Early Call Family Christmas

Bowen & 4 generations

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Testing Something New!

Knicks Beat the Jazz

While in NYC, I had the chance to attend a Knicks game. (That is actually something I wanted to do while I lived here, but I just never had the chance.) You know Mormons...they feel like they have to root for the Jazz just because they are from Utah. A whole group of YSA's got together and went to the game. While they were rooting for the Jazz, I was rooting for the Knicks...well, actually I was rooting for Maleak Rose (# 31 on the Knicks). He's a former Spur and I like to believe a Spur at heart even today. It was a pretty exciting game...the Knicks won by one at the buzzer. Needless to say there were lots of disappointed Mormons around me! I'm of course in green and my friends Karen and Kristan are on either side of me. My former roommate Lindsay is above with her new roommate Caroline. I had a blast and have other pictures on my camera to post. This picture was actually take by Caroline nad she emailed it to me. I'll post again soon!

The Elf inside us all

If you've seen the Don Call family blog, you've seen Aaron's act of holiday feeling. I thought I would try it myself. It's pretty interesting! I hope you enjoy...give it a go yourself.


Check me out by clicking the link below.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=4c79fa79bb58b8f8ec9877cG06121406

Main Street Bethlehem

Burnett, Texas turns part of their town into a Bethlehem. It was amazing and my pictures don't do it the justice that it deserves. It was truly amazing. The major problem was that my batteries went dead right as I got there. I had to take pictures with my cellphone. That's why they aren't go great...sorry!

LAX Should be renamed Celebrity Central Airport

I spent just one day in California. I landed on Monday at the John Wayne Airport (in Orange County) and flew out of LAX on Tuesday evening. While I was there I saw 3 celebrities - some more popular than others. While I was waiting in the "self-service" line for American Airlines, I turned around only to see the many standing directly behind me was...
BOBBY FLAY! For those of you who don't know him... he is a major chef on the food network. He has also been on a few other shows. He had sunglasses on, but I recognized him right away. I didn't say anything too him, because shortly after I recognized him, so did another man. He made a big deal about it and you could tell that Bobby was a little bugged. He was very polite, but you could just tell he wanted to be left alone. That was celebrity #1.

Celebrity #2 was much more exciting. I walked up the stairs, (after my encounter with Celebrity #1) and was standing in the security line. While waiting to go through security, I looked to my right and in the line right next to me was...

WENTWORTH MILLER. Some of you might be asking...who is that. Well, I will tell you. I have recently become addicted to the television show Prison Break. Well, Wentworth is the main character. He is very hot in person. I would have said something to him had we gotten through security together, but I was behind this really slow family of 5. Needless to say, he got through much quicker than I did. I did get to drowl over him for awhile though.

From Security I went to my gate. My coworker called me and we had a quick work call. I was standing near my gate when a man passed me. I recognized him as someone famous, but I couldn't place him. I actually told my co-worker that someone famous had walked by me. When she asked who, I said I couldn't remember, but I knew he played a bad guy in a movie. I told her that it would come to me...well it did! Last night at about 3 am, I woke-up and remembered where he was from...He can be seen in the movie Ghost! It was...


I actually had to look him up to see that his name is Tony Goldwyn.

Well, those were my brushes with celebrities. I felt like I was back in NYC. I guess maybe I should take up residence at LAX and then I would see a lot more! :)

Just another brush with fame!

Monday I was traveling from San Antonio to California...Orange County to be exact! While I was at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport I saw Deion Sanders. (He played in the NFL.) Joel was a little disappointed that I didn't get his autograph. He was however walking into the bathroom. I didn't think it would be a good idea to bother him while he was in that pursuit! :)

Brooklyn's BIG Announcement

Right before Thanksgiving dinner, when we were going around the table saying what we are thankful for, Brooklyn made her announcement. With the help from her dad, she took off her big bulky sweater (in 80 degree weather, we should have been suspicous). Her shirt says it all. We are all really excited for the new baby to come...babies are always welcome in our family. When you ask Brooklyn if she wants a baby sister or a baby brother, she ALWAYS says, "Baby sitster." Joel tries to get her to say brother, but it never works. I think she probably knows better than us what's coming.
(I know you are thinking that I act like this child is mine, because I post about her...really Brit has had problems posting pictures, so I do it for them. That way everyone can see how cute she is...and just like all my nieces, she's a doll!)

Brooklyn's Past time

From the moment Brooklyn enters Mimi and Papa's house there are two things she wants..."Elmo's Potty" (her favorite show-which her father finds a bit disturbing that a grown man, Gordon, talks to fuzzy creatures about going to the potty) and she also asks for "Pacorn." She loves to sit on her chair and eat popcorn while watching Elmo. Being the good aunt that I am, I even went out and bought a different Elmo movie, in hopes of weening her from Elmo Potty Time. NO such luck! Although she does love to say, "Elmo peT-s" (with the "t" very pronouced), she doesn't much like to watch it. I have to also say that Elmo's Potty time has introduced her to a few new vocabulary words..."Pee-Pee" and "Poo-Poo." Thanks Gordon, Elmo, and Baby Bear!

Photo Op in the Car

Brooklyn loves the car. Brit had her all dressed up and ready to go get pictures taken. They ended up not having time, so I took her outside and put her in the trunk. She loves everything about cars. I guess that might have something to do with her dad working at a carlot in the summer and her spending a great deal of time there early in her life! She's a doll and I love this little outfit she wears. She actually wore it to Stake Conference and you should have heard all the oohh's and ahhh's.

Thanksgiving Update

I don't have any pictures to post because I didn't bring the cable for my camera, but I did want to take this free second I have to give you all the Thanksgiving run down. (Pictures to post later.)

Well, we got to Aiken, SC on Wednesday night. Thursday we had a yummy mel around 1:00. Poor Clair didn't make it far into the meal and started to fall asleep at the table, so I put her down for a nap right in the middle of turkey and dressing. She was so tired, she didn't even put up any resistance. We have many people here. It was Stephen's parents, his sister - Jessica, his mimi and papa, Stephen and me and the three kids, and four missionaries (including one from SA). It was a yummy dinner, with plenty of food. That night we watched Cars and KT and Creighton came over and we played a little Dance Dance Revolution...mainly watched Kate and Clair play. Then we went to bed. It was a real laid back day.

The worst part of the weekend was Saturday. Stephen and Bowen and I went to the Clemson/USC game with KT and Creighton. As you all know...Clemson lost by 3 points. It was pretty sad and disappointing. However, I didn't get to see much of the game, so I never felt like I really got in it. As a matter of fact, the last 13 minutes of the game, I was sitting in a family restroom nursing Bowen. I could hear the announcer when he got excited. We were driving down the field and then there was nothing. Then I heard them announce the end of the game. I thought we had won. I hurried and finished up and went outside the bathroom and then I could clearly see by the looks of the Tiger fans, we didn't win. By the time I was able to hook back up with Stephen, he seemed to be handling it as well as can be expected. We left the stadium and went back to the car and drove straight to our favorite rib place in all the world (Sardi's Den) and drowned our sorrows in some yummy ribs and chocolate peanut butter ice cream cake! The game was sad, but the food was yummy and a special treat we only get when we go to Clemson!

So, we are still in Aiken and will go home Monday afternoon/early evening. That way we don't have to fight the horrible returning home holiday traffic tonight! I missed you all very much this holiday and hope at least some of you will come see us a Christmas!

My Business Trip to Florida

The last day of October and the 1st 2 days of November I spent in Florida. I was working, but I also got to spend the 1st day of November on the beach. It was 85 degrees and so beautiful. One of the schools that I was supposed to be training at cancelled on me. This meant that I had a whole afternoon on the beach. I got in the water up to my waist and it wasn't actually a nice temperature. There were only about 20 people as far as the eye could see. I am posting pictures from my cellphone. I thought I had forgotten my camera, only to find out my camera was in my laptop bag the whole time! I was a little bugged that I didn't think to check there.

I also had a quick trip to CT. I stayed on Yale's campus...not as nice as Columbia, but I guess it works for some! :) It was beautiful. I was so sad that I was so close to NYC, yet not close enough. Maybe another time!

Next week I go to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Don't hold your breath...I doubt it will be worthy of a blog! :)

"Fall" some more!

"Fall" in Love With the South

We drove up to the mountains yesterday for a little family outing. The leafs are a little pass prime color time, but we enjoyed the beautiful day and found a new cool place...Amlicola Falls (in north GA). I didn't get a good picture of the falls...I got one from the top of the falls....it literally starts with just this little trickle of a stream and turns into this beautiful waterfall. Anyway, Stephen took the girls to go and look at the falls from below, but I had to nurse the big boy and didn't get to see them as it was getting late. Kate wanted to hike from the top to the bottom, but poor Clair and her little short legs, could hardly walk up the stairs from the parking area to the senic out look point at the top of the falls. So, we will have to go back another day when we can set up "camp" and Kate can hike, while little Clair can help watch Bowen! :) The girls love to collect leaves and look for the biggest, redest, yellowest...you get the idea.

Gymnastics Birthday party

Kate and Clair enjoyed a fun gymnastics party with their friends. Here are some of the pictures of the BIG event!

Mimi's Boy

Mimi just can't keep her lips of our handsome little man. Who can blame her...he is SOOOO kissable! :)

Papa's Girls

My girls love their "Crazy Papa"!

Do you think these two are related?

Look...it is the exact same expression on both of their faces!

Kate loves her Papa!

Clair loves her Papa too!

Look at that background...looks fake, but that is right behind our house!

Fun With Mimi and Papa

We had so much fun with Mimi and Papa...too bad it was just for a few days. :( My kids love you both so much. Thanks for coming for Bowen's blessing. It means so much to me! Love you both mucho mucho!

Graceland

Here are finally my Graceland pictures. Sorry about the one being sideways. I'm just trying to keep things interesting. Actually I coldn't figure out how to change it. I had forgotten to bring my digital camera, so I had to use a disposable. Graceland was really amazing. Ros...wish you could have been there with me.

Funny Pumpkin Patch Story

As you all know...Kate is afraid of loud noises, including large trucks, and esp. large trucks when they put on their air breaks. Anyway, so the pumpkin patch is near a busy road. Right when I was getting ready to take the picture a big truck pulled up and the hiss of the air breaks filled the cool autumn air. Needless to say, Kate freaked out. Clair looked confused& looked around trying to figure out what was going on. (She only acts scared because Kate is.) Bowen could care less, but he was cold. So, this is the picture of all of that. Kate - crying because I told her to take her hands off her ears, Clair- confused...what's the big deal, and Bowen - just wanting to get back into the warm car.