Seeing the forest and the trees..

Kaesmom's comment made me realize, others may not recognize where I dragged the Things yesterday. Muir Woods. A forest filled with big trees...really big and really old trees. Getting there was an adventure: a curvy, twisty, winding road that made this chicken momma driver pull up her big girl panties and just DRIVE. But as you can see, the destination was worth the misery of getting there. Without a doubt, one of my most favorite Bay area landmarks. The peaceful quiet of the forest is there...even with my boys clowning around.

Picture Talk

Between navigating the California Highways and getting up on Rocky Mtn time...I'm tired. Here's a sample of what we did today.

The Simple Things

We're staying at a "Boutique hotel". Still looks like a regular hotel to me but there are a couple features my Things aren't used to seeing. A stocked mini-bar and snack center (HUGE threat issued not to touch that $4 bag of cookies...no matter how tasty it may look). Sterling silver ice bucket...and wine goblets instead of plastic cups.

The boys have had a blast playing bar tender One pours the soda into the wine class and offers it up to his brother. They even announced last night: "Happy Hour, just like Grandpa!". This morning? Thing One announced to his brother "I'll be butler, where is your goblet sir?".

who needs fancy toys and gadgets...they just needed soda (that we bought at the grocery store across the street) and wine glasses. They've been entertaining themselves for hours!

You'd think after all these years...

traveling to the West Coast, I still can't sleep in. It was really bad those first few years of marriage, when we would come from VA to see Hubby's parents here in the Bay are. That 3 hour time change did me in and I never would adjust until we left for home And even now, with the time change being only an hour, I still struggle.

So with my usual internal alarm clock going off at 0600, I instantly wake up at 0500 local time. And the Things were also stirring by this time as well.

Oh man...it is going to be one long day for sure. And I have to navigate my way through Bay area traffic without Hubby to do the driving for me.

Good thing they have good coffee here at the hotel.

Leaving on a jet plane

Or at least that is the plan. If I don't get my hiney off this couch and get started on the day's chore list...we won't be going anywhere.

I'm outta here...laundry, packing, errands, post office, bank...all sorts of stuff must be tackled if I am to leave for vacation with my to-do list mostly done.

If you see me lurking around, would you tell me to go tackle a chore, promise?

Call off the search party

There is calm in the kindgdom once again!

*shoe remains missing. But it was old and stunk really bad so we've moved on from that missing item.

One down, 2 to go..

And I don't think the Things have much cause for complaint. In the first week of their vacation, they had no less than 3 play dates with friends, one awards assembly and a road trip.

On Thursday, Thing One was officially recognized for being the character that he is. He received a character award for demonstrating outstanding responsibility. Yep, this decision was made by his teacher before he aided and abetted in the disappearance of one comcast remote. And while I believe such award ceremonies are a ploy to get families to come to the PTO meetings (big surprise they get their certificates at the monthly PTO meeting), we were proud of him just the same...that is until he got nervous and started in on his monkey act, complete with monkey inspired grooming skills. 'Nuf said on that.

We finished up this first week with a little road trip. We headed South to the North Pole. And if you live in Colorado, this makes perfect sense doesn't it? If you are not from these parts, then I'll catch you up. At the base of Pikes Peak is a very old, very tired, rather tacky kiddie amusement park all centered on the theme of Christmas. Yep, you can visit with Santa year round. But the price is right (with a coupon it comes to around $10/person for one of those all you can ride places) and the forest like setting makes it worth it in the long run. I figured it was a good way for me to get my leaf peeping fix while keeping the boys entertained. While I got my Aspen fix, the boys seem just about too old for this park. Not saying they are ready for more intense places...as we had to cut our trip short when Thing Two decided his head and tummy hurt really bad after his 3rd trip on the Tilt-a-Whirl!


So, now we're heading off into the second week of Track Off. Wonder what exciting adventures await us? Only time will tell...

The remote and the shoe..

In the old nursery rhyme, doesn't the dish run away with the spoon? Well, here at the House of Chang, the remote seems to have taken off with the shoe. OK, I get how a remote can go a.w.ol. Especially given the level of activity that takes place down here in the kid zone. But a SHOE? How does my youngest child come home from school with 2 shoes on but when he immediately takes them off in the van, one disappears.

Good thing he has some spare shoes and the one that went missing was starting to take on an odor all of its own. As for the remote, I simply must move on.

Last night, Hubby and I went out for date night. We lumped in several occasions worth celebrating (a couple birthdays and an anniversary, we figured) and went to see Spamalot. I'm not sure what I thought was missing with this show but I can't say you are missing a lot if you don't make it to this show. A few good giggles and at times rather "spoofy" but I think we're just too much into t.v. and do not know enough about Broadway to understand some of the references they were making. And of course, the last live performance show I saw was Lion King. And that is a very difficult act to follow. Anything will fall short by comparison.

Uh oh...the Things are arguing....my cue to sign off and go blow the referee whistle.

Now who is acting quirky?

We're missing a remote to the basement TV. Thing One mentioned it to me yesterday and on/off I've spent the past day looking in the usual spots. I've even checked upstairs thinking there might be extra ones in other parts of the house. This morning I even dumped the toy box and Legos in hopes of finding it sitting in with the toys. I've strip-searched the couch and the lazy boy recliner. Nothing I tell you (except an assortment of crumbs and lost Lego pieces)

I was getting ready to start all over in the search when Thing One said "Give it a break, Mom, it is ONLY a remote!"

My how far we've come...he's supposed to be the one with the persevering tendencies. These days he's telling his momma to ease up on the OCD stuff.

Full circle I tell you...full circle...and if I could stay focused long enough to be grateful I would!

By the numbers...

Yesterday ended up being a rather productive day after all. Hubby was gone almost all day, as he is still trying to get over Trail Ridge road before it closes for the season. This time he made it as far as the west entrance of the park (just changing into the right gear at Grand Lake) before he learned they'd just closed the road. Gotta give him credit for continuing to try. Even if you aren't a motorcycle fan, check out his blog for some awesome pictures of Colorado Gold.

As for me, I must have found my Martha mojo in my morning coffee yesterday as I managed to accomplish quite a bit. Here's the tally:

• 4 loads of laundry washed, dried, folded and even put away
• 3 bathrooms scrubbed
• 2 errands completed (which involved me driving beyond my comfort radius of 3 miles here in the 'hood).
• 1 party attended (which is why I wasn't able to crash TZ's crop). Our friend's middle daughter headed off to Homecoming with her 4 gal pals. I serve as the family photographer and then we eat, drink and talk all sorts of crazy talk. It has become a tradition for us. One that sadly will involve my own boys heading off to the dance way sooner than I think I'll be ready for.

I'm thinking I burned through my weekend allotment of energy yesterday. But there are still a couple chores here in the Craft Shack I would like to get to. Time will tell if this morning's coffee leaves me feeling as motivated as yesterday's.

whatever you do today, make it a good one...

Rise and Shine!

It is not only Saturday...but if you've been paying attention and counting days like some of us, you'll know it is the first day of our track off. (3 week break from year round school). Luckily, Thing Two seems to be the bright one of the bunch as he is still sleeping in. Thing One waited until 6:25 before he came in asking if he could get up. Hey, that is called sleeping in around this place. Take it or leave it. :)

There isn't much going on and while I should be filled with motivation to get to a couple projects, instead I think I"m just going to sit here for a little bit longer and savor the quiet that makes morning my favorite time of day.

Check back later for reports of completed scrapbook pages, cleaned bathrooms, laundry totals and paper work shuffled. Because right now, all you'll see is a lazy old lady sipping coffee, surfing the Internet. Yep...nothing sweeter than the idea that the day is clear and the possibilities are unlimited in what I could accomplish (but probably won't).

Two-Too-To

Match the following

___Days until track off

___Many chores to try to squeeze in before the Things are home with me for three long weeks

___How did she get from here ___ this photo when all I did was blink? Note to self: quit doing this, ok. They are all growing up way too fast!

Lame post I know: but since a couple sister wives have updated their blogs, I figured I'd better get mine updated before they go and start the nagging. Not that sister wives do that: instead, we provide unconditional support and reassurance. It is the Law of the Pack.

Which brings me to the next shameless adorable photo. Meet our newest scout. Isn't he adorable? Wouldn't you love to buy some popcorn from him? Come on, you know you want to! Who can resist a man in uniform?

Speed Reader

Thing One is known for his hurried ways. Especially when he reads. He goes really fast. When you do that, sometimes you make mistakes. You might miss the meaning of the word. But, sometimes when you go fast, make a mistake, you still seem to get the right meaning.

Such was the case this morning, when he was looking over my shoulder as I watched ABC.com Brothers and Sisters (how did I miss this show last year? My newest addiction is catching up on this series. Makes me sort of wish I grew up in a large family. Those of you who really did grow up in large families, please don't ruin my illusion that at the end of every 45 minute disagreement you all met up in Mommas warm and wonderfully stocked kitchen to chat over a glass of wine).

But anyways, he sees the promo sign for the return of a popular Sunday evening program...only he read "Desperate Hotwives".

I didn't bother to correct him...especially when he went on to say how me and the other mommies were prettier than those ladies in the picture.

Truth is, some day real soon testosterone will start to surge and he'll realize his momma and her friends look nothing like the women of Wisteria Lane. But for now, I'm rather digging that he thinks I'm beautiful!

One Man's Hobby...

is another man's chore.
As I type this, sipping my coffee (Dunkin Donuts brand of Hazelnut,while it is a very tasty morning sipping coffee, Seattle's Best Creme Brulee remains my favorite), Hubby is suiting up and getting ready for his adventure.

From here to Aspen and back...just to travel the back roads and take in the beauty of our state.

Sure, sounds all lovely doesn't it? But, I'd be following in the car (or cage as he now refers to anything not a motorcycle), with the howlers in the back, asking to stop at any and all recognized brand restaurants. Not out of hunger do they ask. Nope, driven by boredom while sitting in the back, being entertained by every electronic gadget that comes with a car adaptor.

I fail to see the beauty in any of this plan. Leaf peeping or not. Just sounds like too much of a chore for me.

On the other hand, tomorrow is my day away and starting around 11am, I'll be meeting my friend Mrs. M. at Archivers. Now, doesn't that sound like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Howlers howling at home while I'm enjoying the company of a good friend that I don't see nearly enough and pursuing my own hobby...scrapbooking.

If you are in the area, and can get a kitchen pass approved, join us Sunday!

With each passing day...

it just gets harder and harder to get everyone up and moving in the right direction. Just one more week until we track off...I think I can make it. But, I really wish vacation started today!!!!

On the upside, Thing Two seems to be overcoming yet another school hurdle. While his handwriting remains rather sloppy in general, he is starting to space out his words and the other evening, he wrote me a letter.

Now, before you say "oh, how sweet is that?", I should clarify that it was hate mail. Yep, he was angry that I sent him to his room for getting frustrated with his game boy. Off he stomped.

Only, he couldn't find paper to write his letter...so he used a kleenex.
His note read: "you are the worst mom ever!"

I cried when I read it: happy tears...because every word was spelled correctly and I could read his handwriting. Yep, sometimes even those hate letters make us smile because by golly, he's getting there.

OMG: would you look at the time...I'd better get my rear in gear and start the day.

Alien Invasion

I'm thinking that aliens have taken over my children. The boys have played nicely with each other, complimenting each other, cooperating with each other, and offering to help each other with their homework so they can get back to playing.

And if that wasn't enough proof: my oldest insisted we watch the Broncos yesterday. While I've got nothing against them as a team, on the whole, nobody in our family is that interested in professional football. For him to request to watch the game seemed just "out the norm".

Who are these boys and what have they done with my children?

Oh never mind...aliens please stick around for awhile...I like what I'm seeing.

Colorado has talent!

Last night, I gathered a couple of my friends and we went to hear my co-worker (she's technically my supervisor but she gets embarrassed when I call her Boss Lady) and her musical group perform in their A Capella group. I admit: I made the plans to go out of a sense of employee obligation. I'm more of a theatre kind of gal.

Or so I thought...

OMG: this wasn't like anything I'd heard before. I remembered from some long forgotten Music Appreciation class what A Capella meant. I just didn't realize it was more than what a church choir does on Sunday morning.

These folks were good. No, make that great! My favorite was the Barbershop Quartets that performed in addition to JD's group. They had this amazing talent for infusing humor into their act so it felt like part comedy club, part theatrical performance all topped off with some amazingly talented voices.

It is no wonder that the one group recently placed 3rd in the International Competition for Barbershop Quartets. But if they were third (and 17th, was the other placing for the group): I'd really love to hear what a first place group sounds like because all these performers were top notch. And, so not a bunch of old geezers in funny hats singing Sweet Adeline!

Next time I hear about one of their shows, you can bet my attendance won't be out of obligation but out of a desire to hear some really fantastically talented individuals who shine on stage!

*and no, I'm not saying this to schmooze boss lady. She doesn't even know I have a blog

Coffee

Why is it that coffee (or whatever your preferred morning warm beverage might be)

• tastes better on a crisp cool morning?
• smells better when someone else has started the brew?
• is enjoyed way more when shared with good friends?

Come on over, and I"ll put a fresh pot on just to prove these observations to ya'll!

A book worm is emerging

While we are a family of readers, Thing Two has taken his own sweet time in terms of learning to read and embracing reading books for pleasure. He has always approached it as a chore, something he knows he has to do, but doesn't necessarily plan to like it.

Until now: You see, he has just been introduced to the concept of AR tests. Now, he's searching all over for books that are "on the list" (of books that the school has tests for). He just came downstairs, complaining that Freckle Juice has only 47 pages and he is already on page 42. "Mom, do you think I can take the test tomorrow?".

Ah yes...I believe we've crossed over yet another learning hurdle in the education of these boys! And it feels so good...

Monday Morning Musings

1. This week marks the second anniversary of my consistent blogging. Imagine how skinny I'd be if I showed as much dedication and focus to regular exercise and healthy eating as I do to making sure my blog stays current? I love how my blog helps me stay connected with friends and family both near and far. Exercise? Well, all it does it make me stiff, sore and sweaty. What is the appeal of any of those qualities?

2. Thing One is starting to approach Mondays with a bright and happy attitude. Why? Because it is the day he does his "job". Part of his special ed. program is working in the cafeteria on Mondays. He proudly announced this morning: "if you see the food in the cafeteria today and it looks good, you can thank me and the other cookerators". Hm mm: if it wouldn't break his heart and crush his spirit, I'd suggest to his teachers less time in the cafeteria, more time in English class! But, he's so excited about this job and is taking it very seriously and acting very responsible. We'll just correct his grammar and move on.

3. Thing Two forgot his glasses this morning. And, he was visibly upset and worried. No problem: I quickly ran home, and brought them back to school. That put a smile on my face: not that he forgot his glasses but that he notices a difference when wearing them and was worried that he wouldn't have a good day if he didn't have his glasses!

4. The wine of the month delivery guy just came with our monthly delivery. Stop on by and I'll share a glass with you...or 2 or 3...as we're several months behind in sampling the wines.

without a doubt, this is one of my more boring entries. But, I figured I'd better update before my sister wives start to harass me. That's my talent (blog harassment): I don't want them stepping in and taking over that duty of mine! :)

Rules of engagement

One of the regular rituals shared by the guys here in the House of Chang is the nightly beating or punches. Think wrestling with the winner taking the final gentle punch. Yes, I'm sure some day my boys will mention this to the wrong people and social services will be coming to check things out...but it really is one of those innocent father-son bonding moments.

Earlier this evening, we were reminding the boys about some of the rules of such slug fests. Just between Dad and the boys. Only in fun and never do you hit, punch, slug or wrestle a girl.

And while they both agreed that it is never ok to hit a girl, Thing Two was a bit more curious. "Dad, can a chick wrestle another chick?".

Without missing a beat, my husband loudly chuckled "only in your dreams, son, only in your dreams".

Oh my...social services is so going to have their hands full on that report!

Remind me again...

what's the appeal of a large yard with green, healthy thriving grass? All it amounts to from my vantage point these days is mowing...lots and lots of mowing.

I'd rather be doing this sort of thing:

It is almost 11 a.m.

Do you think I should get my rear in gear and get dressed?

We're enjoying a quiet Labor Day weekend. My cold lingers but at least I"m not feeling as run down as I was at the beginning of this icky cold. Now it is just good old fashioned laziness that keeps me in my jammies.

Plus, I just finished reading a book. Saving Grace by yet again, Dorthea Benton Franks. Not her best work. It looks like it is her most recent work and the entire story felt rather sluggish. Maybe she just has run out of fresh ideas? I realize some of my thoughts on this book could be sparked by the mood I brought to the book. I really liked A Thousand Splendid Suns, so it is pretty safe to assume that anything I'd try to read right after would fall short in comparison. And while I wouldn't say this book was bad (I'm to the point these days that if the book is bad, I just quit reading it), it wasn't a very strong book. She created some vivid and realistic supporting characters but the entire story just sort of plodded along. You can easily skip this book and not be missing much.

Well, I better wrap this up before the Things discover me on the computer and insist that they get a turn on Webkinz. But hey, I"m earning cash for them to spend on their critters. Isn't that a good mommy thing to do? That's my story and I"m sticking to it!

Charged but never convicted

I just read this ethics quiz and though it'd be fun to blog. My title is my score. I guess that makes me not very Nicki (ala Big Love Fans)...because well she and Bill both could run for office I"m guessing. So, where do you fall on this ethics quiz?

HOW ETHICAL ARE YOU?
1. Nibbled "samples" from supermarket produce and bulk bins?
2. Tossed cigarettes or other litter from your car?
3. Examined the neighbors mail when it was delivered to your home by mistake?
4. Stood in the 10-items-or-fewer line when you knew you had more items?
5. Knowingly driven above the posted speed limit?
6. Returned clothing to stores after it's been worn?
7. Ignored your dog's pile in the neighbor's lawn?
8. Illegally used a disabled placard so you could park close? Or parked in a handicapped space even without a placard?
9. Rolled through stop signs in your car or on a bike?
10. Left a shopping cart in a parking space?
11. "Borrowed" from your child's piggy bank?
12. Sneaked snacks or beverages into movie theaters?
13. Driven solo in the car-pool lane?1
4. Taken towels or robes from hotel rooms?
15. Called in sick when you weren't ill?
16. Found a purse or wallet and not attempted to return it to the owner?
17. Fudged on a company expense report?
18. Moved to a more expensive (and empty) seats at a ballpark or arena?
19. Dumped your garbage in a neighbors container without asking permission?
20. Taken work supplies home?

Ethics Meter0-3 -- Mother Teresa Award4-7 -- Charged but never convicted8-12 -- Genetically linked to George Costanza13-20 -- Consider running for public office

Do you think they'll notice?

One thing about scrapbooking the lives of a family with just boys is that there are very few occasions where I get to use pink in my layouts. Pastels in general just don't see much action now that they are beyond the baby years. But every so often I try to sneakin color combos that are indeed a bit more feminine. I'm wondering if they'll even notice on this one? I hope not since I really like it.

It shows what a big kid I am when I get around amusement parks. I mean come on, do you really think the boys are the ones begging to go to these places? Of course it is Mom plotting when we can work in another amusement park adventure on our various trips. Which reminds me, I should start plotting, er planning our trip to FL in January (hmmm..is it time to see Mickey again or maybe try the see what's new at Universal Studios?).

Either/Or

I've caught Thing Two's cold. Either he's a lot tougher and stronger than his old momma or I'm just a big old baby...but all I want to do is fix me a cup of tea and curl up on the couch and watch TV.

Right now, I'm wishing I had saved just a couple of those Entourage season 2 episodes so that I wouldn't be so miserable while waiting for the sniffles to pass. Knowing my luck, season 3 will arrive and I'll be all better and filled with guilt for having done very little these past couple days.

Oh well...at least I have one saved/unwatched episode of Design Star.

While it has a good beat..

You can't scrapbook to it. I scurried around yesterday, cranking out a lot of my chores in hopes of spending time today in my craft room. I thought I'd try something new: multi tasking. While scrapbooking, I'd pop in the DVD for Season 2 of Entourage. Normally, I just have music on or the background noise of cable TV.

The verdict? Not so good, at least from the crafty side of things. For some bizarre reason, I find this show highly addicting and distracting. So while I made a huge dent in my backlogged DVDs from Blockbuster, I made next to no progress in the scrapbooking department. This photo represents the entire amount of layouts completed during what was to have been my own private scrap-a-thon.

Instead, I had a marathon session of Vince, and his entourage.

I'd still call it a good day indeed....

Truth or Dare

Even as a kid, I stunk at this game. But, since Dodi asked so nicely and well...I'm sort of afraid of her, I will obey.

List 8 things about yourself, but make one of them untrue.

1. I've never read Little House on the Prairie 2. I've gone Hot-potting in Yellowstone 3. I've never been on a gondola ride in Venice 4. I've eaten jellyfish 5. I've never been skydiving 6. I've waited on celebrities 7. I've never been to the prom 8. I've many sister wives

We've opened THAT door

Oh no. What have I done? Will I end up regretting this decision? Will it go right up there with letting them watch The Simpsons for the first time, or bringing a game system into the house?

Yep, this morning I"m thinking...what have I done. (and by now, you too are saying, cough it up Chicky, tell us what mommy faux pas you committed)...

I let the boys have a friend spend the night! Yes, really...me Ms. "I'm not ready for sleepovers".

The verdict? Well, so far, it seems to be a normal Saturday morning here in the House of Chang. Except instead of 2 things sitting around in their boxers/briefs, I've got a 3rd one (with blond hair and freckles mind you). Everyone got at least 9 hours of sleep and nobody woke up during the night begging to go home.

I think for now, it is a thumbs up experience (but this doesn't mean I'm ready to let them sleep over...that is a whole different set of mommy anxieties that I'm not ready to tackle).

But then again...I wasn't too worried that first time we let Bart, Lisa and Maggie join our cozy family...

Predictions

Lois (aka Dodi) offered up this challenge in her blog.

• My friend sent me an email that we were supposed to fill in with our answer and then pass it on. Well, most of my friends (all what? 4 friends that I have?) usually hate to get these kinds of emails - and I do too. So, I thought I'd blog it. If you want to also blog it - the more the merrier.What is it that you predict?

Thanks Dodi, sounds like fun. I predict

1. If rain is forecasted, it will start right as the school bell rings.
2. If we've had great weather the week before Halloween, we'll have bitter cold and snow when trick or treating night finally arrives
3. Before the school year ends, I"ll have found something that has me all in an uproar with the Things education. I'm just so convinced that this peaceful state we are in just won't last.
4. Low rise jeans will make a comeback right as my boys start to notice the opposite sex.
5. The Things will start to drop F-bombs and I"ll have no one to blame except myself.
6. I will not be pleased with who wins Design Star this year. My boy, Sparkle Josh, was eliminated so who cares beyond that.
7. Politicians will continue to sling mud at each other throughout the next year and a half and yet, nothing will change much even after leadership changes.
8. The antics of Brittaney, Paris and LiLo will continue to be the first run stories even thought we are all finished hearing about their lives spinning out of control.
9. Disco will remain dead
10. I will totally miss seeing my Big Love sister wives every other week. Can we please all get addicted to another night time soap opera so that we can continue to get together on a regular basis?

Let's hope it is great...

I remember one time when Thing One was eight and I found myself mumbling "Eight, it really isn't so great". I can't remember what he was doing at the time that had me in heavy sigh mode. But, as today marks the day that Thing Two marches into the eight year, I'm hoping it was just a bad mommy moment and that we aren't about to hit a rough patch. Because quite honestly, I'm so totally loving this stage we're in now.

Thing Two enjoyed his special day. He pretty much knew what his present was going to be and yet I was totally impressed with how patient he has been in terms of waiting for the day to finally arrive. I tried to tease him just a bit by wrapping the box with the DS out of it (it was charging up) and toyed with the idea of telling him that "oh no, they sold me an empty box?" But, Hubby wisely pointed out I'd be pushing my luck on his cooperation if I did that. Instead, we had him do a quick treasure hunt to find out where the thingie was charging up.

All in all, a good day. Yet even with the easier approach to celebrating (meeting friends at the pool, enjoying cake and conversation), I'm tired out. Granted, not as worn out as if we'd had the gathering here at the house or had the sun shone all afternoon. But, tired just the same.
And with that...I'll sign off, go find myself something cold to drink and celebrate that we have made it to the end of the Season of Birthdays (at least until October when Hubby has his turn).

Rainbow's End

Here's where mine ends. How about yours?

Predictions and promises

As I predicted, I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini) this past week. And, as promised, I'll share my thoughts about the book.

I read this author's first work, Kite Runner a few years ago and was so fascinated by the story he told. It was like no other book I have read. Set in a part of the country that I admit to knowing little about, I was swept away by the story he told and the cultural elements he wove into his story. I anxiously waited for him to write a second novel.

And luckily, his second story did not disappoint. This story focuses more on the women of Afghanistan and the hardships two courageous women endured over the course of some 30 plus years. With this second story, I was a little less swept away because of my familiarity with the first story. I knew and anticipated horrible things to happen to these two primary characters. And thus I was a little less shocked as the story unfolded. This sort of saddens me. Why was I more upset and haunted to learn about the abuse endured by the boys in Kite Runner than the females in this book? Do we hear more about the abuse of women that we become numb to the idea of it?

But at the same time, I found elements of the story intriguing. I appreciated how as a male author, he was still very talented at writing from the female perspective. He took time to explore the feelings of the characters: what does it feel like to be wearing a burqa, what happens when you bring in another wife into a marriage. Is it accepted and welcome (as I am lead to believe when I watch a show such as Big Love)? Or, are there other emotions that the first wife feels? He explored the feelings of these women while keeping them realistic. He made them courageous and yet also believable. I wish I were more familiar with some of the regional differences of the people of Afghanistan. I suspect it would have helped me understand some of the various characters involved in this story.

I think I'll always prefer Kite Runner but for a second work, he did a very good job of showing his readers that he wasn't just a one shot literary wonder. He has a real talent for telling a story. And, this book makes me want to go back and re-read Kite Runner (which is a compliment all in and of itself since I hate repeats/re-runs).

But first...I think I'm needing some chic lit before I return to the emotional setting of the Middle East.

Making the connection

For years, Thing One has struggled with that "making a connection" part of reading. You know, how does the book relate to his own situation. For the longest time, he'd just look at you with the blank stare as if he were saying "and this is important, why?".

Last night, I had a glimmer of hope that he was starting to get it when he blurted out that one of the characters in his book was "just like you Mom".

Only to be suddenly jolted back to reality when he continued with "well, except she has brown hair and you don't. And her eyes are brown and yours aren't"

Oh well...at least he's trying.

Hubby and I sent the boys to bed early last night and we settled in to watch Wild Hogs (pass the bad parent award my way: it wasn't even 7pm when we called it a night for them!). I found myself making connections to Hubby and some of the elements of the movie. (For those not familiar with the premise of the movie, 4 middle aged guys hit the road on their motorcycles)

The only problem is Hubby doesn't drive a hog, doesn't toss his gadgets to the wind and just seek the calm of the open road, and well...last time I checked he wasn't married to a swim suit model.

OK, so maybe this connection struggle is genetic?

Somebody

Finally, it seems like somebody has been doing something worth blogging about. While not the most exciting of updates, here's the weekend recap

• Friday night, after the horrific hail passed through, the weather cooled off and we enjoyed a lovely evening with friends and neighbors. The highlight for the Things was when Mr. Mike (next door neighbor) pulled out his projector and hooked up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a night time showing on the back of his house. It was like a drive in, only no driving required. And us grownups could drink without having to worry about driving. Thanks Mr. Mike (not that he reads the blog, but still, it was very neighborly thing to include our boys in his family's Friday fun).



• Saturday morning, Hubby discovered that maybe our thumbs aren't brown after all. Our grape vines have grapes. Lots and lots of grapes. Not very tasty but it was still exciting to watch Thing Two go out and harvest those very sour grapes.



• Saturday evening, I was reminded yet again what late bloomers my sister and I really are. I got an email from my aunt telling us that a new baby had been born. As the youngest of the Granum grandchildren, well, I was surprised I hadn't heard that any of us were expecting, much less to now find out the baby had been born? That's pretty big news, don't you think? Um, back up, it wasn't one of my cousins having a baby. Nope, it was my cousin Steve's son (Laura, do you know which one?)who promoted his dad to Grandpa and raised my aunt's total to 4 great grandchildren. Meanwhile, my poor dad just lingers at 3 grandchildren, and luckily is no where close to receiving the official title of Great attached to his name. (although we all think he is a pretty great grandpa without an official title)


• Sunday: Hubby and I went on a date. We saw the latest of the Bourne movies. It was an OK movie. I think I preferred the earlier Bourne movies just for the depth of the story. This one seemed a bit predictable and the heavy action scenes got old after awhile. But all in all, it was a good time spent away from the Things

And here we are, back to Monday. Chores to do. Bills to pay. Errands to run. I should quit blogging and get to those. Oh but wait, I've got a book I'd rather read: A Thousand Splendid Suns. Stay tuned for a review later in the week...at the rate I'm reading it, I'll be finished in no time.

An update: while finishing up this entry, and as I was heading out the door to work this afternoon, the phone rings and it is the school. Thing One is feeling poorly. Within minutes of tossing him in bed, he was sound asleep. I'm thinking I'd better go hang up the quarantine sign! I hear bad bugs are floating around out there!

Nobody...

around here seems to be doing anything blog-worthy.
myself included...

Tune in next week to see if there is anything to note beside these truths:
I'm tired of the heat (old news),
I'm not ready for the boys to be back at school (they on the other hand have adjusted marvelously to the return of routine and structure),
and I'm being a total slacker in all things domestic.

Yep, this has indeed been a quiet week for us. What can I say? obviously nothing...

Stormy Morning

Late yesterday, the thunderstorms rolled in and for a change, lingered. During the night, the thunder and lightening just wouldn't end. I was surprised that no scared little things came running to our room seeking comfort from the storm. I wondered how they were able to sleep through all that noise but grateful that they weren't crowding us in our bed.

This morning, they both woke up really grumpy. And the brotherly squabbles started with the very first words they uttered:
Thing One: "I had to sleep with the Thunder on my side of the bed last night".
Thing Two: "No, you didn't, it was louder on my side". *no, they don't share a bed, don't even share a room most nights.

Back and forth they bickered...there went that wishful thinking that they had slept through the storm. Nope, instead they were laying awake trying to one up each other on who had it worse when it came to experiencing the storm.

ah, I can tell it is going to be a rough start to day...

Party in the Park 2007!

My first day...

While they started back at school on Tuesday, I had a busy agenda that kept me out of the house the past two days. So today is my first day of being home alone for a few hours. Oh, the silence is ever so sweet and I'm finding myself very motivated to tend to the tasks of the day. So far I've
*De-cluttered the Things' rooms.
*hauled 3 laundry baskets full of toys back downstairs. Somehow all these items had drifted upstairs over the course of their track off/summer break.
*started the 3rd load of laundry and run the dishwasher for the second time (I forgot to run it yesterday so things piled up).
*cleaned out the fridge of stuff that really needed to be tossed awhile back.
*picked up the basement (and if you had seen it, you'd realize what a chore that was all by itself). Had I not tended to this disaster zone, I suspect Hubby was about to call the health department on me.

And now I"m treating myself to a blog break...

The start of school has been rather uneventful. And after so many years of eventful, I welcome the smooth transition into new grades with new classmates and new teachers.

I truly savored the words of Thing One when he said "Mom, I'm in fourth grade now, I think I can find my class by myself. I'll meet you here at the van after school, OK?" (yep, he even had that pre-teen 'tude going). He is growing up, becoming independent and that makes me just so very proud...for him and for all of us that have helped him get to this point.

Over the years, I have struggled to imagine him as a grown up, living on his own, being his own person. It just wasn't something I could do given his assortment of quirks. Now? I can easily imagine him all grown up and think this is all happening too fast. Trying to savor his school boy ways for I really fear he'll be all grown up before I know it.
See, I keep telling you there is no making me happy....(not really, I'm pretty darn happy these days)

Can you feel it?

There is something in the air here at the House of Chang. I think Hubby summed it up when this morning he commented about a sense of dread and doom. I'm sure it will pass soon enough: we just need to get through these next couple of days.

Hubby is leaving his current customer in pursuit of a more challenging, and better paying customer. With that comes a whole mixture of emotions. You know it will all work out eventually but right now, there is a fair amount of worry going on. Mostly his worry. But I can feel a little bit of it myself.

The Things head back to school tomorrow. I'm just making that turn toward "yeah it is time". I'm not totally on board with the whole being back in school mode. But then again, it has been so hot nobody even feels like going to the pool. And we've spent all the $ that we need to spend right now, so they might as well be in school, right?

Fingers crossed that this year their teachers live up to their reputations. Last year, Thing Two's teacher did live up to her reputation. Which given it was a bad one, it didn't make us happy to learn that all the rumors about her proved to be accurate. This year, the teachers have excellent reputations so my fingers are crossed that my kids will each have a great year.

And as for me, I return to my part time gig on Wednesday. I've had so much time off that I really don't care to work at all. But, I know once I'm there I'll be OK.

Yep....it is always that getting there that is the hardest part of any journey...
(and yes, Sue, this time I am thinking about you when I make this observation. Hang in there and know that the right opportunity will present itself when the time is right,OK?)

Another year older...

And another year wiser. Yesterday I celebrated my 42nd birthday. I"ll spare you the lame joke I told over and over yesterday. It was barely funny yesterday and pathetic the day after.

But, this morning as as I slowly put away the stuff from our "Christmas in July" craft night with the coven, I found myself smiling. You see, I used to spend my birthdays in somewhat of a funk. Noting another year had passed, thinking of the things I didn't have. I know, not really like me and my usual "half full" attitude but there you have it: birthdays were a downer. I just wanted to get through the day and move on.

But lately, I find a birthday is a time to reflect on all that I have. I've got some pretty amazing gal pals. And while we are all a bit different, the one thing we have in common is the desire to support each other and nurture our friendships whenever we get a chance. I've got that supportive hubby of mine (who brings birthday cakes home even when driving his motorcycle), and those mostly sweet boys. Without a doubt, when it comes to people, I'm well stocked in the "good" department. And as for the stuff of life, well I've got plenty of goodness in that department as well. The roof over my head is sturdy, the walls on the house are sound and the house itself is filled with more possessions than one average person really needs.

So, really what do I have to complain about? Not much that is for sure...but give me a few weeks into the new school year, and I'm sure I'll find something. I always do...

The Cat is home

My creation
Originally uploaded by mchang1112

and the mouse is still playing. Click on image for a larger view.

At least it isn't porn

yet...only a matter of time I fear!

While he looks like his daddy...

I love seeing so much of me in my younger son! Saturday night, he tells me "Mom, I saw some blueberries in the fridge." Yes, you did. "And, I saw a tub of cool whip.". yes, that's right there is some in there. "Do you think we could have berries and cream?". UM, hello...of course we can.

And now, Monday morning rolls around and we're waiting for Thing One to wake up (he woke up once and went back to bed, saying he had a rough night. He does have restless nights from time to time). I've got HGTV on.

Thing Two chimes in "Oh yeah, this is the show we bet on to figure out which one they'll buy. I'm guessing #2, how about you?".

His momma's sweet tooth and a willingness to watch HGTV?
Oh my, you are so a mini-me! :)

Late Night Reading

No, I didn't stay up late reading HP7. One plus to showing up late to that party, is that I am no where close to being ready to read the final installment of this series.

Instead, I found I couldn't put down yet another book by Dorthea Benton Frank. Pawleys's Island marks the 3rd book that I've read by her. And while she does indeed follow a similar pattern in all her books, I either like her stories enough not to mind or it isn't such a structured pattern that it annoys me. Her books are perfect for summer reading: rich characters, with a bit of a quirk, a simple story that pulls you in but doesn't burden you down with heavy thinking and a crisp clear resolution by the time the book finishes up. This story is set on Pawley's Island, a coastal community located between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Having been there a time or two, and realizing the power of an ocean breeze in terms of helping clear your head and renew your spirit, I loved the story as it unfolded. However, about 2/3 of the way in, she did pump the drama up just a tad too much where I thought "no way lady, dial it down a bit". The story would have been just as good without her adding that extra bit. But, she managed to bring it back down and wrapped the story up into a nice little package with all the lose ends tied up by the time I got to the last page. I like that in my chick lit: everything all wrapped up nice and neat. Because well, we know that real life isn't like at all and so it makes for good story telling on a hot summer evening.

But now I fear my days of reading will soon be winding to a close. While I won't put up a count down, I can tell you school resumes in just over a week. This week's plan is to work on getting back in the groove. Late last week, I worked on reestablishing bedtimes and evening routines and now we're getting a handle on eating breakfast and getting our day started rather than lounging around in. Notice I save this piece for last because I'm even more guilty than my children when it comes to the morning stall.

With that in mind, I'd better wrap up this post and get my day going. Make it a good one..

Living Proof

He is indeed a Chinese Cheese Head!

Home Sweet Home

I am very tired, with mountains of laundry pleading for attention. I've got a lawn that is long overdue for some TLC and weeds tall enough to draw attention from the HOA weed police. We have less than 2 weeks before we go back to school/work despite my having plenty of things I wanted to get to while we are all off track. I'm still trying to figure out how we all start out with similar genetics and similar upbringings but end up so dramatically different in the way we live our daily lives. (*yes, a trip to see mostly family leaves you with lots of conversations that don't need to be released to the Internet. So, they are still stuck in my head.)Without a doubt, I've got plenty of things to be cranky about this morning.

But, on the plus side: last night I slept in my own bed, with my Hubby who is neither a bed hog nor cover hoarder like my kids were. My A/C was on and working. My coffee pot brewed the perfect blend and I can sip that coffee all morning long without trying to remember what is the next stop on our Tour of Obligation.

And most important, I've downloaded some pictures from the camera to finally share with ya'll. No doubt about it, while it is fun to travel, it is always good to finally be home!

And they wonder why I'm a control freak..

Just when I thought I was capable of loosening up my death grip of controlling all things (I'm a Martha, it is genetic), I have sustained a serious set back.

Last night, I let the Things frolic and play in the pools after dinner. I was waterlogged so I sat poolside without getting in. 2 hrs in a water park in street clothes is a very hot and humid time so when I got up to the room I was having a major hot flash. My dear sweet cousin, who had skipped on the last run to the water park, assured me she had turned down the a/c and that things would be cooling off real soon. Sure, I cooled down a bit but the hot flash just never seemed to go away.

As a recovering control freak, I figured, everyone knows how to adjust a hotel a/c unit, right?
Think again! I discovered this morning that not only was a window left open (messing with the effectiveness of a/c) but she'd turned the fan on high but had the temperature set closer to warm than cold. Grrrrrrr....

Who knew that not EVERYBODY knows how to operate a hotel air conditioning unit?

Tonight? I'm resting comfortably in a different hotel, free of kinfolk. I'm waiting patiently for the first coven of friends to arrive. Nancy and Cathy were indeed some of my earliest gal pals where I first realized, while you can't pick you family, you can indeed pick your friends. And these are keepers...having known them both almost 30 years now! They do indeed know where the bodies are buried!

And, I'm also guessing, they know how to adjust the a/c!

Join in the chorus...

as I know a couple of y'all know the tune.. Going to the Great Wolf Lodge!

The wait is over. We head up this morning to the Wisconsin Dells where we check into our room. I"m so very excited to explore all that this place offers. The Things have surpassed my expectations for patiently waiting for this point in our trip to arrive. what troopers they can be when they set their mind to it.

I've not even tried to load photos. Figure I"m doing good to just get online. (I'm not the geek in the family). The trip is going great. We've met up with all sorts of family and friends and have sampled the usual summer fare that makes WI such a fine place to visit. Even made an after dinner run last night for frozen custard at Kopps. Good stuff I tell ya!

Milwaukee Style

As we were driving over to my aunt's house last night, we saw LOTS of motorcyclists. This is after all, Harley Mecca. (note: Hubby is a BMW motorcycle owner, not a Harley guy)

So, we drive by one fella on his bike. He's about as wide as his bike. Thing One chirps up from the backseat after I made some sort of comment with: "Oh mom, he's just riding Milwaukee style".

Thing Two also had me chuckling yesterday when out of the blue he observed: "you know, Wisconsin is a hard place to visit if you are lactose intolerant".

Where do they get these thoughts? Right on the money, both times.

All is well here. Uneventful trip out. Airport very crowded. Parking lots were all full (even the remote remote lot). Anyone planning air travel trips in the coming months: give yourself plenty of extra time to avoid the frustration of waiting in long lines.

Cousins are coming over this afternoon. Hubby is at his rally. Just called to check in: he can't find his own bike in the sea of motorcycles. Too funny!

Life is good...but no pictures as I'm on dial up!

On to Wisconsin

Hey, would you look at that, Blogger let me title this one..

OK, the bags are packed, boarding passes are printed and we're out of here. Hope I didn't forget anything. Oh well...if I did...guess what, they have stores there. I know: big surprise eh? Figure in the land of cheese, all they have is..cheese? Nah, one can still indulge in a bit of retail therapy if necessary.

Not sure what the Internet situation will be like. Hubby and I are parting ways at one point in the adventure and without him around, it is always a great mystery whether I'll be able to figure out the laptop.

So, until next week...

This week's challenge: Summertiiiiiiiiiiiime, and the living is EEEeeezzzzzzy.Tell us how you feel about summer. This summer, a childhood summer, summer traditions, random summer memories, summer sights and smells and sounds. Whatever. Wax poetic about summertime!

I was going to skip this challenge. Lacking both time and inclination because the to-do list is long and the clock is ticking. But, as I read Aimee's challenge this morning, I too was recalling the sweetness of my own mid-west summer memories.

Growing up, my favorite cousin was Sarah. She was a little bit older than me but that never seemed to bother either one of us. She was a little bit different than me, but again, didn't bother either of us. And while we shared one grandmother, she was lucky enough to have her other grandmother living in the same little town as our shared grandma. So, every summer around this time our parents would take us up to see the grandmas. I'd stay with mine. She'd stay with her paternal grandma. One of our differences is I'm an early bird (as was my grandma) and cousin Sarah...well, mornings weren't her forte!

Yet, during the day we'd spend our days laughing and playing like two peas in a pod. Acting goofy, playing paper dolls, eating sweet corn drenched with butter and salt, helping Grandma with laundry (it was fun because she had an old ringer washer), heading out to the family farm and splashing in the creek at the Old Red Mill. Such fabulous happy memories!

Well, we grew up and I moved (again and again, further away with each move it seemed). But, whenever I went back to Wisconsin, I'd always take time to see Cousin Sarah. We are both married now, with 2 kids each. And in just 2 days we'll see each other again.

And in celebration of this life long family connection, I've got a little trip planned for all of us. While the grandmothers have both passed away (leaving no reason to visit the tiny town they lived in), we are still taking a trip together. This time we'll load up own vehicles, buckle in our own kids and head out to Wisconsin Dells. Where we will spend a couple days remembering the days gone by and creating a few more memories at The Great Wolf Lodge. I just hope that she isn't still a night owl...as I don't think I can even pretend to hang with that crowd for even a night or two.

Summertime...if you can forget about the never ending heat, it really is a great season of fun!

When the cat is away...

When the Cat is away... the mice will certainly play!

Seriously, honey, we miss you and wish you a safe journey. We'll see you on Wednesday.

Sister Wives: see you tomorrow and park wherever you want, unless Carol has beaten you over here and is hogging the driveway!

Books and Flicks

Just a quick review of a couple movies and a book I finished this week.

For starters, if you like a good chic lit, try Plantation a Low Country Tale by Dorothea Benton Franks. This marks the second book I've read by her in the last couple of months and I must say I enjoyed this one even more than the first. It is a tale of an adult woman coming home, to learn that maybe she's not so different from her mother after all. It is a casual summer read, with richly developed characters and while the plot is predictable (as is always the case in chic lit), it doesn't seem too unbelievable (another flaw with chic lit). I picked up another book by this same author at the library. We'll see if she follows a formula to her writings. I noticed similarities in her first two books but not outright formula writing that makes me irritable. We shall see if she's capable of writing a third good book. Similar is OK, it is when the pattern of the story is almost identical that I get very annoyed. Yeah right, like I could do better?

As for movies, I"m trying to catch up on some chic flicks I rented through Blockbuster Home Delivery. First up was "How to lose a guy in 10 days". Cute premise and Kate Hudson is a good comedic actress. You can tell she's Goldie's Hawn's daughter: she can be goofy and beautiful at the same time. And well, 2 hrs with Matthew Mcconaughey...enough said! (While I don't like him as a celebrity tabloid feature, I do enjoy him on the screen playing the role of leading man. Outside of the screen, I think he's too handsome and he knows it! Again, yeah right who am to be such a critic? ).

Last night I watched an interesting independent film called Real Women have Curves. It stars America Ferrara (Ugly Betty before she became ugly). I rather enjoyed this movie. Keep in mind, it is in an independent film so it has that "artsy" feel to it but you can really appreciate the turmoil that this 17yr old girl is struggling with. If not for the one love scene, I'd highly recommend it be a mother-daughter movie to watch with teenage girls. The scene itself was tastefully done (more of an implied, hey we know what is happening than actually filming a love scene) but it is still a young woman having sex. I think it would just be awkward watching that scene with a parent. Overall I like the film's ability to show a Hispanic family at a cultural crossroads: while comfortable in your own culture, the need to move forward in both education and exposure to the great community that exists out there.

Now I really must work on getting ready for company (fresh coffee and butter braid at 10am, drop on over if you want) and think about getting stuff ready for vacation next week. Oh but blogging is so much more pleasurable than folding laundry, sweeping the floor, making bed, unloading the dishwasher. sheesh...I need to get my hiney off of this office chair!

It was a jungle out there..

Yesterday, we celebrated Thing One's passage into the land of double digits. I'm still pretty dazed by the reality he's been around for a decade now.

For his celebration, my goal was to keep it simple! I was pleasantly surprised by how much he helped with that goal! He asked to bring 3 friends (which I kept telling him his brother was a bonus invite. Every time I'd ask him which 3 he wanted, he started with his brother and added 2 more names. How sweet is that?) to lunch. After lunch we'd head across town to Jungle Quest For lunch, I offered to take them anywhere. Yeah, right while we could have been eating something good from TGI Fridays or Gunther Toody's, the unanimous decision was to head across the street to Burger King!

As I sit here this morning after I realize that, while simple is easier to plan and execute, it is just as tiresome. Birthdays are exhausting! Be it that very first day of birth, or ten years later...I'm just all tuckered out. Nah, not really. These days I'm far less tired and even more in love with that kid we call Thing One! Happy Birthday Son! We love you bunches and bunches!

Evil Girls

Overheard just now..
Thing One's friend, CK: "Girls are evil, they put glue on your door".
Thing One: REALLY? I didn't know they did that sort of evil stuff
CK: YEP, my sister is a girl and she did that to my door last week. Hey, isn't your mom a girl?
Thing One: Yeah, I better watch my door!

Quote Me..

This week's challenge is something I came up with on my own (although this morning, my usual source for Blog Challenges posted a new one. I'll get to that one later on).

The reasoning behind this challenge is two fold: first off, a friend of mine has an interesting tag line in her signature and I'm hoping she'll take time to explain it to us since I made up a challenge designed to do just that...take your favorite quote and explain it.

The other reason I came up with this particular challenge relates to a magazine article I was reading this week. The article asked readers to explain why certain words of wisdom had special meaning to them. I liked the quotes they included in the article and thought I could turn this into a challenge. I am curious to see what other quotes are out there that have a special meaning to my blogging friends.


Overall, I'd say my favorite phrase is Live, Love, Laugh. While there are a couple variations on this phrase out there, I love how it pretty much sums up all the important elements needed to have a a fulfilling life. Live a little, Love a lot and laugh often. With those 3 ingredients in place: you are sure to have a good day and a pretty decent life in general.


As for the magazine article I read, here are some of the quotes that they included

• Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? unknown


• A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. William Shedd
  
• Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle. Plato
• You were born an original. Don't die a copy. John Mason
• You will never be happy with what you want if you are not happy with what you have. unknown
• A day without laughter is a day wasted. Charlie Chaplin
• It is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off. Woody Allen

All of these are inspiring enough to remind us to get off our duffs, and crawl out of our ruts and go make today happen! And since today is Independence Day, it would not hurt to take time to give Thanks that we are living in this nation where we have so many opportunities available to us, so many freedoms and so many choices. While our nation isn't perfect, our politicians all seem corrupt, and we have some policies that make us all cringe, it is our country.... Sweet Land of Liberty! Get out there and fly the flag and make at least today a happy one!

*Today's photos are from some archived pictures of when my Things were little. I just love looking back and seeing how much they change from year to year.

Dog Days of Summer

Wondering what that really means, I looked over at Wiki. Yet again, he had the answer. Man, term papers would have been a breeze if Wiki were around when I was in school.

But seriously, it is the hot season. My yard is brown because it is so hot and I'm too cheap to spend as much on watering as I should. We water just enough to keep it from total death.

The Things decided it was too hot to go to the pool so instead we sought comfort at the movies yesterday. Went to see Ratatouille. Cute movie, even if the scampering and scurrying scenes forced me to cover my eyes. I'm not a fan of rodents traveling in large groups. Ewww.

The movie itself was fun to watch as a grown up. But just like the last kiddie movie we watched (Meet the Robinsons), I was wondering who was their target audience? There were plenty of little kids in the audience and yet the message of the movie was definetly geared towards an older set. You have the animation element. You give it the G rating, and I think families figure it is OK for any age child. But the story required a fair amount of listening and it was rather long making it more appropriate for the school aged child. Towards the end I spotted a couple preschoolers playing off to the side. I think the message was lost on the little ones and there wasn't enough action to at least keep them engaged.

So, that is about it over here. I just figured I should put something up on the blog since Hubby commented last night "behind in your blogging, eh?" as he surfed.

Blame it on the heat...even the boys aren't making funny remarks!