Fantastic parenting.

There are expectations we all have when it comes to parenting.  For some, it is about passing on traditions, maybe interests or talents, good behavior or chill attitudes.  In our house, it is all about teaching them how to appreciate good music and movies(among other important things).

This last month, what with the self-quarantining and such, we introduced our children properly to the “Indiana Jones” trilogy. 

(We haven’t yet tried on the Crystal Skull deal yet, we’ll have to wait and see on that one..)

We initially got the usual looks (disgust and pain) from the girls with this being something that is new to them, but within five minutes of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” they were hooked. 

During “Temple of Doom” we had to hold back the laughter.  Ash insisted on sitting on the other couch and the opposite end at that, and just watching her squirm during all the bug parts was entertainment enough! 

One of my favorite moments, during “The Last Crusade” came when Ilsa (the Nazi chick as we usually refer to her) was kissing Indiana.  We had tried our best to explain to the girls the politics of the situation, so they were somewhat informed as to what a Nazi was..  Lynn turns to us in shock/disgust and exclaims: “He’s kissing a Nazi!?!?!”

We find it part of our parental duty to show these classics to our children.  We could be judged, and judged harshly if we didn’t, people.

After the success with Indiana, we showed them the “Star Wars” trilogy.

(We haven’t had the need to torture them yet by showing them the prequels.)

Lynn was ecstatic to see that Indiana Jones was still working!

(Ha!!)

They loved those too, but most disturbing, loved the “dark side” a bit too much.  Love for the Ewoks helped me to feel okay again about them later.

(That “dark side” is a treacherous thing!)

Now I have the desire to find them all vintage Star Wars shirts.  Wishing that we still had all of our old Star Wars toys..  especially the Millennium Falcon.

(I know I am not alone in this, am I siblings?)

Along with these great, and most important of teachings for my offspring, there is also the teaching of how to fully appreciate Cadbury Creme eggs. 

And Jet Puff Marshmallow Creme.

Hey, it is just being a responsible parent.

Tainted Memories..

It hasn't been the funnest Sunday, I'll quickly admit...
Peyton and Ashley did not sleep well last night, which is directly linked to the groggy state I functioned in the entire day today.
Peyton's so called contribution of crabbiness, non nap taking, and the desire for me to constantly hold her so she could subsequently shove her fingers into her mouth, and then the other hand down my shirt (this is the epitome of comfort to her..), did not help either.
Peyton and I missed church in the interest that other worshipers might possibly enjoy it.
She hasn't been her happiest today.
I have played countless games of Freecell, because I can do that one-handed..
I even got a digital scrapbook page done; that too, is a one-handed task..
Not much time for me to do what I wanted to do to relax today, until...
Everyone, but Peyton of course, slowly drifted upstairs, I found myself in control of the remote.
One of my favorite movies of all time was on.
I have loved "Dirty Dancing" since I was a kid. It was on HBO at my friend's house, my parents didn't know I saw it. Needless to say, I never saw it again, and I didn't quite understand why.. until I saw it as an adult.
Wow.
So, I was excited to watch it tonight as it was on ABC Family :)
I was having fond memories, remembering the Christmas I got the soundtrack (on tape, and I now own it on CD) and the poster of Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle. He lived on the back of my bedroom door for years and was moved to the wall only when I discovered New Kids On The Block, and got a 6 foot tall door poster.
He is still so hot!
Lynn came downstairs just in time for the closing dance number and song.
I was rather enjoying my little reverie, when she suddenly piped-up: "Hey! I remember this!! This is from 'Family Guy'.. remember that old guy sings this song?"
I had started out chuckling at her perception that this was from "Family Guy", and ended-up laughing so hard that I was crying, visualizing Herbert singing, "The Time of My Life" while Storm Troopers danced...
Now my sweet memories are tainted. ;)

Funny girls...

The girls are cracking us up non-stop, like usual...
Lately, they have been asking us if something is "a good word", or if we shouldn't say it. They keep asking us if shoot is a good word. To which we always answer, "yes". Merrill even overheard a conversation between the two, discussing what are "good words" and what they consider to be "bad words". He said they had settled on shoot being a good word to say. So we hear it a lot these days. Today, while running errands, Ash says, "Mom, what the shoot is this?"
At dinner tonight, Ash couldn't stop smiling. Lynn said to her, "Why are you smiling?"
Ashley replied, "Because smiling's the best!"
Can you tell we have been watching "Elf" a bit too much?
Lynn thinks "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is hilarious. She makes us go back and re-play scenes over and over again. Then she giggles so hard, she has to say "excuse me", because she lets a few little farts eeek out.
Tonight, for our family Christmas activity that we have been trying to do nightly.. last night we made sugar cookies... tonight we made this yummy treat discovered at bake day, and then feasted upon it while we watched some Disney Christmas cartoon classics. Merrill has loved these since he was a little boy, he was so excited I found them on DVD at Target, ahhhh... love Target! As "Pluto's Christmas Tree" started, he said, "Don't mind if I start to tear up over here... good memories, that's all."
The girls really enjoyed it too. "Mickey's Christmas Carol" will be a family tradition from here on out!

Oh, Edward...

What a delicious movie!
I worked hard on these to have 4 pair done for tonight... thanks for moral support Brooke, and for your cutting skills!
Really, first showing... Kaitlyn and MiKell got the tickets... yay for them! And we had a blast.. I got to be young and carefree for a few hours... after I got 2/3 of my children to sleep ;)
The movie was awesome!!! For those of you going to see it, may I suggest the nachos, diet Coke, popcorn WITH milkduds (Christie taught me this, and it is a must try...) and some sour patch kids, for when you think Edward and Bella are going to kiss, but they don't...
Now I am off to maybe 4 or 5 hours of sleep!
Worth it!!!

The pictures should explain...

Life has been busy.. good, but busy. Everyone's going everywhere, at the same time, it seems, and I am just hanging on.
So hopefully the pics will somewhat explain my week, well, at least the highlights of it.
Peyton is seven months old...
And very mobile. Most of my attempts at getting her picture ended with her escaping.
She's very happy with herself...
And she is furthering her education by performing numerous other tricks and feats... can you say, "Hello baby gates"?
I have been in the Halloween spirit for long enough now. I figured the beginning of the week, that I should put up my decorations and enjoy them. The season goes by too fast. Went to Tai Pan and found some cute ideas there too...

I was also a little tired with the arrangements on my shelves, so I re-arranged them, after a helpful trip to Roberts and Tai Pan... Thanks for introducing me Brookers!
I did do vinyl lettering on the plate and the metal sign (be thankful)... so I got some new, re-purposed some old...
Family fun lately has been to go to Mer's warehouse, with blankets and any treats, and watch movies projected with Clint's projector, onto my beautifully seamed king sized sheets... our own little movie theater, complete with safety pad seating... the girls love it!

Dan In Real Life....

...or should we call it: "Could be Merrill in Real Life"?
We thought this movie was cute and funny... and Merrill thought, at times, this was too close to home for him. He told me I had better not go dying on him... he couldn't do this by himself.
So now let me explain...
Dan has 3 daughters (hmmm... sounds familiar...). His wife has passed away (not so familiar..). The daughters ages are (roughly) 17, 15, & 10... Lynn is 5, Ash 3, and Peyton 4 months (kinda similar spacing, eh?). So these daughters were going through all of the girl stuff, thongs, boys, stuff dads just aren't hip to. Merrill did not like the reminder that his girls would someday be putting him through similar situations.
The part where the daughter yells, "You are a murderer of LOVE!!!", Mer said: "The sad thing is that I can hear Lynn saying the same thing to me."
While I was laughing at parts in the movie, he was telling me that it really wasn't funny, it was scary, this was going to happen to him, his girls were going to have times in their lives when they just won't like him very much.
He made me promise that I wouldn't "go dying" on him.