Now introducing....

 

After a few years of planning and working my sister and some friends have put together a clothing company focusing on surf clothes for babies and toddlers at affordable prices.  Check out their website by clicking here.

(I am particularly found of their model) 

Twilight

When I first heard about these so called vampire books I was super opposed to reading them.  I don't really like anything that is not real... so fantasy books or movies of any kind are just not my thing.  For example I refuse to watch "Lord of the Rings," couldn't read Harry Potter and didn't like the movie, and have always been strongly against TV shows like Buffy.  But after hearing girl after girl rave about these vampire books I decided to give them a shot.  And I will admit I loved them.  No, I don't think that they are well written but there is something about the story that caught my attention and I was fully engrossed in the lives of Edward and Bella.  So when the movie was first announced I was very excited about it.  So opening night I joined the rest of the female mormon population and headed out for 2 hours of twilight.  I can't say that the movie was a disappointment because I really didn't expect much from it.  The movie wasn't very well done and there were many times that I found myself laughing at the awkwardness of it... but all in all I enjoyed myself.  

Thank You

Today while I was on my thanksgiving run this song came on.  Its always been one of my favorites but today it seemed to ring particularly true for me.  Although I have never been to India I feel like the past few years have been a pilgrimage of my own and today I am feeling so grateful for it. So on this thanksgiving day I want to say "Thank You."

"Thank U"

how bout getting off these antibiotics

how bout stopping eating when I'm full up

how bout them transparent dangling carrots

how bout that ever elusive kudo

thank you india

thank you terror

thank you disillusionment

thank you frailty

thank you consequence

thank you thank you silence

how bout me not blaming you for everything

how bout me enjoying the moment for once

how bout how good it feels to finally forgive you

how bout grieving it all one at a time

thank you india

thank you terror

thank you disillusionment

thank you frailty

thank you consequence

thank you thank you silence

the moment I let go of it was the moment

I got more than I could handle

the moment I jumped off of it

was the moment I touched down

how bout no longer being masochistic

how bout remembering your divinity

how bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out

how bout not equating death with stopping

thank you india

thank you providence

thank you disillusionment

thank you nothingness

thank you clarity

thank you thank you silence

Happy Birthday Alice!

Many of you have heard about (and a few lucky people have met)  my parent partner Alice.  There are not words that describe Alice.  She is incredible.  Alice and I couldn't be more different but somehow through working together we have become really close.  So this year for Alice's birthday I decided to throw her a little surprise party at her favorite restuarant... Roscoes chicken and waffles.  It was soo much fun to see her reaction to the surprise!  I love you Alice and hope your birthday was the best ever!  

Isn't it ironic?

 Alanis Morissette is in my top five favorite musical artist and has been ever since I was 12 and Jagged Little Pill came out.  So when I found out she was coming to town there wasn't a chance that I was going to miss this concert.  While in New Zealand I found out that my friend Krista had the same love for her so four months ago we bought our tickets and last week we headed out to LA to experience a night to remember.  

The concert was AMAZING.  I seriously could not have asked for anything more.  The music was incredible and the people watching was almost even better.  Alanis attracts quite the mix of people: old and young, yes and no votes on prop 8, big and small (literally there was a "small person" there with his "big person" partner... it was awesome).  For one night we all came together with a common interest and sang our hearts out with Miss Morissette

She was such a great performer and in true Alanis style was crazy all over the stage leaping around.  She looked great too.  It made me want to dye my hair dark again.  This was one of my favorite concerts I have ever been to and if she comes to town again... I will be there. 

Another one bites the dust

JP is no longer JP... she is now Mrs. McGill.  The wedding was lovely, Jodi looked incredibly gorgeous,  the food was amazing, and the dancing brought me back to the BYUH dance days... which are some of my favorite memories.  

My new BFF Christina

My other BFF Julie 

My ghetto booty, Me, Jodi Mc Gill

Oh... and don't worry about it... I caught the bouquet. 

It don't matter if you're black or white

Back in the day when I was young we went to Medieval Times and we cheered for black and white. So for years growing up we would randomly chant black and white to each other (you have to know and understand my family in order for that not to seem really weird) Anyway... So when my parents came down to Halloween we decided that we would check out Medievals Times again to see if it is as much fun as it was when I was 8. 

To our joy and excitement when we arrived we were assigned black and white again!  

Black and White, Black and White! 

halloween

Halloween each year is always kind of a let down.  This year I was prepared for it and I was pleasantly surprised about what a good time I had.  I started the night out taking my nephews trick or treating (I was an idiot and forgot my camera).  After I headed down to south county to attend the ultimate in Halloween parties.  Done in true Messick style the party was a hit.  The place looked awesome and everyone had a great time. The only bummer was that it was shut down early. I was okay with it though... Since being in school and working full time I have turned into a slight grandma and I love my sleep.  All in all it was a fun night.  I dressed up as Pebbles from the flintstones. 

Me, Erin Bowen

Miss Lisa Taylor and I

Holly, Me

Megan, Holly, Amber, April

Jessica, Adrienne, Me

Me, Emily

Bachelorette Weekend

With Jodi's wedding quickly approaching we decided that we needed to do a girls weekend together.  Friday night was her birthday and we ended up celebrating at the Arizona State Fair watching the demolition derby.  This is my second year in a row attending this event at this fair, which is funny since I ultimately really kind of hate going to the fair.  But since this was my second year I might start making it a tradition.   

Me and the birthday girl

The next morning we woke up bright and early and to go boating.  This was my second time wake boarding and my first time trying the wake surf and I am now slightly obsessed.  I think the wake surf is SO fun.  I could do it all day long.  

Even Emily Beesley made it out for the weekend and lets just be honest... everything is just a little bit more fun when Emily is around. 

Emily, Julie, Me

Captian Glen Jeremy Palmer

That night was the actual Bachelorette party.  We started the night out at PF Changs where Jodi opened all her present. Then we hit the town.  Jodi had a list of 25 things that she had to accomplish that night and we had so much fun watching her try to get them all done.  Some of the items on the list were things like "get a random guy to serenade you" "Get a piggy back ride from a stranger" and "get a guy to take off his shirt and show off his muscles"  

And of course we ended the night hitting the dance floor where Jodi was in rare form (meaning out of control fun) and really made us all sad that she was heading to the road of marriedom.  We sure will miss Kimmy. :)  The only thing that could've made this weekend better would've been if Jessie and Brit could've been there.  I think its about time for a true BFF reunion.

Mud Run

At the beginning of summer Holly and I decided we were going to run the Mud Run in October thinking that it was so far away.  Then all of a sudden October was here and we were getting to run in the Mud.  I guess every once in a while its good to get down and dirty. 

Before                                                                              After

 

Weezer

There are two things that Christi and I have in common... Weezer and the Cranberries. Some of my favorite memories with this girl involve long road trips and singing along to some of our favorite tunes. So when Weezer came to town it wasn't even a question of wether we should go or not. So Christi got us a great deal on floor tickets off of craigslist and we headed for LA. Somehow between OC and LA I found a way to lose one of those tickets.  So we ended up having to buy another ticket which wasn't on the floor, trying various ways to sneak us both onto the floor level, finally succeeding and then being kindly (or not so kindly) escorted back to our seat (since we only had one seated ticket).  The concert was awesome and we ended up not even caring that we were in the seats.  We even got to share the show with my new stoner boyfriend that we were sitting next to... who gave me his number after the show.... 858-call4fun.  (Seriously thats really his number).   

Two reasons I am voting for Prop 8

These are two of my nephews, Micah and Saxon. 

 I love these two little boys more than anything.  Both of them were adopted through LDS social services.  If Prop 8 doesn't pass then LDS social service maybe be forced to close in California due to not adopting to same-sex couples.  I can't imagine our family without these two boys.  

Vote YES on Prop 8.  

Yes on 8!

Can men handle the regalness of an updo?

 

Just the ten of us!

For conference weekend a group of ten got together to go on a trip to palm springs for a little girl time.  We arrived in Palm Springs on Friday night just in time to hit the club at the hotel. The next morning a few of us woke up early to hit the pavement before the AM session began.  We watched the first session on Holly's laptop (due to the Marriott not getting the channel for conference.  What's that all about?)  Then we enjoyed the beautiful weather laying out at the pool.  After a light lunch we headed back to the room to catch the second session.  After we got ready for an evening full of delicious mexican food and shopping at the outlets.  This was the perfect relaxing weekend get away.  Can't wait for next year to do it again!!

The Bachelor

As many of you know... I love "The Bachelor." Today I decided to check out the website to see when it starts again. Although it did not tell me the dates of when my monday nights will once again be filled with date boxes, limo rides, and roses, it did tell me who the next Bachelor would be...

Jason! He is back and I couldn't be more excited about it. This could possibly be the best season ever!

Prop 8 is Great

You don't have to guess... just vote yes!

Six Consequences if Prop 8 Does Not Pass:

1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay.The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890)Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.

2. Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.

3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

4. Religions that sponsor private schools and which provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or lose tax exemptions and benefits.

5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.

6. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money, your church contributions – that will have to be spent on legal fees.

For more information visit this website:http://www.preservingmarriage.org/

Adventures in babysitting

Last week my sister Jule came into town with the twins which means that I got to spend time with my two favorite 3 year olds.  During this time I decided that being an aunt is possibly the best job that anyone could ask for.  I got to do some of my favorite activities with these two little buddies.  

These are a few of my favorite things:

Wild River

 (well technically this was my first time at Wild Rivers... but I pretty much love everything that involves swimming and sunshine)

Driving in my "little black car" listening and singing along to the polar express song over and over. 

Yogurtland... 

Look at these faces... Need I say more? 

Sleepovers in my "little house for little kids" including popcorn, juice, and a movie.  

Going for a run down to the beach first thing in the morning.  

Photography

 (these pictures are taken from the artistic view points of two very talented 3 year olds)

I love being an aunt!