Fun Daddy/Santa scavenger hunt finds :)!

Fun realization, that PopPop & Kathy's gifts included a completed set of Wii remotes (4 can play at a time, now)! Game ON!

Thanks, Gram & PopPop for new clothes (which were hurriedly put on) and cool new movies!

Thanks, Gran, for our new books!!

After speaking with Santa on Skype yesterday, Jeff and I thought we would truly get to sleep in until 9am :) . . . Well, they all awoke when one baby coughed and one big boy sneezed at 5:15! "Can we wake up, now?" to which Daddy replied, "Wait until 6am." Simon fell back asleep (notice he broke in his new pillow with a bloody nose), but the rest counted down the minutes until 6 :)! EXCITEMENT!

Christmas Eve fun . . . Thanks, Grandmother for the comfy new pjs & pillows! We followed Santa on the Norad sight through Africa & South America... thinking of lots of our friends around the world :) . . . Simon and Kara prepared Santa's feast, complete with special notes!

We watched the Princess Bride for Kara's birthday. Simon has loved pretending to be the hero, Wesley. Here, he is sword fighting the "6 fingered man", aka Keith. He has also battled the giant, aka Daddy, and the "Rodent of Unusual Size", aka Hazel.

Kara and some of her birthday "guests" eating birthday cookies they decorated.

Directing for the "Happy Birthday" song.
Posing with some of her birthday treasures. The doll is a Hearts4Hearts girl. Some of the money goes to World Vision to help their outreaches to kids around the world. "Dell" actually looks lots like Kara. She thinks this might satisfy her desire for a My Twin Doll :). Thank you to grandparents for that treasure, too!

Kara's 7, oh my! After a morning diagnosis of strep for she, Simon, and Ian, we stayed cozy at home for birthday fun. All kids (and mom, today) on antibiotics and hope to be all well by Christmas day!!
Learning to roll her eyes (no, she knows how already) at her silly daddy :)
Pretty new dance outfit from grandparents.

"No, Daddy!" to birthday spankins' (she sounds quite Southern when she says this :). We skipped them b/c she never joins in on her brothers spankins' for their birthday.

Annual Christmas fun putting together the Charlie Brown puzzle. The same two individuals remained at the table til the end again this year :)!

Yesterday morning at church the younger Ortlings presented some great Christmas music. It was a sweet reminder of the reason we celebrate God's BEST gift ever - JESUS! I haven't figured out how to get good pictures in the lighting at church, but glowing eyes and all - still special!

FUN time decorating the Christmas tree! Pay careful attention our star this year - Keith made it out of Legos.

While we got out all the Christmas decorations, Kara and Simon did a little dance number to the blaring Christmas music. The tree skirt doubled as a fancy cape for Simon :)!

So for the only snowy weather we've had has been one dusting in November (this picture is from that one) & a similar one last night. Shocking to see the words type from my fingers, but I think I'm a bit eager for "real snow" :)! Doesn't really seem like winter around here, and especially Christmas w/out a nice big pile of snow!