A Letter from Francin

Dear Ortman Children,

I just wanted to write you to let you know how much I have loved being in your house this year! I love my new family!
I am really going to miss seeing you every day until next year! You are so fun- what wonderful kids you are- Santa knows because I have told him how great you are. You are so helpful to each other and to your parents. I have seen you do such nice things for one another and love each other on a daily basis.  I have enjoyed watching you from a distance and hiding in places to get a better view. You were happy everyday and full of joy!  My report to Santa was that you deserve what you asked him for this year. I sure hope you like your presents!
I cannot wait to see how you have grown when you get me out next year- I am looking forward to hearing all about your year and what you have been up to.

Alex- you are the BEST big brother your sisters could ever ask for. You love them and treat them so well- I know it is hard- I have little sisters too, but you are so patient with them, especially Celeste and Elaina! You help your mom out in ways you don’t even realize- she is so grateful for all you do.

Leah- you are the BEST big sister your sisters could ever ask for. You are so fun and helpful to both of them! I see how you teach them and treat them- they are lucky to have you. Your mom loves all that you do to help with the baby- she could not get as much done without you. You are a good girl.

Celeste- you, too are the BEST big sister Elaina could ask for.  You gave me my name, and I LOVE it! It is such a funny elf name- all my friends love it too- it fits me perfectly. I have had fun hiding from you this season- you always seem to find me, though- you are a good finder! Your parents are so proud of all you have done this year to help out.  You are kind and loving and it shows. I sure hope you like what Santa brings you!!

Elaina- you sweet chubby little baby girl, you! I think you are going to be so fun when we meet again next year! You are learning so many skills, and watching you crawl and stand have been so fun for me! I bet you will like looking for me next year!! You are one lucky little girl- your siblings adore you and you light up when they are around.  Santa thinks you are truly a gem and hopes you like your fun toys!

Well, I must go- I can’t wait to see you next year!!  I LOVE YOU!!

Love,

Francin

Christmas Cards

Christmas Couture

 We do make some cute kids, I must say!

 When I saw this dress- I HAD to have it! I think it is my very favorite dress for her- she has had some cute ones, but this one is above and beyond.  She wears it so well, too- don't ya think?!

The kids are counting down...only one more week till Christmas- they can hardly stand it- and to be honest, neither can I!! I am hoping Santa brings me a new lens for my camera- I have been extra good this year...tell him, please!!

Meet Francin

Francin is our newest family member. Isn't he fun?!

Celeste named him and loves to find out where he is hiding or hanging out each morning when she wakes up.  He is mischievous too- he's been found in the candy container and today he was playing chess...can't wait to see what he is up to tomorrow morning! He loves to take notes about the children's behavior and fly back to Santa each night.  Christmas is only a week away already, can you believe that?!!!

Say it isn't so....

Here we go again...Yep, Elaina has it again...this poor baby can't catch a break. She literally finishes the antibiotic and within a week is sick again.

AND, the other girls are down today too....Celeste woke me up at 1am - her bed covered in vomit and that continued every 20 minutes until 6 this morning....in the meantime, Elaina woke up twice to nurse and Leah was in the bathroom crying of stomach pain. Fast forward to 7am, when they all arise to both girls vomiting. Good times. Let's not mention that I am headed down that road sometime today too. I slept all of 2 hours, between doing laundry, feeding, running to the bathroom, holding back hair and trying desperately to soothe tummies. It has been a long day already. We may have to call in reinforcements.

Thankfully Dana comes home in an hour- we are counting on him tonight! We need this to be gone soon- poor Leah is sad to miss school and all the fun stuff going on this week. Let's pray it does.

Proud Moments

I am slacking. I have been a tad busy, have you?!

Well, let me take a few moments to catch you up on these past couple of weeks.

Leah and Celeste attend a STEM school- (Science, technology, engineering and math). These subjects are emphasized greatly, as is group work. Leah is in 4th grade, and this year, the first year of the new school, they were challenged to create a new courtyard design for the space between the hallways- it is open to the outdoors. Each classroom had 5 or 6 groups in it. They each had to work together within their group for weeks to come up with a design and have it implemented. Their budget was $500 and the winning group would get to actually create it in real life.

Leah's group decided to build a pond with turtles and fish. There is a current sandy area there that they would remove and put the pond with flowers and information. They even had to create a PowerPoint presentation to go along with it. Each group presented in their classroom, and then voted for one group to represent their class. In that round, Leah's group won, so now there were 4 groups left- one for each 4th grade classroom.

On the 29th, those 4 groups got to present it to judges and peers, but the final say to the judges- her Principal, a local weatherman and 2 district employees from different buildings.

Here is her group and a slide from her presentation.

They dressed up and had such fun getting it all ready. I have to say, and yes, I am biased a bit, but they outshone the competition in more ways than one.

Leah was quick on her feet when asked questions, (not a big surprise), and they were for sure the most thorough of them all.

They gave the judges a gift- a recycled water bottle they cut down with sand it in, holding a flower pen- telling them that they would make these for the staff with the sand to help get rid of it and give the rest to the Kindergartners for their play area. A little gift never hurts, right?!

Well....after a day's deliberation....

THEY WON!!!

Yep, their design will be implemented in the Spring and will stay there for years! How cool is that?! What a fun project to be a part of. They truly worked as a team and so hard....I am so proud of them. Leah loved it and even framed her certificate!

Also that week, Alex had his first Band Concert! He changed instruments before school started and decided to play the trumpet. Made me happy- I played for 7 years, and they think it's fun that I can still play, but it doesn't sound as great as it did those years ago! Funny, right?! Well, he had not been practicing and telling me he wanted to quit. We set up a practice schedule with him and he has been adhering to it ever since he played on the stage and got applause. I loved it! Hearing him practice, though it hurts sometimes, makes me smile!!

Look at this handsome boy:

He loved it so much that he now practices without complaint and thankfully they had the symphonic band play after him so he could see what a few years of playing what he could do. I am glad he loves playing. Studies show that the smartest kids play a musical instrument and you develop a part of your brain that would not be developed otherwise.....I knew that was why I am so smart!! Ha ha

Celeste is doing great in her Kindergarten class- she brings home "superstars" on her papers nearly everyday. She loves library and gets fun books each week. Leah is actually working in the library- she was hired for the year by their librarian and so she gets to check out Celeste's books for her- they love seeing each other at school.

Elaina is our little gem. She is so routine and I love it! She now sleeps from 8:30 or 9pm until 4 or 5am and then after I feed her (like she needs it!!) she goes back to bed until 8am! Loving that schedule!! She got her first 2 teeth this month and graduated from the tub on the vanity to the tub in the tub!

Now we prepare for Christmas- which is just around the corner...and I will try harder to stay up on the latest.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Every year, Dana plays in a Turkey Bowl at church on Thanksgiving morning. Every year. Every year, except this year, since no one organized it. So....he decided to have one with the kids at our house- the First Annual Ortman Turkey Bowl. Sounds fun, right?

We bundled everyone up in their crappy play outside clothes - which took forever, by the way, and then, this is how it started:

These are from the window, inside, where Elaina and I were watching, warm.

After this running play, something terrible happened...

Leah slipped while holding onto running Dana and her face smashed into the side of the wooden playset....

Resulting in a trip to Children's Hospital where a plastic surgeon placed four stitches on her inside nostril- she sliced it wide open. Not to mention the blackened face. So, Leah and I spent 4 1/2 hours at the hospital, while Dana and the others stayed at home, patiently waiting for our return.
We were supposed to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner as usual...thankfully they brought dinner out to us after we got home- so we did eventually enjoy turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings of a wonderful feast. We are so grateful it wasn't worse. It has been over a week now, and she is nearly healed.

But for posterity's sake, here are some pictures, and yes, they asked me about domestic abuse!! Poor girl- glad she is better and she was the most courageous of all the plastic surgeon's patients- he was very impressed with her!

This is right when we got home- her poor swollen face.


This is 5 days later- sometimes it looks worse!

Thankfully she doesn't even look this bad now. She still has a bloody eye- the entire white is still red, but it is fading, so hopefully by the end of the weekend she will be as good as new. I tried to get a better shot of her nose, but to no avail...it's hardly noticeable now anyway.

I told her that next year will be so much better- we pray it never gets worse than this one!