The Bikers

We love to bike. I got home from work today and we headed out to a new little local park down the street. I looked down and noticed that Hattie was wearing one biking sock and another regular tube sock. She was so excited to ride her bike "like Dad" that she was frustrated she could only find one of her Cat Cycling Socks (a very important gear item for all serious cyclists). Her solution is captured in the picture at the end of this post.

When in Austin I visited the coolest bike shop - The Bicycle Sport Shop in a very cool part of town. This shop was HUGE and had its own selection of kids bike clothes and even a cafe. Amazing. I found the Cat Cycling Socks in the girls seciton and brought them home to Hattie. It's a big deal to ride our bikes and we have to have the socks, if only one.

Mom's Day!

I had to snap this shot. We had Taani's parents in town and on Sunday morning (Mother's day) it was Galapalooza in the bathroom getting ready for Church. The Sunday hair ritual is tradition in our family. Thanks Grandma Debi for your help! We love you and Happy Mom's Day!

The gals and I made breakfast for Taani. We made crepes and a few other tasty items. As a bonus we were able to share our tradition with Grandma and Grandpa! It made our Mother's Day to have them with us. I put the girls in charge of cutting the strawberries. They were a bit mangled in the bowl in the end, but the job was accomplished.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I stumbled across this picture this morning and spent a few minutes pondering on it. This is my amazing Mom in 1945. Some thoughts on my Mom:

• One of the hardest workers I know. She was forced to go back to work when I was young, but I never knew it. She managed a home, job and four kids and never complained, once. She was home before I was home from school and never missed a beat.


• She could make a dollar go farther than anyone. She was very frugal and could magically make enough for everyone, provide gifts, do whatever she had to do on a dime. Amazing.


• She was incredibly caring. We had a blue rocking chair and many wounds were healed in long conversation in that chair (internal and external).


• She is incredibly intelligent. She has a love of books and could read an entire 800 page book in two or three sittings. She was always (and is always) reading.


• She sings beautifully. I've always found comfort in her singing voice. She sang in all the elite choirs in high school and at BYU. She still sings in her amazing church choir. I always found a spiritual depth to her as a kid when she would sing. I would look up and feel like the words were directly from her heart, as if she wrote them. At that time I believed she did write them.


• Her faith. Unmovable. PERIOD. She is steadfast and firm, never wavering. I am most grateful for this.


• Her humor. We've enjoyed many moments where we laugh so hard we are crying. Actually, laughing so hard one is crying - that's her thing and it's kinda funny.
• She is an amazing Grandma to my kids. My girls have affectionately called the guest room "Grandma Sherri's room" and they have in the past wanted their hair to be "Grandma Sherri hair." She is coming to visit in a few weeks and will stay for two weeks and we are thrilled. The gals can't wait to watch Enchanted with her.

WE LOVE YOU MOM!

BE SIMPLE - A FAVORITE WEBSITE

Had to share. I love this website and the more I poke around on it the more I love it. Scroll down to the "topics" area and see all the articles. This is one of my favorites:

52_TIPS on Zenhabits.net

Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

Ryan

It's Official and We're VERY Excited!!!

NEW GILBERT AZ TEMPLE

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!