an evening at Kiroli Park...

fountains, fun and family.

Hot Springs, AR

"don't get lazy when things get crazy!"

Hello, all! As you can tell by the date,things have been nonstop...or normal, for us. We have had exciting things happening and we have also settled into the routine of school for the kids. I finished up playing the role of Velma in Hairspray here at the Strauss Theater, and although I had a blast, I am glad to have my evenings open again! Audition/competition season is in full swing for Bray, which means lots of paperwork, mailing, singing and traveling! So far he has been accepted to all competitions we've applied for (which means he's made the semi-finals!) which is a huge encouragement considering these are some of the top competitions in the opera world!

Last week he flew to New York for a competition-and though he didn't make the finals-was heard by 12 judges, which can mean future work if they liked him! He was able to see some old friends and colleagues and get used to the city for his next visit, which he will take me along on!!

This weekend, he travels to Austin, TX for the semi-finals of the Bel Canto competition, and then he has a Fort Worth Opera audition in late November, early December. Most of these come up last minute, so it has been wonderful to have family nearby to help with the kids while I'm solo and working.

The kids have adjusted really well to school-both of them are eager to learn, and excited to tell me all their stories. Last week, while Bray was gone, Hobbes had his best week at school! He got to be door-holder all week, and was SO excited to be the big helper. As a reward, we had a Chuck E. Cheese night, and I don't know who had more fun-me or the kids!

As you can see from the picture above, I am now the happy owner of a Canon EOS 30D camera!! I am reading the manual and figuring out all the fun settings with this wonderful camera, and I am in heaven! I have to get an adapter to upload to our computer, so hopefully I will post pics from our trip to Hot Springs, AR (where Bray's voice teacher lives) and some from the show!

For now, I trust you are all doing well, and we miss you! Please keep us in your prayers over these next few crazy months!!

this is Madeline's 1st official school picture! Hobbes's has not come home yet, but I will post it as soon as it does!!

wow.

Can you believe this was 2 years ago?? How big they have gotten....it is my favorite time of year (FALL!) and I cannot wait to carve pumpkins with these 2 crazy monkeys...this was in our Seattle apartment-how much life changes! Have to love it.

evening excursion...

school days...

hard to wake up for school...
with my big kids!
handsome boy...
at her desk!

1st Day of School.

Yesterday marked a new era for us: school days! Hobbes and Madeline both began Preschool/Kindergarten at Geneva, the local classical school here. I cannot believe they are already old enough to be elementary kids-but I look forward to the challenges and fruit it will bring!!

back in the thick of things...

we are back from the beach!! It was a wonderful, relaxing, SUNNY week-in which Hobbes conquered his fear of water!! and we all enjoyed each other's company. School started for me yesterday, Bray has his first coaching with a new teacher in Little Rock this weekend, and the kids begin Geneva Monday. Phew! But life is good, and who couldn't enjoy every day with these 2 crazy kids?
enjoying sand & sun.
My amazing hubby.

A smidge...

well, need I say life is busy? Probably not, so let's just say-life is full. Kids have had Vacation Bible School at our church this week, and they are loving it! They can recite (or shout) their Bible verse, march to their songs, and love earning stickers for extra chores (wow!) at home. Tomorrow is their final day, and it's a 'splash' day, which with this 105+ heat is more than welcome! We head to Gulf Shores for the annual Wilkins' vacation next week, and both Bray and I have had concerts, church services and events lined up this whole month to perform for. School starts in just a few weeks, too, so kiddos are excited!!! So for now, here's a few pics from our daily adventures.

I just wanted to say something about the music-the 1st is a Josh Groban song, and when Bray and I got together, he had just become really famous. Everyone thought Bray's voice was very similar, and so we listened to him a lot together. (Of course, I think Bray's better...:))

The 2nd is a song by Zina Goldrich & Marcie Heisler, and 2 of our best friends sang it at our wedding. Last, we did a humorous tango for our wedding dance, so I thought it appropriate. It's cheesy, but fits us!!:)

the TRAIN.

Hobbes LOVES my Dad's train. It is quite an amazing set, and my Dad has had it since he was a kid. Every time we go up to Moscow, that's the 1st thing Hobbes asks to play with. My Dad got the engine and lights working, and Hobbes could have just lived by the track.

Grandma time.

The girls got to spend a lot of time with Ama, but their 2 favorite things were the ladies lunch at Bloom (fabulous new bistro in Moscow) and throwing pennies in the fountain at Farmer's Market. Ida was there, too, but she enjoyed watching from her bucket for now.:)

Da Babies.

Another wonderful part of our trip was meeting the 3 newest additions to the family! 2 of my cousins have both had babies since we saw them last, and Kathryn and Mike added their newest in May, too. We had so much fun loving on all the little ones-they change so fast, they'll be busy movers next time we see them!Bray with Emma, Peter's firstborn.
Blue-eyed Ida, Kathryn and Mike's newest addition.
Isaac, my cousin Matt's youngest, enjoying some pool time.