Snowfall, Family and Friends

Angela here!  We've had a busy couple weeks here at the Kemp household.  Chris has been on major dad-duty, as I had to study for boards and re-certify my Physician Assistant license last week.  So glad I'm finished and can focus on mom duties again (the fun mom duties, not the actual "duties").  I did get to spend a little time watching Hudson "play" in the first snowfall the other week.  And by play, I mean stand there and look at me saying: "Hey lady, I can't move.  Pick me up!"  Poor guy couldn't lift his feet up high enough to walk through it.  

And then he decided to try and pick up the snow, only to realize how cold it was.  I told him to keep his gloves on, but sometimes boys just don't want to listen to their mama :)

The one good thing about the snow was that Hud's slide got to come inside.  Once he realized his outdoor toy was now inside, he could not have been happier.

On Saturday,  Aunt Shannon had a celebratory dinner for me finishing my boards.  We had a delicious meal and the kiddos played for hours.  And Hudson finally got to sit at the "big kid" table.  No more high chairs for this guy!  I was surprised that he actually sat there and ate.  But he had a good role model watching cousin Anderson.

Baby Claire was so nice to let Huddy borrow her bib.

My girlfriend Bonnie, along with her hubby and her baby girl, also came to celebrate!  Baby Charlotte is 4 1/2 months old and could not have been more in awe of all the "big kids" around her.  Chaos was everywhere, and she handled it very well.  However, she was not of big fan of Hudson and his vacuum.  No one is allowed to touch Huddy's vacuum....ever.  He takes his cleaning very seriously these days.

The kids also got early Christmas presents from Aunt Missy and Uncle Charlie (Chris and Shannon's aunt and uncle in Florida).  There was a box full of books, clothes, light-up snowmen and Goofy's to play with.  Again, chaos and fun exploded everywhere.

And again, baby Charlotte was star-struck (or maybe just judging our crazy children).  But either way...too cute! 

 This is Hud sporting his new zip-up (thanks Aunt Missy!) while stealing Chris' phone.  He likes to talk on the phone these days.  I have conditioned him to NEVER touch mommies phone.  And I think it actually worked.  I will tell him "no" and then he will go to Chris' night stand and grab his phone.  Genius baby!  I could not be more proud.

Below is Hud replicating how daddy leans back in his chair and talks to his clients on the phone.  He is so observant these days; just makes me smile!

Hope everyone has a great week and wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Devils and Trains

Angela here!  I needed a week to recover from Halloween before I could write another blog.  Children are way too exhausting.  And when you dress them up in costumes, make them run around the neighborhood in cold-rainy weather and then extend their bedtime, a mama needs time to recover.  But we had a good Halloween.  A little dramatic, but that seems to be the norm these days.  Hudson and cousin Anderson were devils and baby Claire was an angel.  The boys did justice as they took their pitchforks and gladly poked everyone...

The best family photo I could get.  Notice how every baby is doing something odd with their mouth....very strange.

We tried ever so hard to make Hudson wear his devil-horns but he was just not having it.  He screamed, he kicked, he rolled around on the ground, and then he pulled them right off.  But as soon as the hat came off, he was happy Hudson again.  

 After pizza and pictures, we packed up the boys and headed out.  It started to rain so Hud got to wear his firefighter raincoat.  Two costumes for the price of one!

On Saturday, we went to EnterTRAINment Junction.  It's the world's largest indoor model-train display. And on top of that awesomeness, there is a jungle gym, a fun-house maze and trains to ride on.  Hudson and Anderson had some good quality cousin-bonding time.

They rode trains together....

They watched model trains with their daddies...

They trick-or-treated together...

 

They climbed through tunnels and up rock walls together.  It's bittersweet to watch these two.  I love how adventurous they are and how Hudson is always on a mission to keep up with his big cousin.  But I feel like he is growing up at an exponential speed.  What happened to my baby boy?  STOP growing up!! 

   

And my favorite picture of them all!

 Happy Friday!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!