Random Pictures from NYC

The first picture is of my roommate Kirstyn at the Church of Scientology of New York. While waiting in line for Tarzan tickets...that we didn't get...we noticed this church. My roommate wanted to pose in front. I don't know if you can tell, but she stuffed her shirt to make her look pregnant. That is in honor of Tom and Katie, the rumors here were that it was all a fake. The second picture is of a really cool building in New York City. I can't remember the name of the building, but it is very thin and really actually neat. I took a picture and thought I'd share it with you guys!

Another Friday Night on Broadway

My roommate Kirstyn and I decided to spend tonight (Friday) with a few of our Broadway friends. We tried to get student rush tickets to see Tarzan...but we didn't get in. We were four people away from getting tickets. We decided to go to plan B! We headed to the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee lottery...we put our names in and my roommates name got drawn! This is our second attempt and I guess it was the charm. It was a cute show. The music was catchy and the set was neat. The first picture is of my roommate and I outside the Theater. The middle picture is of my roommate standing in line to get our tickets. We actually took the picture because the guy in front of her was dressed so strangley. He had on "Rhinestone Cowboy boots" and cutoffs. Over his shoulder he had cutoff collars (about 5 of them) sown on his t-shirt...it was odd. He was also a little fruity, if you know what I mean. We had fun.

Kate as...The Princess and the Pea

Ros is still having difficulties blogging pictures...so I thought I would blog them for her. They really are darling!

Ros' email:

Here are a few pics of Kate in her fairy tale costume! She was slow as can be this morning, so these are after pre-school and her hair isn't as cute as it was this AM, but oh well! She looked cute and told me about all the costumes her classmates were wearing. Her best buddy Samantha was the Swan Princess...there were two Tinker Bells, and two Snow Whites, one little pig, one pirate, a zebra (I don't get this one), and a tiger. They made wands...and guess what....my girls do love each other...Kate asked her teachers if she could please make a wand for her sister...so she brought home two wands...one for her and one for Clair. Clair was SO happy and as soon as we got home and out of the car she gave Kate a big hug and said, "Thanks sissy!" It was totally tender! I am sure by this afternoon, they will be back to fighting like wild children, but the temporary truce was sweet!

Rosalind

Ballerina Girl

This is an email from Ros. I thought I would include it with the picture she emailed us!

Hello All,

Here is a picture of Kate in her ballerina get-up (not the greatest picture, but she kept doing these weird dance moves while I was trying to take her picture)! This is right before her first class. She LOVED it. However, the teacher told her to tell her mom she needs to wear solid pink tights from now on. Heck, what do I know about ballet! Anyway, she wanted to go again on Tuesday and I had to explain it is only once a week! She was disapointed! This child really needs to be in school. She loves social interaction and learning! She'll have to wait one more year! She looked so grown up and tall in her get-up. It about brought tears to my eyes!

Love To You All!
Rosalind

Crazy Week!

Well, it has been a pretty crazy week...and it isn't even over!

We started out Sunday with about two and half hours of some pretty crazy contractions. After drinking a ton of water and staying down on my left side, they just kind of went away! The next morning I was VERY sore and called the doctor. They said to take it easy and to lay down in the mid-morning, afternoon, and mid-evening, and to avoid being on my feet for long periods of time. Well, I'll do it! The last thing I want is to be put on bed rest for the next 4 month! So, I've been following their advice and it really has helped. I can tell Bowen is getting stronger because he is kicking like a wild man every time I lay down!

Kate started ballet this week. She only goes once a week, much to her dislike. She wants to go every night! She really enjoyed it! She also has been looking forward to pre-school for today. They had to dress up as a fairy tale person. She had grand ideas and listed every fairy tale princess she could think of. We settled on the Princess and the Pea. She wore her Halloween costume from two Halloweens ago. It still fits pretty well. Then we took a pea off of the pea-pod costume that Clair wore, for her to carry! She looked cute and was so very excited to show everyone. She said, "Mom, I have stage fright, I just don't think I can do this!" I told her she has never had anything CLOSE to stage fright in her entire life! I think she was just excited.

Clair is totally growing up too! She keeps us smiling and laughing with the things she says! She is really into saying the prayer on the food. She thanks and bless the food, and then she always says, "Bless that Jesus will get fixed." Kate said to her one day, "Why do you bless Jesus to get fixed?" And she responded, "Because He has holes in his hands and feet!" "Well, they won't get better!", says Kate. I think it is cute! At least she paid attention enough to know that about Jesus. She also loves to help cook and she has to work on projects when I am helping Kate with her handwriting or with a workbook. Yesterday she was coloring a picture of Eeyore, from Winnie the Pooh. Kate said, "Eeyore is a donkey!" Clair says, "Eeyore is a HONKEY?" I about feel out of my chair laughing. I called Stephen and a couple other people so she could tell them. She cracks me up!

Bowen is getting big. I know because he has really picked up the kicking and moving around. He really like me to lay on the bed, on my back with my head and shoulders propped up. The girls love to talk to my belly and Clair likes to play peek-a-boo. Kate wants to learn how to spell his name and also draws pictures of him! We got paint for the nursery and they both really want to help! (That would be scary!)

Stephens work hasn't been as bad this week. It kind of seems to go in waves. He is going to Mexico in May and still has lots to do to get ready for that trip. He will be the lead auditor, is working on his certification. That would be a great feather to have in his hat! He had to "work from home" yesterday because the green van is leaking coolant again. He is not happy with the shope in Simpsonville that fixed it last time and he even issued a complaint with Chevy....this is a known flaw on their Ventures and yet they still make them the same way! So, that has been the real damper on his week!

We hope you are all well! Love and miss you all!

New York Spa Week

This past week, NYC had it's bi-anual Spa week. What is Spa week you ask? Well, that is when all the Spa's in NYC offer services at a discounted rate. Seeing that this doesn't happen often, two of my roommates and I decided to take action. We made ourselves appointments at an reputable NYC spa. It was actually in Chelsea. We went and had a "Slimming Body Wrap." For all of you mere-mortals or non-celebrities...let me explain what this procedure involves. (Also, let me say that I too was a mere-mortal/non-celebrity until Saturday morning, when I had my first "Slimming Body Wrap.") Once in the Spa treatment room, you remmove your clothes (keeping you bra on) and put on these paper underwear. The Spa specialist rubs some kind of herbs on you and then paints your body with a herbal parifin wax. You are then wrapped in seran-wrap, placed in a plastic wrap and covered with two blankets. For 45 minutes your body is supposed to be "detoxifying" itself. Interesting! Once you have detoxified, the Spa Specialist cuts you out of the seran-wrap and then wipes any excess parafin off you. I was a little uncomfortable, because I am a little on the modest side, but the Specialist was from Russian and spent the whole time telling me about a lady who had this treatment before me that was, and I quote..."As big as this whole room!" That made me feel some what better. The treatment is supposed to make you loose 6 to 20 inches. My roommates and I forgot to measure ourselves before the treatment, so we are not really sure how many inches we lost. I can't say that we really lost inches, but my skin did feel tighter and softer. (My roommates felt the same.) We had to drink water all day to "rehydrate" ourselves. Now for the big question...would I ever do it again? Maybe if I was very wealthy...but probably not! This is a procedure that all the stars have done before the big award shows! The only part that I was a little uncomfortable with, was when the "specialist" moved aside my paper panties and painted my buttocks! That made me nervous...only my mom and the Dr. has ever seen my butt cheeks! Now I guess we can add the Russian Spa Specialist, that I hope to never see again! :)

More Celeb...well sort of...Sightings!

Today, while walking down Broadway, I noticed a lady helping another lady who had tripped. The helpful lady looked familiar, but I couldn't place her. After walking a mere block...it came to me! It was Ashton from one of my favorite shows, family do I even need to name it! (For those who aren't sure, like Joel and Britni, I will tell you all!) Ashton from North and South! If I could have gone back and gotten her autograph...I would have, but I was pretty sure she was gone. She is a little older and her hair is shorter, but it was her all right! With her hair shorter, at first I thought it was Sandra Bullock, but she was too old to be Sandy. I am almost ashamed of myself for not recognizing her right away! Thankfully it only took me a block! :) The moral of this story is keep your eyes open, because you never know who you will see walking the streets of NYC!

Easter in the City

My roommates and I got all "gusied" up for Easter. It was a little windy, but the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day in New York City. The one picture is in front of the Manhattan Temple, where we go to church. The other one is on our stoop of our apartment. We had a fabulous day. We ended up eating Easter dinner at a friend's apartment. We tried to make it a normal Easter dinner without our families. I missed you all, but was glad for good friends to celebrate the holiday with!

Saturday Brunch

The thing to do on Saturday and Sunday (if you are not LDS) is to go to brunch. So places serve brunch as late as 4 p.m. (which seems more like an early dinner to me!). Last Saturday a group of friends and I went to Sarabeth's for brunch. It was good food and Oprah has featured Sarabeth's jams on her show (for all of you who are not opposed to the big O...basically that is just Britni!). While there, this guy walked by me. He looked very familiar to me, but I didn't know how I knew him. Today I was checking out Martha Stewart's website for a recipe and I figured out how I recognized him....he was on Martha's show. He is some Soap Opera actor, from where I don't know. Anyway, just thought I would keep you posted on my celebrity sightings. I am saddened that I can't report something better like Matthew, Penelope, or Julia. What can I say, I see their NYC pictures in People magazine and I wonder why I never see these people walking the same streets I walk? I guess i will just have to make due with "B-listers" and in some cases "C & D listers!" Not as exciting I know...but I am doing the best I can!

A Typical Friday Night in NYC

OK...maybe if you are rich and famous, but not if you are a student like me! Last night, my roommate and I decided to go to a Broadway show. I have only been to one since I moved here and I feel the heat on...since I can see the end in sight. We tried to get into the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which is supposed to be fabulous. They do a lottery, as does Wicked. We didn't get into either of those. Luck was not on our side. Inside we bought tickets to see Barefoot in the Park, with Amanda Peet and a few other minor celebrities. It was slow moving at the beginning, but it picked up. It is a Neil Simon play and having seen another one of Neil Simon's shows, I think that is just his M.O. It was nice just getting to go. Jill Claybrough, another "B-list" celebrity was in the play and I walked right by here. (She's the one in the fur.) I wish this could be my typical Friday in NYC, but it is just too expensive!

HAPPY EASTER to my family "Peeps!"

In honor of the upcoming Easter Holiday, I thought I would send you one of my favorite pictures...that goes with this holiday. I actually took it in March, but it was for Easter. All my "peeps" out there should love it! :) Grandmother would have loved this display! Happy Easter!



The lady in the picture wouldn't move for the picture...rude tourists!

Cooching, Potty, Dentist, & Icky Kissing...in that order!

Hello Everyone! I tired to post yesterday, but the BLOG site was so slow, I lost my desire to sit here for minutes while the sign on page loaded. So, today I have a few things to post....

First, per Emily's request...I want to share something funny that happened with Kate the other day. Something that just proves Emily theory that Kate is hers! We were making jam, blackberry jam, and Kate was mashing the berries with a potato masher. Blackberries are a little more firm then say a strawberry and she was really having to put her back in it. She was slowing down and I asked her if she wanted me to mash them for a while so her tired arms could have a break. She said, "It isn't my arms that are tired, it's my teeth!" She was "cooching" the whole time she was smashing...it would have made her Aunt Emily proud since she is the "Cooch Queen". I just laughed and told her there wasn't much I could do to help with the teeth, but maybe if I mashed, her teeth could take a break too!

Clair filled up her first potty chart. She had to go eight times and have dry pants each time, before she could get a new game. I finally just asked her what she'd like and after giving her MANY choices, she said she'd like a new game. Well, it took her two days, but she filled her first chart. Next chart will have 12 spots to fill. So today we went to Wal Mart and she picked the classic, "Cooties". She also said next time she wants "Monkeys in a Barrel". (Good that one is cheap!) So, maybe I found some motivation. We just need to work on getting her to tell me she has to go, not me just taking her every 30 - 45 minutes. I guess Paige and Gavin are in the same situation (see Call Family Blog).

Kate went to the dentist today. She LOVES going to the dentist. He said she has beautiful teeth. It was a mad house. It is the only ped. Dentist in our plan that is close. CRAZY I tell you! But Kate liked it a lot....tons of kids. She immediately found a new friend! Clair will go for her fist apt. at 3 and that is when I will take Kate back for her 6 month apt. By then, little Bowen will be going with us too! Oh scary...three kids! Anyway, Kate did well and was happiest that the hygentist suggested an electric toothbrush for her. (She has issues with plaque along her gum line up front, like her dad I guess.) Anyway, so while at Wal Mart, Kate also picked out a new tooth brush. Of course as soon as we got home she had to use it!

One more funny story...yesterday while the girls were napping I watched Pride and Prejudice (my most recent Netflix movie). Clair woke up right at the end. In the closing scene, the leading actress kisses her guys hand. It is all very tender. Clair was sitting in my lap and as soon as she kissed his hand Clair says, "Ewww, gross!" Kind of killed the mood. Then after they kissed, I said, "Ohhh!" Clair said "What?" I said, "They love each other!" She kind of looked at me like, who cares, turn on Elmo, he never kisses! Thank goodness it was the end, I might have had a rioting 2 year old on my hands! :)

Hope you all have a great weekend. I love you all!

Bluebonnets and Brooklyn

I love this time of year in Texas. I am glad I at least get to see some bluebonnets in this picture. Sorry there haven't been tons, but at least you got a picture out of it. Brooklyn's Easter dress is darling. I love yellow. Basically this is one darling girl and I miss her tons! Brit you need to bring her to visit me!

Spring Break

Hello Family! We are all doing "pretty good" as Clair says. Kate is having Spring Break this week. (She doesn't like to call it a break...she says it is vacation.) Yesterday we went with our friends, the Sainsburys, to a dollar movie theater to see "Curious George". When we got there we discovered that Tuesday's are only 50cents! So for $1.50 all three of us saw a movie. It was really pretty cute, a must see for folks who like animation and cute little stories. I was surprised to recognize several voices...Drew Barrymore and Will Ferell. When we got out of the movie I said, "So, Kate what did you think?" She said, "I LOVED it, can we stay and see it again?" "I asked Clair, "Did you like it Clair?" She said, "No, I didn't. It was scary." It was as far from scary as you get, but if Kate says yes than Clair will say no! (Kate is the same way, if Clair wants OJ for breakfast, then Kate wants apple juice!) They are so crazy. I think it was just too long to be still for Clair. Well, she better get used to it, free (air conditioned) summer movies will be my choice of entertainment this HOT summer! :)

Today on our spring break (vacation)agenda we are practicing our letters (Kate), practicing our shapes (Clair) and making blackberry freezer jam (Kate while Clair naps). We do have to run to the store to get some freezer containers and 2 more pints of blackberries. However, I am so excited to have some good blackberry jam with some seeds...love it! I also have to run by the library to drop off a movie. However, we will not be getting new books just yet, as we have yet to finish ALL the lengthy animal books Kate requested. We are in the middle of the parrot book and still have to read the lion and peguin books. Kate is still amazed with the peacock book, when they showed India on a map during conference, Kate yells out, that is where peacocks are from! She also now would like to own a bird. After "babysitting" some birds for a friend once, I say a BIG NO! They make a big mess. Kate has promised she will always clean up after them, but I don't think so. They can live a LONG time, and I just don't want to deal with it.

Well, I better go...I need to shower and run to the store so we can get going on our activities for today! Love and miss you all!

From MOM

Hello, Call Clan! A little boy! Hooray…I guess Kate is one happy camper right now and so in tune…she has picked all the baby genders correctly thus far in the Call Clan sojourn! She is hysterical…she says “Mimi…we have a baby brother!” If I didn’t know better I would’ve thought little Bowen had been born yesterday! She was pretty wound up. I am thrilled for Rosalind and Stephen…everyone needs at least one boy…glad we have ours! I can hardly wait til the Brights come again so little Brooklyn can see her cousins…she is so funny when they talk to her on the phone…she grins from ear to ear and just beams! Of course Kate and Clair are hysterical talking baby talk to her…they are all three so darling. How about for Mother’s Day everyone comes here?! Papa is really quite excited about this little guy…he finally gets a namesake! I know he was very emotional all evening. Boy, Emily…what a world traveler you are! I loved your D.C. pictures…you got to see a ton this past weekend! Wish I could’ve been there! I love you all! Mimi

The DC area on the Sabbath

In between sessions of Conference on Sunday, my friend and I visited Arlington National Cemetery. It was beautiful and humbling. I couldn't believe how many graves there were, men and women who had given their lives for me and this country. Now I know why Grandpap wanted to be burried there. It was really neat seeing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. I got to see the changing of the guard and the changing of the wreath in front of the tomb. They change it every hour. When we were there, four middle school students got to present the wreath...it was neat. The mansion is Robert E. Lee's home. I had no idea that this was his estate, that they turned into the National Cemetery...although he is not burried there. I didn't get to go into the mansion, my friend was too tired, plus that gives me something to do next time. I also got to see the memorial for the Challenger and the other shuttle crash, as well as The Kennedy family plots (John and Robert). It was interesting, but I don't know why John got more than one plot (he actually had 4, two children, his wife, and his). I am not really sure what the "eternal flame" is supposed to represent...he was just a President, like all the others. That place was huge and there was no way to see it all, but I felt like it was a privillage to get to see it. I am pretty sure the people around me thought I was odd, as I cried about everything. I was especially emotional upon seeing the respect the guards had that guarded the Tomb. Also "Taps" just about did me in.

DC on a Saturday

On Saturday morning, my friend and I headed into our Nation's Capitol via the Metro! This weekend was the Cherry Blossom Festival and boy was it gorgeous. We started our morning out at the United States Holocaust Museum. That is such a sad place, yet I feel like every human being needs to go there. I found myself amazed at the facts I learned, that I had either forgotten or never learned in school. I especially found it amazing that Hitler changed a country so completly in just 6 short months, from the time he was made Chancellor to the "Final Solution" about the Jews. How completly shocking and disturbing all at the same time! At the beginning of the museum, they give you a passport telling you about a Jew in Europe. At the end of the exhibit, you read the last page of the passport to find out what happened to your person. On the second and third page of the passport, I was certain that she had survived...but she didn't. I was so sad.
After the museum, we went to the Jefferson Memorial. It was amazing! The view was fabulous and I loved it. The river was surrounded by Cherry Blossoms Trees that were blooming and beautiful. I wish you all could have been there to enjoy it!

IT'S A BOY!

Yes, we are very excited and Kate isn't "darn mad" so all is well. Our little man looked good. He wasn't nearly as cooperative as the girls were at getting his picture done...hummm....perhaps an idea of things to come. Anyway, I am so excited and we have already decided on what to do with the nursery...planes! Kate says she can't wait for him to teach her how to play football. Clair was only concerned about why I had a band-aid on my finger.

So, world look out for

Stephen Bowen

coming this August to a family near and dear to you! :)

Pictures from Friday in DC

These pictures go with the blog about Friday. I couldn't get them to post with the writing. Can you name these places? If not, read my previous blog to find out about Friday in DC!

Friday in Washington DC

Friday morning started early. My friend had to work until about noon, so I took the Metro into the city and did my own thing until she meet up with me at about 2 pm. I started at the Washington Memorial then headed to the war memorials. I loved the WWII memorial, the wall of stars left me in awe. I also enjoyed the Korean War memorial. I did the Vietnam Memorial and the Lincoln memorial...all of which was great. I loved the Lincoln memorial and the view from the memorial. The reverance and peace at these places is amazing. I loved every minute of being in those places. I really thinkn that every American needs to visit DC...the history and heritage is awesome. After visiting the monuments and memorials....I headed to the White House. On the way, I passed the Daughters of the American Revolution building, the Red Cross Building, and a few other amazing buildings. At the White House I was disappointed to find out that you can't visit inside unless you have a pass from your Congress man (months in advance). Instead, I went to the White House Museum. I also saw the National Treasury Building, but you couldn't go in there either! I then ended up at the National Natural History Museum where I saw the Hope Diamond and other National jewels. I also went to the National American History Museum. The original Sun Stone from the Nauvoo Temple is on display there as is the hat Lincoln wore when he was shot at Ford's Theater. There were so many awesome things there. After being there for not nearly long enough, I met up with my friend and we went to the National Gallery of Art, where we ate lunch. We then saw some DaVinci, VanGough, and Monet paintings. They were amazing. From there we headed to the "hill." You couldn't go inside the Capital Building without a pass from your congressman or rep. either. We then went to the Library of Congress where we saw the Gutenberg Bible (first bible printed with a printing press). We saw the Supreme Court building and actually got to go inside. We sat in the courtroom and listened to a lecture on the Supreme Court...that was neat. WE then passed the Senate offices on our way to the National Archives Building. This was so amazing...the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the most spectacular of all was the Constitution. To see the document that established this country was amazing. Words really can't describe how I felt. It was awesome! I was exhausted and ready to put my feet up. My pedometer logged 20 miles. YIKES! But oh the fun!

Thursday In Washington DC

Thursday evening I got to DC. I went from downtown DC, on the subway, to my friend's house in McLean, Virginia. It was nice to get around from the "city that never sleeps." I got more sleep then I needed there, but I also got to see a lot. I won't bore you with all the pictures (104 of them), but I will blog some of them. I will try to do it in some sort of order. After eating dinner Thursday night, my friend took me past the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and then on to one of my favorite statues...Iwo Jima. It was nighttime, so the pictures aren't that great. It is much larger than I thought and seeing it brought tears to my eyes. (Actually it seemed like tears flowed a lot during this trip.) I was so over come by the sacrifice that so many have made for me. It was overwhelming! The middle picture is of the view from the Iwo Jima statue. It was gorgeous!

Waiting to go to DC

I went to Washington DC on Thursday. As I was waiting for the bus, near Penn Station, I saw ESPN filming their show "Cold Pizza." I snapped a couple of shots for Joel. I thought he would enjoy it, as he is probably the only "Cold Pizza" watcher in our family. Arliss (some guy from the show) was out earlier, but I didn't get my camera out in time.

Thoughts from Mimi...

I just wanted to tell all of you “Hello!” Sadly the bluebonnets and gorgeous Texas wildflowers are pretty pitiful this year. I guess our lack of rain hasn’t been good for them. I really miss them because I truly look forward to seeing them every year and I am sad when they die out. Britni was able to get a couple of cute pictures of Brooklyn in the wildflowers…what few she could find. I guess Dad told you about our trip to Taos. It was a good thing and I am so glad that I got to go and see Aunt Sandra before she leaves this life. She handled everything very gracefully. I was so impressed by her friends and all of the nice things they said about her impact on their lives. She has been a good friend and you can tell they love her. She has a tremendous support system there and it is such a blessing knowing that. I don’t think I’ll go back….I am a bit overwhelmed by death and dying right now. I guess I’ve seen a bit more of it than I expected to at this point in my life. Please keep in touch with her…she loves hearing from you all. Hope my little darlings…a.k.a. Kate, Clair and Brooklyn are all doing well…they sure make their Mimi smile! We get to find out if there really is going to be a Stephen Bowen on Monday…HOORAY! I love you all.

Mom

TODAY IS THE DAY!

My OB apt is at 2:30 PM eastern standard time. I will post the results when I get home! Any bets on what we are having!