NYC Baseball caps and bonnets

When I was 8 (1969) we moved to NYC and lived in Columbia Student housing so my dad could attend school at Columbia University. 4 kids in a 1 1/2 bedroom apartment with a kitchen smaller than a very small bathroom. The fridge was below the counter. We were in NYC for 3 years.

The first year my mom got wind of the Metropolitan Opera Children's chorus auditions. We knew some kids from our ward (church) who were in it and my mom drug Merrill, Debbilyn and me down there to audition. I remember singing "My Country Tis of Thee" for the audition and I got in. Debbilyn was too young but got in the next year with Merrill after his year of singing lessons from a lady in the ward (his voice changed mid season and he was instructed to not sing- he had solo parts carrying a cross across the stage etc.)

I had short interesting hair. The interesting would be the way my mom cut my bangs. I think they learned in Relief Society (oldest female organization in the world) that you could cut straight bangs if you put a piece of cellophane tape on the bangs and cut. The problem was you needed to be a general contractor to get a straight line, so a bunch of us girls the same age had bangs that sloped this way or that and we were fine with that at the time..... I digress......

NYC... anyway my mom had me grow my hair out. If I was going to be in real Operas at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City I needed to look like a girl. My first opera was La Boheme where I was a little orphan boy that ran across the stage singing and bothering the toy maker. They put my beautiful hair in a cap!

Caps are good and I have gotten into caps now that my hair is long. When I wear a baseball cap I can go an extra day (or two or three..yikes!) without washing my hair. I even have matching ones. If only the pioneers crossing the planes had baseball caps...... you know what? they did!! They had original baseball caps.. bonnets to hide their gross hair too. I feel so connected with my ancestors right now.

Janell's Doctor visits

Janell had two Doctor visits this week. One was to the podiatrist where they looked at her strange feet (high/low arch). She has had the same orthotic for 5+ years and they were way overdue. The last time we went they mentioned surgery but the Doctor said this visit, because she has been dancing (6-7 hours a week) her feet are still weird but are very healthy and she only needs a new orthotic! great news. They also have cool new ones that weren't developed with the cavemen.

Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving she went in to the dentist to have her 4 wisdom teeth removed. One was stuck. We have been going to the same great dentist for 22 years so he deserves to be on our blog this week! She had mashed potatoes and ice packs for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2008

Turkey by Sandy Inman

For Thanksgiving I was so excited Kay was coming home and invited his whole family to have Thanksgiving with us.... I guess they didn't miss him as much as I did or I am the bigger looser than I thought but no one wanted to come! Maybe Caleb is the one who attracts our guests?

Frances invited us to her home as she didn't want to leave. The two month old twins seem to have her more grounded than most new moms. You need an extra trailer to go anywhere with the contraptions of twins. (The newborn baby stroller she loves (thanks Davin) is almost too long for an elevator). Kay, Janell and I spent the WHOLE DAY, we're talking 12 hours with them and Marc's famliy. We watched the Maceys day Parade (where my family was- in NYC) on TV, Ate and ate and played a new game called the Farming game... If you like Monopoly and Settlers this is for you without the feelings of suicide (Monopoly- when you don't own a monopoly and everyone else does) and chlostrophobia or Island fever (Settlers- when you can't move and the game goes on without you).

And what would a family get to gether be without real entertainment...... babies!!!!!!!

Janell's Volleyball game

Janell (player in the back) was part of a Young Women's volley ball team that was pretty good and got to the final finals but couldn't win when two of the top players couldn't come. For the final game Janell was made the team captain (oldest there) and they played their hearts out but with only two of them... Janell and a foreign exchange student from Sweden, that had several years of volleyball experience we just didn't cut it. Janell had to step up. It was fun to see her playing harder than usual, being an example and encouraging the younger girls, a great positive leader. She is a really good consistent server and if we can play the serve there have been some games she has served almost half the points! We weren't winners but Janell was. I was pleased to be her mom.

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37

After a Young Women's church volleyball game we asked several girls and a leader to stay after for a project Janell was doing. We needed to tell the story of the Good Samaritan in modern day. Luke 10: 30-37 It was cold, 30 degrees but we went outside and dressed Janell in a layer of clothes over her shorts she wore for the volleyball game and put a Mountain View High School tee shirt on her over it- just a little tight on her fleece jacket. We put two girls in Mountain View High School Tee shirts and one girl in an Orem High school tee shirt (rival). I took still shots. Remember we were right outside the church where we had our finals for regional Volleyball. Cars were coming in and out while we did the project, slowing down to see what was going on. Yes we were a spectacle.

Who is my neighbor? A certain Young woman was walking down the street, she fell among thieves, which stripped her of her raiment, and wounded her and departed, leaving her half dead.

By chance there came down a certain Young woman leader that way and when she saw her, she passed by on the other side

Likewise some fellow Mountain View High School students, when they were at the place, came and looked on her

and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Orem High School Student, as she journeyed came where she was; and when she saw her she had compassion on her. And went to her, and bound up her wounds... and took care of her.

Halloween and the grandchildren update

Halloween came went. We didn't have the scary house Caleb was known for. Kids were really disappointed. The ones that wet their pants especially. "What no alien jumping out of the bushes scaring me?"
No scary music? Just un dressed up me giving out candy bars. I gave out just under 200!

At the ward Halloween party Janell and I dressed up. She was Hester Prynn from the scarlet letter (notice the scarlet J on her uhummm) and I was Ellie Mae Clampet from the Beverly Hillbillies.

I went to Omaha for baby Chester's blessing. He was officially named Aaron but the kids have to keep asking what his name is, he has been Chester for about 6 months.... so at home he is Chester.

The twins are 6 weeks old but only a week old according to their due date. As you can see one has Frances's chubby cheeks. It is an event to go anywhere or do anything. I am going up to help (or just keep Frances company) twice a week. Frances's inlaws have been the most helpful spending many nights in the hospital while I go on vacation.

7 day Disney Cruise

Kay, Janell and I went on a 7 day Disney cruise with our daughter Lauren, her sister-in-law Lily, Kay's sister

Leah with her daughters Jana and Erica.

We loved the Disney ship with their larger rooms, no gambling, free soda and juice at meals, great shows and entertainment. Highlights were: Janell's first kiss- his name was ray

Snorkeling and swimming with stingrays in the Grand cayman (we got to meet ray's family there)

Lauren and Janell loosing several rounds in a game show only to beat everyone!

Key west city tour we made everyone go, and almost all fell asleep!!!!! High School Musical 3 premEARed on the ship so we watched HSM #1 and 2 by the pool and watched the new movie at midnight in the theater

seeing all the characters on the ship