Jeff and I just got back from a surprise night away (well, surprise to me :) for our 10th anniversary!! It was such a nice anniversary package at the Grouse Mtn. Lodge, including dinner, room service dessert, and a couples' massage today! Snow fell pretty constantly outside as we peaked out often at the cross country skiers. Some other time we'll have to be adventurous Montanians and try that part of the package. As we got settled in our room there was a painting on the wall which stood out from all the gaudy gold framed prints in the room . . . it looked alot like the style of one of our Camp Promise camper's mom's, Kelly Apgar. She does paintings with cattle markers. As I suspected my husband had bought her print, with my favorite flower - tulips, and had the hotel staff hang it in our room before we arrived. It now hangs at the end of our hall! Beautiful addition! What a blessing to think back over the last few years in our lives and swell with gratitude for the man with whom God has blessed me!! (Wish I had been a good, addictive blogger and brought my camera - HUGE fireplaces, many cool moose sculptures, incredible snow, . . . Dad, you would have LOVED the rustic lodge look! Maybe, we'll get a chance to go again, sometime :)!

We had another 5-6 inches of snow today to add to our foot (plus) on the ground! Beautiful for Christmas day!

Every year we do a little scavenger hunt of sorts for the final present/s. This year, Kara was very curious about when, where, how, . . . of Santa. So Santa had a funny little "easter egg" hunt with clues until finally - PRESENTS for the Ortlings! Here's the picture after the big hunt!

I couldn't get the video to load, but I came upon Kara several times today giving equal time to our nativity set. She played as much with them as she did with her new Barbie motor home :)! She had the shepherds and wise men convening to discuss worshipping God and heading to the stable to do so (didn't think a factual lesson of the story was necessary - she got the point - they all worsipped God :). She also led them in MANY rounds of "Peace on Earth, and Mercy High . . . Glory to the Newborn King . . . " Can you guess which song that is fashioned after :)!

Christmas fun! I love my family :)! The kids were up at 6am, and there was no turning back! It took a bit of convincing to get Daddy out of bed at this hour, but they did it! The fun has lasted all day! Jacob just ask (at 5pm - been dark here for a half hour), "Was it ever light outside today?" Time flies when you're having fun!

Another family tradition - the family Peanuts puzzle! It is so cool. The Christmas before we were married, Jeff and I found a great Christmas puzzle that had graduated sized pieces (small, medium, and large - for all different ages to do together). While living in PA, this special Snoopy Christmas puzzle got molded in our basement. That one had to be tossed. Last year, however, Jeff found another one on Ebay. We all worked hard to assemble it on Christmas Eve. (notice the two diehards wrestling for the last piece). It was so nice, we decided to leave it as our centerpiece.

On Saturday, we celebrated Kara's 4th birthday! She wanted a Care Bear theme, so our friends Lori and Jeff created the ultimate cake :)! Instead of party hats, Daddy printed out circles with hearts, rainbows, lightning bolts, sunshine, . . . and everyone colored their care bear belly to pin on their own belly. Thanks for the great blanket/tablecloth, Aunt Shannon :)! Kara is certainly living up to her 4 yr old status. She's already told us, "But 4 yrs old don't have to take naps!" We're proud of her little confident personality :)!

It has SNOWED in Montana! It appears we have at least a foot of snow. It is beautiful! The boys were amazed on the way to school at the "piles" around town pushed up by the snow plows. One bank had their pile almost up to their roof! Keith, Jacob, and Garrett were very anxious to shovel some after school (what helpers :)! Simon was thrilled to join them . . . he acted so big and tough in his little snow boots. Kara enjoyed using the broom to sweep off Daddy's car and clean up behind the shoveling. Surprisingly, we're not able to build any snowmen (it doesn't pack well - "dusty" type snow). But we're all looking forward to hitting the sledding hill on the Christmas break!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas party at camp tonight. All the local full time staff members, a couple of board members (and the connected families) were in attendance! We had such fun playing games, visiting, and of course, eating :)! It's so exciting to have lots of kids running around. We're use to that working at a camp, but it's neat to see all these staff kids interact. We did miss our Missoula staff members. The weather was a bit treacherous for them to venture our direction.

SNOW!! It is frigid, here in MT, this weekend. Snow finally came down good overnight, and we had around 4 or 5 inches. Temps are hovering way down by 0 degrees! As I write this around midnight it is -7 degrees! BRRR - my southern blood really does freeze fast, but so glad God brought me here :)!

A few years ago we started a countdown to Christmas tradition with one of our favorite items, BOOKS (if you've ever visited our library, aka our house, you'd know we're pretty fond of these things :). The Ortlings take turns unwrapping a Christmas themed book each day of December until we reach Christmas eve! Keith certainly acquired his Dad's math genius b/c tonight he figured out (faster than his Mom could) which kid would open a book on which day - Kara will choose one on her birthday. Cool how that worked out :)!

Our church's Awana program holds a "Sparks Birthday Party for Jesus" each year. Kara was invited to join Jacob (Sparkies are Jacob's age group), and they had a super time!

Oh, toddler creativity! Simon pulled out the cookie sheets, and he and Kara commenced to test them out for all types of fun :)! Did you know you can cross-kitchen ski, sled, play bumper-pan, build a train . . . I think we'd be just fine without "toys" :)!

Today we went hunting for our Christmas tree. It wasn't too cold, and we even got to the national forest before the snow :)! Will we have snow this year???? The big brothers were a great help stomping down brush for Kara to be able to "hunt" and entertaining Simon while Dad tied on the tree and Mom took Hazel for a walk. Jacob even helped Jeff cut the tree, and Keith helped haul it out of the forest! Wow, their growing up :)! It's been so nice to have the boys home from school for a few days :)! As we ate a little "picnic" lunch, Keith wanted us all to go around and share compliments (something he had done at school in his class). We went from youngest to oldest - (Jeff spoke for Simon) Simon "said" Kara was a good helper doing dishes and helping cook with Mom. Kara said she likes when Jacob plays with her. Jacob complimented Keith on being a good big brother and that he's nice to him when they play Jet Motto 2 (a new favorite video game :). Keith said he likes Mom's dinners. Mom then shared how grateful she was that God had put Daddy in our family - he makes us smile and laugh SO much. Dad finished up our compliment session by telling Simon that he was a fun & tough guy :)! I'm so glad to be part of this fun family :)!

We had our Thanksgiving festivities with our dear friends, the Cormiers. Garrett (their 8 yr old) wanted us all to dress up for the meal. All the boys (including Dads) were to dress as Indians, and all the girls (moms, too) were to be pilgrims. Kara was a cross between the two for most of the day :)! We had loads of fun cooking the feast and all very much enjoyed the eating of it all :)! We're grateful for the special friends God has given us!

The ultimate "Ladies Man" - see below for evidence (this is the fam's favorite hand me down shirt from one of Keith's teachers:)!


Kara is proud . . . she's training him well :)!