More Cowbell

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Neeley Turns 4!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEELEY!

Yup, that's lip gloss around those lips. We need an intervention...

We spent the day downtown at Neeley's request. She wanted to go to the Children's Museum (which is very cool btw) and the Spaghetti Factory. It's her favorite. We drive downtown so she can get noodles with butter..go figure. What a fun day as a family!

TOP FIVE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT NEELEY:
1. She has a big heart. She is tender and sensitive to those around her.
2. She is a great soccer player, even though she'd rather be on the playground with the Worthens and Hattie. P.S. She's great at riding her new Razor Scooter too!
3. She is a big helper and has taken charge of Millie the Dog. It's her job to feed and water Millie (can't wait for the "pick up poop" to be added to the list)
4. She has a great singing voice. We love to hear her sing Primary songs - she has a good voice and loves to share.
5. Her love of lip gloss. Neeley without lip gloss is like Arizona without the Grand Canyon.

WE LOVE YOU NEELEY!

At the ice cream shop at the Children's Museum.

Grocery shopping at the Children's Museum. Very, very cool.

Neeley as the checkout girl.

Hattie's Turn

This is the pizza/restaurant area of the Children's Museum. Neeley's making the pizza (left hand corner) and then she will fire bake it in a brick oven (see background).

Hattie Working diligently on her pizza.

And here is my pizza made by Neeley with a drink. Totally impressive.

FAMILY B-day PARTY AT AUNT DIANA'S!

Diana had everyone over on Monday night to eat pizza and celebrate as a family. We love our AZ family! They rock!

That's a lot of cousins in the tub! The best part of getting together are the endless amounts of cousins! And this is a long-standing tradition after swimming in Diana's pool.

Diana and Neeley. West had had it with pictures I guess...

Singing Happy Birthday with the family. Cousin Shelby, Uncle John (in the background), cousin David next to Neeley, Hattie in the background and Diana snapping a shot holding West. What a fun night. Thanks TANNERS!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Planes, Trains & Automobiles...Actually, Just Trains!

Not many know this...actually, probably no one but Taani and my kids. Well, here it is: I LOVE TRAINS. Yup, it's true. As a small kid we used to travel I-15 through Davis County (north of Salt Lake) where the train tracks run parallel to the freeway and my nose and eyes were glued to the window in anticipation of a Union Pacific passing by. There has always been, and will always be, something beautiful and miraculous about a train to me. I still get excited when we drive along side a train.

My Dad has always loved trains as well. As a child he spent many an hour in his basement playing with brothers on thier Lionel trains. Once he was married to my Mom and my brothers were born we started receiving trains of our own around age 10. It was a right-of-passage to accompany my Dad into the Lionel Train Shoppe in Bountiful, UT (which also doubled as a barber shop, go figure) and pick out our engine. My brother Rick has a steam locomotive, my brother Reed has a Rio Grande, my Dad an Art Deco Sante Fe and me, well, at age 10 I received my Union Pacific.

I have memories playing trains late into the night on our Dad constructed train board with tunnels, bridges, villages, train depots and more. Unfortunately, upon moving to PHX I lost my basement and therefore, lost the ability to set-up my trains. And then West came and I found a use for my trains! One day we will have enough space (and maybe an extra bedroom) that we can put these to full use, but for now I am satisfied that a historic hobby in the Secrist family is being passed to generation number three!

And I look forward to the day I can accompany West to a Lionel Train shop to help him pick his engine.

The Brotherhood of the Traveling Socks

Check out the socks - is this guy cool or what? He's been a blessing around here - a reminder of the things that are really important. And his sisters are crazy about him. Both Hattie and Neeley are very helpful with feedings, making sure he is taken care of, and smothering him with sisterly love. What a guy! We had to share a few pictures where West is sporting his stylish socks.

I had to take a picture of him in his car seat to remember how little he is - it sure gives perspective. Now if we can just get him past his 11pm, 1am and 4am feedings! Yikes.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I WANNA BE A COWGIRL

This is one of our favorite things that comes out of pre-school each year. Seriously, these are my favorite. Grandma Debi, this one's for you.

Our Week Home - Random Shots

What a week! We have much to be thankful for!

An outstanding family - thanks aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandmas and grandpas!
Beyond amazing friends
An amazing Mother-in-law and Mom - its not easy after raising five of your own to come and help out with the next generation! We know that and man, you were such an immense help! Thank you, thank you, thank you. We miss you already!
Sleep! We are thankful for our two-hour snoozes.
The girls are thankful for West and the time they get to hold him before dashing off to school.
Go Taani go! Men are wimps, I know that now (kind of always knew it but am reminded everytime we have a baby).
An amazing little guy we call West - can't imagine our life without him.

This was hilarious - his first bath and then after when Debi rubbed his feet he would do this laugh that was a crack-up.

I couldn't resist putting this one of Neeley up. She is thrilled with her brother, so-much-so that she forgot to put her make-up on (see previous posts).