We have friends and Bro goes surfing

This is Belize and her friend, Woo-ka (Lucah).

That's right folks - we have friends. In order to secure some new friends I've said yes to every playdate, get-to-gether, party invite and church function that has come our way. I think its starting to pay off. We hung out at the beach with the Jagers last Saturday and Collin gave Brannon his first surfing lesson. I think Brannon was a little disappointed that he couldn't surf like Kelly Slater but everyone else (who could surf) said they were impressed that he did so well! He got up several times but I also had to include a video of this awesome "trick" he made the surfboard do (second video). I think Brannon fell in love for the second time and now every opportunity he gets he runs down to the beach to body bash (not sure if that is surfer lingo or not, it just means catching the waves w/out a board). Maybe for Craigslist will get you a nice present for Christmas?
Ian, Luca, and Belize

Rio de Redondo (think spanish accent)

A couple weeks ago, I heard Rio playing in his crib after he woke up in the morning. I head in there to discover THIS;

You need to click on the picture to see a close up of his face - he was SO proud of himself!!! He just smiled and smiled telling me, "Look what I did MOM, all BY MYSELF!" He is now pulling himself up onto the closest object, including his sister. I can't believe my baby is 9 months old- only 9 more til NURSERY!!!!! I pretty much just let him loose during Sunday school and Relief Society (church classes) but everyone just ooooohs and ahhhhhhs over him so I don't think they mind.

Rio is pretty much a terror at the beach, a picnic blanket does not contain and he LOVES eating sand! You'd think loose affection for it after one taste but not my boy, the day after we go to the beach I have to give him a bath after every sandy poo. It's disgusting, Rio I hope you appreciate that your mom does this for you! Here a vid of him crawling in the sand.


I forgot to blog that I gave up on nursing a month ago and Rio gave up on babyfood (he WILL not eat it!) So we're going through a cannister of formula a week and he's eating all the table scraps he can get his hands on, this boy is a MACHINE!!! He will eat anything except for bananas, no matter how big or difficult to eat, he even eats meat. His two new top teeth help him out now- that's right 4 teeth! Also, the only time he gets mad and screams like someone has cut off his right leg is when he gets hungry.

Sister

Belize to Rio while watching the garbage truck from the window today:

"Don't be scared, I'll protect you. Cause I'm brave like Peter (Peter and the wolf). I'll always be with you, don't worry. I'll protect you."

1st Haircut and crawling

Mom, I used your clippers for the first time in 5 years. Brannon MADE me cut his hair, I was so nervous and to make matters worse Bro only gave me 1/2 an hour! We decided it ended up looking like the mammoth from Ice Age. He SAID he wanted to keep it long on top! A couple days later, I trimmed the top and he's been raving about it ever since. I think i need to charge next time.

We had the clippers out so we decided to give Rio his first haircut. I have ALWAYS wanted to give my boys mohawks, and I can't wait to hear, "What were you thinking Mom?" when he gets older. Oh, the perks of being a mom!

This movie is not for the faint of heart, yes Rio is crawling and Belize is doing her sad face, but you might want to skip this one of you're not a grandparent. More video of Rio crawling soon.

Fourth of July

The 4th of July was a little uneventful (I do have 2 kids under 3). Bro was on-call so the kids and I went to the ward picnic and shopping for much needed Babies R Us supplies. The Ortons sent us these super cute festive socks that I just HAD to take some pics in! Awwww, I have cute kids!

Santa Monica

We did our first touristy thing and went to the Santa Monica Pier. Belize rode with me on the ferris wheel. I don't consider myself afraid of heights but it was REALLY high, its got a breathe-taking view of the ocean and the coast line.
Belize wasn't scared at all and it lasted a LONG time (like 20 minutes). Brannon had the camera and had a hard time getting a good shot of us. So here is me and if you look closely you can see Belize's head behind the railing. I took some shots from my cell phone so i'll have to upload those later.
Poor Rio and Brannon had to wait half an hour for us to stand in line and finish the ferris wheel.

We bought a few tickets for Belize to go on some rides (I don't think she was exactly tall enough but almost). Here Brannon is explaining to her that she'll have to go on the ride herself. I think she was a little nervous, we had to attempt a few times.
This ride was pretty big time for little kids and i have to say, I am surprised that she went by herself, i think it helped that other kids were on it too.Looking like she's having the ride of her life.
Getting off the ride: "I want to do it again!" "That was so exciting!"



I like both of these pictures cause the kids are both in action. Belize running and Rio about to give his pirate face.

Resident Physician

This is Bro on his first day of medical school with his shiny new stethescope:

Bro's first day as a 3rd year (MS3) at his white (short coat) ceremony:

UCLA Harbor's lame badge instead of embroidering his name on his . . .

(long) white coat on his first day as an orthopaedic intern.

Dr. Orton is here to save the day!!!! Dashing good looks, charming wit and oh how he can reduce!

Uh?!?!?! Quick, get the R5, I've never seen anything like THAT before! What do these people think I am . . . a doctor?k.

A visit from Cindalella

Last week we had our first visitors, first Aunt Linda and Uncle Blair (Orton side) stopped by and took us out to dinner while they were visiting LA. In return we let them buy us icecream as well at our favorite Gelateria :), thank you thank you thank you, it was great to see you guys!Then Aubrey (Merrell) Taylor, my best friend (since she was born) and stayed with us over the weekend. Poor Aubrey, Rio had Roseola and was miserable the whole time with a fever. Belize attached herself to Aubrey and called her "Cindalella" and made Aubrey call her, "Prince Charming." It was wonderful to see her and a huge blessing to have an extra pair of hands while Rio was sick.

There was a festival down the street by the beach and Belize kept this balloon alive all the way until we reached our house where it hit a pokey bush, she was so sad!
Balloon + Ice cream = perfect day
Watch for one of Aubrey's signature moves near the end! :)

A lesson in privacy- after Belize was trying to peak on Aubrey.

Music in the park with a dixieland band.

End of June

I think we're finally settleing down into a routine now. Bro is on-call (leaves at 5:30am, comes home the NEXT day in the early afternoon) every 4th day. And the kids and I are trying to master getting the laundry/groceries up and down 3 floors (we have an elevator, its just very inconveniently placed). I think I carried more than 70 lbs up the other day- both kids plus a 2 gallons of milk. I'm sure we'll figure things out eventually. Oh and single mothers who take their kids for 3 HOURS of church are AMAZING!!! Yeah that's right, I'm amazing . . . not to mention completely exhausted right now but here I am blogging away. Here are some pics and videos from our recent beach adventures:

A note for my Bro

Dear Dr. Orton,

Thank you for taking the time after sleeping only 2 hours and 15 minutes in the last 41 hours of your day/night/day to accompany me (and carry my load, literally) to the laundry room (located 4 floors down) not once, but thrice. It reminded of me how you are always willing to lift my head up and it made me fall in love with you all over.

Love, Me

P.S. I love elevator rides, just you and me and the pee pee clothes.