Marble Maze

Whew! We did it. Sullivan received this marble maze set for Christmas and was very excited! Today we got one of the plans completed. It's really cool to let the marbles start running through it.

(And I think it gave me a migraine!)

Harper Lucille

My brother Robert and Jen FINALLY 

welcomed their precious baby girl into the world this morning at 6:30 a.m.

Welcome,

Harper Lucille

We all love you already.  

8 lbs 2 ou

20 inches long 

Christmas?

Alright, quick recap of the past week and a half. 

a. my camera batter died. 

b. I lost my charger in Europe. 

c. I ordered one and then Best Buy decided not to have it in stock after waiting a week to tell me. 

d. Christmas with my brother and his family in St. Louis was wonderful. 

e. Christmas Eve with Jordan's family was wonderful and chaotic. 

f. I got Influenza A the day after Christmas

And there you have it. 

Someday I'll do a better Christmas recap but in all honesty, even though I didn't want it to be this way, I am just happy to have survived it this year. The week and a half before Christmas was low for me. I had tried so hard to keep my focus but my emotions got the better of me and I was low. 

Then I got sick. Sicker than I've ever been in my life. EVER. 

EVER. 

Here is my piece of advice...Do not get cocky and think you dont need the flu shot. 

You do. 

You always do. 

So anyway, 2014 is coming. 

Wow, that sounds good. 

A new start!

An entire new year!

Due to my sickness we've had to rearrange our plans for NYE but I will tell you that Im actually very excited to be home with the kids and celebrate what lies ahead with them. 

Good bye 2013....

an escape

My mood has been low the past couple of days. 

I needed some happy. 

So yesterday we called off school and the kids and I escaped into a movie and shopping for the day.

(homeschooling we love you)

We've all been wanting to see FROZEN.

And it wont make it to our small town before Christmas. 

So we went to 'the big city'. 

The 'big' theater itself was enough to satisfy the kids...they were amazed by the big comfy seats and stadium set up. Very amusing for mom. 

The movie did not disappoint either.

Contessa was in AWE. 

I loved watching her face as the magical moments in the movie came up. 

I have never seen her face look so precious and awestruck as I did when Elsa turns into the Snow Queen. It made for a magical moment for me too. 

And Torrance. 

Oh my, she is an Earle. 

She doesn't just get into a movie. 

She BECOMES the movie. 

She sat on my lap for much of the movie...mouth gaping and starring at the screen. 

When the intense moments came she was pawing at my face, 

'Mommy! Why did she die? Why mommy?! Mommy, why was he mean? why mommy? why? why is he chasing them? why is she sad? why is her crying?'

She was crying at one point...just so sad about what was happening. 

And then, like all good Disney movies do, it ended quite happily. 

And Tori was quite relieved. 

She stood up and said, 'That was my favorite!'

Then she came home and was quoting the movie and singing the songs. 

Yep, she's an Earle. 

Im thankful for little escapes from reality.

Chicago!

Thanksgiving was my mom's holiday. 

Every year for as long as I can remember, she was the hostess. 

That meant all the extended family. 

Some years I think she had around 50-55 people in her home. 

She loved it. 

She loved that the sole purpose for the holiday is to give thanks. 

To count blessings. 

Thanksgiving is my mom. 

We all knew that this Thanksgiving would be incredibly hard. 

If I tried to picture myself in front of a turkey at a fancy table, I was in tears. 

I knew there was no way I could attempt a traditional Thanksgiving. 

So this past summer some of my brothers and I were talking and we decided to do something completely 'un-Thanksgiving' this year. 

And so my family and 3 of my brothers and their families met in Chicago for the long weekend. 

It was only missing my other brothers and of course mom and dad. 

But truly, it was perfect. 

It was exactly as I had imagined it would be. 

I wouldn't change a minute. 

We started Wednesday night in Shaumburg with Nick, Stacie and Jordan. 

The adults stayed up too late and I believe we may have even had foot races in the hotel hallways? 

We are nothing if not competitive. 

Early the next morning my family of 7 woke to race into the city to meet Robert, Jen and Keriann (Jen's sister and honorary Earle) at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Picture the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and you are imagining right! The first thing we saw before even getting to the parade route was this sight...

I thought it was so cool to see the trailers that carried the Clydesdales. 

Im not sure everyone thought this was as great as I did...seeings how the horses themselves were not there...but were in the parade. 

Unfortunately its as busy as you would imagine and the kids could not see.

Avery trying to get a boost from Lauren so she could see.  

 We were so lucky though, thanks Keriann we ended on the balcony of her work, right on the parade route with a perfect view, access to clean bathrooms and warmth!!! 

Perfect view!

Jen (and baby), Robert and Keriann

Seriously, what's more fun than a huge inflatable Taz? 

My crew. 

So blessed.

Again. 

Me and my love. 

In my favorite city. 

Perfect. 

The parade watching gang. 

After the parade we walked around the city, slowly making our way to the hotel to meet Nick, Stacie and Jordan. We just took in the city...

Keriann was kind of a big hit with my girls...and she was so good to go along with it. 

And this was a group of huggers. 

Yes, they just went around with signs offering free hugs...

I dont think they stole anything from us....???

We ended up all meeting at Harry Carry's for lunch. It was completely un-Thanksgiving and therefore perfect. After checking into our hotel and having a little rest we went out for Chicago-style pizza at 'Pizzeria Due' or 'Pizzeria Past-Due' as Robert called it...we waited FOREVER even though we had reservations. A very non-traditional day full of fun and lots of memories. 

Oh Harry Carry. 

Everyone is very excited that Jen will soon be having that baby!!!

Tori wanted to say hi to her while we waited for our pizza. 

Friday morning Robert was good enough to take the kids swimming and some of the rest of us decided to check out Black Friday Shopping on Michigan Avenue. 

After shopping it was time for the much anticipated Thanksgiving game in the park. 

The game had been talked about for weeks. 

And Sullivan was thinking about nothing else the entire trip. 

But first we had to take in the Bean. 

All of us...minus Stacie who was taking the picture. 

Feeling so thankful. 

Sisters at the Bean!!!

Dad and his boy...ready for some football. 

 Then we started the game...and I believe we had an audience for at least part of it. 

And a lot of people who wished they'd thought to bring a football to the park! 

The players who held out the longest. 

Football pose. 

Friday evening Robert, Jordan and my husband Jordan and I took all the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo to their lighted walk. The kids even got to experience their first cab rides...although I don't think they were too thrilled with it. 

The lights were pretty magnificent. 

Friday night was the adults night out. 

It ended with me and my brothers all smooshed together on a couch in one of the hotel rooms...talking about mom and dad, our childhood, crying, singing and laughing. 

It was my favorite part of the weekend. 

It was the part I was hoping would happen but I knew could not be forced. 

I am so thankful that we talk about our parents openly and often. 

Im so happy that we arent afraid to bring them up...I dont think I could handle it. 

Im so thankful that our childhood was filled with so much laughter and love. 

My six brothers and I are truly the luckiest siblings in the world. 

Yes, we lost our parents way way too soon. 

But they taught us what family is. How to love each other and how to remember what we've shared. 

Saturday morning after breakfast Nick, Stacie and Jordan headed for home while Jen and Keriann went for some sister time. That left Robert with us and to hit the Museum of Science and Industry. 

We had a lot of fun but honestly the place was SO big and full of SO many people...it was just more chaotic than fun. And even with 3 adults for 5 kids...we managed to lose one for awhile.  

But we all had fun admiring baby chicks who had JUST hatched. 

And we had lots of fun in the gift shop! 

How adorable is she in these glasses? 

Us, minus Contessa whose hiding behind me. 

It was a weekend we will not soon forget. 

And I'd like to do it again, about every 6 months for the rest of my life. 

Sound good boys? 

Good!

Why?!?!

We watched Home Alone with the kids last night. And since then Torrance has been carrying the DVD case around asking questions. 

Why did his mommy leave him?

Why is he scared?

Why is he all alone?

Why did that mans head get burned?

Where's his mommy?

Perhaps she was too young for that movie?!?!

Charcheeeee

We've watched Charlee a few mornings over the past couple weeks. 

Tori is always so excited for her to come. 

But then they really dont play that well together. 

It seems to be a sharing issue. 

However, they are adorable...and if I remember right, I didn't really like Melanie when I first met her either. ;)

Lately

I have so many things I want to get down on here...our trip to Chicago, what God is teaching me through this Advent season, what God is teaching me through my kids...but by evening I am so tired!

My goal is to update about Chicago and Advent this weekend...but this weekend is full of fun stuff so we'll see if I attain my goal. 

So, for now you get daily Dirks life

This cat...he is so well loved. 

I believe here, he is actually BEGGING to be rescued from the love. 

Lauren even crocheted him a scarf...which is loves. 

Or not. 

One of our gifts this week was watching the cartoon Grinch and drinking Grinch punch after school. 

This fall a switch went on in Sullivan and he became OBSESSED with football. 

And I mean obsessed. Every aspect. 

And he does this ALL. DAY. LONG. 

Its annoying.

However, with 4 girls in the house...I love it and I embrace it. 

But man, if I had 4 boys I'd be in the nuthouse. 

Its been FRIGID here. 

Like in the negatives - without the wind chill. 

And we will have a white christmas. There are quite a few inches in our yard. 

It is nice that we can do school like this...

And like this...So thankful for a warm home and an abundance of blankets and warm drinks! 

Seeking Him

I am happy to report that finding Christ in Christmas is fairly simple.
Im sad and embarrassed to report that I've spent way too many Christmases not even trying.

We discussed this verse in my bible study on Monday night:
"...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you...'
1 Chronicles 28:9

That promise is so comforting.
If you seek Him - you find Him.
He's there...just waiting for us to call out for Him.

I want to be like the these guys, they knew how to search for a king no matter the journey...
"Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.'
Matthew 2:1

And how wonderful is this...
"When we open our eyes wide enough to see God's mercies in the midst of our pain, and when we exercise faith and give Him thanks, even when we cant see those mercies, He meets us with His indescribable peace. It's a promise."
-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

'God can do awesome things with our pain. I can see that finally.'
-Becky Dirks

We've been diving in pretty heavy with our Advent devotions and that is going beautifully.

(well except for last night when I almost locked Torrance outside of the house during our time...but she redeemed herself this morning but reading countless christmas stories with me and Contessa and sitting quietly...see previous post)

These are the memories of Christmas that I want to last for my kids...fun things, focused on the reason for the season. I pray that some of this is sticking. 

(proudly showing off their angels and jingle bell bracelets)

Books, music and peeps!

Yesterday's 'gift' included some of our Christmas books, CDs and tree shaped peeps!

It was late when they opened it so it was super fun to wake up this morning to enjoy!

New student

Kitty loves homeschooling.

the most wonderful time of the year

Advent devotions by Christmas light...It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Can you find all 5 kids? 

:)

His spot

Falstaff has found his spot for the season.