Toto - We're not in Utah any more!

Here's some more Daytona (New Year's vacation) pictures I wanted to share so you would understand life here in Florida.

While we were there, we wanted to go to church on Sunday. We wondered where we would find one. Well, we didn't have to look far at all. In fact, there was one right across the street from our resort. Check this out! (Be sure to read the banner across the roof of the building. You might have to enlarge the photo - but it's worth it.) You will notice that it's not a Stake Center or a small chapel. Instead....

Okay... we started wondering how in the world did they do that? So... we took the next picture as we walked by this church the next night. We knew that we just "weren't in Utah any more." Needless to say, when Sunday came around & all the cars were pulled into their little "drive-in slots" we went to the LDS chapel that was 15 miles away instead. It sure gives you something to be thankful for. (Are your thinking about the prophecies in the Book of Mormon about the "last days"?

Be thankful for the things that you have been taught. I know that I am. (Linda)

Snow, Snow and more snow

So I saw the pictures of Aunt Linda's sand castles and I wanted to show her what I can do with the 11 inches of snow we have gotten here in Cedar City Utah so far today (Yep, it's still snowing.)

I made this snow angel in my back yard! I also got really snowy and wet and had to change when I got inside. Well at least I didn't get sand in my pants!!!

Oh, Give Me the BEACH Life...

Okay, all you "Snow Bunnies!"

This is what winter is like here in the sunshine state. YES! This is why we live here. These photos were taking by the kids from our balcony over looking Daytona Beach.

We celebrated the New Year by doing nothing but sitting around, being lazy and occasionally playing at the beach. Are you jealous! No need to be. Just come see us in the winter months and you too can enjoy all this beauty!

(I think Lydnsey has some more photos of our maginificant sand castle that I will save & do for another posting.)

These last photos are for Mom. Do you still love light houses?

Wylee's doing the "Captin Morgan" pose because he discovered that he's related. (He was searching for names to take and do temple work> Yep! This family name has been completed recently.)

Merry christmas from Aunt Marian

More of Mexico

DAD GOES TO MEXICO

The scouts came and helped with the last of the preparations; they had fun tieing the robes on the side-Dad left room in the bed for beans & corn he picked up in Elfrida. I guess I really like the front of the truck! Wish I could have gotten a picture of Dad & Jim, but they were in a hurry; I would also have gotten one with the beans and corn loaded on! Dad is in 7th heaven today!

2008 El tour de Tuscon

David and Dale Anderson

David leaving
Reuben Stopped to rest at Harrison and Irvington

David and Grandpa

Linda DID IT!

I am so happy to share the news that I passsed my National Board Certification on Friday, November 21, 2008! It is such a relief to have that "monkey" off my back and know that "I did it! I did it! I did it!" YIPPEE!

College Life thus far.

I thought that since I am now not living at home and therefore allowed to have my own accound I would let the family know what I've been up too for the last few months. I am going to BYU-I and actually loving it. I have learned that I can cook, and actaully enjoy doing so.

My roommates and I have made dinner for my good friends from home a few times now. And we are all good cooks! (here we made mashed potatoes and fried chicken!) However it's not all fun and games! I have been swamped with homework from day 1! Most recently my roommate Paige and I had the privilage to travel to Las Vegas and help with the final 5 days of the presidential campaign. We spent over 33 hours on the phones, 4 hours going door to door, all in the pursuit of helping John McCain become the next president. Unfourtunatly our efforts were not very successful seeing as not only did Obama win, but he also won in Nevada. We did have a lot of fun despite the facts! We got to go to a rally were John McCain spoke and we went to the strip twice. My favorite part was seeing the Bellagio Fountains...and then getting lost in the hotel! However since I decided to take 3 days off from school I am falling behind, so I will go for now but I hope everyone is having a good school year so far!

Love, Bekah

Monthly Update

For some time now Torrie's extended family has been blogging monthly. At the beginning of each month every family post a little tid bit about what they have been doing that month. We have found this to be quite enjoyable to read. With this in mind we thought we would post our post here as well in hopes it would catch on. If you feel inclined please let us know what you have been up to.

October 2008

This past month has settled down only slightly…. We made it safely here to New York. We had a great time with my mom for the first part of the month. By the tenth Grandma Woodward (Torrie's mom Tammy) had gone home and I was on my own in a new apartment, with two kids, and a husband with an actual work schedule. I am trying not to get overwhelmed and to take it a little at a time. We have enjoyed going to our new ward and getting to know the area. It’s been beautiful, there is nothing like a East Coast autumn, however, the leaves are fading and winter is on its way.
We also celebrated Levi’s 27th birthday, the girls and I made a dinner and cake and the girls helped Levi blow out the candles. After the candles were blown out they posed with Emma’s patented "smile".

Emma had a blast being “Captain Hook” for Halloween, she scored big time bringing home a completely full pumpkin of candy. Levi has enjoyed the job thus far, although it’s been an adjustment for both of us since he can’t tell me anything about what he is doing, for all I know he leaves for work and meets up with other engineers to play video games all day… Charlotte has been growing and changes by the day.She is over 6 weeks old now and has an opinion all her own. It’s been so fun to see the sisters interact, Emma is quite the one woman show and charlotte is her captive audience. We should be able to report more fun stuff next month, since we have double the source of entertainment. We hope the holidays treat you all well and can’t wait to read your reports.

Love,Levi and the girls

East Coast Pumpkin Carving Extravagansa

Well hello family! Halloween has come and gone and the slow Orton faimly is finally getting our Pumpkin Pictures posted. This year we extended our pumpkin carving contest to include Jerry and Carol Wilson and Audrea's friend Mandy Wood. On the invitation we sent to the Wilson's we noted that there would be pumkin carving tools available and to bring your own pumkin. Well, the Wilson's must have missed the part about the tools because they brought there pumkin pre-carved! We all got a good laugh out of it and although their triplet ghost pumpkin looked great, they ended up sitting and chatting while the rest of us carved. Samual didn't get to participate in the actually carving because of his shoulder injury, but he designed the pumpkin that Aunt Vonnie and Uncle Ken carved. He actually did a very good job! Audrea ran into some difficulties with her pumpkin, as she chose a pattern that was too hard to do on a small pumpkin. Her grim reaper proved nigh impossible and so she turned her pumpkin around and carved a goofy face into it, all the while asking mom if she could just run it over with her car (and of course Mom repeatedly turned down this idea). This was a first for Mandy. She had never carved a pumpkin by herself before and she was a natural. Her "Handsome Devil" pumkin looked rather dashing and a little terrifying when she was done. Lyndsey and Brad decided to do a Haunted Mansion on their pumpkin, and although things got a little frustrating for them, they endured til the end and produced a rather creepy redition of a haunted mansion on their pumpkin. And what about Mom and Dad you might ask? Mom was the self appointed photographer and Dad led the political conversation that dominated the "grown up table."
Everybody had a great time and everyone's pumpkin survived the transformation into Jack-O-Lanterns. This is definately a traditon that we thoughoughly enjoy and plan to continue out here on the East Coast!


As the carving festivities began Audrea decided that her favorite part of the carving process was gutting the pumpkin. Mom decided this was kind of funny and recorded her telling everyone why this was so funny.

cameron's cake

hellow aunt karen, this is hanah

i was wondering if i could get hte instrucions n how to make the ice cream cake from cameron's birhtday. thanks!

love hannah

Art Imitates Life

For our submission to the great pumplin carving contest we thought we would carve one of our favorite scenes here.... a spooky cemetery.

There are little old cemeteries everywhere here! We pass this cemetery every day.

Last night Torrie swore she say blue and green lights in a cemetery, but I think she was just forseeing our awesome pumpkin!

The Great Haupt "Pumpkin Carving Contest" East VS. West

Time once again to sharpen those carving skills, pick out a pattern and get ready to rumbel...or carve. Tomorrow is the big day for the East VS. West Pumpkin carving contest. The Haupt family in Salt Lake City take on the Extended Haupt Family in Orlando as we go head to head to be the best carvers of the pumpkins. Who will win the coveted title of "Best Carved Pumpkin 2008" Cameron has been ploting his pattern strategy, and word has it the the Orton clan is working on a plan of their own. Who will survive and be the victor this year. Levi and Torrie are you in??? We can't wait to see the everyone's artistry. Make sure you post your pictures of the event on the blog. May the best coast win!!!

Charlottes Blessing Day

Sunday, Septemeber 28th Levi and Torrie blessed baby Charlotte. They drew quite the crowd at church. We all enjoyed spending the afternoon together, visiting and laughing. We even got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Grandpa Haupt, who shared his birthday with all of us. Levi and Torrie leave Wednesday to head to New York. Thanks for spending the day with us, we love you and will miss having you so close, but know you still be just a click away, as we keep in touch through your blog.

Emma, trying to be happy for a piece of chocolate, that Granny Haupt has for her.
Yes, I am trying to smile. Are we done yet?
Proud Grandma Haupt with Charlotte, and Great Auntie Vicki

Proud Grandma and Grandpa Haupt and Charlotte

Adventures of Living in the Mission Field

We are absolutely thrilled to break ground for our new stake center. It has only taken 3 years to get to this point. (You may not truly appreciate the excite as we do but I will try to share the "mission field" view point.)

We were organized as a the "Leesburg Florida Stake" 3 years ago. Our stake stretches 125 miles by 50 miles. Our ward - here in Apopka is on the east side and the stake goes to the west-gulf coast. We're talking "hours" to drive from one end to the other (not blocks or minutes.) The church purchased property and we met the requirements to "get a building" but then.... the TURTLE CHALLENGE began. You see, Gopher Tortoises are "King of the Hill" here because they are an endangered species. When you have these "inhabitants" you must carefully re-locate them in order to build on the land. Well, the church has paid over $60,000 to have "turtle hunters" come and clear the land. The cost to remove, vet examine and relocate each turle is $750! (I was thinking that I am in the wrong profession until I heard that some of the "inhabitants" were tunnelled down 15 feet and had to be retrieved without harm. Wow!) Now that the "kings" are gone - We finally get to begin our building. Saturday was our ground breaking! YIPPEE!!

Wylee was in charge of the "decorations" -which meant finding outdoor plants to "borrow" and transport to the site. He also was in charge of setting up the stage (on the tilled dirt). As you guessed it, the family had the blessing of helping with this assignment... But we were really happy to because we are starting our Stake Building. In just 11 "short" months - we should hold our fall stake conference in it. This means - that for the first time (which will now be 4 years) we will ALL meet together as a stake. We might actually get to know some of the other members o the other border a bit better.

Here's some photos for our "BIG" moment. I know.... you all have a stake center or an LDS chapel on every corner but we can have hundreds of miles in between them so it's a "BIG" deal to us.

Linda

Jacob enters the MTC

Last night we were able to go with Jake as he was set apart as a "Full Time Missionary". This was an unforgetable night, and we are so lucky that Jake asked us to attend. Today, we got to take Elder Haupt to the MTC. As we were unloading, Jake realized that he didn't know were his vaccation sheet was, so he opened up his suitcase, (Yes, that is a Ninja Turtles pillowcase). He did find the sheet, so he could enter the MTC. Next he picked up his offical "Elder Haupt" name tag. I got to try and place it on him, Steve had to jump in and save me. It's offical, Elder Haupt is on his mission now. He would love...love...love to hear from everyone. Here is his MTC address, until September 16th, when he leaves for California, Carlsbad Mission.

Elder Jacob Martin Haupt

MTC Mailbox #132

CA-CARL 0916

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604-1793

PS. The first picture is Jake with his offical newbie dot name tag....he was proud!