saw the movie

Totally LOVED it. I thought it was an excellent movie. We took the ktbunch. We got some movie gift cards for Christmas, so we went. We wanted to see the 6:15 showing...but when we arrived, it was sold out. So we bought the 7pm show tickets...they let us right in & we took potty breaks then went to find the theatre. The one it would be in ...well it was STILL showing the 3:45 show. I guess the movie was pretty long then...but it seemed about right...2 hours. We were there early.

So we went to the 6:15 showing theater anyway, to see if there were any seats...there were TONS. So I don't know why they said it was sold out. It was a small theater though. There were lots of children in the audience & I HATE that. I was leary & hoped they wouldn't be a disturbance. I know I had mine w/ me but I am biased, I admit it.

Well, go figure, there was no interuptions from children, the rude ones were some 'adults' sitting in front of us. They were talking the whole time & then took a call on thier cell phone. The previews even flash out a polite warning about turning your cells off. Another movie goer got mad & cussed @ them & told them to shut thier phone off (using different words) & then they cursed back @ them, back & forth for a minute. But it was ok.

I have not read the book in years but I think that actually made the movie experience better. Only one part that I thought was a bit lacking: when the children meet Aslan, I thought there should have been more 'awe', it seemed cut kinda short.

The actors were great. The battle scenes were good but not bloody, which was nice since so many children will probably be seeing this movie. They were still full of action though. I hope they make all the others.

Now that we've seen the movie, we will read the book together & fill in the blanks & get a fuller, richer experience. I was hoping the ktbunch would read the book first THEN see the movie but I'm glad it didn't work out that way. So many are disappointed when they read a book THEN see a movie, so many details left out. I think it's better to see the movie then read the book so you can get all the questions that the movie raised, answered.

I bet English teachers everywhere are SO excited & pleased w/ Hollywood lately. W/ the Lord of the Rings trilogy & now Narnia......... ;o)

Mission: 'Perfect Gift'

I never buy the 'perfect gift'. I gave up years ago expecting it either. I normally don't even attempt to find it. I honestly just don't believe it exists.

That is, until last Sunday.

A little background: my 2 sons are Lego Maniacs! Really. The oldest (13 next month) has gone to Lego Land 1 time, when ds #2 was a baby. He has asked to go again many, many times & obsessively more the last 6 mos. They own a very TALL plastic storage container w/ about 13 drawers & it is FILLED w/ Legos.

On Sunday I was visiting w/ a friend & she informed me that Lego had a 50th anniversary bucket out right now for about $9.99 & it INCLUDED a FREE child's admission ticket to Lego Land! I couldn't believe my ears. I knew right then & there that the 'perfect gift' truly existed! And that it would be my mission, my quest, to find & obtain 3 of these buckets, in time for Christmas.

Thus began my search. I eagerly hoped I was NOT too late.

Of course my mission was not w/o challenges & obstacles. I first had to wait for pay day, which wasn't until Tuesday. However H worked very late & was not able to bring home the bacon, officially, until Wednesday. I went to one store, w/ the ktbunch in tow, NOTHING, then it was time for church.

After church....@ a bit before 10:00 pm, my quest began. I headed on over to Toys R Us because there is a Target across the street. They only had the Duplo buckets for the younger ages but no Lego buckets in site! & boy was it PACKED! I guess everyone else had the same idea I did, that we'd avoid the rush by shopping late. NOT!

I headed across to Target...again nothing! I knew of a couple more Targets I could reach. But I also knew this mission would require 'back-up'. I needed reinforcements. I called my brother to request assistance. He headed on over to another Target while I drove to a different one @ the same time. Thank goodness for cell phones.

We both hit a dead end! AND Target was closing rather early, I thought, for it being Christmas time & all. What happened to extra holiday hours? 10:00 pm! Oh! How scroogish!

There was a Walmart right down the street so I stopped quickly @ that one---closed! I was beginning to get discouraged.

I quickly remembered ONE last place that I was SURE had to be open later than 10pm! hmph! K-MART! It was open till MIDNIGHT! (can you hear the chorus sing: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)

Ahhhh....There was hardly anyone there. I rushed to the toy aisle.......there was ONE large $19.99 bucket w/ a GOLD lid! I couldn't contain the gasp as I dived for the LAST bucket just sitting there on the shelf. I could hardly contain my joy & enthusiasm.

But I needed @ least 3! 3 buckets w/ 3 tickets for 3 kidbits! I looked high & low, maybe someone had misplaced it. I looked through the carts filled w/ go-backs. Then....like Charlie, when he had given up hope & unexpectedly found the LAST golden ticket...I spotted, up on the very top shelf, behind a giant bag of mega-bloks, I could barely make out, the GOLDEN lid of a Duplo bucket!

And it was stacked upon another bucket w/ a golden lid, of LEGOS! Although I was sure noone else was searching for it, I kept my enthusiasm to myself. I quietly asked a worker if they could retrieve the buckets for me.

I could not get them in my hands quick enough or hold them tight enough. I found a cart & put in my treasures. I wandered a bit in my glee, willing to spend more to show K-mart my gratitude & thankfulness for staying open late! Ahhh! The world was now @ peace.

I headed on over to the check-out stand & didn't even mind waiting the 6 minutes in line. I was giddy w/ joy!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! BAM! Like a head on collision while talking on your cell phone & you're running late!

I realized that the largest bucket had already been opened. Do I risk putting it back & not finding another one OR do I risk buying it & having pieces missing? what to do? what to do!

I decided to put it back & hope for the best.

My friend was taking a trip to Lego Land the next day so she was my last hope to find another bucket while she was there.

I awoke this morning to a disheartening email....no luck!

I was determined to FIND that bucket. I had to. The 'perfect gift' had been within my grasp, I would NOT let it go!

I needed to run a few errands. I delivered a package to a friend & asked her if there was a Toys R Us in her neighborhood....not too close...what about a Target? There was one, not too hard to find. Well, except for the traffic of all the other shoppers heading that way.

I had the ktbunch w/ me so I told the 'Christmas Lie' & informed them that we were NOT shopping for them but rather for their 'cousins'. I'm sure my oldest knows better...but oh well.

We headed straight for the toy department....I knew exactly where to look, in the big kids toy section---NOTHING! W/ a sigh, I decided I'd just have to buy more of the baby Duplo bricks, even though we have too many & the ktbunch has really outgrown them, the price is worth the free ticket......

Then on a random aisle, right there, on the bottom shelf...NOT ONLY were there 2 golden lidded buckets, a Duplo AND Lego----they were on CLEARANCE! They were the larger buckets but instead of the original $19.99 price, they were ONLY $13.98! I wanted to cry as I said, PRAISE THE LORD!

I only grabbed the Lego bucket since I already had that smaller Duplo bucket @ home!

Mission: 'Perfect Gift'---ACCOMPLISHED! :o)

It's gonna be one Very Merry Christmas!

Adventures in Popcorn!

I think you are supposed to use corn syrup or something like that to make popcorn balls right? right!

Well I don't have any syrup & it sounds too complicated anyway...so me & my bright ideas, I figured I could easily make popcorn balls the same way you make a rice crispy treat....w/ MARSHMALLOWS!

I melted a bag of large marshmallows, popped quite a bit of corn...I even added red hots.

Well the popcorn was stuck everywhere, it was a spidery web of marshmallow. I even put on plastic cooking gloves hoping the marshmallow madness wouldn't stick, well it did. Pretty soon I couldn't tell the plastic glove from the marshmallow. oh well.

The kids had fun picking @ the marshmallow popcorn & filling thier mouths w/ lots & lots of potential cavities. I don't know HOW I'm going to get all that marshmallow cleaned off of my glass bowl! I'll let you know when it's done soaking. lol

It all sounded SO good 'in theory'. ;o)

Christmas Secrets

Is it hard for ANYONE else to keep thier Christmas gifts a SECRET?

I can barely wait. I am crochetting quite a few gifts (I hope) but particularly for my ktbunch. They personally chose yarn months ago & I never got around to starting their projects. I thought Christmas is as good a time as any. lol

I've already finished a scarf & started a hat in camouflage colored, variegated yarn for 5 yo. I kinda hid it in my crochet bag....but he saw it when someone knocked it over. His face LIT up & he was so excited. I started to playfully tell him that I was trying to surprise him BUT quick thinking big brother saved it when he reminded us that that was for 5yo COUSIN, NOT him. lol

But it was sad to see his face drop. I wanted to just give it to him right then & there. It's been especially cold lately so I have to hold myself back from giving it to him to wear. He's been pilfering big brother's scarf for weeks now, every chance he gets. lol

oops! I was about to report on DH gift...but I'm not sure if he reads this or not..so I will refrain just in case.

See there I go again...almost spilling the beans! lolololol

I love THAT guy!

After I dropped DH off @ work, I headed on over to my friends house to pick up 'the tree'. Went home, cleaned up extra nice, rearranged a few things to make room for it...then oldest DS & I brought it in & set it up.

There was a brief attempt to hand saw the trunk so it could absorb more water & last longer..but like I said...it was a 'brief attempt'. lol We moved the ficus out onto the porch, decorated the new one. It is gorgeous. I think it's the biggest (certainly the fluffiest) tree we've ever had.

When God comes through, He REALLY comes through. ya know? I thought all day about how minute a tree is in the BIG scheme of things but STILL God found it important because it was important to US. Something so little & silly really, but GOD cared because it was important to us, to H. kwim?

H ended up working late, again...but that was ok. I made a yummiliscious warm dinner, homemade soup, fresh bread, made everything look nice, clean & cozy & waited up for him to call me to go pick him up.

He called & I got ready to go....I told Ds I'd be right back & opened the front door.

GASP! ONLY to see DH standing RIGHT THERE!

Apparently, he thought it would be funny to startle me! And I'm sure it was, AFTER tossing my purse @ him! lol

He had gotten a ride home from a co-worker! I was so startled my chest physically hurt! lol I wasn't mad or anything but he deserved that sock in the arm........... really.

He laughingly walked in & gave me a hug......then noticed the tree. What a huge grin!

But it wasn't as much of a surprise as HE was. lolololololol :o) :o) :o)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree....

ok, I'll tell you the truth...I secretly resent purchasing a Christmas tree every year. If we MUST purchase one, I try to go for the absolutely CHEAPEST ones & that means they usually look like Charlie Brown trees....right?

Think about it. Where we live (& the great bargain shopper that I am) the price of ONE tree could be the equivalent of NUMEROUS gifts! So if there is a choice to be made...I choose gifts.

We did have a gorgeous fake, but very real looking, tree for a few years that was GIVEN to us because the owners got tired of it & wanted a new one. My gain! :o)

Then we thought we were going to move out of state, where legend has it you do NOT pay $50 for a tree but rather go to the forest & chop your own. So we sold our gorgeous tree for a bargain @ a yard sale! Consequently, we did NOT move out of state & here we were.....in the market for a tree!

Well, never is a budget as tight as it is during Christmas time....right?...as this season creeped closer & closer, I doubted we'd truly be able to afford the tree vs. gifts debate.

I had a momentary laps of nostalgia & longed for a pine...but I got over it quickly & chose to revel in the Christmas Spirit, sans the $50 Douglas fir OR the Charlie Brown pine branch. I did what any lover of the season, but financially challenged reveler would do...I dragged my 3 ficus from the backyard, drowned them in twinkle lights & covered them in ornaments. The ornaments that couldn't fit...I hung from (fake) pine garland around the window.

It looked quite festive & I was a bit proud of myself for remaining joyous despite the odds.

THEN....H sprung it on me....ALL he wants for Christmas is a TREE! {moan} I guess the 'ficus' just wasn't working for him.

I didn't fret...but I wondered WHERE I'd find a tree......besides all my hoping that I'd get all my 'crochetted' gifts done in time for Christmas Morn.

I sent a quick thought to God that maybe, as in Christmas's past...one would just 'happen'. Even though I was sure God had much more important things to do this Christmas than find us a tree.

Every few days, we'd pass buy the local grocery parking lot & see the tree lot...prices supposedly @ just under $30. I wondered if that meant they started @ $30 or the good ones were that price & I could possibly find a 'Charlie Brown' for $10 or something...but not this week anyway.

I rode the ktbunch to my mom's group on Today like I always do & the hostess had her tree up. It was fake but looked real enough & was quite lovely. She told us of how her son's baseball team was selling trees as a fund raiser & naturally they bought one. It made her sneeze SO much that they took it down & had to drag the fake one out after all. The real one was now lying uselessly in her patio. I won't bore you w/ the other monotonous details...but WE snagged ourselves a TREE!

I didn't tell H & I made sure NOT to tell the littles cause they can't keep a secret for ANYthing. Oldest ds & I planned on picking it up the next day while Dh was @ work & getting it all put up to surprise H when he got home............stay tuned!

The Drama King!

My 5yo ds has always been very OPEN & upfront about his emotions. He represses NOTHING! It can be trying @ times but I've come to appreciate it...along w/ the realization that he WON'T be the one who suddenly 'cracks' one day & kills me in my sleep or something. kwim?

His latest phrase of his, that has been ringing through my ears is: "Everybody hates ME!" accompanied by giant sized crocodile tears. I normally respond w/ an adult sized dose of rationale & logic....such as: Nobody HATES you..."YES! L HATES me! She is being mean at me!" She doesn't hate you. "Everybody hates me!"...do I hate you? "No." Ok then, see? not everybody hates you. Take a few deep breathes & go play.

I guess it sunk in because the next day....He comes to me all upset again w/ the crocodile tears flowing, "ONE person hates me! Not everybody but ONE person hates me!" :o$

With everything that is WRONG in the world.....

I just HAD to focus on a few (or more) things that are RIGHT, in my world right now....

(not in any particular order)

My H is a GOOD worker. (rarely misses a day)

H is willing to work long hours if need be.

H is a pretty admirable guy.H & I are pretty great together.

I am pretty funny.

My children love me & my stb13yo ds is NOT embarrassed to give me a kiss in PUBLIC!

My ktbunch is pretty darn great.

I live in a state that I can ride my bike almost ANY time of the year.

I have a bike w/ a cool kiddie trailer.

I am healthy enough to ride it regularly.

We pay CHEAP rent.

We live in a pretty nice home for the CHEAP rent we pay.

We have food in our cabinents.

We have a working heater.

We have clothes to keep us warm when I choose NOT to use the heater.

I have a working washer & dryer. (many years w/ either/or not working)I've got a clothesline & warm weather for when I don't.

Both my parents & in-laws have been married to the SAME person forever.

Our family has a great sense of humor.

I have Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

We attend a great church.We live in America.

We can CHOOSE to homeschool....or not.

I have a basket FULL of yarn to crochet.

My grandma taught me to sew.

My children know thier great-grandma & understand that she might not know them sometimes.

Our family LIKES to be together.

I am married to a 'Mr. Visionary'. (I've always loved roller-coasters. )

Whew! I could go ON & ON!

What else is RIGHT in your world?

Bring back the Clapper!

Whatever happened to that thing anyways? You know that thing that you clapped your hands & the lights would turn on or off.

Why don't they make clappers for other things? I'm REALLY wishing I had a clapper on my digi camera right now. I can't find that thing & it would be so convenient if I could just clap my hands & it clapped back or made a beep or something. kwim?

I keep thinking I could just call it like my cell & have it ring me it's whereabouts. I know everyone does that too. Lose your phone & call it to find it. Admit it. Maybe that's the REAL reason they invented camera phones.

HOW does a person lose a camera anyway? One day your looking at, uploading or taking pix & the next day you can't remember which it was & it's mysteriously GONE! Don't ask me because I obviously DON'T know cause if I did, believe me, I would have avoided it!


aarrgghh! :o(