Happy Birthday Louis

Louis turned 4 on February 10th. He really wanted to go to the “Noodle Store” (Noodles) on his birthday and we then invited some neighbors over to share his ice cream cake. A couple of days later, we hosted a birthday party for him with family and a few friends. Overall it was a great night (even though I bombed the cake). Louis had a great time and loved being able to watch movies with his cousins and friend Sophia in his pj’s.

Happy Birthday Louis.


I can’t believe you are four. You are such a special boy, so inquisitive, smart and fun. At four, you try harder and harder everyday to read. You are constantly sounding out words and trying to figure out what a series of letters means on your own. We have found ourselves referencing the dictionary multiple times a week to answer your questions on what various words mean. I am so surprised at what you know already. A recent conversation with Mabel went like this:


Mabel: There is the moon. It is up abobe.
Louis: Mabel, did you say abobe? It isn’t abobe Mabel, it is above. There is not two “b’s” in above, just one. Okay, Mabel?


You still love your superheroes and love your new superhero calendar. If it were up to you, everyday would be a superhero day. For your birthday you received a new bike. You can’t wait to ride it this summer but are very clear that you need a helmet and papa does too before you can ride outside. You also love to make silly faces (rolling your eyes back into your head) and to tackle those around you whenever it is appropriate (and sometimes inappropriate). You love sports, in fact you just started baseball and love it.


You love your family, immediate and extended. At night you pray for your cousins, friends, aunts and uncles and whoever else made an impression on you that day.


We love you very much Louis and are so thankful for what you bring to our lives. You love to play and be silly but are so sweet and have such amazing empathy for a 4 year-old (you promised me that even though you are growing up you will always love me and even when you are 90, you will give me hugs). I hope you always will have that glimmer in your eye that teases mischief and the willingness to hug so tightly. Happy Birthday baby Lou.

Winter Recap

It has been forever since I gave a real update about the happenings in our lives!


The holidays were wonderful. Louis and Mabel thoroughly enjoyed Christmas. Watching their faces as they opened gifts is such a wonderful experience. I truly wanted to buy them the world just see their joyful faces over and over again.

We were lucky to host Christmas evening at our house with my family and then to have my brother Brian and his family stay with us for a couple of nights. On Christmas night we had 12 people sleeping in our house…it was a tight squeeze but actually rather fun. The day after Christmas we had baptism for my niece Quinn. It seemed like our celebrations were going to go on forever (unfortunately life got back to normal).



Grandma & Grandpa with the Kemper grandkids



Lastly we hosted New Year’s Eve again. The theme this year was “dips” so each guest brought a dip to share (ours were cheesecake balls to dip in strawberry sauce). We all had a great time hanging out and again it was a great way to start 2011.

Brad and Louis ready to rock on NYE

January and February flew by. Mabel started swimming lessons (Louis is taking a session off). Mabel has really changed in the last couple of months, but it is those subtle things that you can't really describe. She seems to have gotten more mature in the way she talks and expresses herself. She also has found that she can charm people. She has this magical smile that really lights up her whole face. She is pretty close to being potty trained. We have been trying for months but in the last week or so she has been telling us (rather than us asking her) and staying dry through nap time and some nights. I guess the promise of a purple bed is all she needs! Louis also continues to be so sweet – while also turning more into a rough playing boy. He turned 4 in February, but more on that in the next post.

Winter cuddles

Winter silliness

Here’s to being thankful for a great winter and looking forward to spring!

2nd Annual Budde Music Video

For the second year, Brad compiled some of the videos of the children to make a music video recapping the year.  I am always amazed to see how much they have change over the course of a year.  Louis and Mabel love watching it as much as Brad and I do.

Top Ten of 2010 (by Brad Budde)

This list could easily be filled with experiences involving our kids. They are too numerous to mention individually. The joys of being a parent arrive continuously - each event extraordinary and special - only to be outdone the next day. So recognize this list as stuff that happened outside of the general laughter, development and amazement of Louis and Mabel.

1. Poached Bald Eagle Library - "What is the origination of the town named Grey Eagle?" We found the answer to that question one summer cabin weekend at the small town's library. The story was more dramatic than one would think. You might fill in some pieces considering our new town name of Poached Bald Eagle.

2. Mexican Breakfast on the Ocean - Cool ocean breezes blew through an open patio while we took breakfast each morning in Playa del Carmen. If one happened to over-enjoy the buffet of fresh fruit, eggs and hot sauce; a harem of colored hammocks were at the ready for a mid-morning nap. If not - we would descend the stairs to our semi-private sandy beach and burn an hour in the sun before a late morning daiquiri.

3. Reusable Idea Launch - I quit my day job to start a new venture. I was blown away by the support of friends and acquaintances and most importantly the support of my family. I love all of you.

4. Reusable Idea on the Shelves - Lunds and Byerly's put my product on their shelves. This moment was the first time during the venture I felt nervous.

5. Rickshaw Racing - During Guys Golf Weekend in Denver we were having some fun in LoDo. They have rickshaws there, pulled by bicycles. We convinced two drivers to race Brad & Jeff vs Brent and Brooks. Rickshaw driver took a shortcut, almost through a man holding a giant plate of glass - reference Wayne's World II for a visual. Rickshaw driver immediately turns to us, still moving fast and screams to us with a huge grin, "can you believe that just happened?" Later he tells us it was the best rickshaw ride of his life. Yep, that happened.

6. Volunteer League at Mother of Mercy - Second Family Volunteer League came to Albany to help elderly play bingo at the nursing home. Evelyn set it all up. She's a saint. We felt rewarded.

7. USA Soccer vs Algeria - Sandwick and I were USA Soccer superfans during the World Cup 2010. It's the largest sporting event in the world you know. We watched games at Brits. I wore the official team jersey. Landon Donovan scores a game winning goal against Algeria in stoppage time to move the team into the knockout round. Pandemonium. Chris and I were in one of those celebration videos on YouTube.

8. Katlyn Budde - Missy's sister Katlyn lived with us all summer. I loved having another person in the house, especially Kate. She was a blessing.

9. Boyz II Men - One typical Friday with Kate, Missy and family eating dinner at Turtles we discussed Boyz II Men being in town for the State Fair. The girls start singing songs word for word. At 6:30 we agreed it would be a hoot to see the concert at 8:00. Drop kids with Andrew, drive fast, see the spectacle of Boyz II Men. This was far and away the most spontaneous event of 2010.

10. Christmas with Kids - Santa Claus through the eyes of a 2 and 3 year old is special. It's difficult to put into words. They loved it. Which means we loved it.

Better watch out

Mabel’s favorite thing right now is to remind everyone that “Santa is watching”.  If Louis is being naughty, she says, “Louis, Santa is watching”.  She will tell Happy, “Happy, Santa is watching”. The first couple of times she said it she would even look outside to check if she could see Sant watching.  One might think that knowing Santa is watching would encourage Mabel to be good, but no, not really.  She doesn’t seem to care that Santa is watching her – just everyone else.



Mabel causing trouble



Winter Wonderland

Along with everyone else, our lives seem defined by the various snow storms that have occurred so far this “winter” (which isn’t even officially here!). It has given us the opportunity to do things we normally might not. The children have loved playing in the snow - Louis more than Mabel, but she is getting there. Louis is getting to the point, like most kids his age, that he doesn’t seem to mind his bare skin touching the snow. Even Happy has had the opportunity to play in the snow, something very out of the ordinary for her.

We had the chance to meet some friends for lunch at the Midtown Market in Minneapolis. We only get there about twice a year, but it is always good to get out to try and buy some new and interesting foods (this particular trip meant quail eggs which made for good deviled eggs later that day). We received 21.5” of snow a few Saturdays ago, and like most were forced to stay indoors all day. The kids had a ton of fun coloring, cuddling on the couch and playing. That afternoon we made lasagna from scratch – homemade sauce and homemade noodles. Louis got the job of turning the crank to flatten and stretch the noodles.


Louis, Mabel and their friend Henry at the Midtown Market



Test run of the noodle maker



Mabel cuddling with Happy

We also decorated for Christmas. We have two trees this year and the children helped decorate both. Both are incredibly excited for the upcoming Christmas week.

Papa the Sherpa

Hooked on Phonics

Mabel: Look mommy, Sammy Sammy!
Louis: no, Mabel - it's Handy Manny.
Mabel:  Sammy Sammy!
Louis:  Mabel, say "hand" (pause).  Now say "e" (pause).  Now say "man" (pause) and now "e".  Okay Mabel?  Handy Manny.