Bowling

Leave it to BYU to have cheap bowling and even a special contraption for kids! The kids LOVED it (Rio especially) and they even came up with a bowling dance.

Utah Part 5

In true mormon tourist fashion we visited Temple Square. It was breathtaking and really cold! We tried to get a good family picture but someone was grUUUmpy!!

Utah Part 4

We are lucky enough to have the most wonderful friends in Utah! We finally met the Strain's new addition, Roman who is darling! We played at the Gateway Science museum with Roman and Christina and were going to meet up w/ Jared but then I got sick and we had to cancel dinner, I guess we'll just have to come back soon for a raincheck!


Rio got a big kick out of the ball blowing tubes.
Aubrey and I have been best friends since she was born so it is only fitting that our kids start to be friends early too! :) We had so much fun hanging out with them and then Kyle watched the kiddos (even put them to bed!!) while we got to go for gourmet pizza and desserts with the Taylors.

Gorgeous mama and baby!

Tio Jose's coolest toy

La Rodriguezes

Of course we had to stop quickly at Bis Abuelita's for some serious mexican food as soon as possible! Belize was a little unsure of Bis Abuela at first, she said that she talked funny and didn't look like her (haha, too bad when she is 70, i bet they could pass as twins), but pretty soon Belize was speaking "spanish" too and got around to exploring all of Bis Abuela's fragile trinkets. Let me just tell you that everytime we leave, we have all hugged a lot and our tummies are FULL! :)
Tio Jose and Tia Mariana graciously let us stay in their beautiful home!



The kids adored their newfound Tio and Tia and didn't mind the doting at all! Belize even taught them how to play, "Don't Eat Pete!!!"

Utah Part 3

Brannon and I were able to sneak in a little night away at the Alaskan Inn in Ogden. I would highly recommend it, it was simply wonderful. Our cabin was appropriately named the "Orca" Cabin, which accounted for this random leather orca on the bed?!?!?!

Utah Part 2

One of the reasons if not the most important reasons we went to Utah was to help Grandma June (Orton) celebrate her 90th birthday! Wow!

This is Grandma June and her Tweetybird in the new digs at a fansy schmancy assisted living center, it was oober nice!

Grandma gave us the tour and invited us to dine with her.
Oh and yup, I'm there too, probably didn't recognize me because of my haircut! Belize says I got my haircut so we could be twins!
Belize pretending to be Ariel.

Grandma June looks amazing and she is still so sharp!

Utah Part 1

Tonight . . .

I am tired, Rio was up all night with the flu, Brannon was working, Belize cut her hair- again! and the house is far far away from clean. Seems like the perfect time to catch up on blogging- no?

It's how I roll when I'm pregnant and feeling gross and exhausted.

Brannon's parents were super heroes and flew down to LA just to make the drive with us to Ogden! I know, I completely lucked out with in-laws and the kids were so excited to see them that it made the drive wonderful. I know Brannon especially appreciated it since he was post-call and slept part of the time while his Dad drove. We crashed at Aunt Judy and Uncle Bryce's place in St. George the first night. The picture above is the crew watching "Firebird" (needless to say, Belize had firebird nightmares that night).
A happy Buela with her grandbabies!
To the kids, if there is a pool, it is officially a vacation.

Kid cuteness

Belize made another "invention" this morning, this one happened to be out of an empty pull-ups bag. She was so proud of herself.
And so was I! ;)

Belize to Brannon: Dad, do you have to go to work?

Brannon: Yes, I have to make money so you can have things like food.

Belize: What does Mommy do to make money?

Brannon: She takes care of you guys and gets paid with hugs and kisses.

Belize: Dad, your job is cooler.

Belize: Mom, I just wish you weren't so bossy.
Me: But who would be in charge if I wasn't the boss?
Belize: I guess, its just part of the mom's challenge.

Didn't see this one coming . . .

. . . . or maybe you did.

Put too many Greggs/Hawkins under the same roof and one of them is bound to hatch a crazy scheme. Here's the breakdown:

1. My family comes to visit for their respective winter breaks

2. My family takes the kids to the park while I take a nap.

3. I am woken by a phone call to come with the Pilot cause . . .

4. there is a leather sectional sitting by a dumpster waiting to be trash.

5. I immediately run to my car (a testament that I am indeed part of this family, as I did not hesitate).

6. We take the sectional in 2 car loads and carry it all into my living room (meanwhile Brannon is peacefully sleeping post-call, completely unawares (yes, the 's' is there on purpose) to our heinous plot)

7. We clean it up for the next couple days with magic erasers (seriously MAGIC!)

8. And sell it on Craigslist.com for . . . .

9. $500 dollars

10. I love family vacations and so does my wallet- hehe.

This might be one of my favorite pictures of all time of my parents. It pretty much sums their marriage.

Mom: We're working together as a family and we're having fun doing it.

Dad: Just another one of Debbie's crazy plans, but I guess she's never been wrong before . . . except that one time (although its only legend). (Also note that he is ROCKING the shirt that the kids gave him- Green glittery "Super Grandpa"s never looked so good (he also wore it out in public multiple times, not that Dad is a fashionista but he does love his Grandpa duties a lot)).

They are just so darn cute. They are reaching the age when they just mesh into one entity and will soon be sporting matching windbreakers (Dad, I can't WAIT til you read this- bahahaha).
Kyle boldly stated during this trip that he does not believe in love. Um- EXCUSE me!??!!?! Are there not cuddly kittens, baby's dimples and sunshine in the world? Hey Kyle's Dream Girl! I'm sending you a telepathic message right now- hurry UP!!! He needs you!

In all seriousness, thank you Kyle and Sarah and Mom and Dad and Brannon for doing this, it was fun and a wonderful blessing!
There was no shortage of seating.
The Masterpiece and finished product of some tender Gregg love and care. Then the clan (minus Kyle) were off to Mexico to have some dental work done - you can't MAKE this stuff up!

The New Year

This year was so full! Full of busyness, adventure, mischief, mayhem, hugs, tantrums, kisses, cuteness, hope, sorrow but most of all- it was full of Joy! By now, you must know of my love for the word- joy. It is deep satisfaction, contentment and happiness even in times of trial and despair. Joy is not temporary, it is constant. This year was the best year I have ever had to date. So without further a due, I will present this year's goals.

Drum roll . . . . .

2011 Orton Family Goals:

1.) LAUGH. Laugh more. Laugh a lot more. Usually Brannon and I are stretched to our maximum capacity- we've decided that instead of breaking we need to have some kind of release. Without sounding presumptuous (which I totally am), in general we are pretty funny people. Brannon is great at telling humorous stories or being completely serious when he's saying something completely ridiculous. I have my witty moments, though usually I like to follow my jokes up with, "See- I'm funny" (if that tells you anything). BUT we need more laughing so hard that tears stream down our faces and we almost pee our pants. Our kids are hilarious, we just need to take a minute more to laugh about it instead of cry (in my case).

2.) Family Home Evening. Every monday night folks. Yes, this is a reoccurring goal as we have not quite been able to manage EVERY.

Shauna's 2010 Personal Goals:

1.) KNEEL. I truly love to pray but I don't so much love falling asleep while praying and then feeling so guilty when I wake up and remember that I was indeed praying, that I quickly following it up with an "Amen!". (Does that mean my dreams were a part of that prayer?- cause that would be disturbing, I have some WEIRD dreams.) So this year, I want prayer to bring me to my knees- literally.

2.) Sorry, only I know what my second goal is- its private but I feel the need to write that there IS INDEED a #2 or I would forget that it existed.

Didn't send out a Christmas card (in fact, I never have for the record) but I do feel the need to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Don't worry, half of my parents' Christmas letter was about my children (my apologies to Kyle, Richelle, Darren, and Sarah)- check out their blog (especially if you want to be super jealous that they just went to Italy . . . again).

New Year's Eve and some chocolate

The week of Christmas, 11 of my close friends and I went on a whim to this fancy schmansy chocolate place in Brentwood, just to try some of this famous hot cocoa. It had Cheyenne pepper in it- wowza!
New Year's eve, my family was still in town so we used our babysitting vouchers (they are unlimited) and went to Cheesecake Factory with Scott and Angie Nielson (it was lovely, except for the scary thug who tried to sit with Scott) and then we party hopped the night away. I think this was the first New Years we've spent away from the house since Belize was born.