Alive

We are back in Colorado and trying to get situated. We are still all in boxes and chaos, but at least we are "home".

Collin has sent out like 25 resumes the past week and so far no word. I am sure that a lot of the firms are waiting til these young guns get their BAR results back. It is SO frustrating just having to wait. He is going to be waiting tables back at Red Robin again until he hears from someone else about a "real job".

We have had a busy week and enjoyed being able to spend time together again. I'm sure a majority of my week this week will be unpacking and trying to get our lives put back together.

Tonight, we were cuddled up on my moms bed and Marlee was acting hyper and crazy (shocking, I know). I said to her "Sheesh kid, who are you and where did you come from?". She just laughed and quickly snapped right back "I'm Marlee, SILLY, and I came from your BELLY!!!" it was really funny. That girl makes me smile almost non-stop. She is adjusting fairly well (thanks to Nana), and we just have to bribe her to get her to stay in her own bed all night. She starts school on the 8th and can't wait!

Makenna is fine, she is so go with the flow I'm not even sure if she noticed that we moved. She is hilarious and talking non stop. I still laugh every time I sneeze(which has been a LOT lately) and she says "bless you mommy" every time. So cute. She also calls Marlee "sissy" and pretty much repeats anything I say to her. She is such a sweetheart, and her cousins here are SO glad to have her back.

That's about it...I don't have anything exciting but just felt like some of our friends abroad might like an update. Miss you all.

Boise

Marlee and I got home from Boise last night. We were both sad to leave, but glad to be back to semi-normal life. We had SUCH a great time there. I am thankful for Myca and Jared who put up with a crazy house full of people for the last week so that we could all have the chance to hang out. You guys are the best! We mostly just hung out at the house and talked, one day we went to the "beach" which was actually really fun! Despite the freezing cold water, all the kids did well and we had a blast. Here are a few pics of our week

(I somehow managed to NOT get a SINGLE picture of me with my family, the entire 2 weeks we were gone...oh well!)

I love these little boys! I am so glad I got so much time with them this summer

These two had SO much fun together!

This is not the best opicture, but it's the only one I had of Makenna and Boston. She LOVES Boston. She walked around all week saying "I want Boston, where's Boston"

Makenna being tossed, she thought it was hilarious.

Marlee and Auntie Myca. My girls love their Auntie! Thanks again for a really fun week! Hope to be back soon!

Now, I guess it is back to reality....and time to pray for a job!

Earl Reunion 09

It feels like so much has happened since my last post. We left SD. Pulled into Denver on Sunday the 9th, left for Washington on Tuesday. We were there for a week and now we have been in Boise at Myca and Jared's house since Tuesday. I think we will be heading home on Monday.

Anyway, Friday and Saturday was the Earl reunion. It was planned by Aunt Tami's kids and they did an awesome job. Friday we hung out at Grandma's house. Played games, ate, swam, etc. That night they gave us our reunion T-Shirts and we had the Motown lip sync performances in honor of aunt Tami. I was pretty much hysterical the whole time.
(Sorry for all of you Earls looking at this, I know it is the same as probably 10 other posts just like it this week!)

Our group did Aint to Proud to Beg. Corbin was lead sync and the girls did back-up, with each of the boys making a dance appearance
Dad, bustin a move
Brandon was an awesome Gladys Knight, he almost made me wet myself. Hysterical. And his sisters, I love!
Tami's Kids. Jared was hilarious

Doug and Connie's Family made up their own lyrics to Dancing in the Street. It was SO cute. I loved it. This picture was 2 pregnant ladies grinding, and how about a sister sandwich.Dave and Peggy's was I Heard it Through the Grape Vine and at the end Kristie's boyfriend pulled out a ring pop, got on his knee and she held up a sign that said... I SAID YES!! It was SO cute, and everyone was cheering like crazy! Congrats!Saturday morning all the girls got together for crafts. It was fun just to sit and catch up with everyone. Something I kind of missed out on growing up was having a lot of cousins to hang out with, I only have a few cousins and we didn't really see each other much. I LOVE being with all the Earls. It's a really amazing group. That afternoon we met at the state park and played volleyball, had races, and family pictures.

All the Earl girl cousins and cousins in-law

The Tom and Gail Earl family

The WHOLE group! So fun!

Saturday night they had babysitters arranged so we could do a secret adult activity. It turned out to be the Amazing Race. It was SO FUN!! Collin and I were on a team with Brittany and Brandon.
(Peggy, I stole the pics from your blog...hope you don't mind! Thanks for getting all these!)
Our clues looked like this:
This stop was the Japanese Garden. 2 of us had to run around the garden and find a hidden Travelocity Gnome. I was so tired.The next stop we had to kick soccer balls from 5 different points and make a goal. Everyone had to shoot.
Next stop was the park. The boys had to wear grass skirts and coconut bras. The girls had to have a crazy design drawn on one side of our face with black eyeliner and then run around downtown looking for a statue of a turtle.
The last one was an eating challenge
They had Baby food green beans, spam, pickled pigs feet, hot peppers and a big old anchovy.
Yuck.
They obviously put a lot of work into it, and we had such a great time! Thank you!

"Home"

So I am kind of feeling like I don't really know where "home" is right now. We made it to Colorado. We unloaded the truck today, and now get to unpack. Yuck. Yesterday was horrible....the goodbye's were hard.

*Special shout out to Jessica for bringing me puppy-chow for the road(my favorite). Melissa for bringing me cookies. And Jordan for bringing activity books for the girls for the ride.*

We made it about 20 minutes out of Vermillion and Marlee said "Mom... is somebody else gonna live in our house?" I frowned and said "yeah, Marlee, eventually...someone else will live there". She got all upset and yelled "OH, MAN!". She is tender today and realizing things are different. I am glad to be here, and done with the moving itself, but I already miss Vermillion.

Tomorrow, we do laundry and get ready to head out to the Earl reunion in Washington on Tuesday. So stressful.

Speaking of stress, after a second round of blood tests, my doctor has decided to treat me for an ulcer. His first thought was that I was pregnant...but, I'm NOT. After 2+ weeks of nausea and vomiting every day, they decided that is probably what it is. At least now I know, and I am starting to wean off the Zofran and just take the other meds. I am SO sick of drugs. I think a week of vacation with the fam is just what we all need right now. Can't wait. Moses Lake, here we come!

I HATE to Say It...

but, the time has come for goodbye. My house is full of boxes, and no longer feels like "home". I can't help but sit here and think of all the amazing things that have happened for us in the last 3 years here. Marlee had her 1st,2nd,and 3rd (and almost 4th!)birthdays here. She started school here, made her first "best friends" here, she has learned to walk, talk, ride a bike and everything else here. Makenna was conceived here (sorry for TMI), born here, had her first birthday, said her first words, took her first steps, etc. We celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and even had 2 Christmases here with just our little family. We have had friends come and go... and it is always hard.

I came into Vermillion kicking and screaming, and I will leave the same way. I have made some "soul sisters" here, if you will. Living here has forced me out of my comfort zone and shown me what kind of person I really am. I have also had people grow to love me as that person. I have gotten the chance to get to know people that I may have never been friends with had I lived somewhere else. It has been such a unique experience for us here. As I think about packing the truck tomorrow and driving out of here for good on Saturday I am filled with to much sadness, fear, excitement, regret and hope. Such a mixed bag. The last month for me has been one serious roller-coaster. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually I have been tested. I am exhausted, but excited for the future. I guess all there really is to say, is thank you to those who I have grown so fond of. You know who you are, and you have EACH taught me such valuable lessons. I am SO glad you were/are a part of my life, if even for a short time. I love you all, and will miss this place like crazy. Just know that Saturday at 12:30, I will be bawling like a baby.

Here's a look down memory lane, Vermillion style...

Marlee's first birthday Marlee, 16 mos.

Our "house"Rachel and I. A week before I had Kenna...
Our family of three...barely. Christmas 2007Makenna's Birth End of the year BBQ 2008
Game night. Me, baby Kenna, Rachel and Sarah My awesome neighbors and friends!Marlee's very first "bes fend"Reese. Makenna. 9 mos.
My 26th Birthday (and Nichole's b-day too!)

The Twilight girlsChristmas 2008 Makenna's First Birthday
Pre-School GraduationParis and ILaw School Graduationthe best buddies

BFF's. This makes me feel guilty. Separating these 4 makes me feel like I am ripping apart a family. We love you guys!Thank you all for making our 3 years here, the best we've had so far. We will miss you!!!