Making Movie Memories

One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a humongous bowl of popcorn and watch a movie.  Perhaps I inherited this from my family, as it is something of a tradition there to watch a flick on a Sunday evening with the movie theater popcorn-maker going in the next room.  Aside from my mom, Clayton makes the best popcorn.  He says it's all in the flick of the wrist as you sprinkle on salt.  Who knows.  I've studied him carefully as he flavors the little puffs after they've come out of our air-popper, and I still can't seem to replicate the precise taste he achieves.  One of our favorite quotes is from my Great-Grandpa Gibby, "Don't be shy with the butter!"  Anyway, let's get back to movies...

I have many fond memories with my family that include movies.  I remember Sunday early-evenings watching the Disney Sunday Movie, which is probably where the tradition began.  I remember when The Little Mermaid was released, and my brothers and I must have watched it over a hundred times in one summer and could quote the entire thing.  I loved when my dad would introduce me to his old favorites, like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Music Man.  I also loved when my mom and I would watch chick-flicks together, just her and I.  

I've been pondering, the past little while, how many movie sayings have made their way into my vocabulary.  I know I inherited this from my dad, as I find little sayings of his from every Disney movie I check out from the library.  For example, this week was Lady and the Tramp.  Trusty's "Old Reliable" is one my dad still calls my brothers (and sometimes Luke) to this day.  I think he might have also gotten his nickname for me (Amelinda-ijita-chiquita-mia or something like that) partly from the little chihuahua in the pound who's sister is named something similar.  The list really could go on and on.  As soon as you start talking Disney movies or musicals, my whole family could, and usually does, break into song from just about any phrase.  

True to my roots, I go around saying things like: "Patience, Iago, patience," in my best Jafar voice (Aladdin) and "[I am] struck blind by [your] sheer awesomeness," (Kung Fu Panda).  Who knows what sayings my kids will pick up from me or what they'll remember when they're older, but it's kind of fun to be making some movie memories with my own family.   

Have you heard this one?

As you no doubt know, Luke is really into knock-knock jokes.  Audrey doesn't like being outdone by her older brother, that's for sure.  Who knows what she's saying, but it's pretty cute.

 

On Being Healthy

A big goal for our family this year is to become more healthy.  You can bet it isn't who you think it is who can't seem to stay on the wagon.  

Yep, it's me.  Here I am, grinning like a fool while I serve my family Wendy's for dinner.  Me, who can't say no to dessert after dessert.  Me, who keeps sleeping in instead of waking up to exercise.  Believe me when I tell you that doing Pilates while the kids are awake and climbing on you is counter-productive, although my frustration may have burned a few extra calories.  

Here is Clayton trying to blow up his cheeks to show the effects of my failure.  You would think with his crazy schedule and lack of sleep he would be the one with the major eating problem.  Nope.  This guy actually enjoys salads with no dressing.  I, for one, have tried this and can't stand it.  

Here is Audrey.  She actually handed me her chicken nuggets and whined until I gave her my salad.  At least my children aren't completely ruined by my bad habits.  

You should have seen me beam with pride when the doctor declared her to be 25th percentile for weight and 98th for height.  Somehow I mothered a model!  About an hour later I read an article in Toddler magazine that stated:  "If we know our kids are growing and developing on track, why do we look upon those pediatric percentiles as some sort of report card?  'Parents need to understand that everything between the 3rd and 97th percentiles is normal,' explains David Wolfson, M.D.,... 'Growth charts are an important diagnostic tool, but the actual percentile number may be the least important part.'"  Well, that pretty much burst my bubble.  I am glad, however, that she is developing very well, and her vocabulary is exploding.  It is so cute to hear her say "here ya go" and "oh, man!"  Come on, though.  Doesn't this little body just look ready to walk down a runway?  heehee

We can't leave out our Wendy's-loving Luke.  After a friend told me of her success with reading her son The Very Hungry Caterpillar and explaining how a "nice, green leaf" helps a stomach-ache when you've eaten too many sweets, I decided to try it.  Without success.  He did try a leaf of lettuce, but he apparently doesn't like salad without dressing, either, and won't try dressing.  I was impressed, later, when he asked to try a leaf again.  Strange, I thought.  Then, I payed attention to his pronunciation.  All this time he thought I was saying "ice-cream leaf."  Poor kid must be very disappointed.  He does know how to get enough sleep, though.  "Mom, I'm feeling a little bit tired.  I'm going to go upstairs and read with Dad."  

Better luck next month?

Tales From the Trenches

Aimee's Perspective:  

Clayton staggered in the door around 8AM, Sunday morning, after doing who-knows-what the past 24 hours.  I say staggered, because he seemed a little on the tipsy side.  Since I had been more on top of things than usual, a steaming-hot breakfast of pancakes, bacon and fruit were waiting on the table.  The kids squealed with delight that Dad was joining them for the meal, but then had to fight him for the last of the bacon.  The mealtime conversation centered around gunshot wounds and Clayton apologizing for wearing bloody clothes home.  Luke made sure to point out how large his last bowel-movement was, and Audrey threw handfuls of sticky food all over the floor and walls for the duration of the time.  After scarfing down all the breakfast food, Clay headed straight for the fridge.  I innocently asked, "What are you looking for?  You can't possibly still be hungry!"  Clay's reply:  "I'm not sure.  I guess I should stop eating and go to bed."  With that, he headed up the stairs, shedding blood-stained articles of clothing along the way.  I followed him upstairs, quickly trying to get my things out of the room so that he could sleep in peace.  The kids followed me upstairs, ready for more action.  Before I knew it, pretend eggs, cauliflower, bread, and strawberries surrounded Clay in the bed, and sticky fingers probed him in the face, wondering why his eyes were closing at this time in the morning.  I herded them out of the room, and was grateful that the big mound in the bed can usually sleep through a natural disaster.  If I wasn't completely sure my husband was a medical resident, I would wonder what in the world he had been up to!

Clayton's Perspective:

Not remembering how I just got myself and the car safely to my street, I staggered into the house on Sunday morning.  Boy, was it great to be home.  After some quick grub, I could finally collapse into bed.  Being extremely lucky this morning, Aimee already had breakfast on the table.   Luke was excited to tell me all about his adventures in the bathroom, but I couldn't seem to focus on anything but my plate.  If I wasn't completely sure I hadn't touched any alcohol, I would swear I was drunk.  Scientific studies have shown that sleep-depravation can do that to you.  Luckily for my 7AM patient, I had just enough focus left to carefully insert that needle near his spine.  "Aim, you know how I was totally bored all day because of the snowstorm?  As soon as I hung up the phone after talking to you at 7PM, I was going non-stop the whole night.  An 18-year-old kid came in with 6 gunshot wounds.  It was pretty crazy, but we saved him.  The gang was going for his friend, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Luke, that is why you need to pick your friends carefully.  I'm serious...  Anyway, maybe we can tell him when he's a little bit older."  Just then, I noticed the streaks of blood all over my clothes.  "Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have come home in these scrubs.  Nobody touch me.  I just wasn't thinking very clearly when I left the hospital."  The next thing I knew, I was staring into the open fridge, leaning on the door.  Aimee asked me what I was doing, and I realized I had no idea.  I just feel like eating and eating and eating when I come home.  I never got a break to eat anything all night.  "I'm not sure.  I guess I should stop eating and go to bed."  Aaaahhhh, bed.  Where was my bed?  I trudged up the stairs and collapsed into a big pile of blankets on the bed.  Now that was just what I needed.   ...noises...  ...sticky fingers...  ...can't stay...  ... awake...

Luke...

• is a Sunbeam, now, at church.  He was just barely warming up to Nursery, so we were worried about the transition.  However, his teacher is incredibly great, and he seems to really like being with the bigger kids.  He did mention, however, that Sunbeam class should include a snack.

 

• started tennis lessons and LOVES them.  That first lesson was the first time he has willingly and smilingly left my side to go somewhere with a stranger.  
• loves Wii Sports, except for the boxing.  He accidentally punched himself in the eye, leaving quite a mark.
• has to "pause" everything when he has to go to the bathroom.  He wants our show, game, eating, talking, etc. to pause.  He has even been known to say, "Pause this laughing;  I have to go potty!"
• is sick and tired of Audrey messing up his stuff.  She turns off shows at the climactic moment, turns off Wii so that Mom has to set it up all over again, eats his crayons and play-dough, hits him when she's mad or bored, and wakes him up in the middle of the night with her screaming.  "Mom, I'm so upset, I just feel like beating Audrey up!"  I don't know where he got such an awful phrase!  Okay, I might have let something similar slip just moments before.  Of course I didn't really mean it; I just said I felt like it.  What kind of a terrible mother... What are we going to do with our beautiful, lovable, crazy, and spirited little Audrey?  Probably the same thing we did with Luke when he was that age: love her to pieces and try to limit the yelling.  And the phrases about wanting to beat her up.  
• is so cheerful when he wakes up.  Come to think of it, so is Audrey.  Even if I'm waking them up really early for some reason, they both find a way to smile.  They must have gotten this trait from Clayton.
• has pretty much determined that, no matter what I cook or how much bribing and cajoling I do, he only likes to eat breakfast foods, Wendy's or McDonald's, carrots, fruit, and anything including massive amounts of sugar.  He also occasionally asks us to order a pepperoni pizza with no cheese.  The only other person I know that doesn't like cheese is my brother, Steve.  Weird.
• was not impressed when we disconnected our cable.  "No more shows?!  Mom, I'm going to beat you up!"  Wow.  His mind is like a steel trap to anything I've said that I shouldn't have!
• is, in our minds, the most wonderful, smart, and interesting little guy we know.  We love you, Luke!