Eight Week Old Jensie K Orton

We usually get to see Jensie on Sunday's. Every week she get's a little plumper and smiles a little more. She is sooo cute. She was fussy last night, but usually she is very pleasant when she comes to see us.

Grandma's Got a Hobby

I just finished this baby quilt top. I bought the flannel for the back and the fluffy stuff for the inside and now I just am waiting for Sis. Colbert to get home from her trip to machine quilt it for me. You all know that I have had this hobby but just haven't had much time to do it during the last 30 years, right? This quilt is going to the next baby girl in the family - I guess that would be Mel and Jake's babe. Feel bad that I didn't get anything made for the rest of the babies, but I will make it up somehow.

Movie Night for Zavian and Grandpa

Update on The Hopkinsons

 Ok, it's the 3rd week of the month, so according to Mikalyn, it's our turn. Here goes...

      Jake and I absolutely love it here in North Carolina (we were reminded of our love for it especially when Mignon and Joel came for Christmas. Mignon couldn't stop talking about how much she loved it here).  We love the weather, the people, the distance to "pristine" beaches and beautiful mountains, and we love the beautiful landscape. The only thing we don't love are the prices of plane tickets to Utah. After the reunion this year, we may only be able to come every other year so we can use vacation money elsewhere... This gives YOU a great opportunity to come HERE for a fun vacation. We have a spare bedroom with your name on it. We will literally put your name on it if you so desire.

    Lately, Jake and I are anxiously awaiting the month of March.  Jake's brother and his wife just had their baby, and since then we have grown impatient.  The other day I stood up and both of my legs completely cramped up and I fell forward, supporting myself with my arms on the table saying, "Owowo!" Jake got all excited and asked, "What, are you having contractions?" When I laughed and told him no, he gave a very disappointed, "Awe." I have to keep reminding him that we do not want her to come this early.

I am 30 weeks! wahooo

I wanted to include this picture because I think it is hilarious. No, I did not mean to be standing like such a gomer. Yes. Gomer.

    Meanwhile, we continue to make progress in our preparations. The nursery is just about complete! It takes me forever to find the best deals on everything. I got the bedding from ebay (new) for a great deal. All we need now is a rocking chair/glider, and a few pictures or something on the walls. I will also probably paint block letters of her name, but since she doesn't have one yet that will have to wait. Oh, and those things on top of the crib will be hung on the wall. Oh, and I painted the vases on the dresser- one of my little projects.
  

I'm starting a baby blanket... I'm always so nervous that the colors wont work in the end. 

 For the grandkids: Charlie loves playing tug, and I can't ever beat her (I don't have a whole lot of abdominal strength right now). She plays so gently when Dixie starts tugging and gets this look on her face as if to say (in the voice of Fezzic, the giant from Princess Bride), "I just want you to feel like you are doing well."

 Mckay and Karalyn will appreciate this one... This is the turtle, Shelly, that we may or may not have drowned. We let her go "free" in the water thinking she was a water turtle only to find out later from Mckay that she wasn't.  No wonder she was looking at us like that. Hope she made it.

And since I even posted about our turtle that we owned for about an hour, I figured I should give a little update about Jake, too.  He is sad he's had to miss out on the past couple of family gatherings, but is looking forward to the reunion this summer.  He works so hard and is doing exceptionally well at his job here. His boss has great plans for him and has been helping to set him up for success in the future. He stands out wherever he goes. Oh, he has been officially called to be a Sunday school teacher with me, so it has gone MUCH smoother.  (This picture is when we were waiting for Joel to finish his Christmas shopping at Walmart. Jake was sitting on the car keeping an eye on the door so Joel wouldn't get lost.)

 I can't wait to hear about what everyone else is up to.  I love to see pictures and hear stories about the youngsters. Oh, by the way, just so we are on the same page the family reunion is scheduled for July 12-15 (Thursday-Sunday).  If for some reason this isn't going to work for you let me know, but otherwise that's the date.  Jake has approved time off for July 6-22. Before the reunion we will be staying at Mom and Dad's and will have "Orton time," and after the reunion we will spend time with Jake's side, so make sure you plan around us... ok, at least just consider us when you make your plans. Love you all!

Does this thing work?

I was assigned to write so I did it...I'm done.  I can now check it off my list.

Babies Don't Keep

These days, I here about one sentence per Sacrament meeting, between screaming kids and running-up-to-the-pulpit kids, and you never know how pertinent the one sentence is going to be.  This week it was this little old vintagey poem, which has run through my mind over and over again:


The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for Children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......

~Author Unknown ~


You know, each new phase of life is fun and exciting and brings something new to enjoy, but if I wanted to, I could (and some days do) spend all of the precious time when my children need me more than anybody else doing house work. 

and that, Mikalyn, is basically what is going on around here.  The war between my house and my kids.  Luckily, it's quite clear by looking around that the kids are winning.

here they are  in all their cuteness:

Adam and new bride Stephanie had a trolley waiting to give rides outside the temple after they got married, which really came in handy for 1)keeping hte kids around and 2) keeping warm!

All these candy cane pictures are after the kids sang "Rudolph" in front of thousands of Walmart employees (including right in front of the CEO) at the Christmas meeting.

We are doing well and I'm feeling pretty great.  I was recently tested for adrenal insufficiency (basically what Mer has) and all came back normal, so I'm pretty sure it was Lyme Disease, and it's all over now.

I have sworn in my wrath that I will have no more babies until the ones I have now sleep through the night for at least an entire month.  So if you want to pray for something...

love you all!

A Proposition

Ok guys, its time to bring this blog back to life.  I don't even know what everybody is up to.  I used to just say, 'Hey Mom, what state is Mignon in this weekend?', or, 'Hey Mom, when is our family reunion?', and she would tell me.  Well, that is what this blog is for.  I want to know what is going on, and I want pictures; I am sure we all feel this way.  We can make this blog work.  It has been limping along for almost two years, and it is time to set down the crutches.  Think of the benefits this blog has to offer our family.  Not only will it provide a convenient and accurate family record, but we will also feel the power of a family that stays close, and cares for each other.  President Henry B. Eyring said in a general conference address, " At family prayer around a breakfast table, one child may pray for another to be blessed that things will go well that day in a test or in some performance. When the blessings come, the child blessed will remember the love of the morning and the kindness of the Advocate in whose name the prayer was offered. Hearts will be bound in love."   We may not be able to pray together around the breakfast table, but we can still bind our hearts with love.

               So to start things off, I would love to have everyone write a little post about their families current place in life.  Just a little something and maybe a picture or two.  Please have this done within the next week.

                I have also taken the liberty to plan out a weekly schedule, each family will be assigned to post once a month.  This is in similitude to our old Orton Family Newsletter.  I am really looking forward to this, when I pray for you guys I want to know what I should be praying for.   I love you all so much!

              Also a special thanks to Melanie and Mardee, who have been such faithful and enjoyable bloggers.