Wednesday, May 27, 2009

My, how they change your prespective!

So, for the second time since Evan was born, James and I went to the movie theater! We took off Friday before Memorial Day for family photos with my favorite photographer Lauren Larsen. Then dropped the boys off at Grandma's house so we could see a movie.

And we played our cards right and saw 2 movies! Wolverine and Star Trek - both excellent. Every entertaining, fun to watch, suspenseful and good scripts. We had a great time!

But I now find that I watch movies through mommy eyes even when the boys are not there. (I had a few moments in both films when I thought the action/camera movements were a little too fast.) When the credits rolled on Wolverine I thought - what a good movie but how old would I want the boys to be before they go to something like that. Then the rating came up on the screen (which I still ignore when choosing a film) and it was PG-13. PG-13! Really? So I thought of my niece Maddie who is almost 13 years old and I don't think I really want her watching Wolverine stabbing people multiple times with his claws. It wasn't bloody or gory and it could have been but still...

After a quick burger we settled into the theater for Star Trek munching popcorn and feeling a little guilty about being off work and without the boys! The previews started and I was less than impressed. In fact, as the previews continued I began to wonder if there was anything I would want to take the boys to when they are older. Then the preview for Transformers 2 started and I had a reality check. Is this the kind of film the boys will be seeing as teens? Everything is so C.G. it just doesn't look real anymore. The action is fast and furious, violence is in your face and explosive. Just over the top and bigger than life. Don't get me wrong. I still love movies and will take the boys to see them. But as the previews continued I began to wonder if this was how my parents felt when we went to films and I realized just how far movies have come over the years. How much further will they go?

My parents watched John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Hepburn & Tracy, Debbie Reynolds when my sister and I were young. I loved all those old films and now to think we went from that in our living room on a Sunday afternoon to dragging my parents to Die Hard and Beverly Hills Cop films when I was in high school! What was I thinking?!?

Now I'm looking at things like Transformers 2 and wondering where we will be in 10 years!

But in the mean time, we are anticipating the Cars 2 release. That will be Nathan's first movie in the theater - and by the time it comes out, we may bring Evan along too. Maybe we can ease them into modern movies and still enjoy the old war films and westerns I grew up on. Where films were driven more by the actors and the plot than the explosions and the monsters.

It's a challenge for a movie loving mom!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Family Vacations are the Best!

Well, as I continue to be behind, I will try to get my blog caught up a little. It’s been about a month since Evan’s first vacation! We went on a really great vacation to visit my sister in Colorado Springs. It was so fun to see her and spend time with her family! We also brought my parents with us which was a lot of fun - and we so appreciate their help with the boys!



Nathan did great on the flight - he enjoyed a Maze book I got for him and sipped Ginger Ale while eating snacks.



Evan fell asleep early on in the flight and slept most of the trip which was a real blessing! And if I’ve never mentioned it, I LOVE my sling! I slipped Evan into it when we got ready to leave the plane and it was so great to just run through the airport hands free - well, pushing Nathan in the stroller anyway. We also got a neat surprise that my brother-in-law Scott was flying home on our same plane. Although he was several rows ahead of us, it was nice to see him at the airport and all get off the plane together.

Nothing is better than spending some time with my sister! She’s a great mom - juggling 3 kids with all their activities, a cat and dog, traveling husband, beautiful home and part-time kindergarten teaching. We enjoyed just relaxing at their house and watching the boys play with their cousins!

Maddie (the oldest) is into the movie Twilight - finally, being a huge movie fan I can relate to her and had fun talking with her. She was great with the boys and so sweet and helpful!



We got to see Molly baptized while we were there, which was so exciting! We also got to see a couple of her Soccer games and she is really great!





Andy was a little less quiet this time didn't seem quite as shy. But he's a master at DS and enjoyed a few sword fights while we were there.



I must admit, being around a dog was a new experience for me. I haven't lived with a dog since I was little, and although Tootsie was very well behaved, I don't think I'll want a dog of my own anytime soon! Evan seemed fascinated with the dog, but really hated to be licked, so he alternated between chasing after the dog and running from her! Evan was also drawn to the wood floors and we had to keep him in shoes to keep him from slipping and plopping on his bottom!



Nathan of course delighted in all things toys and enjoyed raiding Andy's room - we really appreciated Andy's kindness to share all of his toys!

While we were there we got a short visit with James's half sister Christina and cousins Tyler and Haley. It was great to see them but such a surprise how much they had grown and changed since we saw them last!



It was a great visit and so hard to return home to our daily routine!! Thanks for the hospitality Melissa!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Easter was when?

Okay, so busy is an understatement! Sleep has taken over as a priority at night and the distance I am behind on my photos continues to grow.

So, feeling overwhelmed and in need of a small break on a busy day, here are just a few photos from Easter of the boys.

We had to move the Easter Egg hunt inside since it was cold and rainy, but that didn't slow down the Easter bunny. Nathan was too excited and Evan jumped right in like a pro. We had fun finding candy alternates like toy snakes, bugs and cars.

In general, though I have found that Easter is just one big choking hazard! Anything that will fit in those small eggs would chock a child and don't even think about the jelly beans! But thanks to Big Lots for selling very large eggs that would accommodate most of my toys!