I wanted to journal about the wonderful family night we had . . . The boys quickly did their reading and cleaned their room after school and jumped on Dad's idea to make a plan for our evening. (see their lists above) Keith wanted to play video games, stay up til 11pm, send Mom and Dad to bed at 7:30pm, and watch tv. Jacob wanted to ride bikes with Dad to the neighborhood playground. (Mom secretly added ice cream to Jacob's list :) After dinner, Kara, Jacob, and Jeff rode bikes to the playground and Keith and I took turns pushing Simon's stroller. We had such a fun time playing tag and sliding. Each "big" Ortling LOVED taking turns sliding down the curvy slide with Simon. He loved it too and would sign "more" after each slide down. (he's been doing lots of signing lately and MUCH mimicing - I was wiping down a very dirty fingerprinted wall this morning and looked over to see Simon wiping the wall with his hands :). I'm charging the camera tonight for our big Harvest Festival tomorrow - I was bummed it wasn't ready for the trip to the playground! We ventured back home and enjoyed ice cream and video game time. Everybody's sleeping soundly and hopefully all night (Mom and Dad must have been too much fun to send to bed early :)- hopefully we'll continue to be allowed to stay up late :). I love my family and am so grateful God placed us all together :)!

Jeff's Mom and Gram are visiting from Florida this week. We've had fun - journeying to camp, Glacier, and now, around home and town. We were so grateful that the weather was nice for our outdoor activities. We explored a new spot right outside Glacier. The route to Polebridge was a 15mi stretch of gravel rode to arrive at an eccentric little town with the most amazing bakery. Jeff and I are hoping to return one day for dinner at their restaurant (just not for our December anniversary - miles of gravel in snow and ice might not be too safe :). Sunday started a cold and rainy week. Kara put on a fashion show for the grandmas while the boys were at school. All the Ortlings enjoyed some time outside on their bikes with some gorgeous clouds in the sunset tonight.

More pictures of the family fun!