idaho...no Udaho

thank you urban outfitters for that classy t-shirt saying. Well a little update on our little life. Marriage is great...they say the first year is the hardest and twice as hard if you are pregnant. Thank the lord I'm not. Despite getting used to living together and having to deal with fun newly wed changes such as not touching some one's feet when they are sleeping and learning to cook for someone who's favorite dinner is Hamburger Helper (really?? because I've never had hamburger helper in my life) it's great. We are having lots of fun and i find new things about him every day that i have come to love. Brigham is doing AMAZING is school, which makes both of our lives easier. We are totally different students though. He always seems to have homework and i try to tell him to do your homework in the next class and that classes homework in the class after that, but apparently some people actually listen to college professors. Guess i better jump on that boat (which I'm trying to do asap!) We live in a (insert adjective here)apartment/house/triplex that we are still getting used to since we only have five minutes of hot water per shower and as my dad so kindly put it "anyone who is taller than me is going to have a hard time on that toilet" (you have to sit to the side) but i know it will be great memories, but for now i long for a steaming shower. Especially since it's STILL snowing. come on mother nature...pretty sure we were supposed to have spring three weeks ago. The Idahoans say it gets soooooo hot in the summer(please...90 is not hot) but i also freeze at 60 so there we go. Other than that...despite all my complaining I love being married to Mr. Brigham, but i still sometimes wake up feeling like i am supposed to be back in salt lake and on my way to Challenger. It's funny, but sometimes unnerving. And although i love it here..i cannot WAIT to go to California in two weeks for Leo Carrillo. Brigham is sooo mad that he can't go, but i promised him i would call him every night and let him know how much sun i got. (Hopefully that doesn't jinx me and it rains the whole time) but even if it does, i still will be breathing that Malibu air and i cannot wait!!

Thanks for calling DirectTV, How can i help you?

Pocatello is currently 28 degrees, Snow is on the ground and I have finished one week of training for CONVERGYS. Why someone invented call centers...i don't know. I hate calling those places because the people are retarded and it takes years to get through. Now..because of the current economic slummpage, I get to be one of the ever so friendly and helpful customer service representatives. I used to think..they could never pay me enough to do that..well, bite my tongue and since no one else is paying ANYTHING..I am working for Convergys who is hired by DirecTV and get to help people sign up for DirecTV, billing questions, order PPV, and every so often enjoy the ranting and raving of the human being at it's finest. I feel lucky to have a job, because it is so hard to find one here, but the people that work there are definitely not the cream of the crop. I try hard just to sit through the training without getting noticed and ask minimal questions and not stare at the girl whose face is TORE UP from meth use and continually comes to class looking that she just injected it ( I only notice the signs because of"Intervention") but it's hard not to judge. Hopefully, I'll make it through the training and at least be able to tolerate the job. Today i had to listen to a 28 minute phone call from a man of color who continually commented on how DirecTV is the reason Beyonce has so much money and "why can't we take from Beyonce to feed the poor?" (Direct words) At this point i tried not to be racist but after he said Tina fifty trillion times in a row, all i could think about was Mason asking if he could have some mike n ikes. ( *Grace Kelley, grace Kelley grace Kelley) I guess all i really wrote this for was to vent about the current job situation, but I'm sure it will work out. For anyone who has direcTV and calls into customer service if you happen to hear, "Thank you for calling DirecTV, this is Courtney. How may i help you? " please be advised that it may be me and proceed with kindness (please!)

*see

The Day I Married my Best Friend

Well, we sealed the deal..FINALLY!!! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding day. The Temple was absolutely gorgeous and even though Bakersfield was fog central, Los Angeles was a spectacular 75 degrees. I was so grateful for my family that was able to come. Being married in the Temple was the most amazing day ever and having my family there made it even better. I don't think i have ever in my life been filled with such sheer happiness and I am so thankful for everyone who made it happen. Non of this could have happened without my mom and i am eternally grateful for all the hard work she put into the wedding. It was gorgeous and she did sooo much to put it all together. Also her Young Women's presidency put the reception together and I have never been to a reception that looked so gorgeous, i know i am probably bias but seriously, it was BEAUTIFUL. I probably should stop this post because it's sounding like seriouslysoblessed@blogspot.com but it was the best day of my life and i got to marry my best friend for eternity. Thank you everyone who helped! I am so grateful for all of you.

Love you all,
Mrs. Orton

Murphy's Law

Because there's a wedding, because it's mine and because it's this week, this law of "anything that can go wrong, will" definitely has played a huge part. Let's start from the top shall we? ( You might want to grab some popcorn, tissues, or go to the bathroom before you read this, depending on your mood) It's September and Brigham has asked me to marry him. I of course, said yes and the hell began. I swore not to be a Bridezilla, but alas, one who tells themselves not to become something usually does. I couldn't decide what invites i wanted and was so nervous to create my own. Finally i broke down and ordered the once I designed and they turned out great, but i was more than three weeks behind schedule. I sent out most as fast as i could and i told myself that the ones i didn't get too, i would try to get to as soon as possible. Well, its a week before the wedding and i still have some to send out. Next, with all the excitement of getting married comes the responsibility of figuring out how to do that. " We need to set a time at the Temple" says my mom. Well i call and they need my recommend number. Oops...so that Sunday I go to see the Bishop. Great. Bishop recommend done...Stake presidents out of town. OK wait one more week then. Next Sunday....Stake president has broke his back and won't be here for interviews. GREAT! Counselor to Stake President calls and conforms it A-OK to give me interview. Sweet, i now have my recommend needed to set the time for our sealing. Cancel that, Temple is closed for two weeks for cleaning. Date reopening: January 6th. That's five days before I'm supposed to get married. Luckily for me, no other Procrastinating Bride can get a time either. In order to get married you also need a marriage license. OK...not a problem,. Give them some blood, sign a paper. Oh, there's no more blood tests..nice. Oh wait....we have to do it in person with the groom to be?? The groom who is in Idaho and won't be here until three days before our wedding? WHAT? you need government issued photo ids?? Brigham says this is not a problem..Courtney says that a week before she moved back to California she had her car broken into and her wallet with all her ID stolen. (insert tears..like the flood of moses size tears) Call DMV and in the hoity toitiest of voices i hear "Oh we don't do picture ID receipts and it takes up to 60 days to get your license in the mail." (insert emotional breakdown) Mom to the rescue- calls Kern County Clerks office and they will take my school id. Brigham can't find it. Call LDSBC for replacement. "We don't keep those photos on hand" (insert blank stare) "Look in your car" says the groom to be. The car that i decided had enough gas to make it to the gas station before i had to babysit. Mom to the rescue AGAIN! So now i sit here, contemplating how to get a picture ID or how to forge some type of government issued Photograph. I don't recall knowing anyone in the black market business, but I'm seriously thinking about calling people who might. Also wondering how long my mom is going to take this before she comes to the breaking point of just telling her unorganized irresponsible daughter to figure it out myself and then having to tell Brigham that we can't even elope because I DON'T HAVE IDENTIFICATION!!!! (Insert tear streaked, emotionally exhausted Bridezilla) Hopefully i will get married on Saturday, PRAY i can get married on Saturday. And no, seriously...if you know someone who can get me a Government Issued Photo ID...just let me know ASAP! Thanks (insert pleading and begging for some type of help from soemone above)

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......