Sing Forth!

The 3rd grade classes of Sierra Elementary School performed last night.  I have to tell you, this opening number had me beaming.  Nothing makes me happier than when kids sing forth and these kids had this opening song down and sang with gusto.  Way to go Hattie!  She loves to perform.

Pardon the video - I was wrestling an unnamed three-year-old and then curly hair woman scoots in front of me and blocks Hattie.  You get the idea.

Go Hattie-pants, go!  She nailed her lines and did a great job.

Let Them Build FORKS!

It's their "fork" as West calls it.

Building is fun.  Taking down causes kids to disappear.  

What a great day.  Much needed downtime after 12 months of crazy and the last few month's of intensity.  What a great weekend!

Ahem.

It's hard to believe we celebrate 12 years together this summer.  It's hard to believe we have lived in PHX for 8 years (this month actually).  We've had a cat, a dog, a few cars, a couple of bruises, a few moves, career changes, milestones hit, rough patches worked through, a lot of laughs (yes, I love when I make her laugh), and three kids to show for it all.

And after all that, she still takes my breath away when she walks into a room.  This picture was taken at our company's annual award banquet.  She had a group of people around her all night.  The people I work with are taken by her.  I know why.

Now its on to a new adventure.  You know that deep-in-your-soul-just-gotta-do-it-take-the-risk-and-make-rain-feeling?  Ahem...California here we come!

California Dreamin'

Wow, we pounded the pavement in LA for three days - in business meetings, hunting areas and attending wards.  Everyone in PHX asks - why would you ever want to live in LA?  Well, meet our dream neighhborhood - Via la Selva in Rancho Palos Verdes Estates.  No words can describe what we saw in this area.  Beach to the west, hillside rustic retail and libraries and all within a throw of LA, but without LA prices.  We are smitten.  Think Father of the Bride neighborhood.  

Our good friends from Keller Williams have this listing.  It is PENDING and sold in days.  They call it the "Leave it to Beaver Home."  When we drove by Taani was thrilled this stuff existed.  They all look like this.  A bit beyond what we are looking for now, but our next house for sure!

We collapsed on the plane.  What a weekend and now we know there are places like this around LA.  Between this and Manhattan Beach we're in.  

This house is now on our vision board. 

We also loved the beach urban area and ward of Manhattan Beach, CA.  Just south of LAX beyond El Sagundo.  I am told the home from the movie Jerry Macguire is in the  area we loved - The Tree Section.

Supposedly this is the home from the movie.  Yup Tom Cruise was here.

The Tree Section offers little homes at big prices, but we love it.  Blocks from the beach and all the offerings of the vibrant city of Manhattan Beach with access to all things city (no need to get on the interstates).  The schools are some of the best in the state and we felt at home in the ward yesterday.

What to do, what to do.  

We are up for the adventure!

It Was A BYU Kinda Christmas

It takes a village they say...well, thanks Grandpa Tom for helping us get BYU in their heads early.  He learned West got a BYU jersey and in true Secrist fashion got the helmet, pants and another jersey with pads to go with.  Go BIG or go HOME. Go Cougars...no devil pitch forks in this family (and yes that's a big wad of gum in his mouth).

Secrist Christmas 2011!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!

Go Cougars!

Tap shoes and Sushi

Did you know that Ryan knows how to tap?  Quite well, actually.  Neeley begged him to dust them off and show her a few moves.  She is still chanting...shuffle, step, shuffle, step, heel, ball change.....

Hattie and I went to a fun mother daughter "Minute to Win It" activity and had to dress as a pair.  I found the cutest little pattern and voila! Sushi complete with ginger, wasabi, and sushi grass and soy sauce! Fun activity and even more fun to watch her laugh at herself even with much older girls around.  May I just brag and say that we even tied for second place!  I know, that's just how we "roll."  Get it?