The Waterhorse....

Well, we survived the sleepover. In fact, the boys were much better behaved than the crowd Connor had over last year. Dan only had to go down a couple of times. I think the last time was around 1:15 am. I'm not sure though, those decongestants I took knocked me out. The boys all left shortly after ten, and then we had a lazy morning. Dan had to go to work for an hour, so the kids and I just hung out. He was done by 12:30, and we decided on the spur of the moment to take the kids to the movie. They have been wanting to see The Waterhorse since it came out at Christmas, but it never came to the theatre in Pembroke or the Base Theatre, so we took them to Renfrew which is about 45 minutes away. Of course, the movie started at 1:30, and Dan had to come home and change. It was a bit of a goat rodeo but we actually made it. We only missed the first 5 minutes of the movie. We're lucky we made it at all, as the gas light in the van came on 20 kms from Renfrew but Dan refused to stop for gas. That would have made us even later. Of course, we're lucky we made it at all, but never mind. I'm so glad we took them, they absolutely loved it. The movie was about a little boy who finds a Waterhorse egg, which ends up being the Loch Ness Monster. The one thing that drove the kids crazy about the movie was the geographical inaccuracies. In the movie the Loch is connected to the ocean, but of course, it is not in real life. They were probably the only kids there that would know the difference. This was obviously done for plot line purposes, and is probably why most of the movie is actually filmed in New Zealand. There was a lot filmed in Scotland though, and we did recognize some of it, which the kids thought was pretty cool. They also thought it was pretty cool that the Artillery was a big part of the movie. Of course, at one point in time, they were the baddies. Damn gunners, gotta watch out for them. And of course, the movie was also about a lonely little boy whose Daddy has gone to war, something Connor could definitely relate too. Another movie I'm glad we didn't see last year while Dan was gone. After seeing it today, every one of us wants to go back to Scotland! Who knows, maybe someday we can. It doesn't hurt to dream does it?

"Dreams are free, so free your dreams."~~Astrid Alauda

Another Birthday Sleepover...

Can you believe today is February the first? Honestly, I really don't know where the month of January went. Today was pinch and a punch day, and in case you're interested, I got John fair and square, it wasn't even close. By the way, I forgot to mention I got him on the BIG day, New Year's Day as well. He's 0 for 2 now. Poor bugger, doesn't bode well for him for the rest of the year does it? The kids had their PD day today. I'm actually glad, as it snowed like mad all day, so it would have been another bus cancellation day. Remember those two days they had off earlier in the week? Connor is ruing them now, you should see the stack of homework he brought home last night, plus he has a project to do. We're in for a fun weekend. Speaking of which, he has three friends over tonight for a sleepover. His birthday is next week, but Dan won't be here then, and there was no way in hell I was doing that one again by myself. I may be stunned sometimes, but I am not stupid. Actually, I was evil and left Dan alone with the kids tonight to go see a movie with the girls. PS I Love You was playing at the base theatre, and after being home with the kids 3 days this week, we all needed a night out. I must say, I really enjoyed the movie. It probably isn't the best movie I've seen lately, but it was a sad love story, partially set in Ireland (I really, really want to go back), and Gerard Butler is in it. Yummy!!! What's not to love? Of course, it was a sappy movie, so I cried all the way through. Did I mention I'm a sook when it comes to sad movies? Thank God Jen and I didn't see that one last year. It was about a woman whose husband dies, but he leaves her different letters that are delivered throughout the year after he dies. Very sad! By the time we left the theatre, my eyes were puffy and my nose was red. And we went out for coffee after, no wonder people were looking at us funny. My nose was so stuffed up from crying, I had to take a decongestant before I went to bed!! And while I was out crying at the movie, Dan held down the fort with the kids. They were excellent. Damnit, how come they weren't like that for me? Dan claims he has the magic touch. I, however, know it is because Connor invited completely different boys from last year. Like I said, I might be a sook when it comes to sappy movies and I may be stunned sometimes, but I am not stupid.

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.”~~C.S. Lewis