Movie Review: Meet Dave

Being home sick has its advantages...so does having an 8 yr old that can run into the library on his own to rent/borrow movies! While My Girl and I sat outside, My Boy ran in to pick up some movies for us to watch today. I know, I know, it's a nice day & they should be outside...but they just got a bunch of legos for a gift so I can't get them to stay out there! Anyway, I digress....

So one of the movies My Boy picked out (on his own) was Meet Dave. It's rated PG and Movie Mom gives it a C- rating. I like the Movie Mom site because I can check out movies to see if they're kid-appropriate before we rent them.

Anyway, she gave it an "okay" review...but mine (albeit more brief) will be different.

We were laughing outloud from the start. There were many funny bits (how could there not be with Eddie Murphy!). There were quite a few moments of potty humor (how they "made" money, butt-referencing names, etc.)

And with most "family" movies, there is a moral to the story. Some movies just hint at a moral and some spell it out. Dave spells it out at the end: it's okay to be different and take pride in your differences.

So I do recommend this movie when you are stuck at home with the kids. It's a laugh out loud fun movie and very enjoyable for me, My Boy (8 yrs) and My Girl (5 yrs).

Movies

As I was getting ready to write a movie review, I realized that some people that read this blog (I know, no one actually reads my blog, but just in case) might not agree with the movies I let my kids watch. So I thought I'd better first say something about our choice in movies.

Our kids tend to see movies that are probably a bit more advanced than the ratings suggest, but at the same time, we're not the kind of parents that take our kids to rated R movies either. As a matter of fact, I deplore hearing stories about parents that take their kids, or rent movies for their kids that are rated R or worse (ie: horror movies, bloody gore action movies). Don't get me wrong, I love Quinten Tarentino, but it's not kid/family appropriate viewing.

But yes, they watch action fliks (ie: James Bond, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Batman, etc.) and sometimes they are rated PG-13. Sometimes I cringe at some parts, but most of the time, anything that they see that is even close to innapropriate goes right over their head.

So IF you are reading this post AND you feel the need to post a comment that is in any way critical of my parenting abilities because I let my kids watch a movie that is rated over G, let me first say, feel free to say whatever you like. I can always delete your comments if they get nasty and judgemental and I don't want to have them connected to my post. Now if you want to leave a comment that disagrees with me but you are diplomatic and polite, I may decide to leave your comments posted. Because as long as you're nice and respectful, I can be too. But be nasty and act like a booger, then I'll flik you away without another thought (just like a booger). :oP

Who is THAT dude?

So I wasn't that crazy of last year's (or was it the last two years?) Six Flags marketing campaign of "More Flags, More Fun". I way preferred the old guy dancing. He really cracked me up.

So guess what, he's back! But "who" is that guy?? That is NOT the same guy! AND he's saying the "More Flags, More Fun" slogan. Turns out the guy's name is Mr. Six - but I'd like to know - where is the real Mr. Six??

Can't anyone get more creative??

Coke vs Mountain Dew

My Son: Can I have a Coke instead of a Mountain Dew?

My Man: No.

Me: Why? What's the difference, they're both full of sugar & caffeine (frankly, I'd rather he didn't have either!)

My Man: Because Coke rots your guts.

Me: What?

My Man: You can only have Coke if it's mixed with rum. It cancels out the gut rotting stuff.

You gotta be kidding me, right? LOL

Personality Clash

My son drives me nuts. I mean literally bonkers. He drove me to take a 4 year old Xanax a few days ago (yes I still have them, I've hoarded them this long, I don't care that they are expired!).

Whenever I'm finally able to sit back and reflect, I can clearly see the reason we have such a personality clash is because we are so much alike. Of course this realization does not bring me comfort in any way - it only serves to annoy me more.

We got his blood test results back today. We had his TSH levels tested to see if he has a thyroid condition like me (his erratic moody behavior is reminiscent of my own). Turns out, his levels are fine, so that's not his problem! He has an appointment with his therapist this Saturday..and now that we have these results, I do think he will be diagnosed as ODD.

I have not been handling his moods that well this past week - I think a lot of it has to do with my own meds being adjusted. What a pain! It would be SO nice if I could just take a few days with a new dose to know if it's the right dose...but oh know, it's a 4 to 6 week process! Oy!

But I digress...

Our personalities are very similar. I think a lot of our hot buttons are the same. We both know exactly how to push each other's buttons (I swear I do not push his on purpose! If there was a way to avoid his horrible reactions, trust me, I would not push THAT button on purpose!). So here I am, a mom whose personality clashes with her 8 year old son's personality. Can we survive each other? Only time will tell!

Interview with a 5 year old

1. How old are you?
5

2. When is your birthday?
April 27

3. What was the best gift you received for your birthday?
my bike, sleeping bag and Hello Kitty clock

4. What didn't you get that you really wanted?
a unicorn stuffed animal

5. What is your favorite thing about school (day care)?
playing with Ryan & Paulie in the blocks

6. What is your least favorite thing about school?
nothing

7. Who is your favorite person in the whole word?
Grandma Sally

8. Who are all the people in your family?
Mommy, Daddy, Scratch and my brother

8. What is your favorite food?
carrots (the raw kind - she doesn't like them cooked!)

9. What is your favorite toy?
my new Pretty Pony toy

10. What is something mommy/daddy always says to you?
Mom: clean your room (we're such slave drivers!)
Dad: clean your room

12. What makes you happy?
watching tv & playing games

13. What makes mommy/daddy happy?
Mom: putting me to bed and reading stories
Dad: I don't know, I'd have to ask him.

14. What makes you sad?
Not watching TV

15. What makes mommy/daddy sad?
Mom: I don't know.
Dad: I don't know.

16. How does mommy/daddy do to make you laugh?
Mom: You make silly faces.
Dad: Tickles me. (she first said he dances around...but he's NEVER done that! LOL)

17. What were mommy/daddy like when they were little?
Mom: you liked your room and played in your room.
Dad: he liked to play in his room with his toys

18. How old are your mommy/daddy?
Mom: 8
Dad: 9

19. How tall are your mommy/daddy?
Mom: 59 (not sure what measurement we're working on here - but if she means inches, she's got me pretty good!)
Dad: 98

20. What do mommy/daddy do when you’re not around? (she asked, like when I stay at Tia's?)
Mom: go on a trip
Dad: go on a trip with mommy

21. What are mommy/daddy really good at?
Mom: making dinner
Dad: making dinner too, he's really good

22. What are mommy/daddy not very good at?
Mom: doing bad stuff
Dad: cleaning **snicker!**

23. What do mommy/daddy do for their jobs?
Mom: typing on a computer
Dad: he works in the warehouse with a bunch of people

24. What is mommy/daddy’s favorite food?
Mom: vegetables
Dad: chicken

25. What makes you proud of mommy/daddy?
Mom: cleaning
Dad: nothing

26. If mommy/daddy were a cartoon character, what would they be?
Mom: police officer
Dad: policeman

27. What do you do with mommy/daddy?
Mom: get cupcakes
Dad: go to the office

28. How are you and mommy/daddy the same?
Mom & Dad: we all have skin

29. How are you and mommy/daddy different?
Mom: our hair is different color
Dad: he's a boy

30. How do you know mommy/daddy loves you?
Mom: give me hugs & kisses
Dad: he gives me hugs & kisses too

31. What is one thing you would change about mommy/daddy?
Mom: nothing
Dad: nothing

32. What do you like about your brother?
he loves me & lets me come in his room

33. What don't you like about your brother?
he doesn't let me in his room

34. What do you want to be when you grow up?
police officer

35. What is your favorite TV show?
Sponge Bob

36. What is your favorite number?
10

37. What is your favorite color?
red

38. What is your favorite animal?
unicorn

39. What is your favorite time of year?
Christmas

40. What are you most looking forward to now that you are 5 years old?
kindergarten

Happy 5th Birthday!

I can't believe my baby girl is 5 years old! Of course, she turned five a week ago tomorrow - but today is was her official birthday party.

Not all of her friends could attend (probably due to my poor planning - I can never seem to plan enough in advance!) but she did have a great turn out.

We had 3 of her friends from day care (and 3 older siblings) and a neighbor friend. Instead of doing Chuck E Cheese again like last year (as originally requested), we opted for an in-home party instead. Gotta love getting an excuse to clean the house!

We had Noah's Ark come in to have the kids create their own "goody bags" - they stuffed toy animals - it was a lot of fun (even for the moms!).

Then all the kids played outside and then back inside for cake & presents. The cake rocked - it was an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins & it was in the shape of a pink purse - it was SO cute! The polk-a-dots were white chocolate buttons. I think this was definitely the cutest & yummiest cake ever! (turns out it was a Mother's Day cake)

Stay tuned for an interview with a 5 year old....