The Month of December

Here it is January and I am just getting to what happened to us in December! We had a great and eventful month. We started off the month by me flying to Florida for a week to do training at our Florida site. I really didn't do much but WORK... I am not to much of an adventure on my own. LOL! We sent Taya up to Heber to spend some time with my mom and dad. She had a blast and we are so glad that Grandma and Grandpa Despain were willing to bring her back for us. Nic picked me up from the airport. I have never been so happy to see him and little Taya. It was a long week with out them!

The next day we went to the Despain Christmas Party! It was alot of fun! It always is Great food, Great Company, and a wonderful white elephant gift exchange! Nic and I walked out with and ASU shirt and a bag of jerky! WHOO HOO!! In the cousin gift exchange Taya got the cutest tutu and crown! Thanks Ayla and Julie!

We also went caroling this year! It was a lot of fun. Great idea Grandpa!

The following week Taya had a procedure done on her Kidney at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Before she was born they discovered in an ultrasound that her left kidney was not draining properly. They told us when she was born that because of how enlarged the kidney was that she would have to have surgery before she was 3 months old. After some testing and many prayers, blessings, and fasting. We went in to get the results. Dr. told us everything looked GREAT and that he wanted her to come back in couple years to get some testing done to make sure things were still functioning right. So In November Kelli and I took Taya to Phoenix Childern's and had a VCUG test, xrays, and and ultrasound. Results weren't as great this time. Taya's Dr. (Dr. Richie) suggested she get a minor procedure done that would block the ureter that was causing the reflux. He said it was 90% effective, only 1 in 10 kids have to have it done again, out patient, she'll be about her normal activities same day. Nic and I discussed it and decided it would be the best thing. I hate the testing!!! Anyhow so we took her to PCH. My mom came with us for moral support! Thanks MAMA!! Taya did great! They let us get her changed into a gown and scrub bottoms (I wanted to take them home they were so cute)and we met with her doctor and the anesthesiologist. Then they took us down a hallway and took Taya one way and me and Nic another. Taya's Dr. met us at the door and said "come on Taya," and she turned and waved by and off they went. I turned to Nic and said, "They just took her, they didn't even ask!" I started to cry! It seemed like not even five min later that Taya's dr came out to talk to us about the results. He said," You knew your daughter was special right? Well she doesn't just have 2 ureters on the left kidney she has 3 and two on the right!" He said it was only the 3rd case he had seen in his 25 years of being a Urologist. The bad news was that he said he doesn't recommend the procedure they did. So we have to go back for more testing in a couple months to see if it worked.

We also celebrated Cortney's, Nic's sister, 19th Birthday!! Happy Birthday CORTNEY (this was the night before Taya's procedure)




My family also got together to do ginger bread houses. Thanks mom for providing EVERYTHING!!! She made the gingerbread molds and everything! She never ceases to amaze me!







And then of course there was Christmas... We had a wonderful Christmas! We did Christmas early with Nic's family since we were going to be at my parents for Christmas. I got a new cartridge for my Cricut and Nic got a new saw and we both got two boxes of food storage items! We were really excited about that! Taya got lots of toys and some really cute clothes from Cort. I also got a cute sign from Randa! We ate some great food and had a really great time. Then we left for Heber Christmas Eve. It was a white Christmas and it was a great one. My parents got us a pressure cooker for canning. My mom got an awesome had painting from my dad. My camera died right as Christmas began! But if you want to check out pictures you can go to www.bostonandkati.blogspot.com Lucky for me they took lots of pictures. We also went sledding and it was alot of fun. New years was spent at Lori's house. Brian and Ginger were there and we sure did enjoy their company and getting to spend time with Eric. We sure do miss our Azure. Brian complied all the pictures he had of Azure and burnt them on the CD. That was his gift to us and I sure do appreciate the time he spent doing it! Oh and Nic got me a new car!! It a 2003 Volkwagon Passat. It is black with pretty rims and I love it!!



Nic also built a shelf in our garage and a work bench. He never ceases to amaze me!




Nic's birthday was yesterday! Happy Birthday babe! We had his favorite dinner and just hung out and watch movies. He got some jerky, candy, a game called Quelf, and a snowboarding trip from me and Taya. Taya even got him a card. It was Hanna Montana with stickers. It was hillarious. Any way I love you Nic and hope you had a great Birthday!




Last but not least. As some of you know and many of you don't know. We are expecting baby number two! July 20th 2009!! We are so excited! Taya especially she always asks when she can feed her baby a bottle and when she can hold it. She's ready for a brother or a sister. Here's a picture from our first ultrasound it was done the 23rd of December.

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...