My Tenor

Just wanted to share a fantastic article about Bray, written by a very talented local journalist-so excited and encouraged by what God has brought us!!

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20120624/LIFESTYLE/206220307

sweet summer.....

Summer has arrived!!! As you can see from the joyful looks on the kids' faces below, they are thrilled! They had a great end-of-year program at Geneva, and we were so proud! We have already begun our summer routine of reading, piano lessons and swimming at the pool! We are looking forward to a visit from my parents next week, and the kids keep thinking of different things they need to take them to do! (although it might be an adjustment coming down to this 95+degree weather!) anyways, we have much to update about, but for now, here's some summer fun!

Sneak peek into Wonderland

Hello All! This month is coming to a busy close, and we have managed to pack in a LOT! Next week is the end of the kiddos 1st school year, and this week I have the opening of The Drowsy Chaperone (hilarious show!) at the Strauss and Bray heads to Birmingham for a competition! This past weekend, though, we managed to fit in a dual birthday party for Madeline with my good friend Rachel Huber's daughter, Annabelle. Rachel is a talented cake maker (see pic below!) and wonderful party planner, and so we put together an Alice in Wonderland themed party. The only hitch: it began raining an hour before the party began! The kids still had a great time, even if they ended up soaked and muddy in the bouncy house, and we were able to get some fun shots. We ordered the dresses from Cali Girlz Creations, and plan to do another shoot of them on a sunny day! Anyhow here's just a few pics that Rachel took-I'll post more later!!

Easter morn.

Kids in spring.

Houston!

catching up...

it has been awhile. in fact the longest while since I began this blog! my apologies-things went from crazy to insane, due to some unforeseen changes, and it was just too much to try to post till now! So I will be brief, and give you the major highlights from the last 4 months.

-February: celebrated Bray's 31st! birthday, and found out he would be the title role for Houston Grand Opera's chamber company in their new commissioned opera, The Bricklayer., I perform in a musical revue show, called The Taffetas (thus the above pic)

-late February: was told we would have to move out of our apt due to an unhappy neighbor who thought our kids 'stomped' 24 hours a day. Although we did our best to make everyone happy, in the end, we decided to move as soon as possible, and found a rental house 2 streets over.

-March: move into new house 4 days before Bray leaves for Houston. Bray heads to Houston for 3 weeks, and we tackle the challenge of being minus a Daddy/Hubby, unpacking a whole house, work and school.

-Mid-March: I head to Houston to see Bray's performance, along with Wendy & Steve and a very special treat of my sister-in-law, Naphtali driving down with her dad!! a wonderful weekend, an amazing performance by the hubby, and a much needed break from everyday life.

-late March: Bray returns home, I play in the pit for ULM's production of Chicago, kids have spring break, and we begin a somewhat more normal routine.

-early April: begin researching/looking into different agents/managers for Bray to hopefully sign with, celebrate Easter (pics forthcoming), begin the craziness of end of year concerts, auditions, performances, tests, you name it!

That is our life in a nutshell, and we have many more pics to post-which I will do my best to do! We have lots going on, but good things are happening and we have been blessed. We miss yall!

2012.

I realize I have not yet even posted Christmas pics (I put them on facebook, but not yet here!) but it is already the middle of January, and we are in the throes of a new quarter, a new year, and new busyness. Good things have already been happening, and we are trying to find more opportunities for Bray, and keep up with all the kiddos' daily activities. So here are some pics from our 'adventure' walk today-I was off of school, so we picked the kiddos up and headed for a walk on the levee in the warm, windy, cloudy 70 degree weather. We used to go on our 'adventure walks' all the time in Seattle, but have not had as much opportunity here. I am practicing different settings on my lovely camera, so bear with the craziness/filters, etc..

coming your way...

my dear friend, Rachel Huber, who is also a fabulous cake maker, took pictures of us out at Kiroli Park last week for our Christmas cards. So although they may be more like New Year's cards since I am just sending them out, I thought I'd give you a preview! I have several other fun shots I'll probably post, but take this is as the Louisiana Wilkins giving yall a Merry Christmas!!

My name is hobbes

Another singer in the fam??

recording.

As you can see, I have posted 2 videos of Bray below this post-we had an opportunity for an audition for something in California, and so we had to record 5 songs last week. It is always fun to play for Bray, but I just thought I'd share with the rest of you-some are not on facebook, and I know my Grandma always loves to hear him. "Johanna" is one of the first Broadway songs I ever heard Bray sing, and it has been a favorite of mine since I first heard him sing it. I hope you enjoy!

another recording...

just because he's SO good.

Messiah and Elves.

With Bray after the Messiah performance last night!
My elf, all ready to dance.:)

The Tree decorating/advent PJs!

Xmas Tap practice

Thanksgiving.

I am thankful. Thankful to have too much musical work, thankful that our kids are in school, thankful for the upcoming musical opportunities for Bray, thankful for faithful family-without whom we could not be doing what we are in the music field-thankful for provisions every day. Thankful for 3 living great-grandmothers that our kids have all gotten to know, thankful that all 3 are faithful, godly women. Thankful that we can trust that God has our path in His hand, and we can trust Him to guide us where we need to be.