Monster Mash, Disney and Pumpkins

Angela here!  So I survived my first week back at work and Adley rocked out at daycare.  It was definitely a challenge for me, but it was nice to be back seeing patients and helping operate.  I've had to increase my caffeine consumption, but overall it was a success.  And I think daycare is wearing out my princess because she did longer stretches of sleep at night all week.  Which I'm definitely not complaining about and I hope she keeps it up.

Daycare had their Annual Monster Mash party for all the kiddos and the community this week.  It was total kid chaos, but fun nonetheless.  There was a bounce house, petting zoo, laser tag, fire trucks and lots of food and candy!  The kids were in heaven.  

Claire was having a good time, but this princess DID NOT want to take a picture.  Can you tell?

All the kids had shirts to wear for the event and poor little Adley's was too big.  So she had to sport a Halloween outfit.  It was Hudson's outfit when he was little.  Just add a large bow and boom, you have a girls outfit!  And then she did what she does best...she slept.

Due to the festive Halloween holiday, Chris decided Hudson needed a lesson in pumpkin carving.  Yes, Chris let him hold a knife.  But no fingers were detached.  Luckily I walked in to intervene at the perfect time.  They made a cute jack-o-lantern for the front porch. 

Lolly and Aunt Shannon took Hudson and Anderson to Disney on Ice yesterday.  I heard it was a success.  Lots of singing, dancing, cotton candy and kid chaos.  They were even dressed appropriately, sporting their matching Mickey apparel, ears included.  Anderson is not showing his excitement in these pics, but I promise he was thrilled to be going.

One more week till Halloween is here!  I have a Superman and Super Girl in the making.  Hudson has been practicing his "trick or treat" phrase for a few days now.  He even has a book with a doorbell so he continues to perfect and coordinate the knock with the scream for candy.  Should be a fun evening.

Fall Festivities and 2 Month Check Ups

Angela here!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  We continue to indulge ourselves in all the fall festivities in the Midwest.  We visited Windmill Farms for some pumpkin picking, a tractor ride and a petting zoo.  The kids loved it, I think.  Hudson and Claire were speechless on the tractor ride, maybe because it was quite scary and bumpy and totally not safe for any of us.  They drove us through the woods, which had been flooded with water to make a path.  People jumped out to scare us and scary things fell down from trees.  All the mamas feared for the safety.  All the daddy's (mainly Chris) laughed it off.  Then we got out to pick pumpkins, then jumped back in for more calamity through the woods.  No child cried, so it was deemed a success.  Luckily, Adley slept in the sling the entire time (probably not safe upon reflection).  This was the same farm we took DeeDee (Chris' grandma) and Aunt Missy (Chris' aunt) to two years ago.  And I would like to apologize for putting poor DeeDee through that tractor chaos.  I don't know how you survived.

 

Next up was Superhero in Training night at a local mall.  Hudson is going to be Superman for Halloween and Amazon was in the process of shipping it.  So he had to make due with a Spiderman shirt and a homemade cape that he was able to make once there.  The kids got candy, cookies, and made superhero masks.  They got to meet all the superheroes, including Captain Kernel, who passed out delicious popcorn.  At the end, they received a certificate for completing their superhero training.  Anderson rocked out his Batman suit and feared nothing.  If a bad guy was coming, he would say " I be brave. I will scratch them."  Hudson, however, was not so fearless.  He had to keep a safe distance from all superheroes, both adults and kids.  It was an exhausting night for this mama.

Notice the safe distance...Hudson never wandered too close.  "Spiderman be skeery," he would say.  Good thing I picked out a Superman costume for him....

        

 Miss Adley finally had her two month check up (at 9 weeks old) and she's my little peanut.  She's 50th percentile in height (22.5 inches) and only 25th in weight, coming in at 9.5 lbs.  But the pediatrician said she's doing great so we're not concerned.  She got all her shots, took it like a champ and only cried for a couple seconds.  And she does have a small umbilical hernia that looks ginormous when she cries, but that should close up in a couple years.  Until then, she must rock the outie belly button.

Adley got to meet a potential future boyfriend this week as well.  Mr. Walter, who is six months old.  My girlfriend Lauren made the trek from Indy with her little man to come hang out with us for an afternoon.  Adley did what she does best...she slept.  We took the kiddos for a stroll around the neighborhood with Penny Lane.  Walter was the perfect baby, he just chilled the entire time.

  

And football season is in full swing at our house, meaning Tom Brady and the Patriots are mentioned all day everyday, which in turn is driving poor Adley and myself insane.  She is just like me when it comes to noise; we hate it!  She will scream and I will plead for more coffee.  And the boys, well they will turn up the football pandemonium.  My only saving grace is all the cute Patriots gear the kiddos have.  It was Chris' Father's Day gift.  He said he was slighted on a gift, I say he got the best present ever!

 

The below pic just melts my heart.  I was getting lunch together one day and I noticed my sweet boy helping console his little sis who was on the verge of a meltdown...

And tomorrow is a big day for the Kemp ladies!  I'm going back to work and Adley starts daycare.  The teachers are great and I'm optimistic she eases into her new routine just fine.  She's not too fond of the bottle though, so we'll see what happens.  As for me, my main goal is to survive the long day.  Having to use my brain and contribute to society with minimal sleep seems like a daunting task.  So keep me in your prayers tonight!

Traveling to see Fam and Friends

Angela here!  Hope everyone is having a great week!  The Kemps have been busy the past two weeks, traveling all over to visit family and friends.  We started with a girls trip to Cincy to see my girlfriend Bonnie and Miss Charlotte.  Adley slept and Charlotte helped walk the dog to the playground.  Oh how things have changed from my college years with my bestie.

Next up was a birthday party in Ft. Thomas for Miss Avery, who was turning one.  Her mama, Jenny and I also went to college together and they just officially moved closer to us.  Adley was so excited to meet another future bestie.  She couldn't contain herself so much so that she had to sleep through 90% of the party.  But it was a good time meeting up and having all the little ones play together.  Each of our girls are one year apart.

Miss Adley, Miss Avery and Miss Stella

Hudson had good time at the birthday party too.  He met up again with future girlfriend Stella and they decorated pumpkins together.  Then they had a quick smooch before having to leave each other.  Love is in the air!  

We then headed to Louisville to see my family.  But before we could do that, Chris made us stop at his old "stomping grounds" in the Plainview neighborhood.  Hudson apparently needed to see the playground where Chris grew up.  They had some cute bonding moments together... 

Next stop was Pop Wilson and Mimi's house.  Hudson became good buddies with The General, my parents dog.  Pop Wilson taught them both how to play fetch.  Hudson was in heaven.

Our final destination was my Aunt Therese's house.  My dad is one of six children and my Aunt Joyce was in town from California.  So they had a nice cookout and gathering for the family.  Adley got to meet most of my aunts, uncles and cousins.  As for her first introduction to her extended family, she sparkled!  And by sparkle, I mean cried for the first 20 minutes, then slept the next 2 hours.  By the time she woke up, we had to head back home.  My girl thoroughly enjoys her beauty sleep.

Cousin Kim and Adley

While Adley slept, Hud bonded with his second cousin Walker.  Both fans of Star Wars, they played with lightsaber's and ran around outside together.  Walker was sweet to teach Hudson the way big kids roll.

It's already been 8 weeks since our princess entered the world.  I go back to work soon so I'm soaking up all the precious time I have with my girl.  She's changing so much!  She now has great head strength (except for when she throws her head backwards and gives me a heart attack).  She's rocking out with tummy time and we're still rocking out with the cloth diapers.  She'll sleep 5 1/2 hours, wake up to nurse, then go back to bed for another 3 hours.  She can still fit into newborn clothes, but luckily the cloth diapers bulk her up some.  And Chris still calls her "Perfect Adley."

Hope everyone has a great weekend in store!