Christmas Pictures

Here are the pictures I promised everyone. Cortney sent them to me today and I am so grateful she took some for me. Thanks CORT!! There are some that are from earlier in December when we went to watch Nic's parents sing at the temple but anyhow here they are enjoy!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I know we did. Nic loved his XBOX 360 and played his new game guitar hero all day pretty much. We barely got him to stop to eat!! lol! I got a gorgeous coach purse (thanks Kristy). Taya got all kids of fun things. She got a kitchen and a baby care center. Loves them both!! Noah's ark little people.... and so so much more. We had a wonderful Christmas. Thank you all for everything!! I will post pictures when I get them... I forgot my camera at home!! I know sad day!! But Cort took lots so they will be up soon!!

We did not forget the true meaning of Christmas. We are so thankful for our Savior and His church. We are thankful for His birth and His perfect example. We love him very much and are trying very hard to live in a way so that we can be with him again, Azure too. I missed my Azure this year. Christmas just wasn't the same. I am so thankful for the many found memories I have of her. Taya loves to look at pictures of Azure and if you ask her to say Azure she says, "Azzzzeee" It is so cute and I know Azure loves hearing it. Brian and Ginger are engaged. Ginger is the girl Brian has been dating. We are happy he found some one and truly wish them all the happiness in the world. Congrats guys!!

Grandma got ran over... wait a min.

Ok before Azure passed away she was at my parents house watching conference. After the first session was over she told my Grandma Bowers that the only Christmas present she wanted was to see my Grandma on the four wheeler. Any how after Grandma got on it Azure decided it would be funny to have her run over my dad wearing Santa's coat. You can see Azure in the background with the video camera. HA! HA! Man I miss her and her crazy sense of humor!

FIRST TIME IN THE SNOW!!

So Taya went up north with my brother, Ben, last weekend. Nic was going up to go snowboarding and I had to work so I decided to send her to see Grandma and Grandpa Bigler! It snowed up north and so Taya got to go out and play in the snow. I made sure that they knew I had to have pictures, especially since I wasn't going to be there to see it myself. Anyway, she had a lot of fun and looked pretty darn cute!! Kati and her played in the snow and she brushed the snow off of Kati when she got thrown in it by the boys. I am sad I missed it but I am very glad they got pictures! Anyway, here they are!!

Update

Hello Everyone!! I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving. I know we did. It was a hard one without Azure but it still was wonderful to be around the family. It was the first time that Deni and Brett's family has come to Arizona for Thanksgiving! So we laughed and cried and had a wonderful time. We had family pictures taken. Mom wanted Azure in them and so she was photo shopped in a few of them. We dearly miss Azure and it still very hard to believe she is gone. We all felt her near us Thanksgiving day. I think she knew how much we needed her there.

Nic and I moved into our new house in Queen Creek. We love it. We are all unpacked just have a few projects that need to get done plus painting the house. We love it! We are close to Lori and Jared and very close to Amanda and David Hall!! We also got a dog!! His name is Hammie. Taya and Nic love him! I probably would like him alot more if he didn't pee on my new carpet!! AARG!! But he's getting better!! We are excited for Christmas!! It is such a special time of the year. We love all of you and hope all is well!! Till Next time!!

In Memory of Azure Dea Bigler Starkes

Azure Dea Starkes was born June 9, 1983. She was greeted by her mother, Donna Lannette Bigler, father, Keith Earl Bigler, sister's Lori Michelle Bigler (Baker), and Deni Lynn Bigler (Berger), and brother, Benjamin Keith Bigler. By 1986 there were two new additions to the Bigler Family. Jessica Lane Bigler (Despain) in 1985 and Kati Elizabeth Bigler in 1986. Azure greated both new sisters will great love and excitement. Azure grew up in Heber, Az. She touched the lives of many people as she smiled, sang, and danced into everyone's heart's. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's at the age of 8 years of old. She attended Capps Elementary, Mogollon Junior High, and Mogollon High School. She loved being goofy while hanging out with family and friends. She also played basketball, softball, and volleyball all four years of high school for Mogollon High. She loved sports and after graduation she enjoyed coaching the Junior High School Girls. She also played softball for her church and on a city league team. On June 26th of 2004, Azure was sealed in the Snowflake Arizona Temple to the love of her life Brian Keith Starkes. Azure and Brian loved each other very much. They enjoyed playing games together and just being around one another. On April 26th, 2007 Azure and Brian welcomed into the world a son, Eric Andrew Starkes. Azure's excitement for being a mother was contagious. She loved every moment she spent with Eric and their wasn't a movement or cooh that went unnoticed. She thought every thing he did was amazing and would never let you forget how happy she was that she was a mother! On October 13, 2007 Azure died due to injuries sustained in a car accident, her son was in the car, but was unharmed. Azure passed away at 24 years old. She was an amazing friend, daughter, wife, sister, and mother. She is and will be dearly missed! We wanted to thank everyone that has been there for our family in this time of need. We love our Azure and we love everyone who has been there and supported us. We do know that Azure is in a better place. Some day we will be with our Azure again and we will laugh and cry together. We are so thankful for the knowlege we have and for the atonement of Christ that will allow us to repent for our sins. We are so thankful for eternal families and the knowledge that we will all be together again. Again thank you all for your love, support, and prayers.

Thank you all!!

It has been a long time since I have posted anything and so much has happened. I will catch everyone up on everything but it will have to be another time. I want to talk about something else today. Nic went in for heart surgery today. It was a minor surgery and he had an ablation done on his heart. Everything went GREAT!! He is already home and doing okay. It wasn't open heart but they did go up through a main artery from his groin... so needless to say he is a bit uncomfortable. We were at the hospital for a total of 12 hours. Me being the worrier I am.... stressed and stressed. But I just wanted to shout out a thank you for all your support and prayers. Thank you all!!

New HOME!!

Exciting news!! We bought a house!! Best part is that our good friends Amanda and David (Madden too) and Mike and Cara all bought houses in the same community!! We are all super excited and can't wait for them to be done. Our's and the Hall's (David and Amanda's) house should be done in December. As for Mike and Cara... not sure there!! It will be fun to have friends so close!! It will also great for Taya to have little Madden a few houses away!! Oh and I bet you want to hear about the house... well... It is a 3bedroom +den and two bathrooms. It is single level with two living and dining areas!! HUGE Pantry and Laundry!! It is just under 1800 sq ft. Oh and has a covered back patio and two car garage!! We are so excited and I have been waiting to post this till we met with our lender!! Which we did today and she says that everything looks great!! Oh and it is in Queen Creek... which I hope doesn't discourage anyone from visiting!!

Despain Reunion!

This past week end we had a lot of fun. We went to the Despain Reunion out at the Despain Ranch. We ate some really good food and got to visit with all the cousins. We then headed over to Uncle Ralph's house to have some fun. Taya got to see his horse and ride it a tiny bit. She was too sure about her at first but soon enough she couldn't get enough of her!! Aunt Cort took her over to see the her to see the dog. Taya loves DOGS!! We then walked over to see the goats, where Taya found a donkey just her size that she could ride! After seeing all the animals, we went inside for a bit to get out of the sun. Uncle Ralph adores Taya and she loves him. She loves going to his house and seeing all the animals and there is nothing in Unlce Ralph's eyes that she can do wrong!! haha!! After Taya took a short nap inside, we went outside and played in the sand box for a while. There is all kinds of fun at Uncle Ralph's house!! We then drove out to Taylor to visit Grandma Holladay. Taya helped Grandma water her plants, although I think she watered herself a lot more! She loved holding the hose and trying to drink out of it!! We had so much fun spending time with the family. Taya loves her grandparents and loves going to visit them!!

LOVES HER DADDY!!

So Taya and Nic sure do have a special bond. Yesterday, I got Nic to let me take some pictures of them as he took Taya for a ride on the quad. She sure is growing fast!! She's becoming more and more independent every day and she is not scared of much. Anyhow, Taya loves to ride the quad, especially with Daddy. Infact, Nic has taught her how to put the key, what button starts it, and what lever makes it go!! I took her for a ride earlier that day and she kept rocking back and for like... GO FASTER MOM!! Haha... so when we got to the house she took the key out and I got her down and she walked over to Nic and handed them to him!! HA HA!! It's was hillarious and she sure did tell me who was boss!! She loves her daddy and he definetly loves her too!! I can't believe all she has learned the past month! It's amazing to watch her learn and grow. I am so glad that she is part of our lives and that Heavenly Father knew how much our family needed her little sweet spirit!! I thank him every day for blessing our home with our little girl!!

Bitter Sweet News!!

Well Nic and I made a little trip to the valley Wednesday night. Thursday, Nic went over to Chandler-Gilbert first thing and met with a counselor. He came home and registered for school. At 1:00 he drove over to Scottsdale for his interview. He got the JOB!! Yay! He gets paid well, with benifits, company car, and company phone!! We couldn't have asked for more. At 5:00 we headed over to lifetime fitness for my second interview. I aslo got the job. I will be working in the daycare, part-time. I get to take Taya with me!! It is very exciting!! So we move down before the 18th of this month. Thank you everyone for your prayers on our behalf. So back to the valley we go!!

What a weekend!!

We got back from Gilbert last night at 11:00 pm! And boy where we all tired. We left for Gilbert on Friday about 4 o'clock. We got there and spent some time with Nic's parents and sisters. Nic and I then left to go see some of his friends from Highschool. We saw Mike and Cara Hill there and they came back to Steve and Kelli's with us to play some games. We had a lot of fun with them and Cortney (Nic's sister) too!! The next day we got up bright and early for a fun filled day planned by Nic's mom. We drove out past Tortilla Flats and hiked down into this canyon to get an area Kelli had planned to play in the water. It turned out that is was the back of Canyon Lake. The hike was only suppose to be a mile. Turned out to be about three miles in and three miles out. Mike and Randa (Nic's sister and brother-in-law) had their three year old daughter, Ellie, with them. They went about 3/4 of the way and decided to turn around because Mike was suppose to meet our cousin Jason at 12:00. It was already 11:15 am. The rest of us went on. We went and played in the water for a bit and then dried off and began our trek home. The hike out was a lot worse then the hike in. We were all very tired, but we all made it. It was a lot of fun we tested our limits and it was a lot of fun. We went home and ordered some pizza and wings. The next day was Sunday. We ended up leaving church early cause Taya wasn't feeling well. So we just relaxed and hung out with the family when they got home. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Amy came over and visited. Also my brother, Ben, my sister, Kati, and my friend Andalynn came over and visited too. It was good to hang out and visit with everyone. On Monday, Nic and I left Taya with Grandma and Grandpa while we ran some errands. I had a job interview at the Gilbert Lifetime Fitness gym. It went well. I have to go back for a second interview soon. We met up with Ben at the house and went to lunch. Then we (Taya, Nic, Ben, Kelsey, Nicole, and Me) all climbed in the truck and went to the mall. We got Taya some shoes, Nic some new hats, and me a cool cover for my phone. We went back to Grandma's and Grandpa's and had dinner and left about 9:00 o'clock. We had a ton of fun!! We were glad to get home though!!

Playing in the Mud!

Yesterday it rained hard in Heber. Nic and I decided it was time to go have some fun. We took the quad and road around for about an hour!! It was so much fun. We found some huge mud puddles and road right through them, over and over again!! We came home really muddy!! We played with Taya for a while in the front puddles! We had a blast!!!

Date Night

Tonight Nic and I decided it was time for a little alone time!! Since my mom and dad were going to Mesa, we decided to send Taya with them. We went to eat at Chuck Wagon Grill out by Bison Ranch... haha and we don't recommend it!!! The food was pretty bad. We then decided to rent a movie!! Disaster again. The good ol' Rent a Flick didn't have anything!! We forget what it is like to live in a small town I guess!! So we decided to go home and order Pay Per View... Obviously there really isn't anything good out as of lately haha!! So our date night didn't quite turn out as planned. But it still turned out good. Some good one on one time and cuddling on the couch really can beat anything!!!