It's been over a month since the last post, all due to a summer booked with birthdays, play dates, pool time and anything else fun and exciting. We celebrated Hudson's 5th birthday on July 4th and it was a blast! We had a backyard cookout with 40 of our closest friends and had the bounce house and water slide up. The sun was shining, the kids were laughing and it was a great holiday.
Hudson finally got his 2-wheeled scooter, which apparently is what the "big kids" ride. There was also lots of Star Wars, Ninja Turtles, board games and a whopping 6 Super Soakers that were among the gifts. And a life-size Jenga game, which I have been having fun with as well.
Below is Adley's BFF, Rowan, and they were inseparable at the birthday bash. They giggle, hug and always have the best time. Rowan is also known as Hudson's "real girlfriend." Apparently he has lots of girlfriends, but Rowan is his REAL one because per Hudson: "she likes me the most and follows me everywhere." And there is probably some truth behind that statement.
Hudson has been dying/demanding/begging to go to Kings Island and stay late to watch the fireworks. I finally caved and we did it the weekend before his actual birthday...it was a special date night with mommy. I found it to be nothing spectacular or incredible (coming from someone who anticipated Thunder Over Louisville style fireworks). But he loved it, so that made it all worth while. He even stayed up until 11pm and slept in till 9am the next day!
Damien, The Elf on the Shelf, graced us with his presence on Hudson's actual birthday. He brought the traditional "birthday donut" and decorated a special chair for the birthday boy.
And then the REAL surprise came that evening.... a surprise for the entire Kemp family. So 24 hours before Hudson's official birthday, my girlfriend Jen informed me about a yellow lab that had been homeless for a month and needed a home. Long story short, but her friend was housing this purebred, micro-chipped, unclaimed two year old dog for about a week. Chris and I were able to last minute coordinate our work schedules, meet the pup, fall in love with him and get him to our house by 5pm before I picked the kids up from daycare. OMG, we became dog owners again! Meet Brady...
When I picked Hudson up from school that day, I kept quizzing him about one last gift:
Me: "Hudson, you have one more big present, what do you think it is?"
Hudson: "A cake"
Me: "No, you already got like three of those."
Hudson: "A toy."
Me: "No, you already got a million of those. It is not edible and it is not a toy. Guess again..."
Hudson: "A ROCK! Thank you mommy, thank you!!"
Like really, a rock?!? He has always loved to "rock" with his daddy, but I didn't know the obsession was this intense. Rocking, as Chris calls it, is where he and kids go around the woods and neighborhood, collect both small and large rocks, and place them in the creek bed behind our house. This has been an ongoing event for the past 3 years. That is all I can explain...it makes no sense to me. But Hudson was legit excited about getting a rock at first. Thankfully, he was even more pumped about getting a dog. He wanted to name him "Mr. Tom Brady," but we were able to convince him otherwise, so Brady it became.
Brady was very skiddish and afraid of everything at first. He wouldn't walk down stairs, he wouldn't walk through a doorway and any noise would send him into a panic. He didn't even know how to walk on a leash. But after three weeks, lots of love and TONS of treats, he has made immense progress on becoming a perfect pup for our family. Adley has given him over a dozen reasons to bite or snap at her (jumping on him, dragging him around on the leash, pulling on his tail, etc), but he continues to be patient and kind to her.
Brady had some dog-training with Lolly and myself and also got to meet his dog-cousin Arlo.
We even got Brady neutered. I think he legit hated me for a couple days. Just look at those eyes!! I clearly betrayed his trust that day, ha!
After all the birthday celebrations and chaos calmed down, we went to Kings Island last weekend and got some BIG NEWS. Hudson finally hit the 46 inch mark! This meant more roller coaster options for him (and Chris). Chris has been working very diligently this summer to get this kid tall. And by "working hard," I mean having Hudson wear Timberland boots (with his shorts), spiking his hair and even showing him how to "stretch his neck" to be taller. This cautious, protective mama no longer has to worry about her boys being bad and breaking the rules....at least at the amusement park that is.
And only nine more days before this little diva turns THREE! We can't wait to celebrate Miss Adley. Happy Friday y'all!
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