We spent some time out at my parent's house today. It was such a beautiful day, and they live in such a pretty setting that I couldn't resist taking photos. Kerry had a great time exploring, picking flowers and collecting acorns.

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore my girl?!

Well, I do =).

She just makes me smile.

And she just warms my heart.

And she takes my breath away, and leaves me wondering how I got to be so blessed?!

Louisville Irish Fest 2010

There was lots of great Irish music to listen to..

a little Irish step dancing...


and there were banners hanging for each of the counties in Ireland. Of course we had to find County Kerry =).

This Irish Wolfhound came nearly to my chest he was so tall.

We had our own little Mid- Autumn Moon Festival celebration this year. Last year Kerry had only been home a couple of months, so it pretty much got over looked.

We made paper lanterns

We took one that Kerry decorated to give to our friends at our favorite Chinese restaurant (she gave them the blue one).

Then we came home and lit our lanterns with glow-sticks...and played with them for a while.

Then after a short moon-lit stroll, we read this book. The moon was GEORGEOUS tonight. I'm glad we had a clear night here so we could enjoy it.

This is one of the most important Celebrations in Chinese culture, so can't help but wonder about her birth family at times like these. I'll be saying a little prayer for them tonight.

One of Kerry's latest obsessions is cupcakes. She's not really into eating actual cupcakes, she just seems to be obsessed with the idea of cupcakes. She notices and points out "cuh-pakes", as she calls them, on everything when we're out and about, and the pajamas she wants to wear every.single.night, but obviously can't, have cupcakes on them. So when we went out to lunch at Cr*cker Barrel after church, and she spotted a little "sweets set" with cupcakes, cookies, and a serving tray...well...she asked so sweetly that this Mama caved and the set came home with us. This turned into a little Mama-Daughter tea party. I even dug up an old table cover that I believe was embroidered by my Great-Grandma. She was deeee-lighted with her new purchase and our little tea-party, and so was Mama =).

Ker-Bear is on a "catch up" schedule with her immunizations due to her status as an international adoptee. According to her paperwork she actually received regular immunizations in the orphanage, but since we can't be sure of the potency or efficacy of them, our pediatrician started her over from scratch. Anyway, she got her last set at her two year check up and we were told we could come back 6 weeks later for the next round of shots. Well, 6 weeks turned into 6 months so we finally bit the bullet and took her earlier this week. Poor thing had to get 3 shots. She tried so hard not to cry and was successful for the first stick, but by the second, the silent tears started flowing and by the third, she was wailing. I felt so bad for her. I kept Motrin in her that night so she could sleep as she was complaining that her little legs were hurting. She's still due two more in a few weeks...uggh. And now for a random photo, because it's impossible for me to post without one.

I love this photo I took recently of Kerry and her Daddy spending a little lazy morning time together watching cartoons.



And I thought it was high time I posted a few recent Kerry-isms. It seems like she "grows out of them" no sooner than she develops them so I want to make sure I document them for later.

"fun-daids" = band-aids

dannee-yions= dandelions

"peena-buffer" = peanut butter

"cuppickapocket?" = can you carry my sippy cup in your pocket?

"woff" = floss

"motor-sickle"= motorcycle

And my favorite, when she's saying the blessing at mealtime now she includes:

"awl-a-da-crunchy" = all of the country

and

"awl-a-da-shoulders"= all of the soldiers =)

More tricycle fun!

Kerry is still working hard at learning to pedal her tricycle. She's had it since Christmas but it's only in the last few weeks that she's really taken an interest in it. So far she goes a couple of feet forward until she loses momentum, and she likes to go "backards" too.

I've almost got it!

She's hanging on to those chubby little knees that I've always adored =).

Introducing....

Ruby...

and Louise...

These are Dwarf Hamsters, and they are Kerry's new furry little friends. Our neighbor, Ashley, got two of them a few months ago and...surprise...one of them delivered a brood of teeny little babies. Kerry had to wait for them to get big enough to leave their Mama, but a few days ago she was finally able to pick two females (we hope) to take home. Their names come from the "Max and Ruby" show, one of her favorites. Ruby, of course, is the one with red eyes.




She adores her "hampers" as she calls them and is very gentle when handling them.
She also likes to help feed them and shoo's Salem (the cat) away if he gets near the cage =).