyed a great afternoon!  It was surprisingly entertaining and we enjoyed the scenery!  What an outstanding day!

This is the Faulkner Farm House that sits on the property.

A great view of the big red barn across the pumpkin patch.  Its great to see barns like this again - the barns on the farmland used to be my favorite thing about living in Illinois.  

West and his new "picture face."  You say you are taking a picture and you get a contorted smile.  They loved the animals at the barn.

Hunting for pumpkins and got a tad distracted.  We did find two near perfect pumpkins!  The kids LOVED the pumpkins and hunting for our pumpkins.  There was a massive pumpkin launch as well.  That device tossed the pumpkins at least 25 yards where they hit a target and split wide open.

With their friend Sara.  We stopped in Santa Monica and picked up my business partner and his daughter.  The kids love hanging out.

 So much to do!  Look at the backdrop.  It was great to get into open country yesterday and just chill out!  Great day.

Double Digits. The BIG 1-0!

Fun Day!  Hattie chose to take the family to The American Girl Store today for shopping and lunch.  Our AG store is in a great shopping district called The Groves.  We had a great time.  It's hard to believe 10 years ago, on a crisp night in Chicago we rushed to the hospital for a surprise delivery of our oldest.  She's an amazing kid.  She loves to read.  Has embraced the change of our family and is thriving at school, is kind to all, and is a good student.  We love you Hattie-pants.

We have a Dylan's Candy Bar!  We saw this in NYC and stumbled in.  The kids were amazed.  This is an amazing place.  

Dessert at the AG Cafe!  

West's picture face.  

Go Dodgers?

Strings Attached!

She's excited.  We are too!  I have to admit I enjoy unzipping her violin case and taking a peak at this newly purchased, hand made piece of art.  We live in an amazing community that provides six months of lessons and a youth orchestra so it all came together to study under one of the best violinists in the world.  I love the opportunities in LA.  So great.  Go Neeley, Go!  Lesson one done.

After conducting a choir, I love a good violinist.  She's got it in her and has been so excited.

Bucket List Item: CHECK!

Fun week in Austin for Keller Williams Annual Mega Agent and Mega Leadership Camp.  Mo Anderson, a huge leader in KW invited me to speak on a leadership panel for the company.  Mo is an icon in the industry and one of the current biggest influences in my life.  This was a HUGE honor.  She's the former CEO of KW and launched it into what it is today and at 75 is the Vice Chairman of the Board.  When asked if she'd retire she said "NO FREAKIN WAY" while I was on stage.  

She is the one that put God, Family and THEN business into KW.  

She rebuilt her world after loosing it all at age 55.  

She is firm in the convictions of her heart.

She leads an Inspirational Brunch annually at our convention where she has all major religions offer prayers (no words can describe the entire event - nothing like it in business).

She is a servant leader and it was an honor to be interviewed by her in front of the whole company.  A huge bucket list item fulfilled.  She has changed how I view leadership as we've gotten to know one 

another.