24 posts tagged “movies”

Yesterday was the summer solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. How did you celebrate the arrival of summer and the longest day of the year?

At a soccer tournament, of course!  We actually started on Friday.  Here's the rundown on the games:

Cody:

• Game 1 - Led 1-0 at the half.  Cody scored a goal and we were tied 2-2 until one of our teammates accidentally scored for the other team ending in a 2-3 loss.  Painful!
• Game 2 - First half went great which seems to be the story for this team.  We had a 2 point lead until our "Director of Coaching" whom none of us like decided to show up to coach the 2nd half.  He had Cody, our leading scorer last season, on defense or on the bench!  The game ended in a 3-3 tie.  Normally, that wouldn't bother us but we would've won if our parent coach had been allowed to keep calling the shots.  He knows the team best and did a phenomenal job with them last year.
• Game 3 - We lost 0-1.  The other team was really good so I wasn't too upset.  The boys actually played really well all weekend in were much improved from the previous tournament.

Jace:

• Game 1 - Ended in a 3-3 tie.  We led the whole game until the last 3 minutes when they tied it up.  Bummer!
• Game 2 - We won!!  Final score was 5-2. 
• Game 3 - It was a hard fought game but they lost 2-3.  Jace came really close to a goal and had 1 assist.  His team also played much better this tournament.

This photo is actually from the first soccer tournament.  The tournament photographer took it and it was up on their website.  Jace's team had just scored a goal to take the lead and Jace did 2 flips.

Friday night, we went to supper at IHOP for the first time.  We've been meaning to get there for quite awhile.  Ultimately, we were disappointed.  I thought they'd have a lot more variety of pancakes to choose from and I much prefer Ray's or Perkins' pancakes.  Lily's chocolate one wasn't bad, though.  After supper, we went back to our hotel so the kids could take a swim.  It was a small pool with no "extras" but we had the whole thing to ourselves.  The boys were getting bored after awhile so decided that Ray & I would judge their different jumps into the pool.  They came up with names for them and even starting acting our characters.  It was the best time and I can't remember when I last laughed that hard with just the 5 of us.  Twice I was laughing so hard I couldn't speak and was crying.  It was a great family moment.

Between games on Saturday, Ray took the kids to "Kung Fu Panda" while I did some shopping for his upcoming birthday and business trip to Mexico this week.

I mentioned quite some time ago that I was helping direct a group of 2nd graders sing "What Time Is It" from High School Musical II.  Today was the talent show.  Jace played Ryan. 

Thanks for all your prayers.  Despite snow all day yesterday, the roads were smooth sailing last night.  I arrived at our friend's around 10:00 pm, expecting to go right to bed since I had an early flight.  Instead, we got to talking and I didn't go to bed until 1 am!  I had to get up at 4:30!  When I got to the airport, it was -10 degrees.  When I landed in Billings, it was 50 degrees!  Amazing what a difference there is in a relatively small distance.  We haven't seen 50 deg. back home since November.  I didn't even wear my coat today.

After a nice lunch with my parents & brother, we headed for the mall.  I bought several things to try here at the hotel tonight.  I did try on several things at the store even though I hate doing that but didn't have much success.  Then, we went to ON where they're having 40% off all kids' clothes, including the spring stuff!  I got each of the boys a summer outfit plus some jeans for Cody.  (The sale is online, too).  Next, we went to the new Kate Hudson / Matthew McConnahy? movie, "Fool's Gold".  It was very entertaining.  I've always enjoyed their chemistry.  We'll be heading for supper soon.

The kids seem to be on the mend.  Lily struggled with me leaving last night.  I called from the road and she was pretty good on the phone but Ray said after she gave it to him, she ran into her room in tears.  Breaks my heart!

I got to open my birthday presents early from my parents'.  I took pictures so you'll have to wait for details.

What is with the Easter clothes this year?  We are having a horrible time finding Lily a dress.  Everything is black and white or red.  Hello?  Easter colors, please!

A few weeks ago, Jace came home talking about how he was going to be Ryan

in a 2nd grade production of Apparently, a girl in his class was planning the whole thing.  We didn't know what to think as we hadn't heard anything "official" but Jace was taking it very seriously.  Luckily, we have the movie on TIVO so he's been watching it religiously and playing Lily's CD while having her play Ryan's sister, Sharpay.  We were getting a little worried that it was all just for play and he was going to be disappointed so I called the girl's mother.  A note came home yesterday that they're going to practice a few times and just sing the first song I called the mom to see if she wanted help since I direct some kids' choirs and love the idea.  (It's totally something I would've tried to do as a kid)!  She's not a music person so was happy to have the offer.  I'm way too excited about it!

Sunday morning, we headed for Wyoming.  We had to go through Billings so were able to stop and have pizza with my brother.  We arrived at Ray's dad's (Amy Sue) late Sunday afternoon and had Christmas with them.  She has more photos from our visit on her blog.

Lily & Aunt Taylor

We got Cole & Taylor a photo album from when we were all in Glacier this summer.

Ray's dad & stepmom look through the calendar I made of my landscape photos.

Sleepover in Aunt Taylor's room

We went out for supper and then I finally got to try out the new Wii.  Had fun playing golf & bowling and then we stayed up and watched

I always thought I'd hate it but it actually held my attention.  After breakfast and a few games of pinochle, we headed 20 miles down the road to Ray's step grandma's.  She just built a new house.  Ray got a GPS for Christmas and it sure came in handy!  We met Ray's step cousin & family whom we went through college with and had lunch.  Then, we tagged along with them to their friend's house for New Year's Eve.  Their friends were big into hunting and had gone on a safari to Africa last spring.  The pictures were amazing!  Several of their big game were being mounted but we did get to see the zebra skin.  The grownups played Sequence and a new card game, Shanghai.  Both were fun but with 6 people, you spent a lot of time waiting for your turn.  Think I prefer the partner card games.

Lily & cousin Tanna whose also 5

The boys did a lot of "hunting" themselves.

Ray, cousin Heather, and her husband, Sean.

Cody, Caleb (son of Ray's other cousin who wasn't there), and Jace

Tanna's brother, Tyrell, and friend, Kyle

Five minutes before midnight

New Year's Day, it was finally time to make the trek home after being gone 11 days.  This is in front of Gram's new home.

Once again, we were able to catch my brother right at lunch time.  We got home late that night.

Very entertaining.  I think the whole family enjoyed it though I highly question the PG rating.  There was quite a bit of swearing and several sexual innuendos.

I spent all morning at the church for tomorrow's program rehearsal.  Overall, I think everything went pretty smoothly.  We even finished on time!!  It's very hectic trying to direct 3 choirs and sing in one of the, though.

After practice, we met up with Ray for lunch at the KC Hall and then went to the mall to see Santa.  We did a little bit of shopping and then went to the new movie "Alvin & the Chipmunks".  It was adorable.  The theater was packed and several times everyone was cracking up.  I just love the Chipmunks! 

Now we're trying to pick up the house for the babysitter.  Ray & I are going to dinner with another couple and then to the college's Christmas program.  Not really Ray's cup of tea but we heard it's incredible and not your typical program.  I hope he'll be pleasantly surprised!

Our shopping trip on Friday went pretty well.  It started snowing when we got to Bismarck so I started fretting over the roads on our way home.  We had lunch at Cracker Barrel.  I had the yummiest beef stew ever!  It was also fun shopping in their gift shop.  If you haven't been to one, you're missing out.  I got a neat, hot pink, lipstick pen and the kids each got a few things. 

Our next stop was JW Pepper's music store.  I've been wanting to get there for sometime to look at choir music.  It was overwhelming!  I ended up getting one choir book, an easy listening type piano book, and a book of sonatas.  Let's just say I have lots of practicing to do!  They were harder than they looked.  One thing that's very frustrating is that my hands are really too small to be a great piano player as I can't reach much more than an octave.  Ray also got a guitar tutorial book with DVD.

Next, we went to Lowe's and got some tile to finish the bathroom and a light fixture.  Our last stop was Kohl's.  There was a crazy line at the cash registers there but that was the only busy stop.

It had stopped snowing by the time we left but the roads were icy in patches.  Twenty miles west of home, we drove by 2 accidents in the same spot.  In the first one, an SUV lost control on the ice, crossed the median, and hit a pickup truck head on.  The passenger in the SUV was killed.  An hour later, another truck crossed the median and rolled through the other lane onto the other side.  There were some injuries but not life threatening.  We tried to be accident #3.  The tow truck was blocking the driving lane and the car in front of us slowed down to practically a complete stop.  It was still icy so we weren't able to stop that quickly and Ray was laying on the horn.  I was braced for impact but Ray kept us safe.

Last night, we went to the movie "Enchanted".  It was even better than I expected.  It's very funny and, of course, a great love story which is right up my alley.  Lily was a little scared in parts but even the boys enjoyed it.  One of the main themes was whether there is true love like in fairy tales.  There sure is in my book.  I found my Prince Charming.  Don't get me wrong, not every day is like a fairy tale.  However, it is when you look at the big picture and get past the little stuff.  (Did I mention I got breakfast in bed yesterday)?  I can only pray that my kids find the fairy tale loves of their dreams someday, too.

I was pretty depressed about being stuck at home with no visitors for Thanksgiving.  For me, it doesn't seem like a holiday if you're not with extended family.  I was also stressed about cooking the turkey, dressing, & gravy for the first time.

It turned out not to be bad after all.  We used a turkey bag which was really slick but it overcooked a bit. 

 Ended up using the Stove Top dressing which I thought was disgusting but didn't get a different recipe in time.  The gravy had good flavor but I'll probably try to make it thicker next time.  The most important dish, corn pie, I've made before so that was no trouble.

Ray ended up buying a frozen pumpkin pie to cook.  We weren't impressed with it at all.  Of course, he's spoiled us in the past by making them fresh right from the pumpkin!  The rest of the menu consisted of non-alcoholic wine, rolls, mashed potatoes, pistacchio salad (Cody's request), and olives.  Yes, I forgot the squash. 

All in all, we were pretty proud of ourselves and surprised at how we were so relaxed and ready to eat shortly after noon.  Maybe we should have just our family every year (just kidding mom).  Afterwards, we watched some football and played "Clue", "Sorry", and "Operation".  After supper, we watched "The Incredibles" on TV.

We went to the Bee Movie tonight.

  It's adorable!