Thank You for being Our Family

Hi all,

Just wanted to send out a quick message to thank you for taking time to spend with us when we were in Kansas. We think about you all the time and are aware of how special and wonderful our family connection is. It was absolutely incredible to walk in to the basement and see an entire table set up in spite of the change from normal location. And then, when we joined voices in prayer, I was completely moved and will remember that for a long time to come. It's something so simple that we share together, but something so important and special too.

Love to all,

Mary and Kurtis

A ripple from the Rivers

Playing with Adelynn&Kate &Dad at he reunion.

Where did the last few months go?!?  Olivia is already 7 months old.  Sarah has adjusted to being at home and is still enjoying it!  I will admit there are some days that I escape out the door for a few while Dan and Olivia get some dad and daughter time.  I'm still making it to the Y twice a week (excellent stress relief).  The summer is in full swing.  This week is VBS--Olivia will spend it in the nursery while I teach 3rd grade.  We've been to library storytime and will go again soon.  We plan to hit the pool a little more frequently, but there have been so many thunderstorms in the past few weeks that it has been a bit challenging.  We have tested out the wading pool in our backyard as well as played in a bowl of water.  I continue to watch Xander on Monday and Tuesday--by the end of those days I'm pooped!  I may also have a private OT client this summer and possibly horn lessons.  I continue to work one Saturday a month at ViaChristi Rehab and have picked up a few other days here and there.  Keeps me sharp! 

Dan is busy keeping the website for KWCH looking fresh.  He's gotten his Droid app approved and is finishing up getting his iphone app approved.  If you have these smartphone devices--check it out!  Dan has played bass for church and has been getting the itch to play more.  He's been hard at work on a brick patio of sorts just off our deck. 

Brisco has been busy trying to keep track of Olivia and Xander and Dan and I.  Some days he flops down at the end of the day and just lays there.  He still puts himself to bed around 9pm, hates thunderstorms, and loves to have treats.  Some days he opts for a walk and others he just looks at me and stays in.

Olivia has discovered that rolling can get her places.  She is a solid sitter and loves to sit and play with toys, especially the ring stacker and things that she can bang.  She's had a little stranger danger in the past week, but most of the time is happy and smiling!  Olivia likes listening to music, looking at books, and playing with her toys. 

Guitar!

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Resting with Grandma after a swim.

Visiting Great-Grandpa

You can keep up with our current adventures at: theriverscurrent.blogspot.com  I am trying to be better about keeping it a little more up to date.  Sometimes there are some saved posts that make appearances out of order!  :)



In Manhattan



Playing at Exploration Place

Well...Oops!

Family -

Sorry its taken so long for me to get my post going. I've been having bad luck with allergies and medicine. But looks like all is on the mend now.

So, I've been quite busy since school ended. Unfortunately, because of some illness in the spring semester I have some incomplete work to finish up. I'm hoping to be free and clear of that nonsense by July 1.

So let me give you a brief idea of what my life has been since the 1st of May. Last day of classes for me was on the 6th of May. I went to Sarah's masters graduation on May 13th in Hays. Then to Manhattan on May 14th to see David graduate from college. Then on a plane to Orlando at 3:45 that afternoon. Goof off on Sunday at the Islands of Adventure, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and some delicious Butterbeer to boot (not actually beer but basically cream soda with some butterscotch and cream - delicious). Monday I was on my own after Dad and Bob flew the coop. It was onto Epcot that evening and the Magic Kingdom the next day. Then came Wednesday 17th of May and back home to Wichita to see Erik's graduation. Then homeward to do some miscellaneous work before heading out to Denver on May 31st. I arrived back from visiting Lexi Warden - a friend of mine on June 3rd. Family reunion on 4th of June and I have been busily accomplishing this and that since.

Next travel is to a 24 hour play festival in Topeka. Basically, everyone shows up at 8 on Friday (this Friday - tomorrow) to be exact. We introduce ourselves. The actors take a picture and lay the props that they brought on the stage. The actors, directors and technicians go to bed while the playwrights write 10 minute plays. I arrive at 8 am to be given a play to direct. I spend 1 hour with the play reading and conceptualizing. Actors arrive a 9 am and first rehearsal starts at 9:30. The actors and directors rehearse through the day. The technicians do any preparations they need to do and then at 5:30 (after many rehearsal hours and lunch) we meet to do a dress rehearsal. Curtain up at 7:00 pm and we are done by 8 pm on Saturday. Its an AWESOME experience and I am doing that tomorrow June 17th and Saturday, June 18th with Ad Astra Theatre Company in Topeka. Should be great and a highlight of my summer.

Train trip is upcoming July 5th and then comes the celebration of my birthday (and Uncle Tim's) on the 19th of July.

Its going to be a whirlwind of a summer.

Love to all.

Charles

Summertime!

Hello all and sorry for the delay in my post. Today is my first day of summer!!! Overall, my second year of teaching was pretty successful and I'm looking forward to meeting my goal of three years next year. After reading all the research about new teachers while I was in the master's program at UT, I decided that it wasn't really fair to anyone, including myself, to make a decision regarding my teaching career until I had taught for three years. I feel lucky to still have my job as many of my friends (fellow music teachers) have lost theirs or have been cut from full time to part time.

I had a little taste of summer last weekend when my family (sans Andy) came to Austin for a visit. We enjoyed playing the board game Kill Doctor Lucky as we escaped Austin's 100 degree weather (summer heat sure came fast this year). We were also fortunate enough to make it to Franklin BBQ, one of James' and my favorite places to eat. They open at 11:00 am and usually run out of food within an hour or two. We're talking 700lbs of meat. People start lining up before 10:00 am to make sure they get some! We went to the early church service so that we could go stake out a spot in the line. We each ordered a sandwich and Franklin (his last name) put the meat for six sandwiches on a piece of butcher paper on a tray and gave us the bread and slaw to put on top. We had a tray full of pulled pork, chopped brisket, and sausage. We then also got a few slices of brisket and turkey. Yum!!! In the pictures Samuel is showing you his favorite of the three BBQ sauces (my favorite is the espresso sauce on the right) and Erik is enjoying his pulled pork sandwich. The Franklins (he and his wife) started serving their BBQ in a small trailer about a mile from James' apartment, so we would walk over on the weekends. They just recently moved into a little restaurant closer to downtown Austin. We would love to share it with anyone that is interested in good BBQ!

As for the coming summer, I have quite a bit planned so far. I will be playing in the UT summer band this week, teaching at the UT Summer Music Camp next week, traveling back to KS the following week, then to Minnesota, and back to Austin for a little while. I have a conference for Orchestra Directors at the end of July and then James and I will fly to NYC to visit Mary and Kurtis. Can't wait to see everyone and spend time with all of you! Somewhere in there I have to do a little wedding planning too. James and I just went to meet with our florist on Saturday and we think we have the flowers mostly figured out. Whew!

May everyone have a safe, healthy, and relaxing summer full of friends, family, and a few adventures.

Love,
Hannah