Firsts for Madeline!

1st: time they smiled at the same time...and Hobbes pushed Madeline in her walker with his mower


1st: time sitting in my walker!


1st: time Mommy painted my toenails...and Daddy rolled his eyes about it:)


1st: time eating rice cereal!!!

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Life with Daddy!!!

Hello, everyone!
I am soo sorry it has taken me so long to post...but Bray is back, and life keeps going on! It has been wonderful to have him back home, but we have had to go straight into grad school, work and busyness! We did get a fun weekend up at Lake Coeur d'alene with Isaac and Katie right before school started, though. So I thought I would put up a few pics, to show the family as a whole again:) and then try to update you as often as possible....by the way, my very kind sister and her husband, Mike gave us computer access at home with a laptop, so now I should be able to actually reply to emails on time, and post more often! YAY! We miss you all, and shall update soon!

We went for one of our 'adventures' (a.k.a. a late night walk) and it was chilly, so we put Madeline in her hat......so then Hobbes went and got his hat for us to put on him, too-what a funny boy!

Yay! Daddy with both kiddos!
Daddy and Hobbes in the paddleboat at the lake:)
Isaac and Bray on the inner tube
A close up of paddle boat time...Hobbes kept saying "Hi, boat! Whoaa, boat! I see a boat!"
A hot air balloon looked like it was going to land on the water one evening...but, unfortunately, it didn't
Bray and I on the inner tube....it was too inflated, making it difficult for 2 people to have a good hold...
So, we nearly fell off several times- before the boat had even really gotten going:)
But then, finally we did stay on, and we had a nice ride-gotta love tubing!
Isaac and Katie on the boat

Madeline meets the Wilkins!

In her pretty new dress from Gege...she loved everyone!

Talking with Bop...so cute!

This week Madeline got to meet all the rest of the fam- Gege, Bop, Aunt Charity, Uncle Caleb and even Uncle Matt! They came up early for Trinity Fest, and Matt decided to surprise us and join the party! We had a wonderful time just spending time together going around Moscow, eating good food, enjoying the beauty of the land out at the Jones' farm, and of course, watching the babes! It is sad that we have to live soo far away from them-whenever you see family, you realize how much you wish you could see them more often!

Unfortunately, Bray is missing them by about 2 days, but the good news is- he comes home for GOOD tomorrow evening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We won't have much downtime, as Bray has to prepare for school starting in a week, and get back to working...but I am looking forward to having a 'normal' life again-one where I can just 'run' to the grocery store, get up and exercise without children, cook meals for my husband, watch my son wrestle with his Daddy, and have someone to take over the spankings and potty training when I just can't take it anymore.

God has blessed us greatly this summer, but it has been a long and challenging time! Now on to bigger and better things...being together as a family for one!Charity stayed with me all week, so we got to have some girly time!Hanging out at my apartment with everyone...eating pizza

Downtown at the festivities with Gege-how cute is this!Taking a nap with Bop:)Meeting Uncle Matt for the first time...when he surprised us at Bucer's!Looking pretty with Aunt CharityHobbes trying to jump completely into the fountain with Uncle CalebGege being wise and walking AROUND the fountain with Hobbes:)Playing in the blow-up castle at Trinity Fest-Hobbes loved it! He couldn't compete with the bigger kids, so he would crawl across it and then stand up on the ropesChillin out with the relsOut at the Jones' farm on a beautiful afternoonRelaxing with Caleb...The boys spent the entire afternoon throwing rocks and exploring- I have never SEEN Hobbes so dirty- Bethany should be proud!More rocks...The uncles tubing with Mike and Kathryn...and oh boy, Mike is MEAN on the boat!(which means extra fun tubing time)Hobbes had no nap, and was a little worse for wear, but he enjoyed it when I was on the boat with him,I even put Madeline in her cute swimsuit, although she didn't go out on the boat.More water time...we showed Charity what 'Northern' tubing is all about:)

Micah had never been tubing before... I hope she enjoyed it!

What a fun week! We miss you all!

California Time!!!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to us!(it seems to be a tradition for us to have a smooching picture on our anniversary- hope you don't mind!)

Since things have been flying by,and thus insanely crazy, I have not had time to update as things have happened. We had a wonderful time in California, and although it went quickly, we managed to pack in a lot. I was able to go to several performances and rehearsals- something I have greatly missed! Bray has progressed a lot, and it was encouraging to hear the professors praise his hard work and evolving voice. So, hear are some of the pics from the trip- enjoy!

We stayed above the garage of this amazing house...it was a nice apartment and right in Montecito.The purple flowers are Agamanthis, or lily of the Nile and they were everywhere! Beautiful California! This is the rest of the house-it was gorgeous! Shopping on State Street with Daddy...starting early:)

A family pic right before we had to go home:(

I just found this picture somewhat ironic...it just shows that people pay no attention to signs!
This is a restaurant on Stearn's Wharf...so we had to take a picture with good ol' Moby Dick.
I actually was not a fan of Moby Dick (the book) but I liked this guy alright.

The day of the Marilyn Horne competition....it was beautiful weather, and everyone did well!
They have an Arlington West Memorial for the soldiers who have died in Iraq...they set it up every Sunday on the beach, and the measurements match Arlington in France.


It was fun to see an actual ship among all the yachts....I must get that from my Dad.