Our Christmas celebration In Texas

December 20th-28th

The Pictures are in Order somewhat . The Main Point is that we had a great trip and lots of fun celebrating with our family. We are grateful for this wonderful gift of being able to travel to Texas to celebrate with our loved ones The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

On our way home we stopped to play in the wonderful snow of Flagstaff Arizona.
Asha Ready for the Snow ball fight!
Bryce getting ready too!

At Road Kill Cafe (Arizona)

On the way home we stopped at this wonderful Cafe for Breakfast

Located on Route 66,

It is very famous place and the food was delicious. Bryce was particularly happy since the menu featured dishes starring characters from the movie "Cars"

Getting up and ready to continue our Journey to Texas.

(Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Stopping for a break at Williamson Arizona on our way to Texas

Finally we arrived at Lubbock Texas! yay!

The kids were so happy to see each other and ready to play for a whole week!

Our pajama bandidos! getting ready for some bed time stories. Each one wanted a different story and song so I ended up telling 5 stories and 5 songs :) It was a long night!

Bryce cuddling with Mama Mimi

In Lubbock, We went to this Christmas Ornament store. It has become a tradition in the Perez Family to go to this beautiful store full of thousands of Christmas ornaments every year to start the holiday season and invite the spirit of Christmas. It was so wonderful and the kids had a great time looking at all of the beautiful ornaments.

I found these cool Christmas Caroler ornaments.

I like the one in the front the best so I bought it and brought it home ;) hee hee hee.

I really needed a Christmas with my Mom. I had Missed it for 5 years.

Allan and Asha Playing hide and seek.

Joy and smiles at Santa Land!

GUATEMALAN TAMALES

Christmas wouldn't be the same without our delicious Guatemalan Tamales.

Prepared with Masa and pork or chicken, covered with a recado, a sauce made with Chiles, Tomatoes, pumpkin and sesame seeds and other spices and wrapped and cooked in a banana leaf for a wonderful and unique flavor.

A tradition in all Guatemalan families and certainly in ours.

This year was particularly special since I had the opportunity to make them with my mom.

Allan and Asha licking the spoons with masa

This Year we started this new Tradition brought to our family by Asha.

We baked a birthday cake for Jesus.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Sitting down to enjoy our Guatemalan tamales on Christmas Eve

The kids love them!

Bryce, drinking ponche, a traditional Guatemalan hot fruit beverage

A highlight of this Christmas was definitely watching the kids have a blast with their Christmas stocking stuffer, Putty!!! It was a mess!

My Mother's beautiful Christmas tree shinning brightly on the silent, holy, and peaceful night of Christmas eve.

Christmas Day with my Mom and Best friend

Merry Christmas!

My Brothers Mark and Allan on Christmas day

the kids Playing football after our Christmas meal at Freddie's sister's house

run Bryce run!

Asha and some of her Christmas presents, A Hannah Montana Doll, Hat, and Purse :)

The Perez Family!

and The Orton family On Christmas day!

The hardest thing was saying good bye.

Asha had the hardest time saying good bye to her dear mama Mimi. She couldn't stop sobbing.

My mom gave her a confort jar full with beads (Asha's favorite!) so she could hold it close to her heart and not feel so sad on the way home.

my little eskimo

Stop at Flagtaff Arizona to play with snow on the way back home

snowball fight

and snow Cakes!

Stretching our legs in Barstow, Ca

In the car

Flagstaff Arizona, After a goodnight sleep with a temperature of 2 degrees Farenheight

rest stop on the way to Texas

Flastaff Arizona On the way Home :0)

We're Back from Texas!

We had a great trip and lots of fun. We arrived Bakersfield last night after a long drive. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
We will post some pictures of our trip soon!
God bless you all.

Holiday fun! and Christmas thoughts

We are super excited and getting everything ready for our trip to Texas to visit Ilcy's parents this Xmas. We will be leaving this Saturday early morning and coming back on December 27th. This will be our first Xmas in Texas. We haven't spent a Xmas with Ilcy's parents in 5 years so it will be pretty special. We are looking forward to make Guatemalan tamales and ponche, a delicious Guatemalan hot fruit beverage on our visit to Lubbock.
There have been so many things going on in our household and it has been hectic but definitely full of fun! We had our yearly xmas celebration and gift exchangewith the Orton side of the family this Monday since we couldn't be here for Xmas this year. It was really a special evening.
We had dinner at 5 and a special Xmas program that Ilcy Put together for the evening. Ilcy, Melinda, and Cherie, sang "Away in a manger" in English and Spanish while all of the kids played out the Nativity dressed up in costumes. They all did well. After the gift exchange we all gathered for a fun game of Bunko! That Stacey put together. Everyone got to come and It was so much fun. "The best Christmas gift of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another"-unknown.
Yesterday evening we had the privilege to attend Asha's Xmas program at her school. It was a really cute program put together by all of the 2ND graders at Virginia Ave. Elementary.
The kids did an amazing job at acting out their parts and memorizing all of the songs.
There are still many things to get accomplished this holiday season. But the most important and special part of it is that it all involves celebrating our savior with acts of kindness and love toward every one. Christmas It is definitely the best holiday of all! from sending Christmas cards to baking cookies and wrapping presents and telling everyone how much you care for them.
We are enjoying it so much.
Yesterday, Asha requested that we make a cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus so we will be doing that this year.
Today for mutual Bryan and the youth of the church will be going Xmas caroling. How fun is that!
On Friday, Asha and Bryce will be having their classroom Xmas parties and we have our ward's Xmas dinner where Ilcy will be performing Oh Holy night, Asha will sing "When Christmas comes to town" and Bryce will perform a cute song he learned at school.
We also want to express our gratitude this holiday season for coming in contact once again with old and special friends and for keeping in touch with all of our friends through the wonderful world of Internet.
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year
and let us remember the words of our prophet :"As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves. We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others" -Thomas S. Monson
God bless you all!
With love,
The Orton family

Christmas is almost here!

I can't believe Christmas is almost here! We took some holiday pictures yesterday like we do every year. The Orton Family wants to wish everyone of you a very wonderful Christmas! May we all be filled with the love this beautiful season brings and may we remember the true reason for this special season.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Dad and son
Daddy's girl

Mother and Daughter

The best of friends

Mommy's boy!

Our goofy shot!

So Happy together

My Honey!

My forever friend!

Legacy Photography

Thanksgiving recap :)

We had a wonderful thanksgiving. And this year specially, we had many many things to be grateful for.

delicious fruit tarts

Ready to feast!

Celebrating at Melinda and Matt's house

Me and my girl :)

Jeff and Toro

The Buhlers came to visit us from Utah

It was nice seeing you guys!

Dancing the night away!

Tia Vickie y tia Norita Cooking some delicious Ponche!

Bryce and tio Neri

We are thankful for our beautiful family and the love we share. Happy Thanksgiving :)

The Pink Underwear story :)

I just couldn't resist to post this.
I went to enrichment meeting this yesterday. It was so nice. We had soup and bread for dinner and we had a white elephant gift exchange. It was a lot of fun :)
But the point is, that Sister Beasley told me something really funny that Asha had said to Katie her daughter ( Asha's primary teacher) this past Sunday.
Let me start by saying that Asha is a very cute innocent girl and she has a particular personality that defines her. She is always eager to learn and she likes to ask a lot of questions about anything and everything. She is really curious in an innocent way and loves to observe people and their actions.
Having said that, let me continue by saying that On Sunday while Katie was giving the lesson to the class, Asha Asked her: Teacher, do you have underwear on?
Katie: Yes Asha Of course I do
Asha: What color is it?
Katie (with a confused expression): It's Pink!
Asha: Mine too! then she gave her the biggest smile and said: You are my favorite teacher!
I really have no Idea where this came from. She loves pink! I figured Only Asha could think of things like this to ask.

We were cracking up over this.
I'm telling you. Kids say the funniest things!