WILD FRIDAY...

An outward manifistation of how we all feel on FRIDAY! I came home from my early morning swim team workout and walked into two gals decked out and watching High School Musical. Thank goodness its Friday! We all feel it this week.

A Saturday with the Secrists!

Once and a while we ditch all responsibilities and disappear downtown to the PHX Farmer's Market.

Farmers markets are a ground level view into a community. These markets bring together artists, farmers, craftsmen, and characters. It's a place to people watch, shop, eat and listen to local music.

The PHX Market is a relatively young market. It has been a few months since we attended last and we were amazed at the growth! In speaking with some of the vendors we learned that enough money has been raised to open a permanant market store and revamp the crude parking lot that transforms itself each Saturday. We are thrilled.

Phoenix, as a city, is in its teenage years, defining itself right now, and the progress of this farmers market is evidence of this growth. This is a metropolis morphing itself into one of the largest cities in the US. The longer I live here the more I like this city and I appreciate these growing traditons that are springing up across the Valley.

The market also serves as an outstanding teaching opportunity for our kids. Hattie and Neeley bring their earned money and look forward to visiting the "soap lady" (see picture above), the "heart necklace lady", and looking at all the dogs with their even more interesting owners. Taani is on a first-name basis with an amazing jewlery artist, and I love my fresh baked bread and locally made cheese spread (a total treat).

Today I realized we are part of this city. We are contributors (in a small way) to this growing community and we have come to respect and value the entrepreneurs that come out each week and share their talents with the rest of us. The people are so friendly with the kids and know them now - it is a special and simple family treat. From fresh herbs to brilliant flowers the market is always alive and thriving.

Go support your local farmers market. It is a glimpse of what your area/city has to offer all bundled in a nice package each week. There's something about the simpleness of the market and those that operate the booths that remind us to keep our lives simple, decluttered from the pursuit of stuff. It exposes my kids to art, music, interesting people and also provides them a chance to earn money during the week to spend at the market.

If you are in PHX go to http://www.foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket/index.asp. See you there!

School Picture Day!

We are raising two very different kids. Guess which one gives us a run for our money? Man, this photographer should be promoted - he captured it.

PB&J Brigade!

Well, things come full circle. When I (Ryan writing here) was in high school my good friend set up a weekly meeting after school where we would make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and deliver them to the homeless in Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City. It is one of those memories that stuck with me - an outstanding experience for a 17 year old and his group of friends.

Recently I connected with an organization based in Tempe that provides countless services for the homeless in a city where homelessness is not addressed, nor are facilities available. I was asked to serve on their board of directors. I'm thrilled for this opportunity especially because there's an opportunity to bring my young kids into this project by...well, you guessed it...by making PB&Js.

Since Urban Outreach is headquartered in a local Methodist church sufficient kitchens to serve meals do not exist. As a result, our family decided to make sack lunches and deliver them to the church for distribution. Nothing major, but an OUTSTANDING opportunity for our family to serve whereas we wouldn't be able to do much in a soup kitchen with young children. And yes, jelly was flying last night, but we got the job done and delivered.

So it appears the PB&J Brigade from Davis High School lives on in Arizona!

HAPPY EASTER 2008!

Happy Easter 2007 from Team Secrist! We enjoyed a morning of mountain biking and an Easter Egg Hunt at our neighborhood park with good friends. A few friends organized this a few years ago and we all decided to do it again. It is a lot of fun - breakfast, games and an egg hunt. Hattie and Neeley filled their baskets. See our egg hunt and games videos below!

Go Neeley Go! Ok, so she is our "all things chocolate" kid. A little slow at the gun, but once she realized each egg was filled with candy she was running as fast as she could. Each family was responsible to bring 12 eggs for each child attending. The Moms met early and hid the eggs. Great fun.

Wow, when did we get so old to hang with a group with all these kids? Wow! Notice some are screaming, some don't care, some are focusing hard for the picture and some are COVERING UP MY KIDS! Too funny.

Taani was so smart to grab this shot. Here are all the parents taking pictures of the kids (the opposite view from the picture above). Wow, life has changed. We are camcorder/camera geeks now...all of us.

Hattie during the egg relay.

The fast and furious egg hunt. No one had a chance!

Let Them Eat Radishes!

Well, our very small, rocky, sun burnt garden yielded some amazing radishes. Kinda odd to harvest in February, but with an 80 degree day what could be better! We are so glad to be out of freezing 60 degree weather (sorry all friends from Chicago and cold climes, but we are now wimps) and finally in the upper 70s and 80s! Wow, look at the front radish, that is county fair quality!!! Its amazing we grew something in this soil. Our kids were amazed to "learn that Radishes don't come from Safeway." Lettuce, onions, peas are all next.

We stole away last weekend and spent the day hiking in Papago Park. This park is located off downtown and has some very interesting rock formations. Located right in the middle of the city it is great place to explore. Loads of mountain biking, hiking, trail running, the Zoo, botanical gardens and more. Fun day.

More at Papago. I love this pictures because it is "Secrists in Real Life." And yes, PHX is green right now!!!! Ok, that may not look very green to the rest of the world, but warm temps and loads of rain has the desert blooming. It is an amazing time of year - wild flowers everywhere and the wide open spaces are covered in grass.

More hiking in Papago. One of the cool caves the girls hiked into.

Neeley Turns 3!

Queen Neeley turned three! She celebrated with her class at School (hence the crown), had a little party with two friends and her sister at Peter Piper Pizza (hence the glam purse) and then the AZ Family had a little cupcake party for her at Pecos Park (hence the grin!). If you could see her sporting the new princess shoes from Buffy, Casey, Jack-Jack & Hailey.

She's three. Somehow we found time from hectic schedules and non-stop running to make cupcakes and sing happy birthday (go Taani).

A few of Neeley's friends. Sophie Seeley (cousin) and Emi Ito (a friend).

Hattie got in a fight with a cupcake and lost.