Movie Review

This past weekend has been a relaxing one. Our family stayed home and we had no plans to go and do anything. However, one day my husband and I decided to take the kids to a movie. The kids really wanted to see Bee Movie, but I have not heard good reviews about it so we were not so keen on that idea. I have seen some ads for Enchanted and that looked interesting. My husband was game as well. Now it was time to try to convince the kids that they will like it. It was easier than I had anticipated.

WE LOVED THE MOVIE! The last time I enjoyed a movie this much was when my husband and I saw Stardust. The actress Amy Adams plays the lead role of Gizelle and she was perfect for that role. I swear that they had her in mind as the character was developed because she was so perfect! She perfected every expression that I had ever seen in Disney princess movies. And the movie was funny. My husband and I found ourselves laughing and enjoying everything from the various situations the characters are in, to the music and lyrics of the "Happy Working Song". That song was cute and amusing. My husband and I found ourselves singing the melody as we were walking to the car. Later in the day, we were even playing on the computer and looked for any film footage of the movie and found a site that had a clip of when that song was sung in the movie. Everything was predictable. But really, isn't that the way with all the other Disney or even children's movies? Even though it is predictable, it's an enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. My husband told me that this movie has to be one that we buy for our video collection. I agree.

Besides seeing this movie, I also watched some movies at home. We recently installed DishNet and now have a DVR. My husband has recorded some movies that he's thought I'd enjoy. One was The Da Vinci Code. I read the book this summer and really enjoyed the read. I know that the book and movie had much controversy about it and many religious groups were outraged over the innuendos made, but I feel that if you are strong in your religion, a single book or movie is not going to change my belief system. I enjoyed the book for the suspense and mystery. I loved the puzzles that the characters solve and the way the author links puzzles from earlier in the book to later ones. The challenge it provides to one's religious beliefs allows one the opportunity to reflect, and that is a good thing. Anyway, I really enjoyed the book. The first part of the movie was enjoyable, but I was later disappointed by the movie because it did vary from the written story. In addition, when I read the book, I pictured Sir Leigh Teabing to be like Tucker from the movie There's Something About Mary. I am not saying that Ian McKellen (aka Magneto) wasn't good, he just wasn't what I had imagined and therefore it was a hard thing for me to get past. Finally, I do not remember the book dragging out the ending but I felt it happened in the movie.

There is something fun about reviewing movies. I wish I could use more creative and descriptive terms when doing so. It could be that it is midnight right now and really should be sleeping since I have work tomorrow.

The bird can't take any more stuffing

Thanksgiving Day was really good - really, really good. We were able to watch the Packers win on the big screen; we had lots of yummy munchies to eat while watching the game and I made some very tasty mimosas; the turkey and all the other foods were well prepared and ready at the same time for consumption; and the kids were well behaved.

Being Thankful

Before I sat down to write this entry, I did a bit of research. I think you could call it research since I was searching for information and opinions. About what? Thanksgiving.

My kids, year after year, learn about the pilgrims and their journey to a new land. They draw, paint and make all different kinds of artwork displaying turkeys or native American designs. But I wanted to know what others thought of Thanksgiving and giving thanks.

I found definitions, poems, quotes, articles and even blogs where there were heated discussions to the idea of giving thanks. Yes, heated discussions! This one is a blog from a year ago called Dean's world.

But I want to write about what I am thankful about...
I am thankful for my family. My husband loves me and puts up with all my neuroses and appreciates the good things I do to contribute to our relationship. My kids still vie for my attention and want me to spend time with them. They love it when we snuggle, when we have family game night and when we read books and watch movies together.
I am thankful for my parents in all that they taught me. I may not do or say what they want me to do or say, but their words are always in my thoughts and I try my best to be the same role model they were for me.
I am thankful for the family I have that are still here on this earth and for being loved by the ones that have left this world for heaven. I greatly miss my grandma and grandpa Bolding, my uncle Dana and my father-in-law - Jack Pieper.
I am thankful for my friends. They are great sounding boards. They have great ideas. They have wonderfully different perspectives. They teach me to be a better person.
I am thankful to be given the opportunity to continue the tradition of families getting together for Thanksgiving. Yes, folks, I am hosting a small gathering of some family for a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, green and yellow beans, carrots, cucumbers, pomegranate, Jello, apple and craisin lettuce salad, and pumpkin, apple and pecan pies with ice cream or whipped topping. Yummy?
I am thankful for where I am today. I like my job and where I work. I like what I do. I like being able to share my thoughts like this. I like being a scrap booker. I like living in Kohler. I like being an American and having the opportunity to be thankful for those pilgrims who came to a new world free from religious persecution. I am thankful for being a Christian and allowed to share my beliefs with others.

This Thanksgiving I hope to let everyone know what they mean to me. Do the same!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Funny AND Smart

My daughter was watching the news with my husband. There was story about a deer hunter who shot at what he thought was a deer and was successful in his shot. See, it had the coloring of a deer, but the antlers were too big and the length of the body was too long to be a deer. The hunter had the DNR come and examine the animal.

See, it was a deer. But it was also and elk. The body length and antlers were that of an elk. Supposedly this was a result of a deer and elk mating. (Did you know that it could result in offspring?)

Any way, my daughter heard all this and says to dad. "It is half deer and half elk. So, it must be a delk!":)

Okay - this is really funny if you add to this that Allison saw a movie (I haven't seen it, Open Season, but I guess in it is a line that a character says; "I'm half doe and half buck - I'm a duck!) So what Alex and I appreciate in what Allison said is that she took a line from a movie, applied it to something she heard on the news and made a damn funny joke!

Expostulate

I was asked by a student today "Do you love or hate parent-teacher conferences?"

Whoa! First I didn't like the choices I was given...way too extreme. But as I thought about it, this is what my answer is:

I like seeing the genetic resemblance these kids have to their parents. I love telling kids how much they look like their mom or dad. My students hate it that they look like their mom or dad.

I like meeting the parents. It answers a lot of questions of why the student is the way he/she is. The saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" is often (not always) true. This can be both a compliment and a slap in the face to some parents.

I like explaining how things are run in the classroom - expectations - course requirements - activities and lessons learned. I think parents get a better picture of my class and what I am like.

I like being able to say good things about my student to the parent. I don't enjoy having to state the obvious when I have to say negative comments. I hate it when parents of a teenager say "I just don't know what to do...(my son/daughter) just doesn't do what I say." I want to yell "BE A PARENT! Set limits and enforce them!"

I hate being away from my own kids. They still miss me when I am not home. I dislike working these extra long talking days. My throat gets soar, my head aches and I crash when I get home.

I like it that parents get to see that the teachers here at PHS are hard working people. We want what is best for our students and we work hard to give them the best.

So, do I love or hate parent-teacher conferences? I think I answered it.

An Expanding Vocabulary

So, my son was playing with his K'nex and made some creature/robot/being. He needed to share his creation so he went to dad.
"Dad, look what I made"
Dad takes the creation to examine it better.
Our son quickly takes his creation back from dad and says "Hey, he doesn't like to be man handled!"

Where do they get this stuff?

Why Fall Rocks

Fall. I hate that it is dark so early. I really don't like frost on my windows when I need to leave for work in the morning. Did I mention it is dark then as well? I do LOVE the fun my kids have in the fall. I love the pictures my husband and I take in the fall.

First, Halloween just rocks! This year the kids picked costumes that really matched their personal interests. Our son was Obi Wan Kanobi. Did I even spell that correctly?!? I am a fan of Star Wars but our son is even more of a fan. He loves the Legos Star Wars video games, the movies, the toys and now he has the costume. Oh, did I mention that he was Darth Vader for Halloween two years ago as well? Our son IS A STAR WARS FAN! Our daughter was a pirate. She wasn't Jack Sparrow or any other movie character, no, she likes to be her own character - someone original. But really, how original can you be with a purchased costume? None-the less, she was so happy about her eye patch, the clip on earring and the sword that could do some serious damage. (It was heavy even though it was made of plastic.)

We had a blast Trick-or-Treating. We were able to walk for about an hour and a half with some of the neighborhood kids and moms. We went to one neighbor's house - Holly. WOW! She had the foyer and front room of her house all decked out to look like a dungeon. She was dressed as a witch and had potions brewing and many other really cool details - I took a picture!

Then there was today, as I was driving into Kohler, there was a plethora of leaves falling - it almost looked like it was snowing leaves. Alex had raked a huge pile of leaves for the kids to play in when they got home from school. He also had the camera ready to take a ton of pictures. I had so many favorites. I decided to put too many pictures in the entry today.

I love it when we have a good weather Fall day. The sun is out so it seems warmer than what it is in actuality. It is best when it isn't so windy, but that is hard to come by. Today was one of those days...sunny...warm...not to breezy. It was a good Fall day.

Take a look at these pictures. My kids now know how to pose for me and still just be kids. I always get such fun shots of them. I love the one of my son...look at the height that he gets with that jump! And my daughter, she is such a ham for the camera.

What did we do before You Tube???

So there are days when I have a ton of work to do. If it is a day that Alex is home and can play with the kids, he gets out his laptop and connects to You Tube. There he finds all types of videos and songs that he plays for the kids. I decided to share some of their favorites.

The Muppets - Never Smile at a Crocodile -


The Muppets - Mahnahmahnah -


The Lion Sings Tonight -


The Muppets - Banana Boat song -


There are more that my husband has searched for the kids, but I cannot remember all of them. As I write this entry, the kids are coming over to the computer to view the links that I am posting. They really love this stuff!

Making a puppet

So, my daughter is to read a certain number of chapter books each quarter. She meets with her teacher each week to talk about the book and set new goals for her to meet in reading the book. She never has a problem meeting and then also exceeding those goals. SHE LOVES TO READ! I love it that she loves to read! One of the books she read was The Fish in Room 11. It is about a family of mermaids/mermen that save a human child, raise him for a year while living in a cave near the ocean and then leave him for a certain human to find so that she will raise him. When the baby grows to a boy, they meet him again and then pose as humans (wheelchair bound humans) so that they can spend time with the boy. Okay, now back to the point. Allison needs to pick one book and then do a quarter project for that book. She chose to make a puppet of one of the main characters and then write a brief introduction of that character. These are pictures I took as my husband and I helped her make that puppet. I have to say that this puppet is so cool. My husband went to the craft store with our daughter to pick out supplies. We actually sewed a felt square to a Nerf ball for the head. We ironed on the face features. We sewed on each strand of hair. We made the fin and body sections from felt. The head is held firmly in place using a skewer that is pushed into the Nerf ball and extends down into the body so that there is something to hold on to. All this was made without any patterns. The design came mainly from our daughter with the technical means to put it together came from my husband and I. I made a point to have my daughter DO the work and not have the parents do all the work. I think she did a wonderful job. She is so excited about taking it to school tomorrow. I am so very proud of her as well. I'm also a little proud of myself and my husband for being creative enough with the stuff we had around the house to help put this whole thing together.

We're all so exhausted from this. I still had four sections of chemistry grades to enter this evening. End of quarters are hard work. Thank goodness there are only three more quarters to go for this school year!

Rabbit...Rabbit...Rabbit

It is the first of the month. I wake early, before anyone in the house. I always do that. I quietly get myself showered and make the kids' lunches for the day. I wait in silence for when my husband awakes. I do not want to be mean and wake him too early. I hear him sneaking down the stairs as I brush my teeth. I think he thinks I do not hear him, but I do. I wait, turn around and we simultaneously say rabbit rabbit rabbit. My parents did this all the time. I do not know why I introduced this to our marriage, but I loved watching my parents battle as to who would say it first to the other. It was fun to watch and now it is fun to participate. This month we had a tie. I guess we will have to share the good luck this month. I really was not sure about the history until I did a search this evening. I found several links, but sadly, Wiki had what everybody else said in one easy to read spot. I included a link to the origin of the saying...rabbit,rabbit, rabbit