A Week in the Life (or maybe two weeks in the life, or three...you get the idea)

The most common question we get from family and friends right now: "Are you guys alive?" The answer is YES! And we're busy as ever which leaves very little time for blogging. There's no particular order here but we are starting with the most recent going back a few weeks. On to the highlights...

Westy Boy at two months-ish:

Today our Primary met for a morning devotional type meeting on the lawn of the temple. It was a very cool and special thing. Thanks Primary! The Mesa Temple:

Our family at the temple today:

And yesterday we had my cousin AnneMichelle in town and her family. My girls know her as Aunt AnneMichelle. It was fun to visit at the pool at the hotel and then take the girls miniture golfing for their first time. Very interesting...Neeley was perplexed by the holes where you had to get your ball in before the castle door shut. It was too much for her so she would walk up and toss her ball in and then state, "that's kinda scary."

And this sums up the miniture golfing experience below:

I believe that was a hole in 21. Whoa.

"Aunt" AnneMichelle dishing out the treats and little gifts she brought. Look at their faces...

We took the girls to a preserve in Gilbert and let them hike and ride their coveted scooters. Scooters are great to have around as they are loved so much that the thought of loosing them incents to clean one's room, feed Millie, clean the play room, etc... It's always nice when something is that loved.

The infamous scooter and the more infamous owner of the scooter:

Here are fresh IDAHO potatoes shipped to us by our dear relative Becky Neeley. My family has farmed potatoes in Idaho for generations and when Hattie's class sent post cards across the country one was sent to my family in Idaho. They sent gold wrapped potatoes back to Hattie's class and there were about five extra and we enjoyed them for dinner. And now our kids actually like potatoes (they didn't before to my amazement as I can't get enough).

And Hattie in her school Patriotic Performance!

The Secrists Unplugged

What a wild two weeks of traveling, sickness and the last week of hospital. FINALLY West is home and our family is under one roof. We were thrilled to get him home yesterday and so thankful for all of the amazing nurses and doctors at Phoenix Children's Hospital. The care we received was amazing and the compassion and friendship so many of these professionals displayed was appreciated.

Additionally, we witnessed a week of angels who came into our lives without being asked, and made life easier with simple to unbelievable acts that make us profoundly grateful. You know who you are! From kid shuttling/managing, little drop-offs at the hospital, visits and refrigerators stocked with food! We love our awesome family & friends and feel "thank you" does not suffice for all of the blessings we received.

We are thankful for our Keller Williams Family too, locally and across the country, that issued hundreds of prayers on our behalf from all faiths and beliefs. I was so touched by the outpouring of so many different faiths united for a little boy in PHX. Faith is faith and we felt the power of all prayers to enable us to make decisions, think clearly without sleep, and to feel peace on hard days. We knew that God's will would be done and that all would be well.

We are thankful for priesthood blessings and know God hears and answers prayers. What an honor it is as a father to issue a blessing to our son in a time of need through the priesthood. It was a moment I will never forget. From that moment forward we felt taken care of and knew all would be well. We just knew it.

And that leads us to today! It is Secrist Unplugged Saturday - it is noon and we are still in PJs, just finished breakfast and plan to just chill. And then of course, West is quite literally UNPLUGGED and back in our home.

Thanks Mrs. Willis' Kindergarten Class for the awesome banner that hangs in West's bedroom.

This is West PLUGGED (no pun intended on all levels).

And here is West UNPLUGGED at home, the day he came home.

And here are the gals - still in PJs, building forts, riding scooters and just chillin'

THANK YOU FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Poetry Hattie

We received notice that Hattie wrote a winning poem for the kindergarten grades and will be going on to some kind of district competition. Way to go Hattie! If one ever wondered what hattie is about...well, this poem sums it up nicely, GLITTER!

The Gold Glitter by Hattie Secrist

Glittery, glittery

all around me.
I spill the glitter on me

and I look like

I am wearing a gold dress.

I pretend I am at a ball

and my brother is my prince

and we dance together

while the music plays.

We are under the moon

and the stars sparkle like the glitter

in my dress.

*Dedicated to my new baby brother, West.

A NEW VILLAIN IN TOWN!

Since the arrival of this little dude to these parts, there's been an increase in criminal activity. It seems when a group of village young ladies find themselves in harms way, they have a clear recollection that the deed-done-wrong was the result of one man...West Secrist.

West is wanted in connection with:

• Deadly stinkers
• Toys left out
• Toilets not flushed
• Gum on carpet
• Doors left open
• Candy and cookies eaten without permission
• Crumbs in the family room
• And the list goes on...

As you can see, this has been quite the disturbance to our peaceful village. Citizens should be warned, West is armed and his diaper is dangerous. If you have any information on this troublemaker, please let us know.

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!

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.