Tired, but an accomplished tired.

This is going to be a long post with the infinitesimal details of my weekend. You're warned.

Thursday afternoon in a regular email to my beloved, I listed all kinds of things we wanted to accomplish in the next three days. Grocery shopping, a dinosaur field trip, a date, lawn mowing, a trip to DIA for him and a couple friends, a trip to a plant nursery to finish our garden, Mass, Costco, shopping for summer clothes for Madeleine, all on top of the usual daily chores of laundry, meals, and dishes. We also knew we would want to watch the hockey games too.

Can you already feel the fatigue? Well, when two people decide to work together and a little bit of neighborly intervention occurs, it can really work out. Spectacularly.

I realized coming home from our parish Moms' Club Thursday that I could, really, go grocery shopping on Friday morning rather than wait for the weekend. I've done it before with all the kids; weekdays aren't nearly as crowded, either. So, there I was at 10 AM at Meijer, list in hand and kids in tow. They wanted new toothbrushes--fine. Oh, Daddy's birthday is Monday, can we get him presents? Sure, as long as you agree on what. Oh, and cards too!
They also talked me into strawberries for shortcake, which I promised we'd get on the way out if they were good. They were, with the overlooked exception a truncated tantrum in the cereal aisle when one lost the coin flip and we got Cookie Crisp instead of Apple Jacks--along with Mini-Wheats, Raisin Bran, and Caramel Delight Fiber One.

Upon getting home, I discovered one of our neighbors in our backyard... with a lawnmower. Okay, when we first moved in almost eight years ago, I had no intention of socializing with any of our neighbors--this was the "bad part" of our town, too far in the south end. I've said before when God serves humble pie, He always remembers the sugar. Yet another occasion to add to that list.

The kids loved the dinosaur field trip. It involved digging in sand for dinosaur bone replicas, carrying them inside a building, and turning them in to an expert who did her presentation while putting them together. She was right at their level and they loved it.
Friday night was Date Night, where we went to see Star Trek while Grandma indulged the kids with too much TV. Ten kinds of awesome was the movie with clear nods to the original series (including Kirk trying to get it on with a green-skinned chick). I did expect Bones to grow out a beard and ride a horse, I admit: Rohirrim!

Saturday I managed to get away with just Rachel to the nursery. It took two stops, but we got both a lilac bush and tomato plants. (I had to order the roses I wanted online since I didn't feel like driving all over God's green earth looking.) I have wanted a lilac bush outside my kitchen window for years. I've put it off since this was to be our "starter house," but we've been in this house twice as long as we've planned already with no change really in sight. Bloom where we're planted, right?
Now, if the wind is right, I get a lilac-scented breeze all the way into our living room. It's only a dwarf plant and will top out at about four feet tall, but when the lady described the regular ones as "invasive," I thought dwarf would be better. As to tomatoes, we got two "early girl" and two "big boy," which made Rachel happy.
Daddy managed his trip to DIA without incident. A couple of his friends who had never been to DIA were interested in the Rockwell show, and since this was the closing weekend, they got it in. I managed to nap with Lou while the other three kids were driving the neighbor crazy (okay, maybe just playing there, but still...).
Pizza for dinner, a walk afterward, and the hockey game (yay, the good guys won!) rounded out the day. Dessert of strawberry shortcake, where we used up the can of whipped cream purchased on the walk by spraying it directly into our mouths, was wonderful. And easy.

Mass was first on the agenda today. We made it on time, which is kind of unusual. Lou was fascinated by the procession. Father had a really good homily, combining Pentecost with the graduates on how we are called to spread the love of Christ too. After the announcements, when the graduates had introduced themselves and told where they were going to school, he commented, "All these graduates and none going to seminary. Perhaps next year?"
We then went to Costco, where the samples were enough to serve for lunch. After that stuff was dropped off and Daddy at the helm with three, I went out with Madeleine for summer clothes. She likes the same kind of stuff I would, mostly; she did talk me into a shirt for Rachel (so they'll match!) and a bathing suit for Dale.
Daddy grilled burgers for dinner per Dale's request earlier in the week; sides were baby carrots and celery sticks. My kids aren't fussy.
They played in the yard after, did a "show" that was more performance art/Ninja Warrior episode than anything else. Talking to Neema and Papa was fulfilling and their motivation for pajamas was the hockey pre-game.

Now they're all in bed, probably asleep. I'm going to have some Nutella toast for my own dessert and revel in a weekend well-spent.

I feel sorry for Ron Howard.

He's just trying to make a movie. He had to secretly send in folks from the crew pretending to be tourists to get pictures of the Sistine Chapel so he could make a set; those mean controlling closed-minded Vatican officials wouldn't let him film within its walls! You'd think there really is a conspiracy they're trying to hide!

After all, there are no books of photographs of Rome. Or the artwork in the Vatican, and they're more protective than the Amish when it comes to images of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. And the skyline of Rome is more closely guarded film than the Zapruder. For sure, there are no websites his staff could have checked. Instead they had to rely on grainy unfocused pictures clandestinely taken with camera phones or the like.

Hm. I guess they didn't have Internet classes in Mayberry.

What Connor MacLeod said.

For the uninitiated: "There can be only one."

And so there is. That one is just fine, measuring at 10 weeks one day. We even saw the little legs move and all.

Now I'm going to resume my normal life of chores, meals, and teaching. Daddy may scan in the picture later, but for now you have to take my word for it.

Another "I have no words" post.

I thought I'd look for a clip from The Three Musketeers at Youtube. I arrive at the page and they have one of dancing storm troopers. It's only about 30 seconds. I watched it and was amused.
Then this one showed up. It's like a train wreck--you just can't look away. It's safe for kids, just not Star Wars fans.

"Do you know the street value of this mountain?"

Trying to briefly explain Better Off Dead to a seven-year-old who just wants her allowance is not easy.

Just so's you know.

"...when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

It's very, very sad to me that the guys from Animal House have a better grasp of American history than one of our presidential candidates.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about...

Mountains out of molehills

So I'm finally reading the Harry Potter books and I'm up to #5, Order of the Phoenix. I haven't seen any of the movies, which is par for the course. If I had a dime for each time I've said, "No, but I've read the book," our mortgage would be paid off.
Anyway. To all of those well-meaning, involved, caring parents who feared that the wizard boy from Privet Drive would lead their little dears into magic, spells, seances, the occult and Satan, I have one question.
ARE YOU FREAKIN' FOR REAL?! Seriously?!?!
Worry more about lead paint in your kids' toys. Or violence on television. Or the destruction of the rainforests. Or flouride in your water. Or mysterious government experiments in Area 51.

Seriously. If these are what it takes to turn children into devil worshippers, don't let them near Tolkien, Lewis, Greek mythology, Star Wars, or most fairy tales. They can't handle it.

Now, on to Wall*E. This part may contain spoilers, so...
We saw it and really enjoyed it. It's PIXAR so it's definitely pretty to look at. The story is environmental without "mental"--a good thing. There are plenty of reviews, analyzying the story's symbolism and references and meaning. I'll let you check those out on your own. I wondered how much of that the kids got, so I asked them.
"Madeleine, what's your favorite part of the movie?"
"Where he makes the thing that looks like EVE for her."
Okay, that's good. She likes the creative or gift idea.

"Rachel, what did you like about Wall*E?"
"Saying EVA!" Hmm. Maybe she'll turnout to be a Brando fan.You know, Stella! I don't think she got any of the subtle points of baptism, rebirth of hope, or consumerism, though.

"Dale, what was your favorite part of Wall*E?"
"When they're in the elevator, and the TV is saying about to kill them, and Eve shoots it and it blows up."
Well. Sometimes, it seems, an exploding TV is just that.

"Snakes... why'd it have to be snakes?"

The kids have seen Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI. Now with Dale receiving the LEGO magazine and TV commercials, they want to watch Indiana Jones. I'm not ready for them to see all the gruesome dead bodies, tarantulas all over someone's back, and melting heads. We're waiting 'til he's eight, when he'll probably be one of very few who know what the Ark of the Covenant really contained. You can roll your eyes if you like, but let me remind you we have a three-year-old girl here and I don't want to deal with those nightmares.

Anyway, I'm looking for swashbuckling type movies. I thought of National Treasure, but I haven't seen it. The Three Musketeers, though vastly different from the Dumas story, was along the same vein. My dad and I saw King Solomon's Mines back in the theater; does anyone have any help with that one?
[I do recall really bad reviews for that last one. Now you know where I get my movie tastes--my dad. He'd go every week when he was young, during WWII. Even if it was the same movie as last time. The newsreels were what inspired him to become a paratrooper.]

Since you were so helpful with Spaceballs (no, they haven't seen it), I thought I'd put it out there. Adventure movies for the young set?

Movie meme?

My husband has tagged me for a meme: "five critically-lauded movies that I happen to detest."

One slight problem. I've never listened to critics of movies and can't remember ones they've liked. Come on. If I listened to critics, I wouldn't have seen Howard the Duck, Night of the Demons, Highlander II, or First Knight at the theater.
Yep, more time and money than sense in those high school years. My husband describes my movie viewing history as "omnivorous."

Five movies the critics liked that I didn't? I can probably come up with the reverse, ones I think are great that nobody's heard of. And only one will be foreign.

1. Max et Jérémie. I saw this one overseas and I'd love to have it on DVD to watch it again. Noiret plays a hit man ready to leave the business, Lambert is the protégé. I'll admit, since it was 15 years ago, I'd probably want it with subtitles. My French is a tad rusty.

2. Real Genius. I know, my beloved, it's the free-spirits-versus-squares. Sort of. Youthful creativity overcoming old age corruption? At least it doesn't involve idealization of any ethnic groups.

3. Galaxy Quest. I've said I'm not a geek, but I speak it? Yeah. I have lived with these people.

4. Legend. Another I saw in the theater. It's pretty predictable, but to a 13-year-old girl, this was AWESOME. Remember the character in Dodgeball? "I like... unicorns." I could so identify there. Seriously. I wanted to BE Mia Sara, and I didn't even like Tom Cruise.

5. Some Kind of Wonderful. I think it's the least known of the John Hughes oeuvre, partly because it doesn't include Molly Ringwald. It offers hope to the poor, geeky girls. It reminds a girl she's better off alone than with an irredeemable jerk. And first kisses really can mean something.

Since I twisted it, I'm not tagging anyone. But at least I responded.

When Interests Collide

Boy Child: "Mom, wouldn't it be great if there was a movie with the Muppets and Star Wars?"
Mother: "There is. It's called Spaceballs."
Him, incredulous: "Really? Can we get it?"

Anyone? I saw this back in the theater and not since. Is it appropriate for a five-year-old?

I speak Geek, but I'm not really one...

We have embarked on a new epoch in our parenting--an era of sharp objects, nearly invisible to the naked eye, that will be stepped on in the dark. That era of developing fine motor skills, beginning engineering, and even Good versus Evil.
In other words, The Boy 1.0 got Star Wars Legos for his birthday. I've been dreading this day, but I knew it would come. So far it's been worth it. I haven't stepped on any pieces yet.

Anyway. This is a Geek Question for Star Wars fans/purists.
Which movie should the kids see first, Episode I, Phantom Menace or Episode IV, A New Hope? I mean, if you start with 1 Darth Vader's admission at the end of Empire Strikes Back is anti-climactic--you already know. But if you start with IV, you're out of chronological order.
I know the Bible's books aren't in chronological order, but this isn't the same. I may have already made the decision by showing IV first, but I can switch.

And really. I don't ever test higher than 35% Geek on the tests. Maybe I should ask my brother which he started with...