Birthday Update (finally)!!

Well, as you can tell it's been a while since I updated our blog (shame on me) and unfortunately it's not been due to lack of things to post about, but you all know how life goes sometimes.

I suppose I should start off with Shaylie's 8th birthday party.........it went great! Thank goodness the weather cooperated and didn't rain on us. Shaylie decided that she wanted a Hannah Montana/Luau theme.........luckily for me my sister-in-law was able to get me Luau decorations from her work for free! So after purchasing a few Hannah Montana items we were in business! I do believe that she chose the "Luau" theme so that she could have an excuse to make it a swimming party as well (not like I care, LOL). Between the pinata, swimming, cake/ice cream, sandwiches, decorating cupcakes, and playing around I was pleased with her party and we were are tired by the end. Shaylie had a blast and got plenty of stuff!

Here are a few pictures of the decorations:

THE AWESOME HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS GUITAR CAKE!

THE PINATA!!!!

8 ............ already?!

You read right...........Shaylie is now 8 years old! I can not believe that 8 years ago we were waiting to see what our baby girl would look like, how big she would be, etc..... Shaylie came into this world as a beautiful 8 lb. 20" baby girl with dark brown hair............she is now a BEAUTIFUL 8 year old young lady! Shaylie is in 2nd grade and loving it! She is an EXCELLENT reader, loves math and spelling, as well as sports! Shaylie is no longer doing jiu jitsu (unless you count playing with daddy at home), instead she is playing soccer in the city league here in Springville. Shaylie is bright, funny, sensitive, caring, a quick learner, a good student, and a good big sister and friend. I can't say enough about my "baby" girl, I love her so much and can't imagine my life without her!

Since Shaylie's birthday fell on Tuesday this year we just celebrated with her at home on her birthday and are doing her party this weekend. I'm sure there will be even more pictures after the party!

Here are a few pictures from a "photo shoot" I did with Shaylie for her birthday invitations (I love my camera!)...........enjoy!

Even though this last one is not of just Shaylie I thought it was too cute to not share. This is Shaylie and McKinley with their BEST FRIENDS, Taylor and Rylee! Cute kiddos and great friends!

McKinley is in Kindergarten!!!!

That's right, McKinley started Kindergarten TODAY! I am now officially old, my baby has now started school. I can not believe that she is old enough to start school!
McKinley was soooo excited to go to school, and not just any school, but the same school as her big sister! McKinley and I spent quite a bit of time last night going through her school clothes to find that PERFECT outfit for the first day. When I got the girls up to start getting ready for school McKinley double checked with me that today was in fact the day that she would go to school, it was too cute.
After getting ready we grabbed the girls backpacks and headed to the car. On the drive to the school I asked McKinley if she was still excited to go to school and she said yes, but that she was a little nervous too.
When we got to the school we dropped Shaylie off at her class and then McKinley lead the way to her classroom (which just happens to be right around the corner from Shaylie). We were one of the first there but McKinley walked in and went right to work. She put her backpack away and her homework folder in the bin (complete with her first homework assignment finished), and went to find her seat.McKinley was excited that her teacher remembered her name and welcomed her to the class.

McKinley with her teacher, Mrs. Carpenter!

I was sad to leave my baby at school, and I have to admit I did cry a little (but not until I was in the car). I know she'll have a GREAT first day and that she will do wonderful this year, learn new things, and make new friends I just don't think that I was as ready for this BIG day as she was.

2nd Grade........YEAH BABY!!!!

I can not believe that today is Shaylie's first day of 2nd grade! The summer went by WAY too fast and before I knew it we were school shopping. This year is especially hard for me because I'm not only taking Shaylie to 2nd grade, but I will also be taking McKinley to Kindergarten this year! Shaylie was soooo excited to go to school today she woke up on her own and couldn't wait to get ready. Shaylie had some great friends in her 1st grade class last year and her two best friends are in her class again this year which makes the first day even more exciting!

I decided that since it was the first day of school for Shaylie that I would make something she loves for breakfast so I made cinnamon rolls as a little treat for her special day. After getting ready for school Shaylie, McKinley and I loaded into the car and headed for the school. Shaylie was excited and talked the whole way about how she couldn't wait to see her friends and her new teacher that she already loves (we met her yesterday at the open house). We walked Shaylie in and it was like she had been going for months already, she walked right in like it was nothing and started their morning routine like she'd done it a thousand times. I was a little choked up and sad that we wouldn't be hanging out like we have been but she was totally fine! (Dang kids, shouldn't they need "mommy" more than that,LOL.) Shaylie allowed me to take a picture with her and her teacher but then I could tell it was time for me to leave.

I'm glad Shaylie is so independent and ready to be there, I just wish I was as ready for her to grow up as fast as she is. I know it's cliche to say, but kids really do grow up to fast! I can't wait to pick her up later today and hear all the stories of how GREAT her first day was!

Shaylie with her new Hannah Montana backpack and the dress she wanted to wear for her first day!

Shaylie with her new teacher, Miss Van Natter!

McKinley starts Kindergarten next week so check back for an update with pictures from her first day!

sWiMmInG!!!!

As you are all aware it has been HOT lately so the girls and I have done what we can to stay cool while having fun and enjoying the sunny summer weather we're having. We've eaten MANY popsicles, had water fights, watched movies (We LOVE central air!), swam in our own pool and gone to public pools. Here are some cute pictures of the girls doing what they LOVE, playing in the WATER at Veterans Pool (I only have pictures of them in the kiddie area, I didn't take my camera into the big pool)!

McKinley posing after coming out of the waterslide! Too stinkin cute!

Shaylie right after coming out of the waterslide! So cute!

McKinley using one of the many valves to squirt water out into the pool, and posing AGAIN!

Shaylie holding her breath and swimming under water!

Me and my girls!

Me, enjoying the sun!

4th of July Celebrations!!

I know it's a little late but I figure better late than never, right? Anyways, our 4th of July was great! We had a BBQ with my parents, my brother and his family and Marc's mom. We swam in our new pool and ate GREAT food. Later on we took the girls to the Stadium of Fire to see Miley Cyrus! Shaylie and McKinley were absolutely THRILLED and had a blast! Marc became the BEST dad in the history of dads by getting those tickets for his two favorite girls! We all enjoyed the Blue Man Group, but by far and away the highlight of the evening for our entire family was Miley Cyrus! Shaylie and McKinley were in heaven watching her do her little performance and singing along with all the songs, and Marc and I loved to watch their cute little faces in awe of what they were watching. Here are some pictures of our day, enjoy!

Grandma Jerri, Grandpa Messick, Marc, Nicole, Shaylie, McKinley and Caleb enjoying the pool!

Shaylie and McKinley at the Stadium of Fire before everything started!

Blue Man Group

MILEY CYRUS!!!!

Sitting with dad enjoying the music!

Catch-Up

Since I haven't been staying on top of updating our blog like I should I decided that I would do a "catch-up" post. We have been busy bees lately and with the weather finally deciding to stay warm I don't see us slowing down at all. Since McKinley's birthday party Shaylie and Marc competed in a grappling tournament, Shaylie took 3rd in the kids division (I was beyond proud!)! McKinley graduated from Preschool! We also went to the zoo with my family, several shooting trips, the Carnival, the Springville Art City Days Parade, days at the park, swimming, etc., etc., etc. Well here we go with the pictures, ENJOY!

McKinley with her teachers on Graduation Day!

The Grad! Did I mention I love this girl!

Shaylie wearing her medal! She did awesome and we were totally proud and impressed by her (she was the smallest one in the kids division)!

Marc and Shaylie in their medals! (I love this picture of them.)

Shaylie and McKinley at the parade!

Marc and McKinley at the parade.

Watching the parade.

I'll post pictures from the 4th of July soon! (maybe)

Finally.......Pictures!

Here are some pictures taken at McKinley's 5th Birthday Party (finally)! We all had a blast, even though the wind was COLD! Thanks to those who were able to celebrate with us!

McKinley blowing the candles out on her Princess cake!

Hitting the Princess Pinata!

Standing next to her Barbie Jeep Power Wheel!!

McKinley and Shaylie in the new Barbie Jeep!

McKinley is 5!!!!

Well, it's official ......... McKinley is 5 years old! In honor of her birthday I'm taking an idea from others and am going to write 5 things I love about McKinley. I have to say it's hard to choose only 5 things because I love that little girl so much and there are many wonderful qualities that she posesses.

1. McKinley has a very bubbly personality! She can make friends with anyone in no time and loves to play with her friends whenever she gets a chance. McKinley has the type of personality that lights up a room when she enters.

2. McKinley genuinly cares about others. She can't stand it if someone is hurt or sad, she wants to know what happened and what can be done to make it better.

3. McKinley is very smart! We've been working with McKinley to get her ready for kindergarten and she has picked up on everything very quickly. Her preschool teachers are very impressed with her learning ability as well.

4. McKinley is a very funny little girl! She loves to make you laugh by telling jokes, making faces and just being herself.

5. McKinley loves her family! McKinley loves to go on walks and bike rides with her family and play with mommy and daddy, but one of her very best friends is her big sister Shaylie. McKinley LOVES to play with her big sister and tries to do everything just like her.

There are many more things I love about my little girl, but I will save them for the coming years lists.

This is McKinley wearing her birthday crown from preschool and holding the presents her big sister, Shaylie, gave her.

***McKinley's party is on Saturday so don't worry there will be plenty of pictures to come!!!!

McKinley is turning 5!!!!

As bittersweet as it is my baby McKinley is no longer a baby and will soon be turning 5 years old! McKinley's birthday is on May 7 and she is absolutely THRILLED that she is having another birthday and that she will be 5 years old. Since her birthday falls in the middle of the week we are doing her party the Saturday after. In preparation I was trying to get McKinley to decide what invitations she wanted (so I can get them sent out before the party, LOL) and Marc had a great suggestion that we just make her one online and do them that way. Well we took her daddy's suggestion and look AWESOME! I decided not to use just any old snap shot we had already so I got McKinley all dressed up and did her hair and then we went out in search of a great picture (Even though it was FREEZING this morning and I made her wear a dress, she was a great sport!). Poor McKinley was sooo cold that she had to wrap up in her coat between pictures due to the frigid wind. All in all it was worth it cause we got some beautiful pictures of her and she had fun doing it. Here is what her invitations ended up looking like.........

Here are a few of the other pictures from our "photo shoot" this morning.