Maybe All Mom Wants is...

Today (a day early) I am getting my Mother's Day Present (which really was a new stove a week ago because the old one gave out, but there is something more!). John took the kids to see the new Pikachu movie.

They left two hours before it started! From our house, you'd need to leave thirty minutes ahead of time to be "on time."

They'd been gone about five minutes when I get a call from Bryan.

"What size t-shirt do you wear? I'm just wondering as we sit here in these fabulous seats we got for getting to the show early."

hmm.

We have a GPS tracker on Luci's phone and John's phone. They went to Hobby Lobby first, and then Walmart, and then on to the movie.

😇😊😂

picture comes from this FaceBook group

Skip the Drama, Stay with Mama

Luci and I saw the Disney Rapunzel movie yesterday--it's called Tangled.  It is a good movie!  Lots of excitement and love and a good twist at the end.  This was my favorite song --Mother Knows Best.  It is so tempting to want to keep our kids close but they need to set out on their own at some point (something I need to remember as I worry about Bryan half-a-world away this week!)  To set the scene, Rapunzel  is about to turn 18 and wants to leave the tower for the very first time.  

 

Mother Gothel:
You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel...!
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower

Rapunzel:
I know but...

Mother Gothel:
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Shh!
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
The plague

Rapunzel:
No!

Mother Gothel:
Yes!

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth, and
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me
Mother's right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best
Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late
You'll see, just wait
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naive
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague
Plus, I believe
Gettin' kinda chubby
I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you
Mother understands
Mother's here to help you
All I have is one request
Rapunzel?

Rapunzel:
Yes?

Mother Gothel:
Don't ever ask to leave this tower again.

Rapunzel:
Yes, Mother.

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.
Don't forget it
You'll regret it
Mother knows best

 

 

When this was said, Luci got so excited--because it's what we say to each other around here.  Except we add the line, "Love you Most-est!"

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.

 

Funny Girl

Luci made a costume for herself at the Friendship Center today. It was lots of fun watching her toddle around in this "Robot" outfit. It was not so much fun shooing her out of the way. I ended up banishing her to the entry area. Bryan captured this 20 second video.

Beezus and Ramona

We are so excited about this movie! 

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Well, Luci and I are, anyway.  The boys don't care.  I've read two of the Ramona books to Luci and we're ready.

Luci even has her Ramona hair-do all set to go:

Stuart Little opened a BIG discussion

Stuart Little...do you remember that book? The movie was a big hit when it came out ten years ago.

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Luci and I watched it a few days ago. It wasn't until we were into it for several minutes that it dawned on me that this is a movie about adoption. (I'm a slow-rememberer!) Tuesday I was all set to take a nap, not be a psycho-therapist.

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After this past year of helping Luci live with the knowledge of her being given up, and finding her way here, and wondering why Daddy wasn't home, I really didn't want to go through a big movie all about adoption/abandonment and the birth-family coming back for the child.

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But it was better to do this with her in my lap than while driving down the road as the kids watch it on the DVD machine in the van. I was able to read her expressions and speak up when needed.

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For those of you who don't know this movie (which started out as a book by EB White), it is about a mouse who is adopted by a human family. The big brother does not accept him right away, the family cat tries to eat him, well-meaning but clue-less family members bring gifts that are definitely not appropriate (like a bowling ball!), and his original family comes to take him back.

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Wow, that scene of the mother and father mouse showing up at the door really frightened Luci.

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She totally understood what they were doing: taking Stuart away from the family that loved him and wanted him desperately.

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Luci begged to turn off the movie. Pleaded. Cried.

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I wouldn't let her stop watching.

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"This has a happy ending, and I want you to see it."

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Turns out the "real" family were not his family at all.

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And during the whole thing, she told me how her own big brothers love her, and have always accepted her (unlike George, Stuart's brother, who took some time to warm up to Stuart) even though sometimes she drives them nuts and vice-versa.

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I reassured her that if anyone came to our door claiming to be her real family, that we would never let them take her away.

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"Even if it's my real China Mommy and Daddy, don't let them take me!"

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I promise! They can live close by and visit whenever you want, but you will always live here with us. They can even live in our basement! But you will be here with Daddy and me.

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As long as she wants to.

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Forever.

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Always.

The Best Christmas Present!

Besides John being here, I mean...and of course I love the Black-n-Decker Electric Broom that JT got for me.

Bryan and Luci made this for me.

What in the World...

Disney World, that is. My Dad called this morning, thinking we fell off the face of the Happiest Place on Earth. So this post is for him and my Mom.

What we've been doing: The boys have been on every wild ride and Luci and I...well, we haven't been on many rides at all. We did go on the Winnie the Pooh Honey Pots ride, loved it, and "NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN!"

Went on Buzz Lightyear's ride in Magic Kingdom (did you hear her SREAMING through the whole line? Yes, we used the Fast-Pass option, thank goodness, so the length of screaming was kept to a minimum.) I had to carry her through the line and toss her onto the vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, she quieted down and quickly figured out she could steer us in circles. That kept her happy and once out of the ride, she proclaimed that she loved it, it's her new favorite ride, but..."NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN!"

Went on the carousel, which was a cry-fest last year. This year, she LOVED IT and actually let me take her on it three more times over the next day and a half.

When we got to Disney's Hollywood Studios, Luci had to be talked in to seeing Disney's Playhouse Show. She loved it, and even asked to go see it again, which of course we did. Talked her into seeing Beauty and the Beast show, incredible show, which she did and here's the way she saw most of it: her hands over her ears, and my hand over her eyes:

Most of the time, though, all Luci and I did was stand in line and see characters and get their autographs. At Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the only thing Luci would do was dance with Cinderella's stepsisters and stepmother.

Another popluar pasttime at Disney World is eating. Here is Luci's way of enjoying the meal: by not eating and PLAYING:

At Shades of Green, our resort, there is a free video game room for the kids. JT, Luci and I checked it out Wednesday. JT had fun with his racing games, and Luci and I played Wii Disney Princesses (what else?):

well, it only looks like she's playing...

Here's what was really going on:

At Hollywood Studios, there is always something going on. I saw this "movie director" head out into the street, so I told him that I knew of someone who would make a great actor--and pointed at Bryan. Here are the results. They are all pretty short, so they shouldn't take too long to load up and watch.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Spielberg and Lucas, Take Notice!

Bryan and JT had two boys from church spend the night last night. I looked out the back window today and saw four young, costumed filmmakers heading down to the creek. They look like they might be working on a Star Wars or Lord of the Rings re-make. Lots of fun!

Proud American

This looks like a wonderful movie!


Click here for the trailer.

Movie Making

The boys are celebrating the beginning of summer by making their own blockbuster movie. Bryan and JT, along with Josh and Bradley (two friends from church), have been working on a movie that has bits and pieces of Indiana Jones, Narnia, High School Musical (??) and several other movies in it.

They spent the last days of May at our house filming Indy Jones (Bradley) unlocking a wardrobe in our basement and then finding himself in G'Narnia (the backyard), where he fought a Ninja. I think JT makes a cute Ninja, don't you? Oops. I mean, he's a tough cookie, showing off that Tang Soo Do form! I'm told that later in the movie he transforms into "Short Oval." They won't tell me more than that. I don't think I want to know more than that!

Movie Making!

Bryan had his first day on a real movie set. He's the one wearing the orange sweatshirt and big green coat. Bryan's friend Bradley is to the left of Bryan. We went by to give the boys some money for lunch, and Bryan was busy running equipment across the street. He was so excited to be working on a professional set! Bryan said the director might use them as extras in a crowd scene, too.

Mom and Dad, Laura and Katie--they are filming at that wonderful, old-timey soda fountain we all went to when you were here last June.