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.