First days of school.  Our new neighbor, Bella, is in Kara's class, and we've been carpooling some with them.  Simon is still going every other day until September 20th and is so proud to be a school guy.  Ian is missing them a bit, but we're filling our days with fun, therapy appointments, Bible study, walks with Bella's mom, . . .  (side note:  Kara and Simon photos were actually Simon's first day.  Kara had been all dolled up on her first day, but I was too busy to pull out the camera :)

Jeff helped Keith and Jacob organize their own fantasy football league with some buddies.  This is an attempt to capture the draft.  (ha! notice Kara sweetly Kara for her doll while they "slave" away - she hasn't stopped real life care of this doll since we found out she's having a new sister :)  After the draft was done, we had hot dogs and the works and there was MUCH football and dodgeball in the backyard!  Lots of boy FUN!

Just so it's clear :) . . . Baby girl Ortling is growing :).  I realized after Simon took this picture that I kindof look like a watermelon in this shirt :)!  Ha!Ha!

After we returned from Denver, we got a chance to babysit Chloe and Danielle for an afternoon!  Kara was LOVING the girl time, and they were both SO grownup and played so sweetly!

We drove to Colorado Springs one day and enjoyed the Kidz Zone at the Focus on the Family headquarters.  The kids made their own Adventures in Odyssey radio show.  Now that we're home (and implementing school bedtime) we've found out when our local station plays these stories each night.  They were proud to do their own!

Another highlight of our Denver trip was attending a soccer game (Colorado Rapids).  Jeff had helped the kids make a sign that read "We drove 1000 miles for a Rapids Win" with a picture of the 3 states we had traveled through to get there.  Their mascot signed it for us.  Keith and Jacob were GLUED to the game and didn't leave their seats the entire game.  Even Kara, Simon, and Ian were enamored by all the noise, balls, and general excitement of the stadium :)!

I WAS there, too :).  Outside the Children's Museum, we had a picnic lunch at a fun little park.  It had TONS of cool rock formations.  This was my favorite - TURTLE!!

Aerodynamics

Bubble room

building w/ recyclables

Outdoor water fun

After camp we took a "hooray for the Ortling camp kids" trip to Denver, CO.  Here's a snippet of the fun we had one day at the Denver Children's Museum.

Simon enjoyed his 5th birthday at the end of July.  He was especially excited that two counselors had birthdays on either side of him.  He made sure to share a cupcake with them.  His big bros and sis decorated the Ortling bunk room in spiderman colors.  We opened presents by the camp store, and he got to go in and choose a bumblebee stuffed animal he had had his eyes on for weeks :)!

Gran at camp with us in June . . . WE LOVE GRAN!!!  This was some very special bedtime reading - a book of stories about Grandmother that Gran lovingly compiled!

We found some pretend hair to attach for dance performance next year . . . and the sweet and silly sides of Kara :)!