Life Without My Girls!

So, today is day two without my girls and I really miss them. I am getting stuff done, mixed in with some rest, but I do miss them! It is so quiet! Last night I had to turn on the sound machine because the night before I didn't sleep well at all...too quiet! I miss them tons. I talked to them this morning for a long time and they had lots to tell me. They are happy and having fun, so that made me feel good! Kate said Oma made a yummy dinner and her carrots were better then the carrots we make at home. I asked her if Oma was a better cook then me and she said no, but she was going to make a cooking contest for us and we would both cook something and maybe it would be a tie, but she hopes I win. Then she talked a lot about the new blow up pool they got and how much fun they had. (I guess they played out in the pool for like 2 hours!) Then I talked to Clair. I couldn't understand all that she was saying, but I did get that she also really liked the pool. She also told me she got a hair cut. And her new saying, "Girls don't pick their nose, boys do!" She told me that about 50 times. She's bad about picking her nose and she told me Aunt Maria told her that. Stephen's dad kept saying in the background...boys shouldn't do it either! It was funny. They are real excited about TJ, and Kate said yesterday he was mischievous and she had to take something away from him that he wasn't supposed to be touching! Today Kate will help Aunt Maria make some bread and she is excited about that. So, the girls are doing well! Hope you all are too! We are excited for a visit from Brit and Brooklyn and we really hope Em will be able to visit too! Love you all!

Our Trip Up-State

Dad and I had a really nice trip to upstate NY with the Fillmores and Simmons. It was amazing to see the sacred grove and all the other sights! I feel luckly to be a member of this church! To know the truth is great!

A visit with Papa the crazy nut!

Last night we got to have a short but fun visit with "Papa the Crazy Nut". It was almost like Christmas with the gifts from Hawaii and cute outfits for Bowen. Dad didn't get here until pretty late, but we let the girls stay up and wait for him. They were so excited. Too bad I felt like crap the whole time and too bad he had to leave at 6:00 the next morning! When Clair got up I told her that Papa said to tell her bye. She said, "Papa's not here silly! He went to go get Emmy!" I said, 'I know, but they will both be back here on Sunday." Then she got all sad and said, "But I want them here NOW!" So, Sunday night might be another late night for the Bright girls who will be way too excited to sleep! Hope you all have a safe end of the week and weekend!

My Last Saturday in NYC

My last Saturday in NYC I went to brunch with 2 of my friends, Rachel and Karen. We went to the Boathouse in Central Park. We had a great table...right by the pond in Central Park. It was really beautiful and good food too.
Here we are our in front of the Boathouse...by the menu.
This is the view from our table.











We also went canoeing on the pond, after brunch. It was fun. I was kind of a spastic rower...but I eventually got the hang of it. (I guess I didn't learn much at Girl's Camp!) The black and white pictures were taken under a big weeping willow. It was nice and we decided we wanted to take a few in black and white. We had a lot of fun.

Want to see pics of Hawaii?

Hey Family,
Aunt Bugga posted a few Hawaii pics on their family BLOG...if you are curious to see our beloved Mimi and Papa in paradise...check out the other Call BLOG...
http://www.callfam.blogspot.com/

Crowded subways

After fireworks my roommate Lindsay and I got on the subway to go home. It was the busiest subway I have ever been on. Our hometeacher was also with us on the subway. He almost didn't make it on the train...luckily he was able to squeeze on. We were almost standing on top of each other. A girl on the seat in front of my roommate and I volunteered to take our picture. It is an extreme close-up...but there was no other way. The other picture is of the group of people that I watched the fireworks with. We were standing on the on-ramp to the FDR freeway. The Empire State Building changes the color of lights for different holidays. Here is a semi-blurry picture of the ESB on the 4th.

Pickin' Blueberries

Here are the Bright's picking blueberries!

The 4th of July in NYC

The fourth of July in NYC was very interesting and lots of fun. I spent the day on Coney Island. It was my first time at the beach and I hope not my last. I have been told that I shouldn't base my beach experience on Coney Island beach. It was a little Ghetto. I am kind of dumb for posting this very unattractive photo of myself on the beach...YIKES!!!
This is the famous Nathan's hot dog stand on Coney Island.
After Coney Island some friends and I went to the FDR highway (which was closed) to watch the Macy's firework display. It is the largest in the country. The fireworks were spectacular! I have tons of pictures of my fireworks...but I only picked 2 to share on the blog.
The 4th of July is the day for the Annual World's hot dog eating contest. Every year an Asian man wins and this year was no different. It was packed, so I wasn't exactly up front...but I got the idea. He ate 53 3/4 hot dogs. The runner up was an American man who only ate 53. The very thought almost made me sick!
Another display of fireworks...inNYC!

3 Little Fillmores Sitting on a LOVE SAC

The Saturday before the 4th I got to babysit the Fillmore girls, while mom and dad Fillmore went to the Temple. They watched movies, ate lunch, and colored on the Love Sac in my apartment. It was a fun day in the city. They were so sweet and fun!

The United Nations Trip

Each nation gives a gift to the UN...this is a Norman Rockwell mosaic that reads, "Do Unto Others, As you would have others do to you." Let's not forget that the US gave the big gift of all that waterfront property! (But that wasn't mentioned!)
Here is a statue right outside the United Nations building. I thought it was interesting. The UN is on a big kick to rid the world of guns.
This is a picture of the Security Council room. The meetings are closed to the public and they meet every day.
This is me in the General Assembly room. The Secretary General sits right above my head. I have to say that this was not my most favorite place in NYC. I was offended by several things they said about Americans, but it was interesting none the less!

Apollo and Me

Not this resent past Wednesday, but the one before a group of friends and I went to Harlem to the Apollo. It was amateur night. You cheer if you like the person and boo if you don't like them. If they are boo-ed then they have to leave the stage. It is pretty cut throat, but actually pretty fun. It happened to be the last night that they were doing it on the original stage...they are renovating. It was an interesting experience. We sat next to some German ladies...they thought it was so great that they were the minority!

Kids say the funniest things....

A few nights ago, Kate was saying the family prayer and she said (really slow and drawn out),
"Thank thee for ... Daddy ... Mommy ... Clair ... and especially for me."
I about choked trying not to laugh.

Then yesterday I was talking with Clair and I said to her, "You sure are pretty, who made you so pretty?" She got this disgusted look on her face like she was insulted I even had to ask and said, "My Mimi and Papa made me pretty!" (I was looking for Heavenly Father maybe!)

Our Fourth!

Our Fourth...

Started on the 3rd with the Hammonds (and our friends the Lukens) joining us for FHE and fireworks in Kennesaw. We ate cookies and brownies while watching...well, everyone ate cut Kate. She wouldn't take her hands off her ears (even though it wasn't that loud!)

The next morning we went to the church and all about got heat stroke in the horrid humidity! We stuck around for about 2 and half hours and then came home. A member of our ward, who is a Marine, spoke at the flag ceremony and did a wonderful job. I cried through his whole speech. He just got back from Iraq about 3 or 4 months ago. Then we ate pancakes and I had to help with games for the kids.

When we got home, I was exhausted. I went to bed and took a nap. Stephen slept on the couch while the girls watched a movie. When I got up it was 2:00 and no one had lunch, so I made some sandwiches and then put the girls down for naps.

While the girls were sleeping, Stephen and I watched Germany get beat in a heart wrenching lost by Italy! It was really sad, but I guess you can't win them all!

Then we worked on the nursery. It is lookin good! I can't wait for it to be done.

After that we grilled hot dogs and ate dinner. Then we bathed the girls and we all went to bed. We were exhausted!

Hope you all had a wonderful fourth! Wish we could have all been together!

Guess what Celebrity I saw at Church?

Larry King...from Larry King Live. He was at church with his wife and family. I was a little sad becuse some visitors came up to him and started snapping pictures. It was a little odd and I felt bad for him. Mitt Romney, the Govenor of Mass. is often at our church...but most people don't recognize him. Larry King is hard not to recognize. He looked the same, only no suspendors or tie. His glasses were not as dark rimmed either. Anyway...that was my brush with fame right at church.

Oh Kate!

So, about two weeks ago, Kate notices a school bus driving by. She asks why the school buses are still going by when school is out for the summer. I told her that some kids don't do well in school and so they have to go to summer school to get extra help.

Fast forward two weeks...this afternoon we are eating lunch when the school bus goes by. Kate says, "There goes the school bus. I wish I hadn't done so well in preschool so I could be going to summer school. Although, I mostly like the playing part."

I about fell over laughing. Where do these thoughts come from? Like preschool was a pass or fail situation? Too funny!

Botanical Gardens

Here is a fountain at the New York Botanical Gardens. The buildling behind is the specimen library and gallery. They had a neat display of watercolors in the gallery. The Rotunda was also amazing, but no pictures allowed inside.

This is one of the green houses, from the outside. There are lily ponds on the outside. I will have to blog other pictures later. My computer is acting odd today.

Celebrity Sighting

This is Stephen Spinella...he played a character on 24. He is scum on the show. I saw him on the subway platform near my house. He walked by me and I recognized him as soon as he opened his mouth and spoke. He has a distinctive voice.

Pre-Concert Photos

Before the concert started, my friends Karen, Rachel, and I ran into some old friends. We just had to take our picture with them! :) It was nice of Faith to let me put my arm around her man...now if only he had put his around me! As you can tell...Tim was just "glowing" to see us!
While walking into the concert...I had to get a picture of Madison Square Garden's front entrance. My only regret is that I never made it to a Hockey game here or a Knicks game. Now that they fired Larry Brown...I doubt I ever will go see one in this arena. :( Does anyone recognize this sign/entrance at Madison Square Garden? If you said it is from "How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days" you are correct! When Kate and Matt's characters are walking out of the Celion Dion concert...this is the door the exited. Watch the movie again...you will recognize it! (Just a little NYC movie trivia! This place is full of it!)

Friday Night was Soul II Soul

Last Friday night my roommates and a few friends went to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert. It was great. I think they have ruined me for LIFE with concerts. I don't think any concert can be better. Faith opened the concert at one end of the stage sing their latest duet, "Like We've Never loved before." It was beautiful and I almost bawled!
This is the both of them singing their opening act...fabulous! I loved it.
Here is Madison Square Garden...the venue before the concert began. We were a little high, but still not the highest level. Actually I don't think there was a bad place in the whole Garden.
A surprise guest came out and sang with Tim. It was Tony Bennett. The just finished recording together a Hank Williams song. It was actually surprisingly good. You can't really tell this from the picture, but Tim is a major hotty! I have to say that Faith is one lucky women! :)
Faith during her "solo" time. She started out the concert and then they sang a few together. Tim then had some alone time and they ended with a few more duets. The whole thing was beautiful.
From left to right...Kristan, Rachel, Karen, and ME! These are the girls I sat with. My roommates were across the venue from us. We had really great seats!

Central Park in June

My friend Stephanie and I took a walking tour of Central Park last Wednesday. It was very interesting and I feel like I learned a lot. I love Central Park and totally understand why it is the "Backyard" of the city. I found many little spots that I would love to go back to and explore. There is a little garden called "Shakespeare's Garden." It is gorgeous. I will have to go back to get pictures. The top picture is of the "Imagine" mosaic which is found in Strawberry Fields...directly across from the Dakota apartment building where John Lennon was killed and where Oko still lives. Also Oko's personal gardeners take care of Strawberry Fields...eventhough it is part of Central Park. Now sing along..."Imagine all the people living in this world...U-huuuu!" This is the "Sheep's Meadow." When the park first was...there were sheep. Ros you would have loved it. Tavern on the Green (a now famous restuarant) used to house the sheep.
This is the "Boathouse Restuarant." It is very expensive...but I would love to go there some day. You can rent row boats (which I want to do before I leave) for only $10. That would be fun.
This is the famous fountain that has been seen in many movies. It is really beautiful.