ROCK BAND... and a little surprise....

Last night we went over to our friends, Clint and Jeni's house to hang out and watch a movie. Clint and Jeni have two little girls, Rayli and Lizzy. They are a year and a couple days apart in age. Rayli is about two months older than Taya and they just have a ball together. Lizzy kind of follows them around and teases them. It's funny cause for being the youngest she sure does rule the house! haha!!


Taya and Rayli, and then Lizzy!!

Anyway, the movie wasn't too exciting... Griffin and Phoenix.... BORING!! So Nic called Jason and Kristy DeWitt. They brought over rock band and the party began...






We had a ton of fun!! Definitely a game we need to invest in! Thank you guys for a wonderful time! Jeni- sorry about Ray's finger!! Thanks for a great evening!!

The surprise.... I know what you are thinking... no I am not pregnant. haha... So I finally got up the courage to do something I have been really thinking about doing for a really long time....


I cut Taya's hair, about 3 inches off!



It is really cute and I am glad that I did it. I was in a hair cutting mood cause my good friend, Lindsey Wise came over today and we cut and colored her hair and I cut her hair pretty short so.... any how, here it is! Tell me what you think.



Also Taya is totally potty trained. 100 PERCENT! No diapers at night! She has been for about 3 weeks now and we are super excited about it! TILL NEXT TIME TA TA!!

Our Little Miss Taya

THIS IS THE LOOK I GET EVERY MORNING!!



So Taya has had a running nose and fever so we took her to the doctor to discover that she has an ear infection. They also measured her and Nic and I always knew that Taya was small but I didn't think she was that small. She weighed 24.8lbs which puts her in the TEN Percentile for her age!! I am not sure how tall she was (I didn't even think to ask) but she was in the TWENTY Potential for her height. IT was crazy. Nic just said "So, what your saying is we have a really short, scrawny kid?!" It was funny! Anyhow, WE have really enjoyed Taya and the special blessing she is in our lives!! She has such a fun personality and I just crack up at her every day. Her are a few resent pictures of Taya!


Just coming home from church on day


She told me she was doing Daddy's homework! HAHA!!


Putting make up on!! HAHA. I came home from a meeting and she still had it on. It was hilarious. She knows the general idea of where everything is suppose to go on her face.

THE BACKYARD!!

Nic's hard work is really paying off. The back yard is looking great and it has helped with the dust our here immensely!! GOOD WORK BABE!!

A much needed up date...

A lot has happened to our little family. We have been so busy and every time I think I have found time to update on out blog... the Internet isn't working or Nic needs to do homework etc. Any how. Beginning of June kept us all busy. My little sister Kati and Boston Bryce were married on the 14th.






Taya turned two on the 29th. Sorry for all of you out of town family or friends (also those of you I don't see often) I made invitations for everyone and by the time it was said and done it was too late to mail them out and I didn't have time to do it. Any how we had a little pool party and Mike and Randa Canter's (Nic's sister's). It was a lot of fun and thank you to all of you who came and hung out!! Boston and Kati have some video of the party that I will have to post when they email it but for now here are some pictures of Taya's party.
The Amazing CAKE! She was so excited. Thank you Sis. Crawford!

Everyone had a lot of fun swimming. It was a good party for such a hot day!




And the presents... Let's just say she has plenty to play with and A LOT to wear while doing it!! LOL!!





And... Nic bought a motorcycle. I know I think I am crazy.... When he brought it home I wouldn't go see it... I told him , "I am going to wake up and this is all going to be a bad dream!" LOL. But he loves it and with gas prices they way they are... mad since. We haven't been able to sell the truck and it is really expensive for me to drive it into work even if it is just one or two days a week. So pictures of the bike...



Okay, and.... (sorry I am almost done) We went up to Heber for the fourth of July. It was nice to get out of the heat and to spend some time with my family. I didn't take any pictures but I am going to have to steal from Boston and Kati. Any how we had a great time. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time. I was said I never got to see alot of people (Tara Lee, Kandra, Brindi, JP, etc.) I hope everyone did have a great fourth of July. We really did. My dad turned 50 on the 5th and we had a little surprise party for him after the fireworks!! He's such an amazing man and I wish we could have done a bit more for him but it was fun to surprise him! Happy Birthday DADDY! We sure do love you!!

Happy Birthday Azure!

Some of you may or may not have known that my older sister passed away in October of 07. It was a big surprise to us; she was in a fatal car accident. Any how today is her birthday. All day long I think I tried to keep my self busy so I wouldn't have to think about it. On my way home from work it started to hit and I just knew I needed to do something today for her to show that I hadn't forgotten her. I'd like to share of few memories or thoughts.

Taya likes to sing a song off of Winnie the Pooh. Azure used to play with her and sing it to her when she was a few months old as she would stand her up and sit her on her bottom, singing "when I up, down, touch the ground, puts me in the mood, up, down, touch the groud, in the mood, *smack* for food. I am stout, round, and I have found, speaking poundage wise, I increase my appetite, when I exercise!" Taya knows most of the words. She still needs promptings her and there but everytime I sing it I can see Azure playing with her again... Azure loved Taya and Taya loved Azure...

I was blessed to have a sister that I got a long with so well. Azure was one of my best friends in high school. We talked about almost everything and I enjoyed playing sports with her. I always seemed to find an encouraging note from her before a big game, test, etc.
Azure was such a beautiful person inside and out. I loved her. I still do very much.

Azure was all about comfort. Things needed to be comfortable in fact, for her wedding her brides maids wore capri's and flip flops, she wore flip flops herself. She didn't see the point in an ugly dress that you would never wear again. When we were taking picture in front of the temple after Azure and Brian where sealed she wanted a picture of us (her bride's maids in the water fountain) and don't think that being in a dress kept her form getting in there with us!! I always loved how spontanious and crazy she was!


Family was very important for Azure. She used to say "you mess with one bean, you mess with the whole burrito!" I know how important family was to Azure. She loved her husband, Brian Starkes very much. She also love her sweet, little baby boy, Eric Andrew very very much. I used to tell her that she spoiled him because she held him all the time and if he whippered she'd pick him. I am glad she did now! She was such an example in so many ways to me. I have always looked up to her. I miss her dearly and I can't say I don't wish her back everyday. There were a lot of things left unsaid... I know that she is in a better place, where she can watch over us all better. I am thankful for that knowledge! I love you Azure! Happy Birthday SIS!

Update!!

Ok, so I am sorry it has taken me so long to update our blog.... We have been so busy!! When we are not working at work, we are working at home, or playing softball and chasing Taya. Nic has been keeping himself busy landscaping the backyard. I haven't gotten pictures of it yet. It is always too dark by the time I think about it. It is going to look great though. He has been working on it every weekend and I think that we are becoming quite regulars at Home Depot and Lowe's! I have been staying busy painting inside of the house. Here is a before and after of the guest room (the paint was an oops paint for 5 bucks!!)


Also we celebrated my 23rd birthday! (KIM you were right thanks for remembering!!) Nic surprised me with a Cricut Expression which I am SOOOO excited to use!! I have only used it once but I am excited to get to use it for all kinds of fun stuff like the craft Amanda helped me make, We made one for my mom too for mother's day but different colors and stuff...


Nic also invited our family over for cake and ice cream. It was a lot of fun and I am so thankful for all of you who came to hang out with us!! Thanks for all the awesome presents and cards! And thank you for making a trip out to see me on my birthday! I am so thankful for Nic and his thoughtfulness! Thanks Babe, I love you!! any way here are a few pictures of the night! Oh and Amanda thanks for watching Taya for me! We sure do appreciate you guys and Mom thanks for everything the cake was delicious! Lori thanks for bringing the ice cream, and all you do for us as well. Our family is sure blessed!!




I have also been making bows for Taya's hair. They are so cute!!



Okay and a quick update on Miss Taya. (sorry this is so long) Taya is growing up so fast. We are almost done potty training and she talks and understands so much. Nic and I just like to listen to her babble while we crack up at her. She has such a funny personality and is so smart. She loves to help me cook, paint, clean, make a mess, etc. She is definitely my little helper aka MESS! haha She also loves to help Nic with anything he is doing whether it is feeding the dog, working on the truck, or working on the back yard! She is right there in the middle of it all!! Anyway here are some pictures of Taya in action!!