Week 3

So I sort of have to continued from last week before I start this week. Sunday when we went to the park with some friends from the branch the kids were playing on the park playground and Adalee fell off and landed on her knees and hands. She cried for a long time and wouldn't walk or even stand on it. no swelling or anything so we still arn't sure what happened. My Dr brother thinks it might be a bone bruise. Whatever it is it hurts a lot.

Mon - We ventured to Target today but was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Tolson played almost all day with his friend since there was no school. They also have another neighbor friend who is a little more rough then they are so Tolson doesn't really like him yet. Also we lost our first fish. (They got some fish for our new fish tank on their daddy day) Tolson handled it really well. Good thing they are only $.29 each!

Tuesday - We found the library and went to story time. This was a little hard for Adalee as she is still not able to stand or walk. We got a library card and checked out some fun books. Then we went to Wal-Mart AGAIN and got one more shelving unit for the house. I think I finally got most everything in a place now. I think I have been to Wal-Mart more in the last two weeks then I did in the last year in Tucson. oh well so it goes I guess. We also had a Family fun night at the splash pool. We had a picnic and swam and splashed in the pool. The water was a bit cold so we didn't stay too long but the kids had fun and it was nice to be together.

Wed - We went to a new park for Playgroup and had a great time. I got to know more of the LDS ladies in the area and the kids had a blast. Adalee was walking a bit more today and did fine on the playground.

Thursday - We went back to the same park and played again. A lady in one of the other branches is moving so she dropped off her kids at the park so they could play so we all went back to play with them and help keep track of them.

Friday - We went shopping in the morning and then When Jason got home we went to San Antonio! The kids did pretty well on the drive and we saw several trains along the way. We got there late but the kids were too excited to go to bed so they played for a bit and then crashed. The adults went to our favorite FroYo place and it was yummy.

Sat - Tolson got to go to Rory's t-ball game and got to be a little helper lining up the bats and stuff. He loved it. Ida and I went grocery shopping with Adalee and Jason helped Geoffrey with some manly stuff! That night we went downtown for dinner and the River Walk. It was fun. We also actually went to the Alamo which I hadn't been to even though I had been to the river walk several times before. It was fun

Sunday - Went to church, had a yummy lunch and then got ready to head home. The kids were a little less excited on the way back so it was a longer drive. We were glad we went and are so glad Ida will be so close for a few more months.

I am trying to get better about taking pictures so you all can see and read about our goings on!

Week 2

Monday – Jason Started his first day of work. Nothing super exciting as they couldn’t really do much training until the other three new guys got there on wed. They did some paperwork stuff and drove him around to just show him some stuff. Fun but nothing too exciting. The kids and I
just worked on the apartment some more and got some decorations up in the kitchen.
Tuesday – I can’t really remember much about Tuesday except in the afternoon we went with our neighbors to the splash pool. The kids had a great time and the moms did too. It’s fun to have an insider to give me tips like Don’t go shopping on Fridays or sat because all of Mexico is here
shopping and the lines are really long.
Wed - We went to a LDS play group and met some people from our branch and from the other
branches. The kids had fun and we got to see another park. There are a lot of parks here in Laredo and they are very well kept. Most of them have a shade over them too. I met Jason after work at the Drivers License place and we got our new ones ordered. They have to make them in
Austin and send them to us so it may take a few weeks. This was not nearly as painful as trying to
get our cars registered.
Thursday- I made Banana bread and then we swam again. Nothing too exciting but a fun day.
Friday- Tolson’s friend had the day off of school so they played most of the day together. Friday
night we took a drive and grabbed some dinner out. There is a taco place here called Taco Palenque that they say is really good but we have not ventured to try it yet. We will soon I am sure!
Sat –The Easter bunny comes to our house on Sat and the kids thought it was great. They totally
forgot he was coming. Then, Tolson and Jason had a daddy day and Adalee and I went shopping. Nothing exciting for us just groceries and stuff for Easter. Then in the afternoon
we went to help a family in our branch with their pond. It was having issues and I offered Jason’s help earlier so we called them and went over there. We ended up staying for dinner and went driving with them to see the river. It was a lot of fun and there is actually a lot of water in the Rio Grande here. ALso, I figured out a house I was looking at renting before we came here was right up the street from them and right next to the neighborhood pool and park. I am kind of kicking myself for not going for it because I really like their neighborhood and there are lots of members and BP there. Maybe it will be for rent again in a year.
Sun – We went to our branch for the first time today and it was interesting. Sacrament meeting was great. Gospel Doctrine was good but the poor teacher also had his baby so I offered to take him and ended up having to leave because he was grouchy. Then RS was all in Spanish so one of the sisters has to translate for me and one other sister. It was interesting to say the least, But a good experience too! We are going to have an Easter dinner of Ham and Shrimp curried eggs with salad and then possibly go meet some families from the branch at the park in their
neighborhood. There are things in the city that I don’t love and things that I do. I can see why
people don’t like it and want to leave and I myself don’t want to be here forever but I am trying to find all the great things about it while we are here. I hope you all are having a great
week too!

Skip Ahead... not catch up

Ok so for those of you that don't know ( if anyone even still check on here) We moved. I haven't posted anything since August and instead of trying to play catchup I am just going to start from now. Jason finally got a job with BP and we moved to south Texas about two weeks ago. I have started sending a weekly letter to my family with the goings on of the week and thought i should put it on here as well to keep you all informed too. I promise I wil try to do better about other posts as well but at least you wil get the day to day stuff.

So without further ado... Here is week one!


Kempton Kingdom weekly Update!
OK so since we are far from family and friends I stole this idea from a friend and will
hopefully be doing a weekly letter just to fill you all in on our weekly
doings.
Monday – SO after a long, long drive we made it here at about 3:30 got our key (only one since the other one is still in the mail somewhere between here and Tucson) and got in. We started unloading and had the Elders Quorm President show up to help. He lives in the same building as
us so it was easy for him. Then about 5:30 three more guys from the branch showed up to help so it didn’t take us that long to get it all unloaded and in the apartment. Now was the challenge of where to put it. Delaney and Brannick were a big help during all of this but I think we
wore them out a bit.
Tuesday – Today was just about putting things together and unpacking boxes. Nothing exciting.
Wed – I took Brannick and Delaney to Dilly to meet Ida. I think they had fun but were ready to sleep in their own beds! More unpacking! Thursday – we didn’t do a whole lot of anything. We took a drive around town to get used to the area.
Friday – well today we attempted to get our cars registered and drivers license’s changed. To make a long story short, here was our day. Went to dealership for state inspections.
Then went downtown to wait in line 4 times to get all the right forms to get the car registered and new plates. Then went back to the dealership because they left a number out on the VIN for the Land Cruiser and back to downtown then back home for a form we forgot then back downtown and got the LC done. Then to the license place to discover we did not have the right documentation with us for this one too! SO we came home and will try again later. Long day but we got half way done!
Sat- We watched Morning conf and then we went to a Laredo Families Easter Egg Hunt. This is a
group of Law Enforcement families. Not just BP but lots of different types. It was fun and I got to meet two other sisters from the Branch. It was fun and the kids seemed to have a great time!
Sun- we stayed in our PJ’s and watched conference from home. The big message I got was that I
need to focus on my family more! There is so much we can do to help our kids be great!
So there you go a glimpse in the life of the Kemptons! I hope you enjoy these and I hope I can keep up with them. I am excited and a bit scared at the challenges that will be before us adjusting to this very different community! Wish me luck!

Birthday Party~

Ok so we had a little party for Adalee's 1st Birthday! I know, I know she is only 1 and has no idea if we have a party or not but it was more for me then for her! We had a bunch of friends and family come over to help us celebrate. We first let the kids run around in the backyard and play on the slip-n-slide. They had a lot of fun! (as you can see!)

Even Adalee got in on the fun! She hung out with Matt and had a ball!

Before eveyone got there I got out some fun party necklaces and Adalee got so excited! She imediatly went over and put them all on! She is such a girl!

I couldn't even get her to take them off to put her swim suit on!

This is my attemps at a fun cake for her. I tried to make a little lady bug for her (she has pink and brown ladybugs in her room!)Its not great but she still liked it!


Thanks to everyone who came to help us celebrate! We love having such great friends and family close by! We really are so blessed to have such great people in our lives! We say it often and we mean it! We love you guys!

Adalee is 1!!!!!!!

Adalee, From the very beginning you have stolen our hearts! You are a sweet girl with a quick smile! I have loved to watch you grow into the fun little(almost) toddler you are. You are so happy and silly and love your daddy and brother. I love getting you up from your nap and having you giddy to see me ( or to get out of bed but i think its me) On your first birthday I want you to know how much we all love you! So far in life you can crawl, stand on your own, feed yourself (sort of) you say Dada and mama and tatu but I don't think you really know what those mean yet. You love to climb on anything you can find. You like to drive your brothers cars and make sounds for them. You have the brightest blue eyes and adorable smile that make people in the grocery stores stop me to talk to you. Thank you for coming to our family! We love you so much!

Love, Your mama!

Let Freedom Ring!

I love this awesome country! Sometimes I wonder with the government we have and the leaders of this country making choices that I don't agree with but i still love this country. I loved in a country with socialized medicine and don't want that, I have visited places where the government is corrupt and has lost a lot of control and I don't want that, and I know that even with all the "stuff" going on I don't like this is still a blessed country. We sang the national anthem yesterday in church and I had tears come to my eyes. What a great song to remind up of all that has com into making and keeping this country free. Free to choose, free to live, free to speak and free to worship. We are free to raise our children how we want to, free to defend our home and family. My sister has a brother in law that just arrived in Afganastan and he has been sending letters telling about the conditions there and what they are having to live with and endure. I am so grateful for those who are willing to leave their home and family to defend our country and those that cannot defend themselves. SO with that I just want to day!

I am so thankful for the beautiful land in which I live! And I truly hope that God will continue to Bless America!

Get Real!

OK So my sister and I were talking today about how women need to get more real with each other! We all struggle with different things everyday! We have good days and bad days but we keep them to ourselves! We need to share these parts of ourselves, we need to know we are not alone in this. I am sure most of you know several women that you see and just think, "Man they really have it all together, their house is always clean, they always look amazing, their kids are well behaved and quiet and nothing seems to frazzle them." I am sure that there is something about them that is not always perfect! We all have those things.

I for one have many things! Now I am not saying whoa is me or that my life is hard (it certainly could be harder) but I am saying I am a real mom that lives in a real, usually not clean house who on most days has something smeared on my shoulder or pant leg. I love stopping by a friends house in the afternoon and seeing that they too are still in their PJ's! Or talking to a friend and hearing them admit to taking some kind of medication that helps them be a better wife and mother. Or having another admit that they don't really like their 11year old today! I love it when we can talk about struggles we are having with our kids and the things we are trying so that our child will not sound his siren type cry that can be heard from across Costco! WE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL LIVES AND REAL STRUGGLES! We need to embrace these and help each other realize that we are not alone in this. We have each other! We need to stop comparing ourselves to others and start embracing the people that we are at our best and worse! We all have those days when our husband gets home and we grab our keys and holler GOOD LUCK as we walk out the door. ( We also have the days when life is Really really good and we wouldn't change a thing! I love relishing in the fact that this is real life! Not some Mormon mommy blog where our house looks AMAZING all the time, there is fresh baked bread or cookies coming out of the oven everyday and our children are perfectly well behaved scriptoriun who can teach Gospel Doctrine with the best of them.

I am glad there are some moms out there that do seem to have it all together! I am glad for the ideas they share with us of how to make our lives better and I am so glad there are beautiful women who inspire and encourage us to be the best we can! BUT I am so glad for the people in my life who are real!!!! Thank you and Keep on Keepin on!!!! I LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!