Old Man Turns the Big 2-7!

Brigham's 27th birthday was yesterday! Though he wasn't very excited and kept reminding me that he was turning 28 not 27, i was super excited. Birthdays weren't a big thing in my house, but i somehow got the overly social gene and i love any excuse for a party. I couldn't be there, so we are celebrating this weekend with his family and i am super excited! He called me last night saying he was alone and watching "Enchanted." ( I think he just put the movie on and said he was watching it to make me feel bad because he hates that movie more than anything, especially when i sing along with it) But in honor of my cute boy here's a little schpeel about him.

Brigham is super quiet and so when we first met, I thought he was way stuck up because he wouldn't talk to anyone. Luckily, he gave me a chance and we became really good friends.

When we finally started dating, he decided to put me in his phone as "Barely Legal" because i was 18 and he always teased me for how young i was. I then decided to put him in my phone as Old Man (hence the title) and although i am past the legal age of 18 i relish in the fact that he will always be Old Man.

Brigham is excellent at listening. I know my parents will be glad that soon they will no longer ev er have to hear about, boys, heartbreaks, or endlessly long pointless phone calls because Brigham will always be there. Lucky for them, but hope he can stand it. Luckily, he is also very patient with me, which is something that my dear mother has had to deal with for 20 years. She always did, but I'm sure on January 10th, she'll take a deep breath of air and some stress will disappear.

Brigham loves his family and love the gospel. It's so comforting to know that it will never be a fight to go to church and that my family will be together forever. He is so sweet to his mom and Grandma and is so polite and sweet to me. He cares about people and never says a bad thing about anyone and has to remind me constantly to stop saying things. (oops)

HE is an amazing person and I am so lucky that I get to be his wife soon. We have so much fun together and there is never a dull moment. He loves me unconditionally and I will forever be grateful to him for all he does.

Happy Birthday Briggy!! I love you!!

Over the stateline and through Vegas, to Bakersfield we go.

In t-minus three days i will be heading home to the most beautiful place in the world. No it doesn't have crystal clear ocean water, or majestic mountains or even air that's OK to inhale, but to me Bakersfield is home. I can't wait to see my niece and nephew, my parents, my brother and sisters and aunts and uncles. My family is the most beautiful thing in the world, and because they live in Bakersfield, land of raised trucks and Chain restaurants galore, this is the most beautiful place in the world. AND I COMING BACK!! Brigham and i leave Wednesday after work and make the trek. We will be there early Thursday morning ready to bake and play in the Turkey Bowl. (Brigham is soooooo excited. hint of sarcasm? yes) I promise to take tons of pictures so that i can update my blog because i am so horrible at it. But for your enjoyment, here are some oldies, but goodies of my husband to be and me!!

Courtney Get Yer' Gun

The Orton Family at the Ward Turkey Shoot Out

First Time Shooting a gun..and i hit a Skeet Skeet and almost won a Turkey in the Shot gun Shoot, Be proud Mama.

We pretended we knew how to handle that thing......

Thankfully Thankful

It's that time again to feel thankful for all the things we have in our lives. (Funny how there's a day to be thankful, not like be thankful all year) My cute sister- in- law to be gave a talk in church on Being Thankful and she read this cute email that although I never would have thought about being thankful for these things, reading this i truly am.

Things to Be Thankful For
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have
enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have
been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because
it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it
means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it
means you can hear.
Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we
have freedom of speech.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it
means you're alive.

I thought that was super cute and agreed with most of them, except for the snug fitting clothes...really i could do without those.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The Stripling Warrior Gang

I know i should have posted this a long time ago but alas, I fell into the "my life is too busy" rut. as you all know, the Golden Boy left for his mission last week and i had the honor to take him to the MTC. Please don't be offended when i call him the Golden Boy. usually, this nickname refers to a child whose parents adore him above their other children. In our case, this name and meaning stretches out the the rest of the family. He is "golden boy" to all who know him. He is the shining example of strength, patience, friendship and love. He makes everyone around him light up because of his personality. everyone who knows him instantly loves him. The last two days i spent with him before he entered this amazing new adventure were the hardest, most emotional, most happy days that i have ever had. I picked Jordan up from the airport at around 9:30 and we drove around Salt Lake while i showed him the temple, my old school and we said goodbye to his friend Gina. We drove to Matthew and Leslie's where they had stayed up to greet us. (thanks by the way..it was way late) We talked the whole way to Benjamin and that was way nice to spend time with just the two of us. When we arrived my Nichols bladder got the best of me and i couldn't move let alone walk inside the door. As i hysterically laughed, the situation got worse and Jordan thought this was the most hilarious thing ever. Finally, i ran behind a huge tree while he told me he was going to tell everyone about it. The next morning we woke up and hit the trail for all the errands we had to do. We went and got him all of his necessities from the Springville Walmart( which made me really miss my mom since we stop there all the time during education week. Can't wait for this year!) We ran around Provo looking for a bank to get him a debit card and finally found one. After that we hit the Quilted Bear(not his favorite store, but mine for sure) and then the dollar store since he wouldn't pay $1.98 for a lint roller when he knew there was one for a dollar. (Thanks mom for teaching us how to be thrifty, but i wish he would have just let me buy it seeing how it cost probably $5 in gas just to get to the other store) We then went to lunch at the Pizza Buffet called Docs. It was $6 for all you can eat salad, breadsticks, pizza and ice cream. Jordan did not waste that money for sure. We were the only ones there and they had to keep making pizzas. We finally decided he had had 13 pieces and the biggest ice cream cone ever. When i asked him why he needed such a huge ice cream he told me we were only allowed one cone and so he was going to make it the biggest cone ever. oh did we get looks! We went and visited Brent and Tiana and their family and we got to see Stacie also. We had dinner with Carrie and Ralph and Cassidy and Kali. It was so nice of everyone to come and Jordan really appreciated it. Wednesday we woke up and went to BYU for Jordan's scriptures. We then went to lunch at an amazing Brazilian Grill called Tucanos. (one needs to be opened in Bakersfield along with all the other chains) Grandma and Grandpa Nichols came and we had so much fun. We also met a missionary at the restaurant who was going to Paraguay also.
Finally, i had to take him to the MTC. I had been so brave and was super proud of myself for not crying about it until then. My wonderful dad sent me a text message saying "There's no crying in Baseball or the MTC." Encouraging. We put his bags up and he went and got his missionary tag. We took pictures and then went into the meeting. It was nice to sit there with him and here people talk about how well the missionaries are taken care of and how so many people love them at the MTC and on their missions. When they told us that it was time to go and missionaries go through one door and families through another i couldn't hold back the tears anymore. (Sorry dad) I think having to find the right words to say was the hardest thing ever. Of course there were I Love You's, but i wanted to give him some of my 20 year old wisdom. Needless to say there was nothing good. I tried to say all positive things and be super strong, but when he gave me a hug and told me he would miss me and that he loved me, i don't think i have ever had so many mixed emotions. I wanted him so badly to stay with me and protect him like i always have felt i needed to my whole life, but a bigger part of me saw what a great young man he had grown to be and remembered him telling me how badly he wanted to go and so i hugged him close and bawled my eyes out as i watched him walk though the doors. I was so nervous for him and thought that i couldn't cry anymore when he turned around one last time before walking through the door. I just stood there with my cute cousins Stacie and Brock and sobbed. it felt good to know that one of his best friends Eugene would be looking for him and i knew he would be fine, but holy cow was that hard. He is such a great example and a rock for our family. He will be greatly missed but this is such an amazing and exciting time for him. So sorry about the sob fest, but here's some pictures to go with this novel.

Some Funnies from Elder Urmston

• He asked me if he could say 1,000 different words including "Flaming Homosexual and Fagot"
• Aunt Carrie saw his Stripling Warrior Ring and thought it was his class ring and Jordan preceded to tell her how this was his second ring because the first one got stolen. We then decided that there is probably a hardened criminal starting a Stripling Warrior Gang.
• he tried to tell me about a place that was "caddy corner" to the school. i thought it was called "kitty korner" and he assumed i was right and told me he said "catty corner" because its farther away and a cat is bigger so its called "catty corner"

you can't fix ugly

for fun: conversation between Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Braddock

Elizabeth Braddock: Sir, you are a drunk.
Churchill: And you, madam, are ugly and in the morning, I shall be sober.

A Plane, A Pool and a Ring

it's been one day since i have flown back from Bakersfield back to a life of work and monotony. I hated leaving, i love seeing my family and friends and my freaking cute niece and nephew. I thought i was going home to see my brother talk in church, my family and maybe some friends. I had no idea that coming to home meant i would have to answer a question that i had no idea was going to be asked. It all started with Brigham coming down from Idaho to fly home with me. I left work a little early to get everything together and was so excited all day to see him. He called and told me he was in salt lake and asked if we could go on a picnic. I thought he was crazy. i mean we had a flight to catch..what was he thinking? I told him i was sorry but that we didn't have time. I was almost ready to go when he asked me again if we could go on a picnic...now this time we had an hour before we had to board our flight. I told him it was important that we were to the airport early so we don't miss our flight. He got pretty quiet and remained so the whole trip home. I was so confused...why in the world would we go on a picnic? We arrived home and the next day went over to Mom and Dads to go swimming. He went upstairs to change and when i came out of the bathroom heard him calling me. I told him to come downstairs becaue i didn't know what he needed. He said he needed to show me something so i ran up and he was standing in the middle of the hall. Now, this kid does some pretty weird things sometimes, but this was weird, i asked him what he was doing and he smiled at me and told me he was going to ask me to marry him. I. being my ever so patient self told him to "Shut up, you are not. Let's go swimming." Well, he wasn't lying. He got down on his knees and asked me to marry him with the most gorgeous ring ever. I had no idea what to do or say, literally i just stood there and then he asked me if i was going to say yes. Finally i came to my senses and said yes and then screamed for my mom to come upstairs. (which by the way, i was sick and had no voice so screaming was very difficult and sounded ridiculous) So now i have a ring, a fiance and a wedding come up in June. I am SOOOOOO excited. I have planned my wedding since i was interested in boys...so pretty much the day i was born. Brigham is so wonderful and i love him like crazy. He is way too good to me and i can't wait to be married in the temple to him. Countdown begins now!!!!

My Gorgeous Ring(sorry it's blurry)

For My Big Sisters

The End of a Saga

Well my friends, the time has come to say goodbye to the Vampires and Werewolves in my life. After just one day of intense reading I finished the last book. I told myself i would never read these fantasy novels, but little did i know that after some coaxing from sixth grade girls at Challenger i gave in and was (in the new saying) "Bitten" by the books. Call me a silly girl reading a silly teenage love novel, so be it (yes i still watch The Little Mermaid) Read them and see. Yes, it holds nothing to The Great Gastby (my favorite book of all time) or even a Jane Austen, but if you want a great summer read, this is your book. On a side note: I feel utterly incomplete when a book that i love comes to an end. Yes, i am the girl that feels like she is the main character and completely lose myself in a book. But really, i am sad. Guess I'll have to get hooked on something else. Anyone read any good books lately?

The Nanny Diaries

You know you need to update your blog when your sister who NEVER does tells you that you need too. Truly, not much is happening in Salt Lake. I currently have a nanny job that is killing me. I never understand why i do this. I think it will be fun to spend time with kids all summer and go to the pool and play but really i end up raising bratty children who have no sense of discipline or structure. Well, can't quit now. At least it's a poster job for birth control. I probably should learn to get a real job, but alas calling centers and retail are just not for me. Maybe i am lazy, or maybe i don't feel like dealing with people and their crap. A SNL skit pops into my mind that i will have to post. I believe this skit should be shown every other commercial on every channel. Our country would do good to listen to it. Other than that my life is full of boredom, i continue to watch Lingo and Let's make a deal daily and promise myself i will work out, but Monty and Chuck are way better than any work out video or gym. Maybe i should learn to work out whilst watching my new found loves. I haven't bought groceries all summer and i finally made dinner two days ago. (wow...that's pathetic. thank you top ramen and cup of soup) Brigham got accepted into his Laser Optics program and so he will be moving to Idaho in august. I will stay in Salt Lake until January when i will be moving back home to California. Lots of changes but they will be good for everyone. Right now i am trying to find a place for Brig to live and for me to store all my crap in. Seriously, how can i accumulate so much stuff in a matter of years. It really is ridiculous. (I just reread his blog and i apologize for how mundane and unexciting it must sound) Bear with me, today i had poop in a bathing suit and a four year old screaming at me because i wouldn't let her feed her doll milk from her cereal bowl. (kill myself) I really do feel for Scarlett Johannsen and her nannying escapades. (Please see Blog Post Title) Well for now this is all i have. Congratulations to my beautiful sister Nicole on having her precious baby boy. (Can we get a name though anytime soon) If anyone knows anyone coming to Bakersfield from Utah or going home to Bakersfield from Utah let me know. I am in need of some Bakersfield air.

My Trip

So its been a week since i have been home and i already miss it. I really didn't want to leave, but duty calls in Utah. I had so much fun hanging out with my family and catching up. Here are just some pictures from the trip. Enjoy!

Dang they are cute!!!

California here i come.

oh my gosh!!!! i cannot stand the excitement i have right now! I am finally GOING HOMEEEEEEE! I am so stoked..six days in the glorious heat and disgusting air i call home. I was always so excited to get away from Bakersfield but i really do miss it. I miss seeing all the "short man syndrome" raised trucks and smelling the cow poop filled air at night. I love walking across the street bare foot to get the mail and pretending it isn't scalding my skin. I love the palm trees and the pools. I love driving to the east side and remembering all the fun times i had over there. I love seeing my high school (has it REALLY been two years since i graduated??) I love coming home..i love my neighborhood, i love my friends, i love seeing my family. I love going to church in Bakersfield...Utah church is sooooo different. I seriously cannot wait...i am already packed and waiting to leave is going to be horrible. I come home Thursday and it really is not soon enough. I feel so ridiculous being this excited but everytime i think of coming home my stomach gets nervous and I want to put everything in the car and just take off. I should probably stop now, i feel a little obsessive, but i don't even care. I am so excited( i should probably find another word to use) Anyway i am ending this, but be excited...COURTNEY'S COMING HOME(along with her friend Brigham) See ya soon.

You Stay Classy Bakersfield

Lame or the cutest thing ever?

Ok so i have this extremely cute boyfriend(i hate that word) who is the sweetest thing ever. He always finds nice things to do for me and i am always grateful for them, but sometimes i take them for granted,and i wish i didn't because yesterday topped them all.
I went to pick him up from work (mothers day was a "no way can you have Sunday off day") and he came out with flowers for me. I thought he worked at three but apparently he had just told me that so he could walk to the flower store to pick up the flowers he ordered. When i asked what they were for he told me "I know today is mothers day, but i just wanted to say how grateful i am for you and how lucky i am that one day you will be the mother of my children." At first i really wanted to laugh because it was SOOOO cheesy,but he isn't much of a talker and knowing that he spent time thinking about exactly what he was going to say made me so thankful for him. I won't be a mom for a long time but it's nice knowing i will be with someone as awesome as him. so there...a little schpeel about Brigham. I know it's bragging a little, but he's great and i adore him.

10 Things I Love About My Mom

1. I love my mom because she is can accomplish anything. She is an amazing woman and anything she wants she gets. She is a hard worker and i look up to her so much for that. i try everyday to become more like her in that way. i know it's taking a while but i will get there.
2. I love my mom because she is beautiful. I think this is something that no matter how old she gets will ever change. From the time i was way little i remember sitting in church and wishing i could wear high heels like her and smell like my mom. I take such pride in the compliments i receive when people say i look like her.
3. I love my mom because she married my dad. I am thankful everyday to have the parents that i have. They are amazing and they work together as a team. I pray i will love someone as deeply as my mom loves my dad.
4. I love my mom because she is patient. Seven kids is hard, especially her seven. I haven't always been the easiest..in fact..i think i am the hardest(or so i am told) but she still listens to every sobbing phone call, still gives advice and still loves me no matter what shenanigans i am in.
5. I love my mom because she is funny. I don't think i have met anyone who laughs like my mom, expect for maybe a 90 year old man. It's so funny and she laughs all the time.
6. I love my mom because she is my mom. Out of all the women in the world, i was chosen to go to her. I am so grateful that she was chosen to be my mom, because she's the best.
7. I love my mom because she taught me the gospel. I don't ever remember a time when we didn't go to church. I don't ever remember a time she complained about a calling. She gives the lord her all and i see that everyday. I am grateful for her dedication and for the blessings our family has in our lives because of her.
8. I love my mom because she is such a great example.. In everything she does she teaches me to become better, whether it's money, the church, raising her children or making dinners she teaches me constantly and i love her for that.
9. I love my mom because she is smart. I swear she knows everything..even ask my dad. She is a genius in all areas and i admire that so much.
10. I love my mom because she loves me. even when i think that i could do no more wrong, that i have hit rock bottom she is there to help me pick up the pieces. She has been there through everything, school, boys, trials and so many errors and she still loves me and helps me through them. For this I think I love her most. When I feel like i have no friends in the world i can call my mom and she will always be there.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms, my aunts, my grandma's, my friends and my family, especially my mom. I wouldn't be here without you and i don't think i would make it without you. I love you mom!

First Presidency Song

I thought this was so cute and clever. You HAVE to watch it.



Enjoy!!

Update

well...its done. i graduated LDSBC with an Associates degree in General studies. Not very exciting i know. What IS exciting is that i am attending the University of Utah in the fall. Other than that, not much is going on here in Salt Lake. i am working and trying to look for a new place to live. I finally loaded the pictures from Las Vegas onto my computer so I'll post them here. hope everyone is doing well and i love you all! Keep on blogging (some of us obsessively stalk your blogs)

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

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Spring Fun

Finally, a little time to update. Well i am almost done with school( my associates at least) I graduate april 10th and i am off to the University of Utah. I decided to stay here and take on a nanny job with a family that attends the school i work at. I am very excited and it's going to be a fun summer. I absolutely love my life right now. It's going great and I am VERY pleased to be moving on from LDSBC. Other than school and work, not much is going on here. I am trying to get residency which is a little saddening because claiming California is so much better than Utah( no offense to those that live in the Beehive State) but residency will make college a lot cheaper.

I'm sad i missed the beach. It's something i look forward to every year and I really wanted to go, but instead a couple friends and I decided to visit Las Vegas. It was fun, but after a while it got old. We pretty much just shopped and ate because we don't gamble or drink, so it turned out to be a pretty nice vacation. We rode the Stratosphere rides, which scared me to death. I was so scared of how high we were and thinking about how unsafe amusement rides are. I rode them any way and was on the verge of tears on all three. I love magic mountain and disney land but riding a ride thats already 140 stories high was not my favorite thing.

Well, hopefully next time i'll have something interesting but here's some pictures from vegas and our family's Disneyland trip. Love hearing about everyone so keep on posting (mom and dad)

"a cool teenager"

Things are getting pretty busy. I've started school and this will be my last semester at good ol' LDSBC. I have applied to the University of Utah and am waiting to hear from them. I am so nervous. I have also decided to move home in April. I graduate April 10th and my last day at work is April 11th. Hopefully this is a good decision, but we will see. I'll head back in the fall if i get into the U. Work is great, school is great and it feels good to be back in a routine. It was so fun being home for Christmas and seeing everyone. On Saturday i turn twenty. 'blegh" For some reason i feel like at 19 life is easier, you can get away with more and in Aunt Elaine's words I'm still a "cool teenager" why can't i still be a cool twenty year old???? sad to think that no longer will i be considered "cool" I'll have to think of something clever to become. maybe a thrifty twenty year old?? (ha ha..right) or a tubular twenty year old. either way..it sounds dull but I'm sure I'll manage. well...back to class. hope everyone's doing great!!