Catching up with the Blog!

I don't think I'll be able to catch up with everything that has passed since out last entry.
Here are a few things that have happened and that are happening in our lives:
1. I Finished Nursing school on May,12, 2011. I am so happy! I am preparing to take the State Boards this Saturday. Nerve racking!!! Im also looking for employment.
2. Asha Just Finished 4th grade at Shirley Lane and Bryce fished 2nd grade at Virginia Ave. They both were awarded Perfect attendance this year :)
3. This year I turned 31 in February. Im getting old!
4. My family is coming to visit from Texas this summer and we are looking forward to it.
5.Bryce lost his first 2 and front bottom teeth just a few months ago. He got $3 from the tooth fairy
6.Our home got burglarized in the most horrible way back in January right before starting my last semester of Nursing school. We lost many things and It was devastating to us but we are safe and material things can always get replaced. Im still sad about my video camera and laptop that had tons of documents, videos, and pictures that I lost and wont be able to ever recover. It's ok Life goes on.
7.Bryce learned how to read really well this past year in school.
8. Bryan keeps working hard at his job. Seriously he is the worst workaholic I've ever met! to the point that it has affected his health. Take it easy Bryan! I love you.
9.Tio Neri had the great Blessing of getting Married at the LA temple and now they are expecting a baby. What a great blessing.

10. My good old dear friends Joanna, Barbie, and their kids came to visit this last month. It was so nice seeing them and spending time with them.

11. I continue to teach the sunbeems at church and I love it :)
12. Bryce gets baptized this year! He is looking forward to this great day. We got to attend a baptism not to long ago and Bryce was really excited to be able to get baptized by his dad this coming September.
13. Asha continues to enjoy singing and reading and being so sweet.
14. I have major house cleaning to accomplish this summer. It got a little neglected due to school :)
15. Above all, we continue to enjoy of the blessings of the gospel. God is wonderful and we couldn't ask for more.

Merry Christmas 2010!!!

Dear friends and Family may you live the wonder of this special season

God bless you all!

Love, The Ortons

Light at the end of the tunnel

Another overwhelming day but I survived. Bryan welcomed me home with an awesome dinner (Carne asada, Tostadas de guacamol con queso y frijolitos negros) Thanks baby!
There is always light at the end of the tunnel with God by our side and I know for sure he was with me today. Now I just have to concentrate on my Oral process and pass all of my exams.
I can do this!

Happy Halloween 2010

Just a quick post. Here's the fam in their Halloween costumes this year.

The Spider witch!

A mad scientist!

Is it Billy May's ghost on the left???

Let me tell you a bit about Bryce's costume. This year I just didn't have the funds or the time to look for the kids costumes so Bryce was really creative and thought about building himself a Mad Scientist costume. He was so creative and came up with it all on his own from the stuff he already had laying around in his room. He asked if he could borrow my Nursing lab coat to complete his creation. I really hesitated letting him borrow my coat but he was so excited about it so I let him borrow it. At his school they always have a costume parade and contest. This morning he got up and got dressed and ready for his parade. He was so confident and proud of his creation and told me: "Mom I hope I win the costume contest at my school" . I told him he looked great and not to be sad if he didn't win since there were going to be over 500 kids competing with many great costumes like his. Well to make the story short. He came home with a huge smile on his face. He had won the costume contest!!! It was great.

Keeping busy!!! (Blog update)

Wow. I just realized how long it has been since I last posted on our blog. First of all I just have to express all of the things I am grateful for. Looking back and pondering on my last post, I realize all of the things that have happened in our lives since then. I am past the middle of my 3rd semester of nursing school. I am still hanging in there and I will be finishing school in May of next year if everything goes as planned. I have developed some special friendships through the nursing program and I don't take that for granted. We help each other out and carry the load together. Without their support, nursing school would be even harder.
My kiddos are now in 4Th and 2ND grade. They are growing quick in all sense of the word and my wonderful husband and partner in crime is also hanging in there with me pushing me a long the way and taking on the extra load. Thank you guys for being so patient with mommy! I love you and I couldn't do this without your love, hugs, kisses, hard work, and support. Above all, I cannot forget about the one who shares all of my burdens and walks with me constantly and holds me up every step of the way, my best friend. With out him I would be nothing. Thank you God for being super nice and patient with me.
On another note, I cannot believe how time goes by so fast. We are almost at the end of this year, Incredible!!!
Anyway, I better go but I will try to keep this blog updated more regularly so we can look back and remember the good times in the lives of the Orton family. God bless you all :)
Here are some fun recent pictures.

Me and some of my nursing buddies!

I'm not the only one going nuts due to nursing school.

This is a family issue as you can see!

I am Officially a quarter of a nurse!!!

Yay! I took my last final for this semester and I am now officially a quarter of a nurse as my Pharmacology instructor calls it. I have three more semesters to go.
I am also excited to start the paid internship program at Mercy and Mercy South West during my x-mas break. I was pretty blessed to get chosen out of 80 students to participate in this great program that will provide me with lots of hands on experience. I will now be taking care of 4-5 patients at a time instead of the 2 that I'm used to. It will be a great challenge and an incredible opportunity for growth. I am truly grateful and super excited!!!

My Eternal Family

This year in Primary, the kids have learned so many things through this year's Primary theme "My eternal family". They had their primary program this month and they have taught us all so many essential things in building strong eternal families. We are all so grateful for the spirit they always bring to that special sacrament meeting. God bless our little tender children and God bless the special union of families. May we preserve this special blessing in our homes.

So Many Reasons To Say Thanks

Among the busy schedules we all face and despite the daily trials and tribulations of life. We have so many things to be thankful for. For food on our tables, for the rising sun, for the song of the birds, for the air we breath, and above all, for the great love of our savior and Redeemer because it is through him that everything we are, and everything we do is possible.
This year, I had decided that we would not do anything for thanksgiving since I have been super busy with school among other things. Bryan felt the same way he is struggling at work and has been a bit discouraged. Asha and Bryce on the other hand had been looking forward to this holiday. Yet here we are, making the mashed potatoes and the turkey, the green beans and the stuffing despite the pile of notes I have to study, and the pile of laundry waiting to be washed. We realize there are so many reasons to leave other things aside for a while and focus on the important things of the moment. This holiday season we have so many reasons to kneel down in thanks for our many blessings. Here are some things that we individually and as a family are thankful for this year.

Bryan: I am thankful for Ilcy, Asha, and Bryce.
Ilcy: I am thankful for the power of prayer. I am thankful for the power of our minds to have the ability to learn so many things.
Asha: I am thankful for houses so we can have somewhere to live so we can have beds. I am thankful for this wonderful world so we can live somewhere were it's safe.
Bryce: I am thankful for Jesus because he is nice and, I am thankful for Santa because he gives us toys.
Happy Thanksgiving 2009

happy 6th birthday Bryce!

Bryce turned 6 this past 19th of September. It has been crazy so I really haven't had the time to post this great milestone. Bryce has been learning so much at school. He likes science. He is a very smart boy.

This year for his birthday he wanted to celebrate it Bakugan style. He invited some school and church friends and had a blast at his birthday party.

He received a bunch of Bakugan toys for his birthday to add to his collection.

Here are some facts and some accomplishments he was able to complete this past year.

• He learned 5 articles of faith.
• He entered 1st grade
• He learned how to tie his shoe laces
• He is adding and subtracting
• He still continues to be a loving boy and also a very funny boy

Happy 6th birthday Bryce!

Nursing school

Well I have survived the 1st 5 weeks of nursing school.
I have taken tons of exams averaging about 3 per week on top of additional quizzes. The kids and Bryan are hanging in there. Our house has gotten messy but at this point we are just trying to survive and get only the necessities of the day (food, clean clothes, showers and as much sleep as it is allowed) It has been a roller coaster for the Ortons. In brief I can say how thankful I am for Bryan and all of his help. And above all, I am thankful to the lord for keeping us alive and well overall. I love Nursing school. Sometimes I do wish I just had a little more time to accomplish everything that is required of me . I have learned to live a day at a time and do my best to keep smiling. This past Friday, was my first day of clinic and I was assigned my first patient. I hope I remember everything I have learned so far so I can apply it. It is very exciting but also terrifying.
Here is a group picture of my class getting ready to go out on our first day of clinic.

Back To School Tommorow

After a fun summer break full of activities and vacationing the kids and I will be returning to school tomorrow. We definitely took advantage of the summer break to spend as much quality time as a family as possible. We went to the beach. We went camping. We went to the movies. We visited Universal Studios and City Walk. We also took a very special trip to the LA temple as a family. We enjoyed a day at Raging Waters. We visited the Planetarium and Observatory in LA. We visited our local library and attended free local community events. We laughed and had meals together as many times as we could. I hugged, kissed, tickled, and read with the kids as much as I could. We had fun cooking and preparing meals together. Now we hope that those memories we built together during the summer will hold us up in unity during our busy schedules that are about to begin. Asha will be entering 3rd grade, Bryce will begging 1st grade, and I will be starting the RN program at BC. It will be an interesting year full of many emotions but I know we will succeed with the Lord's help. Bryan will have to step in and fill more responsibilities at home on top of his full time job. I am grateful for all of his support during my career. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I will have to make some major adjustments for everything to work well and be balanced in all of the aspects of life. I know my main source of strength lies in my Savior and his gospel. Through his help, I also know that I will be able to keep full filling my calling in the Primary presidency at church and manage everything else in my life. Tomorrow morning we will also be receiving our priesthood blessing through Bryan and I am grateful to have that privilege in our home.
2009/2010 school year, here we come!!!

Special visitors from Texas and Guatemala!

This past week we have been blessed to be able to see my family. My parents and brothers came from Texas and My aunt and cousin came from Guatemala. It has been truly a blessing for them to be here from far away. They were able to attend Asha's baptism and it has been so nice to share those special moments with them.
We had the opportunity to spend some great quality time and to have celebrate the joys of life together as a family. Today, My parents went Back to Texas and this morning was hard to wake up and say goodbye to them but I know the Lord has been so merciful to give us the chance to see each other and I know his love abounds in our hearts and keeps us united across the miles. I'm so grateful for family.

Asha's Birthday Party #8 Hannah Montana style

Asha Celebrated big at her birthday Party here at Home with her family and friends Hannah Montana Theater style. She had lots of fun! The celebration took place Tuesday August 18th. 2009. Everyone arrived ,walked the red carpet and entered the fun. The children had to each bring their movie ticket enclosed in their invitation and upon entering the theater (Our House) they received Hannah Montana Bucks for purchases at the concession stand.
They had Pocorn, hotdogs, candy, drinks, and sat down to see the Movie premier of Hannah Montana the movie. They patiently waited for the curtains to open and the party started!
Asha had lots of fun along with everyone else. After the movie, we all had cake and Ice cream and Asha opened her presents and thanked all of her guests for joining in on the fun!
Happy Birthday Super Star Asha :)

A Very special Day, "Asha's Baptism"

On Saturday August 15, 2009. Asha made a very special covenant with her Father in heaven.
She had been fervently preparing for her baptism. We had many discussions about it during our family home evenings and sharing time at Church previous to that day. When the time finaly came, she felt ready and joyful to make this special covenant. I had prepared a special Baptism book for her to record all of the special things about her baptism. In one of the pages, there was a brief explination of the commitment she would be making and a blank space for her to sign. I explained to her how a covenant worked and she asked if it was like making a pinky swear with Heavenly Father and I said yes. After she read and signed the page, she lifted up her pinky toward heaven and winked to Heavenly Faher. It was so touching for me to see this. In her child heart I knew she had gotten the point and It was joyous to see her so commited. I also realized that Asha shared a beautiful and close relationship with her Heavenly Father. It was so beautiful to see her enter the waters of Baptism and be baptized by her father. After her baptism, I met her outside of the font and the things that happened then I rather hold and treasure in my heart because they are so sacred to post online.
One thing I do want to share, is my brief testimony about the truth of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so greatful for my Father in Heaven who loves us so much and has created a beautiful plan of happiness for all of us his children. This happiness is within our reach for all of those who desire it. It is a gift and can only be ours if we seek for it and accept the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ and his gospel in our lives.
It was so joyous to see Asha take this important step toward eternal happiness.