BLACK FRIDAY!!

As some you may know and a lot of you don't I love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. My father in law thinks I am crazy and so does my husband infact they joke that I get more excited about it then I do Christmas. But I Love shopping knowing I am saving a ton of money for us. I do coupons too and I love walking out of the store spending 8 dollars and bringing home over 100 dollars worth of grocery's! Any way my sister in law's found out that the AZ Mills mall opened at midnight so we all jumped in the car and headed that way!! We were so thankful that Randall drove cause traffic was insane trying to get off the free way to get in the mall. We got to the mall and walked in and decided it was not worth it. IT WAS INSANELY BUSY! So we let Kelsey do some shopping that she wanted to do and headed home. Then we went home. Cort and I took Randa home and then went back to mother-in-laws and woke her up. We went Khols first. We divided into sections and where in and out in 14 min (waited about 20 min for the store to open) with everything we needed. Then we went to Wal Mart. We called Randa on our way there and she met us there. We waited to be able to get our stuff for about 20 min again but where only there 18 min and got everything we needed. I had to do some good manuvering to get Nic's movie but it was well worth it!!! Then we were off to Target... we waited for about 15 min there and then where done in about 20 min. Once again with everything we needed. Then we headed to Old Navy where I go Taya some clothes for super cheap and some stuff for Nic and my brother! After that I was done and pretty much just along for the ride! Randa needed to go to Toys R Us for Teagan and when we pulled up there we decided it wasn't worth the savings the line was completely around the building! So we headed to sears where Randa got a vaccum they were out but they ordered it for her there and she still got the savings! I didn't know you could do that! Then we went to children's place. I needed tights for Taya's Christmas dress. Randa got some really cute clothes for Teagan and we even found a tie for $2.00. Then we headed home. I was so tired!! I hadn't been to sleep all night and I was starving! I ran into a good friend of Azure's, Ashley Dwiggins, who was kind enough to give me a gronala bar at Sears! Ashley it was SOOOO GOOOD!! It was really good to see you too!

I love Halloween!!!

This is what we did for Family Home Evening tonight! Pretty cute I think LOL!I am so excited for Halloween! I love Halloween. I can't wait for the 31st!! LOL!! I know I am a kid!! Any way, we've been so busy lately. I was so excited when Friday came! I was able to finish my crafts that I made for my the awesome ladies I visit teach, my visiting teaching partner (I seriously have the best partner just so you know!!), and my amazing in-laws. Taya and I also were able to make some Halloween cookies thanks to my sister, Lori's amazing recipe and adorable cookie cutters. WE didn't make near as many cookies as I thought we would thanks to two tiny hands! Taya ate like 1/3 of the dough!! Any way here are some pictures of the finished product.........



Also, Taya and I went to my sister's ward's TRUNK OR TREAT on Saturday while Nic and some friends went to the ASU Football Game! Taya was Snow White again. She really wanted to be a Froggie this year (random I know) but I couldn't find a frog costume for cheaper than 35.00 and that is before shipping so we decided that there is no point spending money on a costume when she fits perfectly into what she wore last year. Plus I kept asking her what she wanted to be and she said, " A froggie, a ribbet!" Then Lori came to the rescue. She said, "Taya don't you want to be Snow White and get candy?!" Taya's response was, "Sure... Okay I will be Snow White so I can get candy!" LOL if only she would stay this easy!!! Any how, I bought some black hair spray and sprayed her hair black. When I showed her in the mirror she started to cry... LOL! I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I don't want black hair!" After I showed her it washed out she was fine! Poor thing! Here are some pictures from the TRUNK OR TREAT! My nephew Tre' is the whoopee cushion (hilarious he even had a fart machine), Tucker is the scary pirate skeleton, and I didn't get a picture of Tatum. She was Giselle from Enchanted, she looked the part too! LOL!





Also Taya fell asleep at the dinner table Sunday Night! It kinda sad but really cute her are some pictures of how I found her...




And last but not least! I tried to get Nic to take a good picture with me. And after about five I got an okay one, That is okay!!! He kept saying I already took a good one!! Grr if he would just like pictures!!! I will get a good one!! SOMEDAY!!

Nic's Garden

Nic has been working really hard on our garden. In fact, he came in today and said, "you haven't put one picture of our garden on our blog!" LOL So here are some pictures of the garden. It looks awesome. And so far everything is growing great!!




And of course, I just wanted to post a few pictures of Taya. She is growning up so fast and I seriously wonder every day where all the time has gone! We went to the fair with Nic's parents Friday night and we had a blast. Taya got to see all the animals and pet some even. She loved the baby goats and the baby calf! I only had my phone so I have a few pictures of her on that but no pictures to post. Here are a few pictures I took of Tay this morning though!!

October 13th

As many of you know Monday was one year since my sister, Azure Dea Starkes passed away. It's so crazy it has been a year! It still seems like she is just going to walk in the door! Any how, Kati, Lori and I were able to drive up to Heber together to visit with my mom and dad. Ben joined the reunion on Sunday. All we were missing was Deni, and of course Azure. We really did miss you, Deni. We wish you were able to be there. We had alot of fun enjoying one another. We had a lot of girl time. It was fun to enjoy one another. On Monday, we went out to Azure's grave and laid some brick down and we went out to lunch afterwards. I was really glad that my mom wanted to do that. It was good for all of us I think to be able to spend sometime together and do some service.

My daddy and me


Kati and Lori


Kati and Dad


Mom and Me


Ben

The finish product: My mom and dad have already done alot of work on Azure's gravesite, but this what it looked like when we were all done.




I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has kept our family in their thoughts and prayers. Thank you Lonna for letting Taya come play with Ali so we could work on the block. We miss Azure. I don't think anything will ever change that. Little Eric is getting big and is learning more and more everyday. We sure to love the little bit of Azure we have left here. I am very humbled by everyone's love for my family and for Azure. I am so thankful for the comfort in that I will one day get to see my sister again. Smiling and laughing! I really can't wait to be able to just hug her and talk with her again. There is so many things I miss about her. I just hope.... I really hope that Taya will be able to know what a great person her Aunt Azure is and how much she loves her...

Cousins by chance, Friends by Choice!

As many of you know I have a cousin that I have known since birth. Lonna Porter Connolly and I have been friends/cousins since she entered this crazy world. We've had our differences but when it came down to it if there was every anything I needed I knew she would be there for me, NO MATTER what. I have grown to greatly appreciate the bond we have and even though we don't see eachother often or talk every day... She's still one of my best friends! She's been a great example to me in many ways and I have learned so much from her over the 23 years of our lives. The great thing is Lonna and I both have little ones about two months apart. They really are kindred spirits! They adore one another and play so well together! Lonna and Cam stayed with us the other night and the girls played and laughed for hours. They slept in the same room and they probably would have slept in the same bed but I didn't think they would be that comfortable on Taya's toddler bed. LOL! Taya even went up to Alli's to stay the night. Her first sleep over! Lonna said they slept great and woke up and just played and played! It's funny cause they don't see eachother often but when they do they remember even at the age of two and they just pick up right where they left off. Well here are a few pictures of our cute little ladies...

No more monkey's jumping on the bed!!


A cute pic Lonna took of the girls while I was at work!


I hope the continue to be such good friends and examples!

Oh and Aunt Toni, Lonna and I finally understood why you always told us, "One girls a girl, Two girls half a girl, Three girls is no girl at all!"

Camping '08 and Babysitting

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a safe labor day weekend. I am thankful that we did and We had a blast. Every year Nic's family goes camping. And I mean Nic's Great Grandma Brewer's siblings decendents. We enjoy going every year and in fact it is something we look forward too! Infact Nic said today that August felt like it was never going to end cause he just could wait to go camping and now here it is September. Any how. We are trully blessed with a wonderful family that we enjoy camping with and in all honesty we eat better camping than we do all year(sad I know). Here are some pictures of our trip!

Grandpa Despain, Teagan Canter, and Taya Despain


Here is a better picture that you can see Grandpa's face! Man, we love him!


Taya even had her very own potty chair! Lucky girl!

We even had a surprise visitor, Ms. Alionna Connolly! Brindi went through the temple on Satuday the 30th and Lonna asked if we wanted to watch Ali. We were happy to and since we were camping inbetween Heber and Snowflake it worked out great. Taya and Ali had alot of fun together. They really are kindrid spirits. They don't get to see eachother too often, in fact it as been four months since they had seen eachother, but they just pick up where they left off and are the best of friends. They laughed and played and were inseperable. They had games at the reunion for the little kids so the girls got to go easter egg hunting and they did the three legged race, which they never fell and I am still kicking my self for not having a camera to capture it all! They definately got dirty too! Which what fun is the reunion without a lot of dirt! When I went to take Ali to the road to meet Lonna she asked Taya, "Taya, you come play at my house now?! We have fun!

Taya replied, "Okay, let's go!"

Then Brindi got there and Ali climbed in the car and scooted over, patted the space next to her and said, "Taya come on! Get in Mee Mee's care with me. We go play at my house!" It was so cute and I had to be the mean mom and tell Taya not today. She was pretty broken hearted! Any way here are some of the precious moments I got of the girls!






Lonna thank you for letting Ali come play! They had a blast! I have to say there were several times I could see us in those two little girls!

Teagan's Sucker! He loved it! Infact he ripped it out of my hand and knew exactly what to do with it!


And it wouldn't be camping with out games, family, and marshmallow roasting!







I also want to just say how much I appreciate my husband! He may tease me CONSTANTLY! But he's very helpful and very supportive. I love you NIC!

And last but not least. Taya and I got to watch Teagan on Friday! We had lots of fun. Infact Taya had so much fun she fell asleep sitting up and slept for four hours and woke up GRUMPY!! I think she just wore her self COMPLETELY out. Any here are a few pictures of ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING TEAGAN 101! Thanks Randa and Mike for letting us play with Teagan all day!





Oh... We went to Elli's Birthday Party today and it was alot of fun! Randa thanks for taking all the time to do what you do. The party was awesome. Nicole!! I am so sorry we missed Cory's party! I was hoping to make it but I had to do some hair that morning and I didn't get done till about 12:45pm! We need to get together soon though!

Till next time!! PS sorry so long!