Happy Pioneer Day!

Cache and his cousin Kyle.

Stake pioneer day breakfast and parade.

Pinky a rinky dink- da- dink. April's shower

As the saying goings...(kinda.)  April's shower will bring Flowers.

And she's going to Name that flower:

 Lily.

Love it.

***

April's shower was super sweet.  

As it should be.

Apes and her mother dear.

Turns out Devin's cousin Shan'L just happens to be good friends and neighbors with April. 

T'is  a small world is it not?

So Shan'L and her cute daughter's(The family of Napoleon dynamite dancers in previous post.) and Moi,

co-hosted April's shower.

Fun.

Liiiike 40 people! 

And she's lived here not even a year.

People just love the gal.

The Young Women in her ward did the decorations.

This is what they called the "jelly fish."

Lots of sweet homemade gifts.

These are some of them.

All the women from April's family.

I'm posting it because it's one of the only pictures I got of April.

Fun to finally meet people I've only heard stories about.

Her sister came in from Singapore.

And I loved being mistaken for her sister all evening.

(Something we got very use to in St. Louis.)

"Ah so you HAVE to be April's sister."

Or "so you live in Singapore?"

:)

I'm always tempted say 'YES I'm her sister.'

just cuz I would love to be April's sis.

I thought the food turned out cute.

It was fun but..

Next time I'll just do a bowl of grapes.

(or learn how to delegate.)

Can't wait for l'il Lily to make her debut.

pink sprinkled cows.

My dad always said Cows bring out the worst in people.

So we never had cows.

My grandpa had cows and they would pasture at our house.

So often we would help .

And I saw what he meant. Those suckers are frustrating, and

thus many a time I witnessed the worst coming out. 

Loudly too.

Crafts.

Crafts are my cows.

They bring out the worst in me.

And thus,

 I'm not aloud to sew or craft while little ears are awake.

Not a problem.
I don't care to make crafty cutesy things ever.
Unless: someone gifts me one(yay!) or it's just an excuse to get together and talk. 

But sometimes things are just worth it.

 Like making someone's day special.

I call these my pink sprinkled cows.

I think they are cute.

My dear long time friend April  is having her first girl!

I am doing all pink food. 

To my surprise they were  fun and easy(my level).
We will do them again and again.

Naomi loves these.

 She told me they were "SO SO toot." 

Then she said they were "booful." Then she hugged me.

Any other ideas for me?

Maybe some NON sugar ?

Cache is playing summer indoor soccer.

Different than the YMCA.

a little LOT more intense.

These kids play year round.

They are incredible!

I think the parents care more than the kids though.

Cache still just has fun.

And all I tell him is "good job!"

But tonight instead of his usual cookie cutter prayer of sleep good, Lucy  and Uncle Jay...

he added in:

 "Pleeease bless me to play soccer so sooo good and score tons and tons of goals."

:)

OH and Cache has moved on from bike to skateboard.

He traided in his plaid on plaid daily bike riding outfit for this one:

Every day. Tucked in shirt,cuff the pants, hat on backwards...

Cache you can make anything look cool.

Orton Family Reunion

4th of July 2011

First Orton family reunion I've been able to make it too since becoming and Orton.

It was weekend full of stick fights, crafts, visiting, camping, smores, hay rides, pony rides, story telling,

 etc. etc etc.

At the end of each day all the kids were covered in dirt, 

exhausted from playing in the cabins and woods all day and just oh so happy.

My nephew's Kaleb and Jack

They would literally just roll in the dirt.

Little Miss Ren (she belongs to Devin's cousin)

I loved her!

 Pat brought with him his mad balloon making skills.

He was just lobbying for the "favorite Uncle" position.

I think he was successful! 

He didn't just make swords but he made holsters for the swords.

Extra extra cool.

Wayne(Devin's dad) hauling a load full of Orton's.

 Sh'more please.

Sunday afternoon, visiting in the meadow.

Let me tell you about our Gage's favorite game...

He sits there all nice and cute.

Then he gets a certain smirk and...

BAM. He's gone!

I call it Geronimo and it is SO SO scary.

He does it unexpectedly ALL the time.

And he thinks it is the FUNNIEST thing ever.

It's actually really dangerous.

Crazy baby.

One evening there was a talent show:

The red writing in the picture says: Shan'L (Devin's cousin) And Shanl's 5 children.

They did the Napoleon dynamite dance and I was truly impressed.

Truly.

On Monday,we had a smaller reunion at Wayne and Janie's with just Devin's siblings. 

We celebrated America and Kendra's birthday!

Uncle Pat whipped out his balloon making skills again.

Making an extra special birthday hat.

Devin got jealous of all Pat's balloon making and tried to win over his

 nieces and nephews with his own balloon making skills:

Naomi adores her cousin Krista with all her little soul.

Cousin dog pile

Gage and Grampa

Dustin, Klora and Grandpa singing.

The 8/9 year olds with their parrots.

Does this picture say American summer time or what?

4th of July

backyard bbq

checkered table cloth

watermelon and ice cream

family. 

And the cutest couple  goes too...

NOPE not us. 

Although I love having a picture of just me and Devin.

We've gone for years without one.

Cute cousin's Dustin and Klora.

They may beat us in the cuteness but we creamed them in the 3 legged race!

ha.

 I submit these two mini ladies.

They just killed me with their boots, blankies and princess playing in the meadow.

Sweet summa time.

We are blessed to be Americans!

(And Orton's)