Family Movie Night: Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow

As you can tell by the title, tonight's flick was "Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow". A little steampunk, a lot retro-futurism, a touch of Victorian Adventure, and dirigibles = totally awesome viewing!

Marty had the attention span of a gnat. It might be because he watched "Return of the Jedi" earlier and was movied-out, or because he got bored in the "talking parts." He would get down and play, then come back to the couch when it got exciting again.

Ellie made it through the previews before she ran off the first time. She was in and out a lot, sat down and ate popcorn, and sat down to eat pizza with us when it arrived. The coolest part was when the movie caught her attetion. She had gotten up to leave when the tv made an elephant sound. She stopped in her tracks, turned around, and went to the tv. She was fascinated with the miniature elephant and watched until the chacters left the lab. Pretty cool!

And I got to snuggle my man :) We cuddled on the couch. We haven't done that in ages! This is a benefit I hadn't thought of when we planned Family Movie Night, but it's an awsome addition! I'm really loving this.

New Words!

Ellie had new words and actions today!

In a quiet moment, holding her in my arms, I said, "You have Mommy all to yourself right now, don't you," and she said softly, "All mine." You could have knocked me over with a feather!

At bedtime I changed her diaper and headed for the trash can outside. While I was unlocking the door she "sneaked" (giggling like a madwoman and so excited by her own planned mischief that she could barely walk) up behind me and grabbed me! I of course "jumped" and squealed appropriately. She laughed so hard she doubled over and sat on the floor!

During this adventure Marty had chugged his milk and wanted a refill. I tucked Ellie back in bed and went to the kitchen. As I came back out, who should I find but Ellie, lurking around the corner! She SHOUTED "Scared you!" and ran back to her room!

Also, several times this evening when I called her name she responded with, "Here I am!"

I gave in to the wound-up children and we had a massive three-way tickle fight in Ellie's bed, ending when we were all limp and panting. Then we snuggled, and both kids gave each other mutual night-night love! Ellie actually wanted love from Brother!

What an awesome night!

A Monday

It was definitely a Monday, all day. It seemed like everything I touched today fell apart, and at work I was definitely engaging in "Reality Check Therapy" (which is, honestly, the method I am best known for, but I was really "on one" [as my bad boys would say] today). Yes, today was a day when "pull your head out of your a##" was one of my therapeutic terms. In fact I did actually tell one of my "special projects" that he would get a lot further in life if he would quit being such a pr##k. He turned his chair over he was so shocked! It worked, though. At least today.

I was so grateful to get home today! I was ready for an easy night with my babies. God laughs.

I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard a thunk and plastic rustling. I ran to the livingroom & discovered that Ellie had dumped the little trash can in there and was playing with the now empty bag. By the way, it's trash night, so the container was full. Was. One butt smack and a lot of scolding and I had the mess cleaned up.

After dinner Marty says "Mommy, what's wrong with your computer?" So I go to the computer room to figure this out. A few minutes later I smelled something rotten in the state of Ellie's pants.

In the dining room I encounter an empty diaper.

In the livingroom, laying on the couch with one leg hooked over the back and the other dangling off, spread wide in all her naked glory, a pedo's dream, is my butt-nekkid daughter. On the foyer is a pile of crap so large it seems impossible that it came from a human's body, let alone an eight-year-old. I clean it up.

Marty, who loves fruit, discovers the melon cups in the fridge, which he knows I got for him as a treat. He helps himself to the fruit. Shortly thereafter I hear "uh-oh," the clatter of keys, the bathroom door, and pee. Marty comes out, shuts and locks the door, then says "oops."

"Oops what?"

"I forgot I didn't need to pee, well I did need to pee apparently because I just peed, but that's not why I went to the bathroom. I dropped a piece of melon and I was going to rinse it off but I just locked it in the bathroom. Silly me!" He unlocks the door and goes back in. Seconds later he calls out, "I can't find it!"

Okay, this is a small bathroom. Exasperated, I go to help look. THERE IS NO MELON! He said he sat it down to pee, but there is NO MELON! I looked everywhere! Phantom melon.

It's quarter of 11pm and they're both still awake. Lord help me!

ADDENDUM
No sooner than I published the note, Ellie pulled her diaper to the side and peed all over her bed. Gallons. I'm sure of it. I just finished changing the bed and calming the cracking up and excited Marty. It is now 11pm, and they are still awake.

If Wishes Were Fishes...

Lord, I wish You had given me the opportunity to know my daughter. Marty was on a "just like you" kick tonight at bedtime, you know, "my eyes are just like yours," "I believe in magic, just like you," etc. He stumped me when he said, "But who is Sissy like, you or Daddy?"

I quickly recovered and answered, "She's like both of us, just like you."

But would she have been? Would she have my love of myth and magic, or been more concrete like Daddy? Who would she have been? For that matter, who is she? Does she like horses, like I did at her age? Who is locked away in that tower called "Ellie"? And Lord, why didn't You let me know her?

First Family Movie Night

Tonight was the first Brumback Family Movie Night, and I think it was a success! We watched "Krull," ate puffcorn (kernelless popcorn), and ordered pizza. Ellie came in and out, ate with us, and even sat on the couch for a while to watch part of the movie.

Geoff and I have made a list of movies, mostly from the 80s, that we feel helped define and contribute to our lifelong geekiness, things like "Krull," "The Neverending Story," "Labyrinth," all the Star Wars and Star Trek movies, older creature features like "The Blob" and "Them," classics like "War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine" - I better stop listing, there are 214 movies on the list already! We have some and keep an eye out for the others. (I forgot to list superhero movies and comic book hero movies.)

Last weekend while out to celebrate my birthday Geoff and I decided to make Saturday nights in the Brumback household Family Movie Night. We weren't sure how Ellie would take to it, but she did well. Marty was a total squirrel, but he could use the "sit still and be quiet" lessons for Kindergarten this fall. All in all, I'm pleased!

WHOOO-HOOOO!

Ellie JUST COVERED HERSELF UP WITH A BLANKET!!!!! Eight years! Eight years we've been trying to teach her to cover herself up! Hand-over-hand, demonstration, direction, pictures... I didn't think she'd ever do it! I thought she had some mental block / aversion / something to covering herself up, but SHE JUST DID IT! WOOT!!! Just did it on her own like it was no big deal, and grinned at me, little minx!

Yes, this is my life, people. I literally cheered and jumped off my seat for joy because my eight year old covered herself up with a blanket.

WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!!

New Goal: Journaling

I have been inspired by a friend of mine from work, Kim. You see, Kim's husband has three cancerous tumors in his brain, and the best hope the doctors could offer, with intense treatment, is three to five years. She has started a website at Colespages.com to keep family and friends abreast of her husband's condition. I checked out Cole's story, a day-to-day log of a three-year-old's life, and death, written by his parents. One of his parents wrote something every day, even if it was just a line or two. Cole died unexpectedly just eight weeks after his cancer diagnosis. The journal, his parents have written since, helps keep their memories vibrant and puts dates to his "I love you to the moon and back"s. I said to another coworker, also a friend of Kim's, that I didn't know how she functioned every day with that shadow looming over her life. Our friend said, "Why not? You live with that shadow every day, every time you get behind the wheel, or even breathe. We're all going to die."

Intellectually, I know this, but hearing it caused a visceral reaction. I guess I want a written record of days, too - just in case, just because. So, my goal is to write something every day, even if it's short and sweet.

Like today, Marty cracked me up when he said, "Mommy, I accidentally had an accident, accidentally." Or yesterday when Ellie popped a balloon unexpectedly. She looked at that popped balloon and her lip pooched out and she was just so dang cute I wanted to laugh (but I didn't, I comforted her like a good mommy). It reminded me of when she was wee-bitty and pouted like that, with her little lip out far enough for a bird to perch. Grammy would tell her she'd have to be a lot less cute if she ever wanted to get anything (meaning we'd deny her just to see the cuteness). Lord she was cute last night. I probably shouldn't find my child's broken hearted pout cute, but I do! You would, too, if you saw it.

So, that's that. That's my goal. We'll see if I can meet it.