My Last living Grandfather.....

I know you haven't heard from me in a while and I am unfortunately returning with bad news.

My last living Grandfather was diagnosed with bone cancer on Monday. He is 91 years old and everyone says what a great life he has had over the years and think positive. It doesn't make hearing the bad news any easier. I have so many memories of my Grandfather. He is probably the only person in my family that I have never been mad at or upset with at some point in time.

He is a well known and respected man. He is living a remarkable life and for selfish reasons I don't want to face that it may be ending soon. Most of my childhood memories revolve around the farm he worked so hard to run. He has been married to my Grandmother for 63 years and in love with her longer!

They raised 4 children, that multiplied into a dozen Grandchildren, which has then grown into 9 Great-grandchildren! He has been involved in each and everyone of their lives in a positive way even if it is through someone else's life he touched. Everyone of these children have brought a smile to his face at some point. My Grandfather is not a man of many words...but when he says something...it means something to you. He has always made what he says count. You don't really hear much negative from my Grandfather under any circumstance except politics. I have only seen this wonderful strong man ever have a tear in his eye once, when the doctors told my Grandmother she would have to under go a major back surgery. I happen to be at the appointment with them. I saw touching tears fill up in his eyes and one trickle down his cheek. He was feeling her pain. The love they have built is so admirable. Then he got strong for her. He sat down next to her and put his arm around her; then he told her it's going to be fine.

There have been soooo many wonderful times with him to remember! Which is one of the reasons it makes it so hard to hear such awful news. My Grandfather said to my Grandmother to tell all the kids how it is, because we have to face this. I know he is right. It isn't going to be easy but it is reality.

Just a couple of weeks ago my cousin and I were attending a great Aunt's (my Grandfather's sister-in-law) funeral services who lost her battle against cancer. It is hard to see what this does to a person, and we know all to well from all to recently.

So life isn't always so simple, but I love when it is! I just have to remember the verse

Jeremiah 29:11. I know that I will find peace through all this and that it is more likely to get worse before it gets better!

I am so blessed that both of my girls have gotten to meet him. I know some don't have that opportunity and I am grateful!

Putting together the Christmas tree...

Here are the pictures I promised about the Christmas tree!

Lauren decided to wear the Christmas Tree Skirt as her own....

Kaylin was a little leary of the big tree when she woke up.. but she eventually became adjusted! My fearless one (scared of the Christmas Tree...)

What did you think you were going to get to see the finished product?

The Girls Sleep over....

One day last week since school was closed Kara had a couple of friends sleep over. I babysit for the girls once in a while now that they are in school. Kara gets so excited, because these two are her best friends. She loves having them come play. When I used to watch them all the time and then they started school Kara had a hard time adjusting. She, at two, didn't understand why they were not there in the mornings after she woke up. Eventually she accepted it and we have special occasions to keep in touch!

The other night our sleep over consisted of going out for pizza, running to walmart and coming home to watch a movie.

The girls got all settled in and comfy for the movie!

SHHHH! Kaylin is sleeping!

Maybe I should have rotated this picture...oh well!

Oh yes we painted finger nails and did the fun girly stuff too! I was painting nails so I didn't get pictures of that. They also enjoyed pop corn as the movie played. Remember popcorn is a must for us!

The next day we got up and baked a cake! That is the day we put up the Christmas tree while listening to Christmas music! Yes, I have been told I was crazy but....It was crazy fun! Eventually I will have pictures of that day posted!

Fall fest part 2

Kaylin had to sit buy and watch the pinata but that is ok, Kara shared her candy with her.

Then it was time for the older kids pinata...it took them so long to break theirs compared to the little ones.....ha ha

There were two hay rides, but I only got one since I was riding the other one....LOL I am glad they didn't race for long

At last they ended with a bon fire. There was a neighbor that was gettign rid of some perfectly good furniture, but it made for a good fire. A table was only the beginning of what they were burning....

Those project people would have loved some of the things used to fuel this fire, so don't tell them over there at foxtale follies!

Fall Fest part 1

We were invited to a fall fest on November 1, 2008! I was so much fun it went on all day! Jeff was home sleeping after working a long shift. So I loaded the girls up in the morning and headed over to a friends house that was setting up for a fall fest a little later. She has two girls of her own. So they took my too girls and went off so I could help them put things together and set up. Then my husband could sleep in peace!

The chain of events that were going on that day were so long I did leave after lunch and take the girls home for their nap.

After nap we had a soccer game to run too! Tori on of the girls I babysit for was playing soccer! I needed to get to one of her games like I had promised her. Since the fall fest was at her house we decided to go watch her soccer game before we went back to the fall fest!

When we arrived back to the Orton's fall fest; we went right into the fun of some little activities!

a mummy wrap

a sack race

pinata time

(yes Kara knocked down that pinata when it was her turn and she was soooo excited)

bobbing for apples!

This was not the end you'll have to wait until part 2 to see the some more of the events! I don't have the time to finish blogging right now!

To Be Continued.......

Trick or Treat....

We only made it to a few houses before the girl zonked out!

Catching up never happens

Catching up is something doesn't that get done around here too often. When we attempt to catch up on things it is never the way it was intended it is usually a much shorter or quicker way to make it acceptable. My point is that I have promised my self I would catch up on my blogs, but I am not going to get everything blogged that I want too. So I am going to take the drafts I have put together and send them all unorganized and you can match them up....lol Just kidding my life isn't that exciting that anyone would take the time to do that. You'll get the short version of some of the stories...and like I said before they are in no real order! Like the events in my life. They can be all jumbled up at times from what I can see, but I am sure the Lord has direction for me!

A day out...

Yes, I get a lot of these...like I have said before I am always making plans to run run run! This time was different...I did it with out kids! Yes, it just so happened I got a chance to meet up with some friends for lunch. I was going to take the kids when the plans were originally made. My husband had off unexpectedly so he asked if for the girls to stay with him....Oh yeah! It worked out perfectly!

I left earlier than expected so I could get a little shopping in before I was to meet my friends. How fun is it to go through a toy store and actually look with out little ones picking up everything they see! I picked up a couple little things for my oldest daughters birthday. Then I picked up a few little things for them for Christmas.

Then I met my friends had lunch and caught up on old times...I think I did most of the talking....Since I have been a stay at home mom and don't have much of a social life outside of kids.......I tend to chat a way! We laughed a little, shared some pictures and enjoyed lunch. After lunch we went for ice cream...yummy..but I was soooo full. I knew two of us were going to the movies afterwards and it is mandatory that I get pop corn at the movies....LOL

I had a great time... Thanks Girls!

I do have to say that the best thing about the day was the faces, hugs and kisses that I returned home too! My girls ran up to me with such a heartfelt greeting, that I truly felt missed. Their little giggles, kisses & hugs and beautiful smiles made it all worth rushing home too! I love the simple things.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Well I haven't blogged in a while...I have been so busy doing different things. I haven't had much time for the computer ya know. I know there are some out there that know exactly what I mean. I have so much to blog about that I am probably never going to catch up in one night....so I will have to break them into separate blogs. I am going to go out of order too! Today I am blogging about today!


For those who love the Christmas season.....you might get this blog! I have a kid in June and a kid in December...sometimes it seems like I am taking 6 months planing for each party. It is like never ending...Anyhow, I am not doing a big party for my oldest this year. It will be too much with our Disney trip, Thanksgiving and Christmas! So, since Christmas is Jesus Christ's birthday, why not start preparing for that early. I would make all year the Christmas season if I could...there is just something in the air about this time of year. Every year it seems like stores prepare earlier and earlier for it....and I am all for that!


As a tradition I started after I got married, we have always put the tree up on Thanksgiving! After Kara was born we still put the tree up on Thanksgiving, but waited to decorate it on Kara's birthday. The past couple parties we have had for her....we hand the kids the decorations and let them go to town!


This year we have changed our tradition a little. We spontaneously put the tree up today! Did I wake up thinking this? No! By lunchtime it crossed my mind but, I didn't take myself seriously. By the time I put the babies down for nap I knew the tree was going up today! The girls I watch, Kara, and I were so excited. (I did let Kara skip nap which I regretted later)


Someday we will get a real tree, but not yet...I couldn't be quit so spontaneous with a real one!


It is all my husbands fault. He called me from work the other day and told me there was a radio station that is playing all Christmas music already! Yes! I love it! (Actually we had a fall fest to attend on Saturday and on the hayride we started singing Rudolph) The Christmas cheer just is so contagious! Once I get started with the entire Holiday season I just get filled with moments of excitement and joy! I LOVE IT! It's the simple things like the Christmas music and putting the tree up...baking whatever! (maybe it was the bake sale that set all this off!) Whatever it was is a rush that lasts for a couple of months out of the year.


With all the gifts and hustle & bustle of shopping and dinners and things to do and prepare for, we can loose the true meaning of what we are to celebrate. It's Christ's birthday and we get all the gifts...how awesome is he. Would you give up all your gifts on your birthday for everyone else and not think twice about it? Families that he has blessed us with all come together! The day is usually filled with the smiles and laughter of kids as well as adults! There is cheer in the air. Does his birthday last one day? There is a designated day for the Holiday, but his birthday and the celebration of him is worth celebrating all year through! What a true gift Christ is to all of us...there are so many that take that for granted! Every little thing we do that make us happy for this time of year is because of the Jesus! It is a holiday created because of him and for a reminder to us! We all need that little reminder some times!

I have some pictures for this post, but I will have to try to add them later! Time is limited!