The Orton's: 2010

Turning Over a New Leaf

Today, December 28, 2010, I have started the Herbalife program. My goal is to lose 30 lbs (more would be nice) before Summer. Gary started Herbalife and lost 18 lbs in 8 weeks. I understand that men are usually able to lose weight a lost faster than women, so I will try my hardest not to compare myself to him and his success. I am writing this as a promise to myself that I will lose this baby weight - not just what I gained with Marshall but what I had left over from Ashlyn - and be healthier. So here's to a new beginning for 2011! 2010 was great to my little family and I can't wait to see what is in store for 2011!

P.S. We had a great Christmas....I will post pictures later!

Thought for December

My new favorite quote for this month:

"If we look for what is wrong with the Christmas season, we can surely find it. Nevertheless, if we look for the good, we can see this time of year with new eyes—perhaps even with the eyes of a child." -PRESIDENT DIETER F. UCHTDORF

Merry Christmas Everybody!

NFR 2010

Last week we had the awesome opportunity to meet up with our good friends, Geneya and Josh, and go to the NFR. It was so hard to leave the kids (but not too hard). Gary and I haven't had time away together for so long so it was nice just to be a couple again. It has definitely been something that we have been neglecting so to have time away from home together was just what we needed! I am horrible at remembering to take pictures so I stole some from Geneya's blog - Thank goodness she remembered to take a couple of pictures!

We had so much fun and can't wait to go next year - hopefully for more than one night!

Quick trip to Zion's

Last Saturday we took a quick trip to Zion's. The Fall colors were beautiful!

Along with the beautiful colors, there was a lot of awesome wildlife to be seen...

mmmmm....isn't it almost Thanksgiving? :)

And we saw two good sized buck's right next to the road -

too bad you can't hunt in National Parks!

It was getting cold so we only went on the Weeping Rock trail with Ashlyn, but she still had so much fun!

This was our amazing view as we left the park....

MARSHALL IS 4 MONTHS OLD

Marhsall is 4 months old! He weighed in at 14 pounds 11 ounces - he is getting to be such a big boy:) And he LOVES his Bumbo.

I have been so excited for Marshall to be able to start eating rice cereal - he liked it for the most part. Ashlyn loved trying to teach him how to eat from a spoon and swallow. Marshall just laughed at her. Poor Marshall had a "slight" problem with diarrhea the next couple of days so I think we will hold off from the rice cereal for a little while and try it again!

Marshall and Ashlyn have such a strong connection as brother and sister. It is amazing how early they have developed this. I hope that as they grow older they will always be such great friends.....wishfull thinking I know....but a girl can dream right?

Being an Aunt

On August 2 my little nephew Jake was born - I think being an aunt is just about as good as being a mom! I was able to at the hospital when he finally decided to make his grand entrance -I remember when Glen came carrying Jake out of the delivery room to the little nursery - the only other time I can think of Glen being so full of happiness was when he and Ashley got married. Glen is a very proud daddy! Jake is so blessed to get to have Glen and Ashley for his parents. They are going to be such awesome parents. It is going to be so much fun for Marshall and Jake to grow up together - I just wish we lived closer!

These little men have stolen my heart -

My Children are My Joy

My children are my JOY. They have filled my life with the love of motherhood and I would not trade that for anything. I just hope I remember this when they are in their teens! My Ashlyn is a sassy little girl -she has so much attitude and is completely full of life. It has been so much fun to watch her grow and her personality develop. The other day I was picking the kids up from the Melissa's house (the babysitter) and she was telling me how Ashlyn will never have a problem making friends - I just about started to bawl - Gary and I have tried to raise our daughter is such a way that she will be friendly and loving to everybody that she will not have any problems with making new friends or being too shy. When I was younger I was extremely shy. I remember how I used to make my mom call my friends to see if they could play because I was too scared. I never want my children to be too scared to talk to anybody on the phone and I want to instill in them that every stranger they meet is just somebody they haven't had a chance to get to know yet. I hope we are successful in our efforts! But, judging from these pictures - I think we are on the right track....

Marshall is also starting to get his cute little "attitude" too:) He is a very happy baby, I think the Lord knew that Marshall is exactly what I needed at this time in my life. He has that mischevious look in his eyes when he smiles. I think he is just getting ready to get into everything when he is mobile - LOOK OUT!

True Joy...

Family Pictures

After 6 years of marriage and 2 kids later........We finally had family pictures done!!! My sweet cousin LaraLee Daniels was our photographer and I think she did a really good job considering Ashlyn wouldn't stop whining and Marshall was hungry. Now hopefully my mom and mother-in-laws can move on to something else to harass us about for a while. (I mean this lovingly! I swear!)

Marshall's Blessing

On September 19th Marshall was given a name and a blessing by his daddy. We had originally set Marshall's blessing date as the first Sunday in September but because of Grandma Colleen's funeral the day before, Gary and I felt a very strong impression that we needed to push the blessing back a couple of weeks. I am so glad that we did.
It was one of the most spiritual events I have experienced. I am still in awe at the sight of my amazing husband tenderly taking my special baby boy in his arms, being surrounded by the men of our families, and by the power of the Priesthood blessing Marshall with strength, wisdom, and so many other things that Marshall will need to make the right choices to follow the path that the Lord has prepared for him.
Marshall will be 3 months old tomorrow - I can't believe how quickly time has flown! I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to raise this special baby boy - there were times during his pregnancy that I didn't think I would be able to do so during this life. I think that knowing that makes me hold onto the little moments longer and savor in them. I love being a mom to my two adorable children - there is nothing better.
Ashlyn has been keeping me very busy since she has started her 2nd year of Preschool - we read and read and read and read some more! She is a huge help with Marshall (sometimes a little too helpful) but I wouldn't change her one bit. I love her personality - sassy and all - she is so much fun! The other day she wore her black pants with her black boots to school - she told her teacher, the babysitter, and all of her friends that they are her work clothes - just like her mommy's. She makes me so proud!

Here are a bunch of pictures from the party after the blessing