Shaylie's Baptism

On Saturday, November 1, 2008 Shaylie was baptized by my dad. Shaylie decided all on her own that she wanted to be baptized, so, we went ahead and got everything going for her. She was thrilled to have her grandpa be the one to baptize her and could not stop smiling the entire day (maybe it was the sugar from trick-or-treating the night before, who knows LOL). I am proud of Shaylie for making her own choice and following through with it. I only hope that she will continue to be proactive in her life and she continues to grow. Shaylie is a very bright, loving, funny, imaginative little girl and I cannot imagine my life without her! Sometimes it's hard to believe that she is 8 years old already, it seems like it was not that long ago that the doctor handed me my 8 lb. baby girl. Thanks to everyone that was able to come and support Shaylie on her special day.

Shaylie with her grandpa Messick!

Our little familiy.

Group picture with everyone there!

Sleeping Beauty and the Spider Witch

Well as always we had a great Halloween, and we hope the rest of you did as well. The girls had school, but were able to wear their costumes to school (which they both LOVED). They had cute parades that I got to go watch and see all the fun costumes. Once the girls were out of school my mom and I took them Trick-or-Treating here on main street in Springville. After main street we went up to Provo to my brothers (the house I grew up in) and had dinner with my mom and dad and my brother's family. After dinner we got the kids back in their costumes and went out to get MORE candy! Here are pictures from our adventures during the day, ENJOY!

Shaylie as a SPIDER WITCH!!

McKinley as Sleeping Beauty!!

Resting on the lawn during Trick-or-Treating on main street! Could they be any cuter!?

Here are my nephews: Andy = cute puppy dog and Caleb = little devil (LOL)

PuMpKiN fUn!!!!

Here are some pictures of the girls cleaning out their pumpkins and the finished products (FYI I carved both pumpkins so my girls would still have both hands for trick-or-treating, LOL). We can't wait until Halloween to try out the girls costumes! Happy Trick-or-Treating!!Shaylie with her pumpkin, it's a spiderweb with a spider coming off the bottom!

McKinley with her pumpkin, it's a witch!
Both pumpkins once we put them outside!

And the WINNER is............

On October 11 Marc fought in the Ultimate Combat Experience, Round 29.14. The fight was originally supposed to take place earlier in the summer, but due to a shoulder injury Marc had to postpone the fight. This was not Marc's first time in the cage, but it has been awhile.

Marc fought against Mike "Sugaloaf" Crisman and he did awesome! As usual I was nervous enough for the both of us, and Marc was totally cool with the whole thing. Their fight was the main event and they fought under the "pro" rules. Marc was able to win the fight at the end of the first round by putting on an armbar forcing Suga to tapout!!!!

I couldn't take my camera in but below is a picture of Marc before the start of the fight that I got off Ultimate Combat's website. Here is a link to their website http://www.ucombat.com/Index.php. Check out their website and watch on the WB30 in the next few weeks and you can see Marc's fight on TV!

Living Planet Aquarium!

For a fun family activity we decided to go to the Living Planet Aquarium. We went up with my parents, and my brother and sister-in-law and their two cute boys and had a lot of fun! Here are some pictures from our adventure!

Shaylie and McKinley

McKinley and my nephew Caleb

My newest nephew Andy! Isn't he a cutie!

Shaylie, McKinley and Caleb

Jellyfish!

Octopus!

McKinley and Shaylie looking throuh the tank!

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!