Fort Primos

Here are pictures of Papa's recent project...Fort Primos. He did a great job! Brooklyn and Jack have already broken it in a little, but can't wait to actually share it with their cousins! Mimi told Brooklyn that she needed to thank Papa for building it for her and her cousins and Brooklyn told her that she would thank him when he finished the sand box! She can be a real stinker sometimes. Thank you Papa for building the fort so that our grandchildren will have WONDERFUL memories to come. Now, we just need to get the Brights here!

Looking down the wall climb

Getting ready to slide!

Memorial Day Honor

I love Memorial Day, because it is another day that we have to be thankful for the men and women that have sacrificed for our country and the freedoms that come with our citizenship. I am personally thankful for those men and women and their families. I was watching the news the other day and they were showing how our National Cemeteries prepare for this day. It brought tears to my eyes to see current service men and women placing flags on every grave and then saluting the grave. It was just further proof that we live in a great country.

While in Utah, I took the chance to stop by the Provo cemetery to pay my respects to one of my personal heroes…my Grandpap. He served our country and made many sacrifices to ensure my freedoms remain in tack. For that I am grateful. I also took the time to stop at the War Memorial in the cemetery and found my Grandpap’s name. Here are a couple of pictures, including my Grandpap’s name...Jack E. St. Clair. Thanks Grandpap for your service to our country.

Newest Member of the Family

A couple of weeks ago, we welcomed a new member to our family. Her name is Lucy and she is Brooklyn’s new hermit crab. Brooklyn had been working to get a hermit crab for a while. She worked very hard to have good behavior for awhile, so that she could get a pink hermit crab. When I took her to the mall to get a hermit crab, she fell in love with a gold crab. We opted for a pink cage. I thought she would be afraid to touch it, but she held it with no problems. As soon as she held the crab she said, “This is Lucy.” We brought it over to Mimi and Papa’s, while Mimi and I took Brooklyn to Mimi’s work party at the Zoo. Brooklyn was so funny about leaving Lucy. Papa was sick and Brooklyn walked in and said, “Papa will you crab watch Lucy, but don’t get her sick…k?” About 10 minutes down the road…on the way to the Zoo, Brooklyn insisted on calling Papa to check on Lucy. She is a really great hermit crab owner. The day after Lucy joined our family was Sunday. Brooklyn wanted to bring Lucy to church. I explained that we don’t bring pets to church. At that Brooklyn said, “That one boy brings his pet dog to church.” (We have a kid in our ward that has a service dog…he alerts people when the boy’s blood sugar is dangerously low…he’s a diabetic.) I had to explain the difference between service dogs and hermit crabs. She seemed ok with leaving Lucy home, but insisted that Lucy be allowed to come over to my house for dinner. Joel said that Brooklyn carried Lucy around in her cage the whole day before church and then she carried her around at my house that evening. Here’s a picture with Brooklyn holding Lucy at my house before dinner.

Brings a SMILE to my face

One of the things that does my heart good is to see the big "white Y" on the side of the mountain in Provo, Utah. I don't know what it is about that place, but really when I drive into the valley and see Y Mountain...I get a little giddy. I know that sounds lame, but I guess I bleed Blue and that "Y" speaks to me! If you haven't been there, it's hard to really understand.

The other thing that brings a smile to my face when in Provo is to hear the Bell Tower at BYU when it chimes every hour on the hour. It plays, "Come, Come Ye Saints." It is just such a happy time. I stopped by the BYU campus...which is magical in and of itself. While on campus, I just had to stop and take a picture of Y Mountain and the Bell Tower...it brings the question - Can you ever have too many pictures of Y Mountain and the Bell Tower? Answer - Nope! It was also very interesting to drive by the dorms that I lived in. Guess what...Gates Hall is being renovated.

Have you thanked your spouse today?!

Last weekend my friend Kim and I attended a Singles' Conference in Salt Lake City. I always enjoy spending time with my friend Kim and we always have fun together. I don't know what I would have done if she hadn't have been by my side. Here are just a few highlights of my weekend...
The keynote speaker for the conference was none other than....

Ricky Schroder. If you don't know who he is...you are WAY TO YOUNG! Here are a few hints - Silver Spoons, Champ (this one made me cry and probably still would), NYPD Blue (prior to joining the church...showing his bare butt is proof of that), Brad Paisley's Whiskey Lullaby video, and most recently 24. I really enjoyed hearing from both him and his wife.
Another highlight of the weekend was a Pinkberry knock-off in SLC. Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE Pinkberry...it is one of the things that I miss alot about NYC.

The place was called Lunaberry. Although it wasn't quite the same, it helped tide me over until I get to NYC in the next month or so.
Now for some lowlights of the weekend and the purpose of the title of this blog. The conference was an eye-opening experience. I realized that there are worse things than being single and if this conference is what I have to look forward to...no thank you. At one point Saturday night, my friend Kim turned to me and started singing, "Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something bad." We did get a lot of laughs out, but it was mostly so we wouldn't cry. It was a little depressing. Kim and I heard and witnessed some of the most insane things...so we decided to write some of the weirdiest things down. I thought I would provide you all with a good laugh. Some of the best quotes of the night/conference:
* Kim and I were sitting on some chairs in the hall way, when I noticed a beared man walking back and forth in front of us. I knew he was waiting to pounce on Kim...I could see it in his eyes. Like a flash of lightening, before I could warn Kim he was on his knees in between us with some of Kim's hair in his hand. He then said, "Does this come out of a bottle?" Kim sort of laughed and said, "Yes." Within the 5 minutes he spoke to us, we learned more than we ever wanted to know about him. Right before finally leaving us, he said, "You know how ex's are, you've been married before." Kim of course replied, "No" and he said, "Now I don't beieve that." He then turned and asked me. He was such a creepy guy.
* While Kim and I were registering for Speed Dating (yes I know...desperate) these 2 somewhat cute guys were in line behind us. Kim and I were actually hopeful, as they looked close to our age and normal. A girl walked up to them and said, "Oh great just as I'm leaving the two young and best looking guys walk in." There was some uncomfortable laughter and then she said, "I can see it now you're TRO and you are UBLE (pointing at each of the guys as she said this). Put it together and you two are TROUBLE."
* A older women walked up to a guy sitting in the hallway during the dance and asked him why he wasn't in dancing. He said, "I can't dance because I've been married before and if I get that close to a women, I'll close my eyes and want to flip out the lights." Who knows what exactly that means, but it is really creepy! YIKES.
* A guy comes chasing a girl out of the gym and said, "I'd love to dance with you because I don't think I'm able to keep my hands off you any longer." That guy made my skin crawl...he was that oogy!
* I've saved the best for last. These people came up and stood in front of us. The women turned to the man and said, "Are you interested in doing higher celled soul sharing?" He said, "Yes I have always wanted to do that." They then proceeded to grab hands, close their eyes and they began to tell each other what they invision on a big white screen that they are picturing in their heads. Lucky for you all, I was able to snap a picture of the couple after they finished their "higher celled soul sharing." I covered their faces to protect them!

I would have gotten a picture of them actually higher celled shoul sharing, but Kim and I were laughing too hard and I just couldn't get a shot. They really were odd.
There were so many other things I could share...but I think you get the picture. So now the real question...Have you thanked your spouse today from saving you from having to attend these Singles' Conferences? If not...you should. I certainly have learned my lesson - there are worse things than being single, I could have to suffer through another one of these singles' conferences - over my dead body! :)

Bowen...Hockey Table Boy!

So, I wanted to post a few pics of Bowen. We ALL got haircuts a few weeks ago when we went to visit Stevie's parents! I wanted something new for Bowen...I thought longer up top and short around the sides...that way I can part it or spike it or partially spike it, or mohawk it. My mother in law did a great job (as usual!). Here are some pics of Bowen playing air hockey after dinner the other night! He loves to play, but mostly he like to score goals...ON HIMSELF! We've tried to teach him, but I think he just likes the sound of the puck...going in his own goal, as well as the enjoyment of retrieving it from the puck return below! Oh simple pleasures!

Backyard Sports!

We got a fence! Now I am happy to let the kids go out anytime and play! It is so nice to have it up finally. We can even play soccer and not have to worry about the ball going "over the edge"! Here are a few pics from a nice spring day outside playing soccer!

PS The girls are wearing necklaces (that they just got) that a neighbor girl brought them back from the beach!

Bowen playing goalie...well actually he thinks the goal is his tent...but whatever!

Kate and her mad dribbling skills!

Clair telling us we are all doing it wrong!

Kate striking a pose!

Clair...looks so grown up!

A Little Yard Work

I've been working very hard on our flower beds. I took out some of the pine straw and put out mulch. I also dug a trench around the flower beds to help keep the mulch contained and to help ease mowing/edging. We planted blubs earier, but they are not flowers yet in these pics. However, you can see the lovely planters I filled!

Monterey, CA

One of my favorite places to go on buisness is Monterey, CA. There are many reasons why I enjoy coming here. I've just spent the last two days, Thursday and Friday, in Monterey. Everytime I come I say that I am going to go to the Aquarum, but I never make it there. Maybe next time. It really would be a nice place to come...just for fun. Everytime I've come, it's been all work and no play. I had some time to explore yesterday evening, but I was too tired. One of the things that I always get to do while in Monterey is go to Tahama, which is the "memebers only" golf club owned by Clint Eastwood. I've been 3 times and I have never seen Clint...dang it! Now I am not a memeber, so why do I get to go there? Well, I go to Monterey to visit Bookette, a company that I work with. The President of the company is a member of Tahama and he takes me there for lunch everytime I come. It is a very posh place, so you can imagine how taboo it would be to whip out my camera and start taking pictures. Instead I just got these pictures off their website. The picture above is actually the club house. The picture below is the entrance to the club house. It really is a pretty place.


It sits high above the Monterey area on this big hill. You can see all around...beautiful!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITNI!

We are so happy Britni is part of our family! We love you Brit and we love the way you are a great wife to our little brother Joel and a wonderful mom to our favorites...Brooklyn & Jack! We wish you a fabulous day filled with all the things you enjoy most! Wish we could be there with you!
Love,
Rosalind and Co.

Can you guess what Brooklyn is doing?

A couple of weeks ago we had a garage sale at Joel and Brit's. Brooklyn had her baby out and was playing with her. At one point I looked over and she had her shirt almost above her head and her baby, feet straight in air and head on her chest. I asked what she was doing. She told me she was nursing her baby. I told her that we didn't do that in front of people. The next thing I know I turned around and saw this...



I had to take a picture. She sat like that for quite sometime. Then she burped her baby and threw her in the playpen. WHat a good mama!

La Traviata

Well...this weekend I went to visit my bestfriend Kim in Pheonix. We had a blast. It was great seeing her. It seems like I hardly ever get to see her. Although it was a quick trip...we packed alot into it. Saturday night we went to the Opera. We saw La Traviata. Here is what Wikipedia had to say about La Traviata:

La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It takes as its basis the novel La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, published in 1848. It was first performed at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice, on March 6, 1853. The title "La traviata" means literally The Woman Who Strayed, or perhaps more figuratively, The Fallen One. Piave and Verdi wanted to follow Dumas in giving the opera a contemporary setting, but the authorities at La Fenice insisted that it be set in the past. It was some years before the composer's and librettist's original wishes were carried out.

However, the opera has become immensely popular and a staple of the standard operatic repertoire. It is third on Opera America's list of the 20 most-performed operas in North America[1], behind only Madama Butterfly and La bohème.

Pollen Make my Blue Eyes Puff

Poor Bowen. This has not been a good Spring for him. We took him to the doctor after a few sleepless coughing nights. He has horrible allergies! (Look at those puffy eyes.) The doctor told me to keep him inside as much as I can and to put him in sunglasses and a mask if I take him out for any amount of time. So, the first adventure was Kate's soccer practice. I planned to keep him in the car, got to the practice early so I could have the best parking place and see Kate and Bowen in the car. Clair tried so HARD to entertain him, but he just wanted to get out and play! So, after 30 minutes of him being mad and mean, I decided to put him in his allergy get-up and take him for a walk in his stroller. So, with sunglasses and "surgical" mask on we attempted a walk. He screamed so much that everyone was looking. I felt like a freak show! Then I realized he totally looked like a mini Michael Jackson with mask and glasses on! Oh dear...we were a freak show! I quickly put him back in the car and let him cry the last 10 minutes. I am sure the tears were good to clean out his puffy allergy eyes! :)

Clair says the funniest things...

We were leaving gymnastics today and Clair said...

"Look at all that smoke in the sky!"

I said, "Yes, that is coming from GE. They are running a test on a turbine or combustion unit and it makes all that 'smoke'."

Clair - "Well, can we go see the test?"

I replied, "No, only GE workers like Daddy can go and watch the tests."

Clair asked, "Well, why does that smoke go up into the sky?"

Me with my limited science knowledge, "That is what smoke does, it goes way up into the sky."

Clair's funny.......

"Do you think it makes Jesus cough?"

I reassured her the smoke didn't go THAT HIGH! :)

Kate's Spring Spotlight!

Kate has been having lots of time in the spot light!

1st - Kate was selected (one of only two kindergartners) to read one of her writings at the school's Authors Tea Party! She did a great job!

2nd - Kate raised over $300 for her schools "walk for diabetes"...thanks to all of her great family members and friends! Unfortunately, she didn't get to participate in the days festivities due to a horrible case of ...well...she had the pukes!

3rd - Kate started soccer. Her first practice was called off because of weather. These are photos from practice number 2! However, her first game was called off because of storms! Got to love Spring in the south! Doesn't she look so cute and sporty? I can't believe how big she is getting!

Spring Break Fun

Spring break was a lot of fun! We went to the zoo with our neighborhood friends!

We made bunny racers and took them to the little neighborhood kids! They were so much fun to make!

They Say It's Your Birthday...

Happy Birthday Rosalind! I found these two pictures and thought it was a great way to help you celebrate. The first picture of you is fitting since you probably just want to curl up in your bed. Sorry you've had to be up since the butt crack of dawn dealing with puke-ness. That's no fun! I hope your day turns out better than it started. I certainly am glad that you are my sister. I always know that you are there to listen to my complaints and to offer advice. You are the best big sister. I can't really think of many memories, through high school that don't include you. Happy B-day...bestfriend! :)

Streets of Orlando

I've had this picture for a while. I was going through my phone, when I discovered this and realized that I never posted it.



This was a street sign in Orlando, Florida...spelled correctly and everything. I thought Rosalind would enjoy it.

What were you doing Sunday night?

Many of you might answer that you and your family were reading the Ensign, watching a wholesome family flick, or maybe reading your scriptures. Well not the Call family. We finished up Conference Sunday with a fabulous meal and a little American Idol Family Style.


It was actually very fun! We laughed hard and everyone really enjoyed themselves. Brooklyn has this microphone set and we started out the evening watching the music videos that she and Joel had made the previous day. To quote Brooklyn, "It was HE-larious!" Brooklyn then sang, "We're all in this together" and "Tinkle, Tinkle Little Star" - that's how Brooklyn says it "tinkle"! We each took turns singing. Dad sung "See the Funny Little Clown, " Mom - "Aqarius," Britni - "I like Big Butts," Me - "Somewhere over the rainbow," and Joel - "Twinkle, Twinkle Little star." Joel of course put on Brooklyn's Hannah Montana Wig. We cracked up. Jack didn't really like it, not at all. He had this horrified look on his face and he screamed. Of course we all laughed. Most of you are probably thinking that the 3 year old won...because that would be the nice thing to do. Well...not at our house. Joel (who was doubling as an Idol and Ryan Seacrest) declared himself the winner. It was actually a great way to end a Sunday night. Brights...the next time you are here let's remember to do this. The girls would love it.

Cute Pictures on another blog

In case you don't often check out Britni's blog...here are some cute pictures of Brooklyn and Jack.