Megan's Musical Theater

Poppy and Megan

Nana brought flowers

Mom and Megan

Uncle Brian, Aunt Kim, Connor, Jack, Bridget, Patrick, Ronan & Meg

McCarter Theater Musical Theater Performers

Having most recently had a part opposite Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell in some film on the West Coast, Megan Crowley continues her theaterical career having attended a musical theater camp this summer at the McCarter Theater at Pinceton University. These are pictures from her final performance. She worked hard for two weeks preparing for this. Songs included "Xanadu", "Fame" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It was an absolute Tour De Force. Megan is rumored to be on the short list for a Tony Award this year. The diva on wheels continues to amaze...and inspire.

Jonas Brothers 2009!

Poster the girs made for the concert. Megan's says "Burning up for Joe"

Julia (Meg's friend), Megan, Haley (Sharon's grandaughter) and Bridget

Everyone stood for the concert and this was Megan's view from the handicap section..........BIG view...nice!

Haley and Megan dancing together...........What a great night!

In late July, I took Megan and her BFF's to a Jonas Brothers concert! She adores them and had been looking forward to this for some time. Her ticket brokers (a/k/a Daddy and his executive assistant!) got us the tix. When you need a handicapped accessible seat it's always potluck. In our experience you usually get either the best views or the most distant ones. At the Wachovia center in Philly, the seats were way at the tippy top. (As we got in our seats, I helped Megan wipe her nose- she wasn't feeling 100% great. She comented that she was suprised it was not blood given the altitude. Wise ass). In any event, the concert was awesome (for them). This was total generational payback...I remember my Dad taking me to a Donny & Marie concert. Sweet. Megs, of course, wants to have a personal audience with the Jonas Brothers. She said, "we'll wait until next year when my movie comes out. Then they'll call me...!" So shy, she is...and humble. My little Rock Star in a wheelchair....

Family Reunion

Megan and Nancy

Renae and Patrick

Nancy and John

Growing up as a kid I always looked forward to the first Saturday after the 4th of July............ no matter where we l lived we headed to Scranton, Pa for our family reunion.....Yes Scranton! Both my parents grew up in Scranton and although it's not the best destination for a family vacation we love it. The saying......."It's not where you are it's who you're with!" says it all. This year we had three generations of families and over one hundred "cousins" attend the 30th Reunion. Gotta love family!

Patrick and some friends


Uncle Marty, Mom, Nana and Poppy


Patrick and his buddies


The Crowleys have been a part of Princeton's Johnson Park Elementary School for seven...........Yes seven years! Last week Patrick finished 5th grade and took part in the 5th grade "Moiving On Ceremony". Johnson Park is a wonderful school and the teachers and staff went above and beyond for our kids!

Last Days of Filming

John and I were in Oregon last week for the last two days of the filming for the movie. It's so hard to believe it's over already........ what a unbelievable experience! It was great when we took the kids but for John and I to go alone together and fully pay attention to everything that we saw is indescribable.......not to mention it was like a mini vacation! The last two days were filmed at the Oregon coast. The scenes were eerily similar to our Ocean City vacation in 2002! What a wonderful way to wrap up filming. The whole cast and crew were both thrilled for the long days to be coming to an end (everyone was just awesomely dedicated to this project) and also somewhat nostalgic with all of the memories of the past 12 weeks. Now on to editing and then the opening nationwide in April (2010). I'll keep everyone up to date on the myriad of PR and related activities that will lead up to the premieres early next Spring!

Police Memorial Ceremony

As many of you know, John's Dad was an Englewood, New Jersey police officer who died on duty in 1975- John was 7 years old, his brother Joe was 4. Every year in mid-May there is a wonderful ceremony to remember all the officers and federal agents in Bergen County New Jersey who have died on duty over the years (39 total over 89 years). Today, John and I attended this annual memorial ceremony along with John's family members who could be there. It was a hour long ceremony with hundreds of police and law enforcement officers present and a number of family members of the officers. The Crowley family always is there (34 years running now...) and always seems to have the largest family contingent. Thought you would enjoy this slideshow from the memorial.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's Purple

Megan wanted to redecorate her bedroom for her birthday last year. Six months later Meg got her purple room! It also turned into her Christmas gift, New Year's gift, Valentine's Day gift, St. Patrick's gift and Easter gift! Happy Birthday Megan!

CBS Morning Show 5/12/09

Watch CBS Videos Online

Here is the CBS Early Show piece this morning that debuted the story about the film.

Megan & Twilight

You will only appreciate this post if you're a Twilight fan.............

Megan's favorite movie is "Twilight"....the big Vampire movie/book tween hit (Ok I loved it too and yes stood online with friends opening night) was filmed in Portland! Some of the scenes were filmed on the same sound stage that our movie is being filmed......too cool! Molly (one of the awesome people working on our movie) told us that the Carver Cafe where Bella and her dad go out for dinner in two scenes was right down the street. So, a few wrong turns later our two huge handicap vans pull up into the parking lot just as they are turning off the OPEN sign and closing the curtains on the windows.....just our luck! Sharon, of course, ran in and explained that Megan was the biggest fan and had to see the inside. The owners graciously let us in to take pictures. They also had a guest book for all the Twilight fans to sign and we bought a T-shirt that says "I had a Bite at The Caver Cafe". I'm pretty sure Megan was more excited about seing Bella's table than meeting any movie stars in the "Crowley" film....well, not really, but close!............Ah, pre-teen 12 year olds!



The tree where Mike moons Bella


The "I Had A Bit At The Carver Cafe" guest book


Megan & Dad


Bella's Table

We Made It to Portland!

Almost there!



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Megs and Patrick All comfy on the plane!


We made it to Portland!

On April 27th we arrived for the family visit to the movie set. It took two mini vans, one SUV loaded with luggage, three nurses (Sharon, Cathy & Yvonne), one nurses' husband (Eddie), Nana (my mom), Megan, Patrick, John, me, two pilots, one flight attendant, two ground crew guys with a forklift and one wheelchair tech in New Jersey (with lots of tools to take Megan's wheelchair apart) but, yes, we made it from New Jersey all the way across America to Portland, Oregon.....Yes, once again there is a reason why there is a movie being made about us all!

The best part was, when we finally arrived in Portland and finally got the kids' wheelchairs unloaded off the planes, John (yes, my John...) had to reassemble parts of Meg's 400lb wheelchair on the tarmac...in the rain. He put it back together and we hit the "on" button and....nothing. No power. Nada. Zilch. John quietly sighed an foul word (rhymes with "truck"). Got his tools out and went back to work. On the phone with the wheelchair tech he learned what the problem was and was told it could only be repaired at the factory....not an option. John's not one to give in (reference: "Why a movie is being made" above) and I was not going to have Megan carried into the hotel in Portland. So yes, John (still "my" John), twisted, maneuvered, pulled and prodded the chair's batteries and electronics until he had so completely "McGyvered" it that...it worked! Of course, after an hour on the tarmac in the rain fixing the wheelchair, when we finally carried Meg's off the plane, she grumbled "Well, that took long enough." Ah, Megs.

The kiddos loved the hotel in Portland. "The Nines" hotel...very chic! And so, 11 hours after we left home, we laid the kids to bed, shared a glass of wine and crashed fast asleep. Vacation had just begun. Stay tuned for a brief summary of our week in Portland shortly...!

Easter

                                                                         Cousins!

     The boys all look so handsome

  What a beautiful day for a family picture

Finally some beautiful weather in New Jersey!  The kids were all dressed up and we would not let them play outside untill we took pictures...........didn't you hate when your parents did that?

Like We Don't Have Enough To Take Care of...Meet "Little Bear"

This is Little Bear.  He is a 2 year old Irish Jack Russell Terrier and he is ours.  He is cute as a button....and he is, unquestionably, THE worst dog in the world.  (seriously, he makes Marley look like Lassie....).  He doesn't listen to a thing, chases cars (UPS trucks are his favorite), has eaten 1/2 the furniture in the house, taken down a Christmas tree, run away 3 times (including an entire night spent hiding on the minivan), lasted 30 minutes in obedience school (they suggested he comes back and reenroll when he "matures somewhat"), terrorizes his big sister Annie (our 4 year old Jack Russell) all day long, and has rolled in deer poop outside more times that I can count. Oh, and did I mention...he's a biter.  Cesar would quit if Bear was a client.

Little Bear has also struggled with severe allergies since he was a pup. Poor Little Bear ("LB" for short).  Did you even know there is such a thing as a "Dog Dermatologist"?   Oh, there is. After countless trips to the vet, antibiotics, steroids and four chewed paws we were sent to see the"specialists" (long a specialty in our household).  He was tested and retested and, long story short, LB is allergic to everything!

I started giving LB allergy shots every other day a few months ago and the poor little guy just got worse.  John ended up taking him to see the dermatologist when I was in Portland.......like John doesn't have enough things to take care of.  At the specialty vet, they immediately took Little Bear back for blood work.  He returned with the classic "lampshade" attached.  As they brought him back in for his exam with the lampshade on, John commented to John, Jr. "Oh, look John, in case Bear doesn't bark loud enough, now they've outfitted him with a Megaphone. Sweet." They also quickly affixed a bright orange "warning" sticker to LB's file after the bloodwork was drawn (see comment on "he's a biter", above).  They say his severe allergies are likely genetic (of course...).  He is back home and happy again, though on a fancy cocktail of allergy meds (including more steroids).

He is keeping busy enjoying the Spring weather. He ate Annie's bed today again.  That is the 4th bed this year of hers that he has torn apart.   Little Bear adds to the excitement around here for sure.  He is a pain in the a--, but he is ours.  And we love him!  There are so many Little Bear stories that he may soon get his own blog page on the family site.  Stay tuned!  (Oh, and he is NOT coming to Portland....).

We're Leavin' on a Jet plane........to Portland April 27th!

Well, it's official..........we're taking the whole Crowley clan to Portland!  The logistics of getting megan and patrick across the entire country are worthy of a movie in itself!  (We'll spare you details....but will post lots of blog comments and pics to document our journey).  The kids are so very excited.  I am not sure if they are more excited about:  a)  a vacation in Oregon;  b)  their cameos in the film; or c)  meeting Harrison Ford.  When John asked Patrick if he was excited to meet Harrison, Patrick's eyes light up...and then he started humming the tune to "Raiders of the Lost Ark."  TOO cute!!!  We all leave April 27th and will be in Portland for a week.  Much publicity to come soon.  I'll update more about that this weekend.  Have a great Friday!

John's on screen wife

So cool!  Keri Russell drove out to our home to spend an afternoon getting to know the kids......me and John too!  She is so sweet and we all loved spending time geting to know her!

Hurray for Hollywood...........I mean Portland

John and I have both been to Portland now where the movie is being filmed.  John was out two weeks ago just before filming began.  The day he was there the actors were recreating some of our family pictures to be used as props on the set.  Yes, Brendan and Keri actually were dressed in the Hanna Anderson stripped pajamas on our 2006 Christmas card!  John kept calling me because he just could not believe that this movie was actually going to happen.  He only got choked up once when the photographer told the actors playing our kids to take a break and the girl playing Megan jumped out of the wheelchair and started running around............I had a hard time even picturing it. But picture I did when I went to Portland last week.

I flew out Tuesday night (John's 42nd birthday) and spent all day Wednesday on "the set"....it sounds so Hollywood & glamorous doesn't it?  Well actually the set is in a big wharehouse in the back of some industrial park in Portland, Or.  On the outside are the actors' trailers (with our real names on the doors.......cool) and inside the set decorators have built recreations of our houses, John's first company and a hospital.  When I arrived on Wednesday morning one of the producers took me on a tour of our house, so much nicer than I could ever decorate..........I loved it.  I was able to watch two scenes filmed.  It took all morning (about four hours) to film a scene that will probably be 2 or 3 minuets in the movie.  They must have done the scene at least 20 times with light changes and different camera angles.............just fascinating to watch.

Inkheart Premier

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We were so excited to go to the Inkheart Premier in NYC.  We piled in two mini vans in below freezing weather and headed into New York.  Typical Crowley luck.........we left late, a plane landed in the Hudson River and we took the wrong tunnel.....but we made it! The security on the Red Carpet was not sure what to do with us.  John in the first van dropped off Patrick, John, Connor, Jack(cousins) and one Nurse, while I circled with Megan, Aunt Kim and Sharon looking for parking.  Megan was so excited about being on the Red Carpet and have her picture taken but no such luck..............the carpet was tented off  and the sidewalk curb was not handicap accessible...........what a bummer!  We were able to pick Patrick's chair up but Megan's 450lb wheelchair was not going to make...........so we brought her in the back door and avoided the damn paparazzi!

As the credits were rolling Brendan Faiser came back to meet us all.  He was great with the kids!  Some people are very unconfortable around Meg and Patrick and not quite sure what to say or will talk loud and very slow.  Brendan was teriffic and very confortable with them. All the kids thought he was cool and very funny!

The Movie Business

Well a lot is happening with this movie being made about us.  As most of you know,  we received a call about 4 years ago from a movie producer that was interested in making a movie based on  The Cure (the book about our family).  Fast forward to now, it really looks like this is going to happen.  Michael & Carla Shamberg and Stacey Sher are terrific Hollywood producers.  Their movies have won academy awards like Erin Brockovich and  all around just great movies like The Big Chill and World Trade Center.  They have been wonderful! 

So without boring you with too many details........We went to California a few weeks ago.  Harrison Ford, who is playing the doctor in the movie, wanted to spend time at John's company, Amicus Therapeutics learning about the science of Pompe Disease. ( Amicus has labs in San Diego and the main labs and offices are in Cranberry, NJ.) Harrison spent the day in the labs with scientists and then that evening we had dinner with Harrison, the producers and the movie director Tom Vaughn.  It was a great night but it was very overwhelming to listen to these people talk about making a movie about our family.........it just really hit home for John and I.  

The following morning John and I were flying to Los Angeles.  Harrison offered to fly us there in his plane because he was going as well.  John of course asked if Chewy would be the co pilot.....alway the smart ass!  Just crazy, isn't it?  Dinner with Harrison and flew on his private plane.  What a nice guy!  He truly is just a regular nice guy who makes a movie every once in a while........or so he told us!

So off to Los Angeles and we meet with the CEO of CBS films Amy Baer for lunch.  They are the money people who bankroll the film.  Also, very lovey people who are committed to this and want to make a great movie.  And just by coincidence, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria and their daughter sat at the table next to us.............WOW Arnold is just larger than life, he has real presence when he walks into a room!

Then we had drinks with Brendan Fraser...........yes, my on screen husband as John and  I now refer to him!  Brendan was great!  What a nice guy.  He also invited us and the kids to the premier of his new movie Inkheart.........but I'll give you details on a later post.

All in all our two day whirlwind in California was awesome!  We were totally star struck and learned a lot about the movie business.

Better late than never

I've been enjoying reading some of my friends blogs and thought it was time for me to start!  Not so sure I want to call it a blog.....it sounds so professional and that I am not! I just want to keep family and friends up to speed with what is happening in our crazy life.  Since I am so bad at keeping up with photo albums and scrapbooks, I hope this is something that John, Megan and Patrick will be able to look back on and enjoy reading.

So be patient with me and I'll start posting pictures, stories about the kids and juicy info about the movie being made about us this year.