WATCH OUT WORLD!

Ryan West Secrist

Born 9:52am

Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, AZ

8lbs 0 oz 19 inches long

Healthy and happy!

Announcing the Newest Member of our Family (and no, West isn't here).

Thank you Universe for finally smiling upon me. It's rare I covet a worldly posession, but I have plotted, planned and shamelessly prayed for the stars to align. Tonight I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Taani's only requirement before handing it over - I continue to blog. Am I the only Dad out there that maintains their family blog? Wassup with that? I happily sell my soul for this camera, so blogging-for-life it is Taani!

Memories of Christmas 2008

I apologize it has taken so long to post some of these, but I had blogging brain block - I just couldn't focus on it, think about it, and needed my space. I know, strange, but I do believe a point arrives where the BLOGGER evaluates the value of their blog and if it adds value or if it adds to the endless amounts of worthless information available on the web.

The bottom line: this is our family journal and we welcome our friends and family to "peek over our shoulder" and see our musings (boring or not). And then when a certain Grandma in Utah pointedly informed me to blog the Christmas pictures...I obeyed. Ah, the power of a parent to continue to influence child into adulthood. Nice.

CHRISTMAS EVE WITH THE SEELEYS:
So, as we prepared for the reinactment of the nativity we had three girls that all were pulling for the role of Mary. As a director of our low budget production, I had a challenge I had to work through. So, in our new version we had three Mary's and one amazing donkey (thanks Valoy).

CHRISTMAS EVE:

After everyone returned home we have our family tradition of opening one present from Mom and Dad. Of course PJs are the tradition.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

The stockings were filled and the presents under the tree. We had a great quiet Christmas at home filled with movies, PJs and outdoor hiking (yes, we love Christmas in PHX).

The gals received loads of art stuff this year. They colored all day. Notice all the hair decor from their stockings.

Neeley received a cupcake making kit from Grandma and Grandpa Secrist. She immediately tore into it, put on the apron and while we visited with family she went to the kitchen and started making cupcakes. She helped herself to the eggs, milk and more. By the time I realized what was going on she had a soupy mess dished into the cupcake tin, ready for the oven. This was a hit. (see video below)

What on Earth?

What a great holiday season we've had! We stayed close to home this year and just lounged around. With new adventures on the horizon, we are trying to lay low knowing on Monday a new chapter in our lives begins. It's been a nice break.

For Christmas I gave my 12-year-old bro-in-law a day ticket to Magic Mountain amusement park north of LA. So, we headed out on a quick trip and went to Magic Mountain on Monday. For those of you that don't know I am a HUGE roller coaster fan. HUGE roller coaster fan is putting it lightly. Fortunately for me Magic Mountain is known for some of the most amazing roller coasters in the world. I've been going to Magic Mountain since I was a kid, always choosing it over Disneyland if given the choice.

Well, here are two of my new favorites. They are worth the playback and the trip!

TATSU - MY FAVORITE

• The train hangs from the track


• You are parallel to the ground in "superman" style


• Feels like you are flying


• Quick corkscrews had the feel of an F16 plane maneuver


• Found my self laughing uncontrollably the entrire "flight"


• Coolest coaster I've ridden

X2 - A CLOSE 2nd

• Seat rotates on train and seat hangs over the track so feet are free below


• The big draw is a really large vertical drop - that's the first hill, which you don't really get from the video


• We rode of the first hill backwards for what seemed to be an enternity and then, suddenly our seats rotated so we were staring face down the vertical drop and instantly we were racing towards the ground


• The vertical drop was rockin' - what a rush

We had a great time and of course forgot a camera, so sorry no pics! Thanks Ken, Kyle, and Wesley for an outstanding day! Can't wait until next year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008
from Team Secrist

We are so thankful for this time of year that reminds us of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the good news that this event means for all mankind and our little family. We wish you all a very, very Merry Christmas. May the holidays be a time of reflection, renewed faith and new commitments.

The gals in their new Christmas dresses before church.

Getting Married

Hattie and Neeley are best friends. They can also be ace foes. That comes with the territory and we wouldn't have it any other way (ok, maybe a tad less screaming). The other night, amid running-here-and-there in preparation for Christmas, they came out of their room in a tight embrace and proudly proclaimed, "We're getting married!"

Hattie and Neeley pulled their shirts up over their heads and pulled back like a wedding veil. They thought they were so funny. They've had a lot of Christmas spirit and excitment and sometimes, well, just sometimes, they just plain crack us up. Little do they know that kids have been pulling this one off since Taani and I had to walk uphill both ways in a blizzard to school when we were kids. Nonetheless, it was funny to see them crack up at the joke.

We're looking forward to some sizable changes in our lives come January 5th as I accepted a promotion within Keller Williams to head an office in Scottsdale - its a great move with massive responsibility. So for now, we are hanging out as a family a lot and are looking forward to the future. We have an immense amount to be grateful for in 2008 and we end the year exhausted and massively thankful!

EDITORS NOTE: Take note of the blue residue of lip gloss on Neeley - she's addicted (see previous post here.

Thanksgiving 2008

What a great thanksgiving...I totally blew off writing about it until I cyberstole (yup, new word I just created) Grandpa Buddy's pictures from his blog. Something about hating my camera so much that I just refuse to take it anywhere anymore...

We had a great weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Harrison in town. We spent Thanksgiving with Taani's grandparents (Great Grandparents to our kids)at their home in our area. The food was amazing and the day perfect. We hiked the mountain in the morning and put up our Christmas decorations a day after T-day.

We purchased a pre-lit tree a few years back, but the lights have slowly been dying year-by-year. Finally this year I yanked them all off. It took a total of four hours to get the lights off. But in the end the tree looks great.

And as is our new tradition three years running...Elf the movie is enjoyed as a family with a giant bowl of popcorn. A nice reward to hanging lights and decorations.