We hope everyone had a safe and great holiday. This is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite of the year. In Illinois we enjoyed a big bike ride with loads of friends to the Purple Store out in the country (tradition continues), and then evening fireworks with even more friends in our quaint town. PHX, well it's taken some time as it is humid this time of year and 110 degrees, however, we've adapted and either enjoy going to the mountains or staying put and occupying our day with swimming and then evening fireworks. This years we popped for tickets to the musical Wicked that happened to be in town. We took the girls and had a blast. It was a great day. We have a lot to be thankful for and we feel blessed to be Americans and part of this great nation!

Red Carpet Run - Hattie and Ryan @ Staar Night 2009

Sorry, I know this isn't the best quality picture. I'm trying to locate the original. Anyhoo...

Last month Hattie joined me as my guest to a very special event - Staar Night put on by the Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS. This big event happens one night a year and ticket sales go entirely to a charity fund called the Hutch Fund. I was so taken by this event and the cause that our office (Keller Williams Sonoran Living Scottsdale/Paradise Valley) that we became a donor and our office agents raised money and elected to donate it to Staar Night/Hutch Fund.

That night the performance (acted, sung and directed by volunteer REALTORS) was themed around Hollywood, so Hattie got to walk the red carpet in front of the Orpheum Theatre downtown and meet Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. At one point in the show she was invited to dance in the row with a cast member - she has talked about it ever since.

Fun times!

Westy Boy June 2009

I love this picture. He never really took to a binky, but he took to his two middle fingers! This is a very common site for West - a "hang loose" sort of hand formation with two fingers straight in his mouth.

Great picture Taani! She's really mastering our camera...does that mean I can pass the blogging torch?

CAMPING...FINALLY!

This is where we camped for one night last night. We had a great time.

We did it! We almost didn't do it. But we did it and we are glad. Kids running free, loads of mountains and pine trees. Fishing for trout (ok, it was a trout farm) and then cooking them up for dinner...overall, a great weekend. It was good for the kids to learn that food comes from a source and in many instances it must be caught, prepared and then cooked. I was beginning to think Hattie believed salmon comes from Costco, period. Seriously, fresh trout...AMAZING.

It was only for one night, but we had a great time with our friends. Thanks Ito's for putting it together. West loves to be outside and did well during a 49 degree night. Burrr...

The kids are exhausted from running non-stop. Simple, inexpensive and worth the memories. Camping rocks.

6000+ Feet Above Sea Level - My Place of Peace & Rest

Mountains have always been a happy place for me. Perhaps its because I grew up at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Utah and my home was quite literally in a forest in the mouth of a canyon on a large lot of land, bordering public land and I even had a creek (sometimes river in the spring) in my backyard. I worry about the block walls around my home in PHX and that it teaches my kids to "stay within the lines."

That was not my childhood. My childhood was roaming, building forts, finding rusty pioneer treasures, tubing down the creek, tree swings, and building dams so we could have swimming holes in the summer. I wandered free my whole life. I'm grateful for where I grew up. I would only wish that same environment for my kids...

A few agents in my office came and and ran an intervention last Friday. They said I did not look up-to-par and I was lacking my usually natural enthusiasm. As their business coach, they pointedly informed me that they need me fresh and focused. One of them said, "Get out of town and use my farm house on five acres in the mountains outside Flagstaff." I think I had grabbed my keys and was racing for my car before she even finished her sentence. I found out later that day at the doctor that I was sick and that fresh air and mountains would be good. They are always good for me and my family. So we headed for the hills. Here are some snapshots of our great weekend.

Notice the slobber coming out of West's mouth. He's a boy, he's a slobber machine.

Roaming free always does a body good (and a family)! Thanks JW for your kindness!

We loved your farm house! The rain, the aspens, the pine trees the snow capped mountain peaks and watching the kids explore endlessly...PRICELESS!

The Kiddos

West, Hattie & Neeley May 2009

My Father-in-Law Is Going to Be So Proud!

• Taani was out.


• Kids gave me a run for my money. Finally got them to bed.


• I went into our master bath, turned on the light and this little guy was looking straight at me on our bath mat. Hummm...in all my years here, lizards have been OUTSIDE, not INSIDE.


• We've joked for years that I don't have the genetic make-up found in the Harrison clan. It seems the knack for catching green slimy things runs in their family, but not in mine.


• So, Buddy, this may be small peanuts compared to your outback adventures but I did it, with my own hands in the bathroom with a drinking glass.

Watch out lizard kingdom, I'm mad and I now have skills.

NOTE: No lizards were harmed as part of this blog.