TRIP TO ST. LOUIS

Last week we took a quick trip to St. Louis, Missouri for an audition that Andrew had with the St. Louis Opera Company. He was originally going to go with other people from his program but they ended up canceling so I got to go along for the ride!! It was really fun!! Neither of us had ever been there before so we looked up things that we could do and places we could visit; like going to the Zoo, going to some historical Lewis & Clark sites, and going to the Gateway Arch. But, our plans were foiled by really cold and rainy weather so that meant that the Zoo was out along with the Lewis & Clark sites. So even though we didn't get to do as much stuff as we originally planned we had fun going to the Gateway Arch, going to a museum, visiting the very first church built in St. Louis, and driving around and exploring the city. Here are a few pictures of our adventures....

The Gateway Arch



I know this looks like a porta potty but it is actually the little "pod" we rode in to get to the top of the Arch! It was sort of like a gondola but really tiny, Andy had to hunch over so he didn't hit his head!! When they were building the Arch they couldn't use a traditional elevator to get to the top because it was on a curve, so they combine the technology of an elevator, a train, and an amusement park ride and came up with these "pods"!

Mommy and Grayer riding in the "pod"

Daddy and Grayer riding in the "pod"

The view from the top of the Arch



This is the Church that we went to. More pictures below!

The family at 630 feet in the air


This is a mural of the Arch. It's cool because it compares the height of the Arch, 630 feet, to other famous buildings and structures, so you can see how tall it really is! If you click on the picture you can see off to the left is the White House which is 70 feet. And off to the right is Old Faithful which erupts at 184 feet, and Mount Rushmore stands at about 500 feet.

This is the inside of the Church

It had the most beautiful ornate organ, this picture does it no justice!

Okay, I guess there were more than a few pictures -- sorry!!!
Oh and in case you were wondering Andrew's audition went really well!! We don't know yet if he will be hired, so we'll keep you posted!
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Come to the Opera!!

Andrew delivered an amazing performance in the Opera this semester. I love to watch him perform and see him come alive on stage!!! He puts in so much work and I am so proud of him. The Opera they performed this semester is called, The Crucible which takes place in the 1600's and is about the Salem Witch Trials. Andy played the part of Reverend Hale, and he did a fantastic job!! It gave me the chills to watch him!!
I wish that all of you could come and see for yourselves how amazingly talented he is! Okay now I'm bragging but I can't help myself, my husband is the Greatest!! I love him!
Here are some pictures of him and the rest of the cast.
The last picture is of Andy with his voice teacher, Andrew Wentzel.
Enjoy! Don't you just love the wig!?!

Andy's Transformation!!

So on the first day of this semester Andy went to class and his Opera Director forbid any of the men to cut their hair. The opera they did this semester was The Crucible which is set in the 1600's, a time when the men wore their hair at their shoulders. So Andy's director, not being the smartest man, thought that he could get away with not wigging the men for the show by having them grow their hair out.
Needless to say, Andy obeyed and painfully grew his hair out for the semester hating every second of it, and in the end it did him no good because when he went to the dress rehearsal they wigged him anyway! Boy was he mad!!!!
(Just a side note, they had to wig ALL of the men in the opera because of course nobody's hair can grow 10 inches in just 2 months.)
So to make a long story short the morning after the show Andy wanted his hair off. So we cut his hair, and let's just say he is much happier now!!!
We took some before and after shots...
He has never had his hair this long before.

Curly in the back

And this is now... much better!

What's Wrong with This Picture!?!

After breakfast one morning I was washing Grayer off at the sink and when I went back to wash off the table, there was a new occupant in his high chair!!! I guess Hermione wanted some breakfast too!!! Silly Kitty!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...

From our little Pepe Le Pew!!!

SO SWEET!!

The other day I asked Andy to make me an open face Peanut Butter Sandwich, and when I went to go eat it this is what I found...

A heart in the Peanut Butter, so sweet!!! Such a simple thing but it meant to world to me!!
This week Grayer has been sick with a stuffy nose and a cough. Poor little guy! He can't sleep because he can't breath, which then of course leads to me getting little to no sleep. I feel like a walking zombie!!!
And on top of Grayer being sick, Andy has been extra busy this week and has not been around much. Rehearsals are becoming longer and more frequent, projects and papers are falling due, work is still work, and the LSAT is quickly approaching! Let me tell ya, he is one busy man!
But, this little Peanut Butter surprise was just what I needed to give me a boost and let me know that even though other things are occupying his time he is still thinking of me, and that he appreciates me, and that he loves me LOTS and LOTS!!!
Thanks, Babe I love you!!

9 MONTH PICTURES!

I can't believe our little guy is 9 months old. In fact, he is actually almost 10 months! Where does the time go? I do not know, but where ever it has gone we have been having a blast with our
Mr. Grayer Man!!!! At his 9 month check up he weighed 20 pounds and was 28 inches long! He is getting so big! He is loving his mobility and will be walking before we know it!!!!
Some of his favorite activities are... Eating dirt from the plants, only when I don't catch him in time. Reading bedtime stories. Pulling Mommy's cook books off the self. Unrolling the toilet paper. Petting/grabbing the kitty. Playing the piano, he can reach the keys on his own now. Feeding himself. Going on walks. Brushing his teeth. Gritting his teeth, much to his parent's dismay. Having his Grandparents visit -hint hint! Crawling as fast as he can to the fridge when it is open. (When I cook it is almost a race between us to see if I can get everything out of the fridge and close it before he gets there!)
Some things that he doesn't like so much are... Getting his face washed after eating. Not being able to touch the foot pedals on the organ at church while Daddy is playing. Being put to bed when he thinks it is play time. Getting his nose wiped or bulbed. Not being able to eat the kitty food. Having the open fridge shut before he can get there. Daddy leaving in the morning for school or work. Riding in the back seat of the car all by himself, although he really likes it when Grandma and Grandpa are riding back there with him - hint hint!
We thank Heavenly Father everyday for sending Grayer to our family and we can't wait to watch him continue to grow and learn new things. We love our little boy!!!
The following are his 9 month pictures. I know there are tons but I can't help myself, I'm obsessed with his cuteness, but what Mother isn't?


p.s. To the Grandparents, in case you didn't catch my subtle hints we want you to come visit!! Mom and Dad, I know you just came but it was too short of a visit and we need more time to play!! Mom and Dad Gilchrist, it has been too long and we miss you. We need you here and don't forget to bring Aunt Molli with you!!

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa!!

My Mom and Dad came to Tennessee for a visit!!! They could only come for a short time, and we were sad to see them leave but we had a GREAT time!! Grayer absolutely loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa and he loved having their undivided attention!!!
While they were here we showed them around Knoxville, we went shopping, they helped us with some small projects around the house, and we took a short drive to North Carolina to meet up with Rob and his family for a day!!! Thanks Mom and Dad for everything, we loved having you here!!

Grandpa and Grandma bought Grayer a Coonskin hat!
And along with the hat they would sing the "Davy Crockett" Song...
"Born on a mountain top in Tennessee.
The greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree.
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier"!

Grayer and Grandpa playing the piano!

Touring Knoxville, it was a very rainy day!

Grayer was very excited to have Grandma and Grandpa
keep him company in the backseat of the car!!

Doing tricks with Grandpa!!