We weren't going to decorate for the holiday this year, what with a baby and X Games early in 2008, but Lee refuses to deny Amelia a Christmas tree. (I think it's just an excuse because he wants one!)
So, in honor of our weekend holiday activities, we've put on our elf suits, done a little dance, and found our Christmas spirit!
The Kemp family has grown! Last Friday (11/9) night at 9:30pm Amelia's newest cousin, Thomas Barrett, was born. She's so excited - and so are we!
Thomas has the special distinction of being the first grandson. Although he arrived a bit early, our sweet little one weighed in at a wonderful 5lbs 5oz and 19 inches. Mom Gina is doing well and sister Maddie is quickly settling in to her new role as "big sister."
Check out Amelia's new pet zebra. She picked it up with GG and Granddad today. An early Christmas present?!?
Julianna and I got a little respite from our little one this weekend while Amelia visited my parents. Knowing what an animal lover she is, GG and Granddad took Amelia to one of her favorite places, the Lazy 5 Ranch.
With map in hand, Amelia was ready to explore. The ranch is pretty amazing -- zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and water buffalo to name a few of the exotic animals to been seen.
Amelia loved every animal there, especially the tiny deer. But, evidently, the most fun was feeding the giraffes. Both Amelia and Granddad got a kick out of it!
(Looks like my mom has a new career -- photographer. Thanks for the great pics mom and for a great weekend!)
Halloween night was a real treat! Check out our little princess (costume #3) and the treat bag she made at school.
The Cinderella costume came courtesy of Grandma Carolyn during our first visit to Disneyland this summer. Amelia is a real pro at the "princess pose" thanks to some training from Cinderella herself.
This Halloween we were happily joined-at-the-hip with the Neal family. We joined them once again, this time for the celebration's grand finale - trick-or-treating. They have the BEST neighborhood for Halloween... everyone decorates their houses, dresses up in costumes, and gives out premium treats.
Chris' business partner Vic and his family also joined us for the festivities. His girls Kristen and Julia know how to do Halloween right... their costumes won first prize. Julia, a very spooky Elizabeth Swan (from Pirates of the Caribbean), was so sweet to our girls, helping them to get the hang of trick-or-treating.
Friends Karlye and Jeff Butler joined our merry group with their son McCoy. McCoy balanced out our princesses (Cinderella and Ariel) with his snuggy Fire Chief costume. Our Halloween wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Freeman house. It was thanks to them last year that we learned how fun trick-or- treating could be. Amelia adores their oldest daughter Shelby and was DELIGHTED to see that Shelby was also a princess (Aurora).
The evening ended with the Freemans. The girls snuck some of their Halloween loot and played in Shelby's fabulous room. Amelia's eyes grow very big when she enters and see all of Shelby's great toys. Tears poured out when it was time to go home (at 10:00p!!!)... we had to drag Amelia kicking-and-screaming from Shelby's room.
All in all, another terrific Halloween celebration for the Brinson record book!
It wouldn't be a Brinson Halloween without our annual trip to the Pumpkin Festival at Fearrington Village. This year's event didn't let us down - it may even rank as one of the best festivals ever. We went before dark to join Amelia's best buddy, Sarah, and the rest of the Neal family for dinner, hay mazes, goats, pumpkins, and great blue grass music. The night was extra special as Amelia's Grandma - Julianna's mom Carolyn, was visiting. Carolyn is always game to join in our silly festivities!
Amelia donned costume #2, to be like Dad. Our father-daughter team rocked the cowboy theme. We had a spooky good time, although I was a bit disappointed being the only adult in costume. Imagine a hundred little kids running around in costumes, followed by one very large "kid" dressed as a strange cowboy... that would be me.
Amelia and Sarah especially loved the hay-bale maze and, much to their mom's dismay, forfeited dinner to get in more play time.
Fearrington is known for the Belted cows, but for the pumpkin festival it was all about the belted goat calves. Our girls could get a job at Fearrington feeding the animals - large quantities of hay filled their tiny hands as they begged the goats to come nibble.
Soon it was time for the little girls to get their blue-grass groove on. Check out the video below to study their fly moves...
Amelia loves school. Amelia loves dressing up. Amelia loves her family. This past Tuesday (10/30) might go down as her “BEST DAY EVER!” because all three were thrown into a big witch’s cauldron at the Binkley Preschool Halloween party.
Amelia, Julianna, and Carolyn all donned their witch costumes while I decided to go as a cowboy. My inspiration was the Spaghetti-Western- Clint-Eastwood variety, but folks thought I was everything from Juan Valdez, to a Mexican Revolutionary, to Pancho Villa. Julianna kept calling me "Cowboy Earl", as if I took my costume from last year - Earl, from the TV show "My Name is Earl" and simply added a cowboy hat. We won't tell anyone that my poncho is actually Julianna's pregnancy poncho.
JK came up with a great craft project for the kids in Amelia's class - trick-or-treat bags. Carolyn and I were the chief line workers, grabbing kids left and right to create their bags, factory style -- here's your kit, glue your pumpkin, stick your stickers, write kid's name, move on to next kid. It was a whirl-wind of gluing, sticking, and crafting!
Despite the fact that our little witch already had one costume on, she couldn't resist trying on another one…especially with all the Jerry Seinfeld “Bee Movie” marketing going on right now. Every day it's "I want to see Bee Movie!" How does she even know it exists?!
After some more playing, singing, and a special Halloween snack time, the party closed with a parade through K&W cafeteria. Carolyn and I were in charge of chaperoning some of Amelia's class. All was going well until I came to the cafeteria's dessert section (that pumpkin pie gets me every time)! Luckily, I kept a tight hold on my little Superman and Spiderman's hands and avoided a mini-disaster.
On Sunday, the Brinson family, including Grandma Carolyn, went to an annual pumpkin carving party at our friends, the Busbees. This year’s event turned into a pumpkin carving contest - exciting the competitive juices of certain Brinsons.
Much to our surprise, Amelia has turned out to be a pumpkin carver extraordinaire, worthy of the Brinson name.
She finished second in the 11-and-under competition. (Disregard the asterisk next to her name, signaling a little help from Dad.) Modesty prevents me from flaunting my first-place finish in the adult category.
Amelia had fun hanging out the big girls as they bobbed for apples and carved pumpkins. She did her best to keep up!
Later that evening, I completed carving my 2007 Halloween pumpkin assortment. If I do say so, they came out rather good this year. Take a look below and let me know what you think...
We kicked off our Halloween festivities on Saturday at the Southern Village Halloween Carnival. The wonderful Neal family invited us to join them for an afternoon of costumed-fun.
. . .
. . . . . . It was a beautiful day, perfect for practicing trick-or-treating in fancy costumes. Amelia and Sarah had a ball and were completely mesmerized by all the other kids in costumes. . .
Our little witch and the Neal's mermaid were the belles-of-the ball, if you will. No cuter costumes could be found!
. . . . . Amelia had a hard time understanding that she didn't need to eat each piece of candy AS it was put in her treat bag. The afternoon was a great prelude to the 31st!
(Finally, a picture of the Brinson family photographer!)
The Brinson family made their annual trip to the North Carolina State Fair last Monday. This marks the 10th year in a row that the Brinson family has enjoyed the sights, smells, and tastes of the North Carolina State Fair. Combine the smells of the most ridiculous fried foods you can imagine with farm animal competitions, and you’ve got quite an olfactory extravaganza. How can one go wrong with deep-fried Twinkies, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, homemade ice cream, applejacks, and giant turkey legs!
Amelia (and Dad) enjoyed all kinds of rides (including a bumpy bird roller coaster ride that made Dad have to take a break for a little while), including her favorite…Ponies! . . . . . . . . . . .
Amelia heads straight for the Ponies as soon as we walk into the fair.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . We also enjoyed the afternoon matinee of pig, billy goat, and duck races. Amelia liked the piggies the best.
Ever the negotiater, we closed the day with a coveted cowgirl hat and “one-more pony ride”. What a great day!
Check out Amelia's new pet zebra. She picked it up with GG and Granddad today. An early Christmas present?!?
Julianna and I got a little respite from our little one this weekend while Amelia visited my parents. Knowing what an animal lover she is, GG and Granddad took Amelia to one of her favorite places, the Lazy 5 Ranch.
With map in hand, Amelia was ready to explore. The ranch is pretty amazing -- zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and water buffalo to name a few of the exotic animals to been seen.
Amelia loved every animal there, especially the tiny deer. But, evidently, the most fun was feeding the giraffes. Both Amelia and Granddad got a kick out of it!
Halloween night was a real treat! Check out our little princess (costume #3) and the treat bag she made at school.
Chris' business partner Vic and his family also joined us for the festivities. His girls Kristen and Julia know how to do Halloween right... their costumes won first prize. Julia, a very spooky Elizabeth Swan (from Pirates of the Caribbean), was so sweet to our girls, helping them to get the hang of trick-or-treating.
Friends Karlye and Jeff Butler joined our merry group with their son McCoy. McCoy balanced out our princesses (Cinderella and Ariel) with his snuggy Fire Chief costume.
Our Halloween wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Freeman house. It was thanks to them last year that we learned how fun trick-or- treating could be. Amelia adores their oldest daughter Shelby and was DELIGHTED to see that Shelby was also a princess (Aurora).
Amelia donned costume #2, to be like Dad. Our father-daughter team rocked the cowboy theme. We had a spooky good time, although I was a bit disappointed being the only adult in costume. Imagine a hundred little kids running around in costumes, followed by one very large "kid" dressed as a strange cowboy... that would be me.
Amelia and Sarah especially loved the hay-bale maze and, much to their mom's dismay, forfeited dinner to get in more play time.
Fearrington feeding the animals - large quantities of hay filled their tiny hands as they begged the goats to come nibble.
Soon it was time for the little girls to get their blue-grass groove on. Check out the video below to study their fly moves...
Amelia, Julianna, and Carolyn all donned their witch costumes while I decided to go as a cowboy. My inspiration was the Spaghetti-Western-
project for the kids in Amelia's class - trick-or-treat bags. Carolyn and I were the chief line workers, grabbing kids left and right to create their bags, factory style -- here's your kit, glue your pumpkin, stick your stickers, write kid's name, move on to next kid. It was a whirl-wind of gluing, sticking, and crafting!
Despite the fact that our little witch already had one costume on, she couldn't resist trying on another one…especially with all the Jerry Seinfeld “Bee Movie” marketing going on right now. Every day it's "I want to see Bee Movie!" How does she even know it exists?!
After some more playing, singing, and a special Halloween snack time, the party closed with a parade through K&W cafeteria. Carolyn and I were in charge of chaperoning some of Amelia's class. All was going well until I came to the cafeteria's dessert section (that pumpkin pie gets me every time)! Luckily, I kept a tight hold on my little Superman and Spiderman's hands and avoided a mini-disaster.
On Sunday, the Brinson family, including Grandma Carolyn, went to an annual pumpkin carving party at our friends, the Busbees. This year’s event turned into a pumpkin carving contest - exciting the competitive juices of certain Brinsons.
She finished second in the 11-and-under competition. (Disregard the asterisk next to her name, signaling a little help from Dad.) Modesty prevents me from flaunting my first-place finish in the adult category.
Later that evening, I 
completed carving my 2007 Halloween pumpkin assortment. If I do say so, they came out rather good this year. Take a look below and let me know what you think...
We kicked off our Halloween festivities on Saturday at the Southern Village Halloween Carnival. The wonderful Neal family invited us to join them for an afternoon of costumed-fun.
Our little witch and the Neal's mermaid were the belles-of-the ball, if you will. No cuter costumes could be found!
.
The Brinson family made their annual trip to the North Carolina State Fair last Monday. This marks the 10th year in a row that the Brinson family has enjoyed the sights, smells, and tastes of the North Carolina State Fair.
Amelia (and Dad) enjoyed all kinds of rides (including a bumpy bird roller coaster ride that made Dad have to take a break for a little while), including her favorite…Ponies!
Amelia heads straight for the Ponies as soon as we walk into the fair.
Ever the negotiater, we closed the day with a coveted cowgirl hat and “one-more pony ride”. What a great day!
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