She's back!!!

Avery spent the last week at Jr. Girls camp in Clear Lake. 

I got to pick her up on Saturday and it was SO good to get her back. 

When one of my kids is gone my whole house feels off. 

I need each of them here for us to be US. 

(all set up and ready for the week!!!)

There is a zipline at camp. 

Jordan and I were a little nervous about it. 

Jordan drew this picture for Avery to know how it should be hooked up in case the worker didnt know what they were doing...(what?!?!?!?!)

Seriously, red = death.

She did do the zipline...very first day. 

And she loved it. 

Its hard to tell if she had any fun!?

We definetly missed her. 

Memorobilia

One of my favorite parts of going to my brothers' homes is seeing how they are displaying and using the items that they have from our mom and dad's home. 

Its like a step back in time. 

It makes my heart hurt, I wont lie. 

But it also makes me feel so close to my family and so blessed. 

Joe and Amy have countless pieces around but I just took a few pictures. 

These were personalized license plates that my dad had years and years ago. 

Joe has them hanging in his garage. 

This was the plaque that my grandpa received for 20 years of service with Standard Oil. 

He owned his own gas station. 

And this. 

This was my mom's grandfather's clock. 

Her dad made it. 

It sat in her dining room for my entire life. 

I was so used to it that I didnt even hear the chimes as they rang every 15 minutes. 

But this trip I heard them every time. 

Missing them so much and feeling so sad that they are not here to share in 

things like new babies entering our family.

Currens

One of the highlights of our trip to Harlan was getting to visit with the Currens for an afternoon. 

Sullivan and Brad would have done this all day. 

ALL day.

But instead we headed to the park and did some tadpole fishing. 

I had no idea what I was in for...

I was imagining little tadpoles the size of a minnow. 

Harlan tadpoles are mutant. 

Can you see the back legs starting to sprout? 

Yep, that's not right. 

It may have been the best day of her life...she loved it. 

The group. 

 We ended the day with ice cream and...whatever this was. 

Thanks for the fun day!! 

The boys

On Monday we dropped Avery at camp and then the 4 remaining kids and I headed out to Harlan to care for Joshua and Hudson for the week. 

The kids got along so well that I felt like I must be dreaming. 

Really. 

We enjoyed our time getting to know these two more. 

Some of my favorite conversations from the week:

Hudson: Aunt Becky, these underwear dont have stinkies on 'em, do I need to change 'em

Me: Uh yeah, lets go ahead and change those anyway. 

Joshua: Hey, do you guys want to adopt a parrot with us? 

Joshua: I like sunscreen. Not sunblock. 

Joshua as I was brushing Contessa's hair one morning: Oh Aunt Becky, you are making her even more beautiful than she was before. My sister will wear bows in her hair too! 

And Hudson pretty much constantly humming the Star Wars theme.

There was lots of snuggling and cuteness. 

And a fair amount of sword fighting. 

We needed a day to waste time on Tuesday while we waited for baby news. 

So we headed to the Omaha zoo. 

Cheese balls 

 On our last night the boys helped me clean their room all up in anticipation of their sister coming home. 

Thanks for a great week boys! 

More Adele

I had the privilege of staying with Joe and Amy's boys while they ran off to the hospital. 

And so that also meant that I got to be the one to take them to meet their sister. 

I wont ever forget it. 

These boys have a super hero obsession. 

They asked if they could wear their capes to the hospital. 

And I figured every baby sister needs a couple of super heroes as brothers...

Their first look at Adele.   

Joshua is almost 5 and he could not have been more proud. 

Im not sure Hudson (3) knew quite what to think! 

I love being Aunt Becky. 

We now have 14 grandkids on the Earle side and 11 on the Dirks side, so I get to be Aunt Becky a lot. 

Again, oh my. 

I took my kids back to the hospital with the boys the next day. 

They thought baby Adele was pretty great too. 

Sullivan is SURE we need another baby. 

This little girl will be so well protected. 

Too cute and precious. 

She'll need to be protected from this particular cousin. 

Cuteness explosion. 

She could care for an infant better than me I bet. 

Welcome Adeline Elizabeth!

On Tuesday, June 24th my brother Joe and his wife Amy welcomed their third baby and first daughter into our family. 

Adeline (Adele) Elizabeth

(We now have an Adele on both sides of the family!)

 She's pretty perfect. 

And already sporting an 'Earle attitude'

Oh new born baby freshness...

We love you so much already sweet baby girl! 

Distractions...

Avery leaves today for a week at camp. 

Man alive I am struggling with letting her go! 

She's not quite as sure as Lauren was that this is all such a good idea!

And that makes me so nervous. 

I know she will have a fantastic time but....

Luckily for me while she's having a great week the other kids and I are headed to Joe's to babysit Joshua and Hudson while Joe and Amy run off and deliver a new niece for me!!!! 

I. CANNOT. WAIT!

24 hours away

Jordan and I started a fun tradition of taking the kids away for a night with us on their 10th birthdays. 

After Lauren's turn 2 years ago the other kids have talked about when their turns would come a lot. 

Jordan and I have loved listening to how much they look forward to it. 

And truth be told, Jordan and I look forward to it as much, if not more than they do. 

Avery had very specific plans for us. 

She and I shopped and then met Jordan after work. 

She wanted to eat at the Olive Garden in Des Moines. 

She was stuffed! 

(funny story..this was the first Olive Garden in Iowa 23 years ago...and I had requested coming here with my parents on my own birthday...we arrived and the wait was 3 hours...needless to say we didn't wait. It was kind of fun to take Avery and share the story with her.)

After supper we hit the pool at our hotel, ate all of Avery's candy, played board games and watched a movie...and then all smooshed into a king size bed when it was time for sleep. 

Pretty much a perfect night. 

The next day Avery and I were lazy and hit the pool again and then headed to the Fish Bowl to bowl and eat when Jordan was able to meet us. 

She wanted some pictures while we waited. 

The Fish Bowl is totally fun! 

And she's TEN!!!!! 

Happy 10th Birthday, Avery Elizabeth!!

A decade. 

An entire decade has passed since this beautiful girl landed in our arms. 

She's no longer my tiny peanut infant, no longer my crazy, out of control toddler, no longer my little girl...she's headed into those tween years. 

Oh Avery I am so sad to see you cross this huge milestone. 

I will forever miss the days when you would run around our home causing mischief and laughter. 

But I am so excited to watch your grow! 

You have the softest heart..often broken too easily, but always aware of others feelings. 

You are so empathetic and I love that about you. 

You are the one who seems to know when someone is hurting or needing a hug. 

You are the one who feels deeply when you see sadness on the news or across the street. 

God will use that for wonderful things. 

And I cant wait to see where He puts you. 

In the middle of some of the biggest storms of my life you have been there as bright light. 

You can always make us smile and laugh. 

In the middle of deep loss you have reminded me of all my blessings. 

You exude JOY! 

And beauty. 

 And a deep love for fun and laughter! 

What a fun big sister you are! 

And what a terrific friend...always ready to get into some trouble, especially with this girl. 

Avery the past 10 years have been a real wild ride with you! 

And I am prayerful that the next 10 might be a little less wild but just as much fun!

Every family should have an Avery in it. 

How blessed we are to call you ours. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!!!

Love, 

Mom & Dad

SLOW down.....

Its officially been summer vacation for less than 2 weeks. 

But we have been on the go just about every single day. 

The kids sickness and exhaustion yesterday showed me that we needed to slow down a bit...

So today we walked to the library to turn in our summer reading logs and then have just been lazy. 

We all need it. 

Once I had Torrance down for a nap the 4 kids and I went outside and spread out a big blanket. 

I love them.

 For our own 'read-aloud reading' time this summer the kids wanted to read books that have been made into movies. I love love love reading out loud to my older kids. It has to be one of my favorite things right now. We started out on the big blanket outside today with this one...

Judging from the laughter and questions generated from the first 3 chapters, it is going to be a hit. 

Zoo with Friends

Yesterday we went to the DSM zoo with our friends. 

(We are starting off summer with a BIG bang!)

Torrance was beyond excited to feed the goats. 

Avery and Ellie. 

The gang

Then this happened...fever of 102. 

And before we were home I had 2 more complaining that they might vomit. 

This mommy needs to wise up and slow some of our days down!