Lydia's Golden Birthday: 10/10/10

Age 4

Sweet, sweet girl...

a jade bracelet from China

September 2010 Highlights

Lydia's first day of preschool

Jack's first football game

Jack turns 8!



a box of cash is always nice



Lydia and Grandma watching the boys play football

The Youngest Kemper Sister Gets Married

 A few highlights from our trip to Minnesota to see Jason's baby sister get married.  Congratulations Ashley and Jay!  Twas a beautiful and fun weekend....

The hotel pool and hot tub are always a hit

Jason serves as the quiet, brotherly groomsman. 

Pretty flower girl!

The bribes were in full force to get this little man to participate in the wedding.  A ring bearer can be bribed with a Wii game almost anytime!

Complete exhaustion.  After a couple of hours getting her groove on, we found this little
peach sprawled out on a sofa :)

Football and Dance



Let the dance performances begin!  Lydia's Chinese dance group performing at the Ethnic Festival in KC



Pop Warner football this year for both of the boys.  Practice for each of them 2-3 nights
a week and games on Saturday.  Don't know if I will survive.  Sam's team is large and
already well established (meaning he doesn't get much playing time) BUT, his
coach does appreciate his catching abilities, speed, and strange skill at knowing where the
gaps will be.  He's a head shorter than the other boys and gets smashed all over the place
but he's tough!  Don't know if he'll play next year.....

Sam's mouthpiece is almost bigger than his head!

Dad's backyard football drills are tough!

Benjamin trying to keep up with the older boys



Graceful Butterfly



Sam and I attend a summer camp designed for kids on the autism spectrum, where he camps alongside the kids as a peer model.  He is so compassionate and accepts people just as they are, so he make is a great support for these kids.  He is nervous there, but has found growth in his own life as he works to try new things and learn independence alongside the campers.  As our little scientist, here he examines "owl pellets" and found tiny bones, etc. 

Sam and a camper friend learn from a juggler on the carvinal night.

Dad and the boys found a funny video on YouTube.

Lydia in her new (bigger) room....a girl needs more space for all of her treasures!

Pyros and Kittens

What a strange 4th of July combination...pyromanics and kittens? Luckily for grandma's new kitties, they have learned how to climb trees to avoid explosions!

Summer Fun

Water Therapy

Family Pictures

Rarely are we able to get my entire family together....when we do, a formal picture is the best way to celebrate!

Mud, Muddy, Muddier, Muddiest

"Mom, can we play in the mud?"

Such a simple question. The answer is usually "no" but today, I just felt like "who cares...what's a little mud?" Well, a few tosses of mud balls eventually turned into a muddy slip n' slide at the fence line. By the time they were done, I was picking earthworms out of his hair and mud plugs out of his ear canals! No more! But a fun beginning to summer :) Now if we could just keep Katie from running the fenceline and creating the mud pit in the first place.

Newsflash!!!!

Well, you'll be able to say you read it here first. I'm proud to announce that next quarter, in the neighborhood newsletter, I will be featured as "Worst Mother of the Year" ! I'm sure the editor will soon call to request a photo of me to go along with the article about my latest super-horrible-mom event. So that you will be in the know, the article will most likely read something like this:

"An area mother (who should know better) was startled to realize her naivity and foolishness today, when she mistakenly trusted the judgement of her 3 and 5 year-old children. "I thought it was an okay idea," she admitted later, "But I guess not." Witnesses in the neighborhood say it was just a story of "good deed gone bad," and they don't really feel that her actions were totally stupid, "just thoughtless."

Mrs. K reveals that while her preschoolers were occupied playing in the house, she told them she needed to run a concession stand donation over to the pool. The pool is less than 100 yards away, and she reportedly did tell the children to stay in the house and locked the front doors. She planned to be absent from the home for less than five minutes and was confident that they would not leave the gated back yard. Mrs. K even claims to have put the dog out in back to "watch over things" just in case.

Watchful neighbors confirmed that Mrs. K was over at the pool less than five minutes, and they did see her rush back over to the home and go inside. However, within seconds, they saw her frantically running through the side and back yards, screaming her children's names with a phone up to her ear. An anonymous neighbor reports "I saw the little girl wandering in front of the house, but I thought the mother must be nearby. Next I saw the mother running around like a crazy person, looking up and down the street and yelling into her phone, so I came over to help."

Mrs. K reports that she came back from the pool, into the home, only to find it empty of her children. They were nowhere to be found--not in the backyard either--and the dog was cheerfully talking to another dog at the fence. She was shocked that they would have the boldness to leave the house as they tended to be cautious scaredy-cats. She confirmed that the front and back doors were still locked, but they must have left through the side garage door. She re-tells that she continued to yell for them, but with no answer and ran around to leave the gated backyard to go to scour the front. It is at this point that she found her five year-old son, standing outside of the gate on side of the house looking scared. "Where's Lydia?!" she asked, and the boy reportedly said, "She left by herself."

Soon after, Mrs. K was seen running in circles in her driveway, gesturing wildly to her neighbor across the street, alternatly yelling her daughter's name, and "I can't find Lydia!" into the phone to another eager-to-help neighbor.

Just as Mrs. K and her attentive neighbor set out to track down the missing 3 year-old, they saw another fellow mom walking toward the house from the pool carrying the missing little girl. Mrs. K was overjoyed to see her and thanked her friend profusely for being so alert. The anonymous rescuing neighbor was calm and level-headed. If she had not recognized the little girl and been thinking on her feet, who knows what would have happened! "I knew my neighbor had rushed back to the house, and then saw the little girl. She had to cross the street to get to the pool! Mom and daugheter must have somehow crossed paths and I knew my friend didn't know the little one was here."

Mrs. K says she has learned her lesson. She will continue to run nearby errands, but with the preschoolers chained to her hip. She will work harder to stress that the kids don't make their own rules....Lydia claims she was going to find mom, Ben claims he let Lydia out of the gate because "she wanted to leave!" She will give Lydia more of the "you freaked Mommy out" lectures, stranger danger and the "you could get hit by a car" info. And, she will encourage the boys and the dog that it is their JOB to watch out for their little sister! Ben announced later, "Mom while you were over there, I was in charge, how did I do?" WHAT?!

Most of all, Mrs. K is thankful for her faithful neighbors who watch out for others and help in the time of need, and thankful for God watching over her children despite the stupid-mom mistakes!

For more details, please call. Congratulations Mrs. K! You will see her award plague hanging from her mailbox. Honk when you drive by."


Well, unfortunately true story. Fortunately, it turned out fine and that is why I can sit here and be funny about it. It is once again, one of that moments that leaves you petrified, humiliated, and with thoughts of doom in your mind. I do LOVE my neighbors...they are wonderful and so happy that we are able to help one another. Hopefully someday I will be able to return the favor (although I pray not looking for a lost child).

Overall, Ben was ashamed that he had permitted her to leave. Lydia was extremely sad and frightened following our serious talk about obeying mom's instructions and safety. AND, Mommy is abundantly thankful that I'm not at this momemnt missing my child....and now realizes the mistake in trust and their ability to make sensible choices.....NOW, to find locks for those backyard gates!

Chinese Celebration & Dance Recital Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the celebration of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in KC at the Plaza. Lydia dances with her group during part of the program. I'm nervous for her. At age 3 she has no idea what a nice event this is, and I hope she doesn't freak out. Also hoping that she remembers her moves as a butterfly and doesn't fly off the stage!

Location: Café Corner, in the Country Club Plaza
– On Ward Parkway betweenJ. C. Nichols and Wyandotte

Date and Time: Saturday, June 12, 2010 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The performances begin around noon.

www.kcca-online.org.

I love my boys, but also super happy that I have a little girl :) Smiles and thanks to the Lord, the giver of all perfect gifts (my Lydia).

Imagining Summer...Peace for Moms!

I always wished I could conjure up an imaginary friend like Hobbes. One that would help entertain me and be my partner in crime no matter how scary or lame the adventure. I guess my imagination is not expanded enough to do that though, because no invisible friend ever appeared. I couldn't even manage to give my stuffed animals a personality. I was always sad for myself and envious of little girls who had one (however, now I've learned from my psych friends that the imaginary friend is not such a positive thing from the mental health perspective!)

As the mama of four trying to survive....uh, I mean ENJOY (!)...the summer with my kids, I find myself wishing that they would find some imaginary pal who would respond to their every whim. So far, they think that playmate is ME! For a couple of hours that is okay, but after a few days of the constant noise, requests for games, sports, outdoor craziness, crafts, activities, exploring etc. etc., I have made an announcement...."I am NOT your CLOWN, here to entertain you! Either play with each other, or play by yourself, just keep busy!"....end of lecture. For the first week of summer, that's very revealing, isn't it?

That reminded me of Calvin today and what a great pair he and Hobbes make for summer fun :) My kids are like Calvin, demanding fun and justice for kids (sans the overboard smarty-pants mischievous side, thankfully). But, I'm hoping that they soon realize that I am not the playmate Hobbes. I am rather the frazzled cartoon mother that is usually depicted screaming her head off! I'm praying for 3 months of sustained energy and EXCITEMENT for the summer, without anxiety attacks and gloom :)

Wishing all kids out there, the ability to give their mothers peace, love, and obedience during this joyful summer time. And wishing all my mommy-chics the ability to maintain calmness and kid-like happiness, while enjoying snippets of selfish adult fun every couple of days for these long months :)

If you start talking to an imaginary friend at this point in the game, don't worry....it's okay! Just pull her up a lounge chair, offer her a drink, introduce her to the kids and enjoy yourselves ;)

Boys Becoming...What?

Ugh, my boys are growing up. This is horrifying. For many years, I have worked so hard to shield them from all of the adult yuck...you know...the bad words, the negative attitudes, etc. Now, however, they hear it for them themselves and know what is wrong and are starting to question it. Thus the discussion tonight. While trying to gulp down my lasagna (that they claim is really "sick") they were filling me full of the ideas they have about taboo, or "bad", words.

"Mom, who SAYS those are bad words? I mean they are just words." and "Why does so-and-so or adults say that stuff then?"

This launched into a lengthy discussion about the meaning of the words, not just the phonemes and syllables put together. "So, would you walk by your teacher and say, poop!" "NO!" they said. "Well, then of course, you wouldn't want to say the other word either, right?" They laughed hysterically, and I realized that the conversation was going nowhere, no matter the rationale I proposed.

In the meantime, music is also becoming an issue. As preschoolers, I spent much effort trying to teach them what is truly good music. But lately, they are drawn to what we used to call "junk music."

Sam: "I just love the beat of that. I don't really listen to the words, I just like to feel it."

Yeah, of course, don't we all? He's been trying to convince me to download some Black Eyed Peas, or you know, some AC/DC or Def Leppard? I truly can't believe that I am facing this...I used to picture my boys at age 10, playing the piano, enjoying Chaucer and chess, with Mozart wafting through my house. Now, we are struggling to even think about picking up a book, yearning for a funky beat, and even starting to talk about GIRLS...and chess? No patience for that. UGH!? Did I also mention that they both need to wear deodorant, because they truly reek on a sweaty day? It is just horrifying...my little boys are disappearing before my eyes and turning into pseudo-adolescents. I can't take it.

All the while, I'm wondering what will become of me. Just now, Sam brought me his IPod and instructed me to download some cool tunes before camp...."You know mom, just pick out some cool things that Dad likes." Yikes...I'm in trouble!

Never a Dull Moment...Someone, Please Give Me a Dull Moment!

If I ever say that I am bored, someone please slap me...okay? The one thing that it will NEVER be, in my home, is boring. We seem to attract drama and excitement as if it were being reserved totally for us. Tonight was no exception. Let's start by saying that the LS police just left...again! This time, super friendly and eager to help. Very polite and BRAVE, I might add.

Before I explain their assignment at the Kemper home tonight, I will add the prelude of Easter/Spring trauma that had just occured in our yard. After a long and exhausting day of transporting mini-Kempers all over the city and meeting with professionals aimed at alleviating my stresses, we came home to fetch Katie before the next minivan run, only to find that she had used a baby bunny (or several) as tennis balls....tossing them up and down, playing fetch, ripping them to shreds, etc., as my mortified children looked on.

Somehow, I managed to convince them that the bunnies must have already been deceased before Katie found them and that then they were fair game (literally). We traveled on, to retrieve the next Kemper kid...

Nearly 6:00, we were home...ready to begin the dinner and bedtime ritual so that this tired Mommy could have some peace and quiet. But no! No peace for the diligent Mom. Arrival at home was the next doozy. I pulled up to the drive, expecting to retrieve my mail as usual. Opened the mailbox (which has been bashed in on the side by punks, btw) and stuck my hand in.....whoa! Wait a minute...What is that nicely placed on my medical bills, junk flyers, and birthday greetings? Is that a fuse? Is that an explosive-looking thing? Why, yes! Yes it is. Remove the hand and gently close the door....I calmly pull into the driveway and say, "Well kids, dinner will have to wait...take the dog out and go in the house. I need to call the police."

Then all chaos hits, "The police!? Why mom? What's in the mailbox?! A dead rabbit?" Me (with that sweet mommy voice): "No children, no dead bunnies in the mailbox (smile)...only explosives!!!!" Then lots of excitement, speculation, and fantasy.

I must say, my LS PD were very attentive and eager to help when I informed them that something strange was in my mailbox...I could almost SEE the guy on the other end of the phone...he slammed down his Diet Coke, grabbed his pen, sat up straighter in his seat, and furiously began taking down details. Wow some real action! I did make it clear that they appeared to look like fireworks; however, I wasn't taking any chances. Just for the reader to know--I DID consider touching it, just to see what would happen (I tend to be like that); but I refrained as I imagined headlines quoting that a mother's face was blown off as she couldn't resist touching the mystery bomb in her mailbox.

Anyway, two very nice officers arrived soon to get the scoop...I did notice that they parked down the street (just in case?). As soon as I described the contents of my mailbox, p.o. #1 announced that he must call in someone else (the bomb squad!?) I was imagining the headlines. They gathered details and took on the "this is serious" look and voice (they must be taught that in training) "Stay in your house ma'am, until I give the all clear." um...okay, I already opened the box, closed it, but now I'm secured in front of my dining room window...check!

After a few minutes, I saw the two guys digging into the mailbox! They must have been like me, and couldn't resist to see what it was. And, it was as I had described to them....two bottle rockets, laying nicely in an X pattern on a square package that appeared to be firecrackers....but one never knows.

They came back a few minutes later..."Whoa, that's a big dog..." and handed me my mail. "You couldn't help looking in there, could you?" I said. They smiled nervously, like two little boys who were itching for some excitement...and were disappointed that they found none. In the future, please know, that when you describe "no liquids and no wires" that is a clear indicator that you probably have fireworks in your mailbox instead of bomb :) They assured me that I did the right thing in calling them out...I was happy to give them some measly excitement for the evening.

As I closed the door, I breathed a sigh of relief. My kids hadn't caused the police to come, and we were all safe. I loved on Katie for putting on a good "watchdog" show for the PD (and not making an utter fool of herself with senseless barking), while thinking that the momentum of the structured evening was totally ruined. Katie replied with a huge kiss...right on my mouth. Immediately though, all warm and fuzzy feelings ceased, when I realized that a clump of bunny fuzz was clinging to her lip! Nice....No, never boring around here...survived another day in fact.