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" :)!