Thursday, August 28, 2008

Another Singing clip...

Bray and 3 other singers, singing part of 'O Sole Mio..'

Clips of Bray at the fundraiser..

Just trying to record, with poor sound quality, Bray singing...

Hobbes and the suitcase...

Hobbes, pulling our carry-on...whenever someone came up on him, he would try to run faster!

Airport/plane pics...

Hobbes decided he wanted to be a big boy on the way down to Monroe, and had to pull the carry-on the entire time-even on the escalator! It kept him occupied, freed up my hands, and was pretty cute!
I always forget to take picturs of my kiddos sleeping, and so (after not sleeping the entire 1st flight) I took the opportunity to photograph my little pretty face on the plane...
I couldn't decide whic one I liked better, so I give you both!
Arriving in Monroe!



Italian Weekend!

Hello again!
Hope yall are well! (I'm down South right now, so I have to use the yall). Things are continuing in our crazy pattern, but we are at the end of the summer whirlwind, and are beginning to look towards the 'regularity' of a fall schedule. On Saturday, Bray flew in from California, and the kiddos and I picked him up in Spokane. Because Bray was scheduled to have a rehearsal for a performance at a fundraiser the next evening, we decided to spend the night so as to save driving time to Moscow. On Sunday, my parents, Mike and Kathryn, and Seth and Naphtali all came up after church to have dinner with us at the Olive Garden, and then Seth and Naphtali stayed to babysit for us that evening, so I could go to the dinner party/fundraiser event with Bray.
We all had a grand, if not short, time, and the kiddos love them some I-talian food! (as can be seen by the pics) The party was AMAZING and I had a blast! It was at a VERY wealthy couples' home, and the theme was 'An Evening in Tuscany.' We had 8 courses, complete with Italian sorbet, mascarpone, pasta, carne, and wonderful music! An operatic couple that we met back in May was there to perform, too, and we really enjoy them! There was also a Polish violin player who was amazing-he played the entire Carmen Fantasy, after only working on it for 3 days!
They also had a neat idea that I had never seen before-they had 2 painters there, who, during the cocktail hour by the pool, painted an entire canvas from scratch, finished and framed it, and at the end of the evening they auctioned them off! Both paintings were beautiful, and if Bray and I had had $5000 or more on hand, we would have bought this one of a cello player!
Anyhow, the evening was a great success, and it was a mini-vacation for me! Thanks, Seth and Nambi!
We flew down to Monroe on Monday morning, and are now enjoying all the family, food and maybe not quite as much, humidity that the South provides! We will update yall with more pics from down here, but for now, that's all I have time for! Miss and love yall! (alright alright, I'm done with the yall for now...just have to get it in while I can)
Spaghetti face!


Mike, Kathryn and her crazy eyes.:)
Hobbes, digging in the ?Italian? way...
Mom, Pop, and PLENTY of wine!



My little food-monger.
Being so sweet to share with Daddy-and his shirt.

Cute Seth and Nambi!


My handsome opera singer, and me.
Below: The view from the patio below the house, looking out over the pool house, kitchen, pool,etc. at the house where the fundraiser was. It was gorgeous!

Opera singers, warming up and preparing the order of repertoire for the evening...I did balance checks for them.:)

The steps leading down to the pool, pool house,etc...

My side view of Bray and Carlos singing the Pearl Fisher's duet...and one of the paintings!

My buddy boy

There are certain things that charaterize each kid, and for Hobbes it has always been his love of cars. I know I have talked about this several times before, but I am amazed at how he never fails to be fascinated by them, and will play for hours at a time just driving them back and forth, lining them up, watching the wheels move...he is a one-track boy. He has branched out into trains, too, now, but the cars will always be his first love. So bear with me, as I had to document for future sentimental-parent-moments.:)

Photo-op at the Church's house.
The line of cars.
My buddy boy.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Cousins!!!!

Hello, all!
Well the fun continues here in Moscow...on Saturday, I went with Seth and Naphtali to the Farmer's Market, and ran into Bethany and Remy while we were downtown! (we haven't seen them since Christmas, and we haven't even met Oz!) My mom invited them all over for lunch today, and so the kiddos got to spend the afternoon playing together! Hobbes was so excited he didn't even eat his homemade ice cream!(don't worry, he did later)
It was great to see all the cousins together, and it makes me even more excited for our trip down to Louisiana next week!
So here are a few pics from the day, especially for Bray, Steve and Wendy, and although they aren't amazing, the point is we documented it, right? Enjoy!Cute little Oz-or as Bray calls him, 'little Z.'
A very Wilkins' look.
Archer and Hobbes came up with this game where Archer would hold the fireman's hat over his face, and Hobbes would throw the football at him. It was very entertaining.
Archer, looking very grown-up.
Madeline, showing me the pieces of the pop-up book she tore out...Miss Mischief-but at least she has a cute dress on!
I know no one's looking in this picture, but the point is, they are all in it (minus Oz)!
Jaiken and his amazing hair!

Madeline and Hobbes, playing with the car station.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tidbits...

Hi everyone!
As you can guess, things have been the usual whirlwind...only a bit more so! Last week, my cousin Attie came to visit, and was able to go to Bray's opera with me. It was so fun to see Bray perform, and he did an AMAZING job! (he even met Carol Burnett, and got his name in the L.A. Times! I have to brag just a little). On Saturday morning, we packed up the car, and Attie and I headed off to Portland with the kiddos. It was sad to leave Bray, but we get to see him in a week! After 3 very long days of driving, and a pitstop at my Aunt's in Portland, we made it to Moscow!
Since we head to Monroe in a week for Matt's wedding, I decided to go look for apartments in Seattle this past week. Naphtali, my sister-in-law, was kind enough to go with me, and so we drove over on Tuesday, saw the entirety of Seattle in a day, drove past Safeco field several times, saw my brother-in-law Jordan's place, stayed with the wonderful Owens, andddd found an apartment! It is in Renton, which is just South of Seattle, and even with bad traffic, is only about a 17 minute drive! (not bad for the city!) Not to mention it is right near Boeing, across the street from Lake Washington and Gene Coulon Beach Park, and has a Target right down the road! Oh yes, and IKEA!!! I'm pretty excited about it.
This week Bray auditions for the composer who writes for Disney musicals, Alan Menken. He was commissioned to write his 1st opera, and the Music Academy students got first 'pick' to audition! It should be interesting. Anyway, that should be all for now, but I will try to keep you posted!
Sorry there's not more pics-my camera broke right before the opera!:(



an artsy shot of Bray's dressing room...
Luigi Corelli-aka Bray Wilkins with an awesome 70's outfit and very teased hair.

Hanging in Daddy's dressing room...

Last family pic on the beach before heading home!

Sunday, August 03, 2008

A preview...

Bray's opera performs this week...and I had to take a picture of a poster we walked by downtown the other day....it's not Bray in the picture, as his character is not the one getting married...but I'm so excited!!! Just thought we'd give you a taste of opera life.

Sunday Morning on the Beach...

The church that we go to here has 2 services, and we usually go to the 8:30 one, as Bray occasionally has events after lunch. So this morning, after church, and because it's the kiddos and my last Sunday here, we went for a walk on the beach, and got breakfast at the Chamomile Cafe (fun little place downtown). It was a foggy morning, but I got some fun pics anyway! I could honestly walk on the beach every day! Maybe someday we will have a beach house:)!Walkin down to the beach with Daddy.
Throwing in a huge rock!
"Mom, look at the water! Whoaaa it's big, look at that!"

Miss-I-have-to-pick-up-every-rock-and-shell-on-the-beach.
Struttin her stuff with her Daddio. (one of her favorite things is to walk around yelling, "Dadddyyyy! Daddddyyyyy!")
Trying to not get their clothes soaked.
My crazy kids!
The hundredth photo I want to frame from this summer!
We love California!

Little Buddies...

I know I've probably said this before, but I am always amazed at how well our kiddos play together. From the time Madeline was born, they have always been close, and began little 'games' when Madeline was about 7 months old. Not to say they don't fight or fuss at one another-they do-but remembering my own childhood, I must say they are pretty close.
Madeline, although extremely independent, loves to try whatever Hobbes really likes. Cars, trucks, rocks, sticks, swords, trains....well, you get the picture. I am sure it will not be long before she is the ring-leader, but for now, she is content to follow in his footsteps. These are pictures from a park evening (Bray had rehearsal, so we went on a walk to the park).
Juice boxes! I thought these might be too messy for them still...but they love them! Madeline is so precise and grown-up with hers-she takes little sips, and walks around like she owns the world!Deciding if she should deign to step in the bark....she has a thing about uneven ground. (oh, and the inspiration for this outfit is Aunt Kathryn!:)) love you!

Cute boy in a cute pose.
They both wanted to go up to the big kids slides, and tried to go up the stairs! (well, Hobbes can, but Madeline is still a bit small!)
What is this pose? Just has to have her picture taken!Cars, cars, cars...the motto of Hobbes' life.
Although my hand got in the way of the shot, this is one of my favorite pictures ever...we were walking home, and I looked down, and Hobbes had put his arm around Madeline, and his head on her shoulder. They just love each other! (I'm not a teary person, but this one was close!)
A beautiful sunset for us to walk home by.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Random Pics

Here are some random pics that I forgot to put up...some are from the 4th of July, and others from around Santa Barbara. Enjoy!Watching the parade on the 4th...
Hobbes and Bray found a caterpillar when we were at our compeers' house-so they put it on Madeline's foot. She didn't seem to mind it!
Side view of our compeers' beautiful home!
Part of their back yard-the house in the distance is their brother's house!
Hobbes, on the balcony outside the guest room.:)
In her insanely cute tutu from Gege-she lovvesss dress-up already!
I don't know what he was so curious about...but this is 1 of the toys they let him play with at the bbq!
Swinging at the Coffin's house (compeers).
The 1920's carousel right on the waterfront in Santa Barbara. Hobbes freaked out when he was on his own horse, but then saw Madeline was doing it, and decided it was ok.
Outside the carousel.
View from our balcony.
The flowers that grow up the walls of the condos....so beautiful!