Movies That Make Christmas

Christmas means something a little different to everyone. There are traditions and norms that people anticipate every year. Setting up the Christmas tree, baking Christmas cookies, selecting the perfect photo for the annual Christmas card...

I've always been kind of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas trees. Don't get me wrong - they're beautiful; I just have all kinds of anxiety with setting it up. I freak out if the ornaments aren't appropriately spaced. It's a pain in the ass to get out all of the supplies. And frankly, packing it up at the end of the season sucks.

I love Christmas baking. Sadly, I have never been able to perfect my Grandma's cut out cookies. I'm secretly let down every year.

Don't even get me started on Christmas cards... It's not the actual card or the idea of sending them... I just have a very difficult time actually getting them in the mail. (This problem isn't exclusive to Christmas cards. There is a reason my husband and I decided he would be responsible for getting the bills in the mail.)

Movies, however, are a big tradition in our home. The kids and I have always been able to bond over movies. There are a 5 movies that we watch every December, together. As they've gotten older, we appreciate this time and these movies... And I appreciate that they "get it" better every year.

So what are these magical movies that strengthen our family bond?

In no particular order -

A Christmas Story - 1983

Who doesn't love this 40's tale of a little boy who wants a Red Rider BB gun? Not to mention, it's a perfect depiction of the pure dysfunction that has always plagued the American family... Like every American classic, this film is riddled with with quotes that have permeated American culture. My favorite is one that has been tossed around by my brother and me since childhood... "Fra-gee-lay... It must be Italian."

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989 This is another favorite from childhood. I get great joy from hearing my kids laugh hysterically over something that my brother and I would be in stitches over when we were kids. Clark Griswold is probably the most iconic dad in American film and television history. (Yeah, I said it. Bill Cosby's got nuthin' on Clark!) To this day, I almost pee my pants when Clark says to Eddie, "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" I mean really, who hasn't felt that way about a family member at Christmas?

Elf - 2003 This is one that I hope my kids share with their kids when they're my age. Buddy the Elf. Ridiculous. Foolish. Juvenile. Every year, this movie revives my Christmas cheer. (Obviously because they sing out loud for all to hear.) And, secretly, it has made me suspect my daughter is an elf. "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

The Polar Express - 2004 I was skeptical of this one, but in elementary school, my kids would have a Polar Express day right before winter break. I had to know what was so great... I found it mesmerizing and enchanting, and it made me remember what it was like to believe. One of my favorite quotes of all time is from this movie, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things are things we can't see."

Love Actually - 2003 This is my very favorite movie of all time, not just Christmas. The love stories are sweet. The relationships are real. And it helped me believe in love again during a very dark time in life. It taught me, "Life is full of interruptions and complications." a lesson I learned over and over again over the last decade. 
What are your traditions? Your norms? What makes Christmas Christmas for you?

**click the image to buy the movie from Amazon.com**

It's An Award! Honest!

Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I received a comment from my bloggy friend FeliciaE over at Living Just Like Grandma.  She wanted to let me know show had bestowed the honor of an award on me.  I got really excited!  I mean, really?!?!?  Who doesn't LOVE awards?!? (If you say you don't, I'm calling you a big, fat liar!)  Even more exciting, it's the Honest Scrap award.  I don't know who started this award, but I've been DYING to get it!  Weird, I know, but I love, love, love the graphic.  Call me crazy...  So thank you SOOOO  much Felicia!  I will display it proudly!

Here are the rules:

1.) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.

2.) Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

3.) Share "10 Honest Things" about myself.

So, here it goes!!!

Daffy at Batcrap Crazy - She's a new bloggy friend.  I know she already has this award, but she makes me laugh, so I'm awarding her again.

Nancy at If Evolution Really Works - Again, I know she already has this one, but she cracks me up and I wanted to show her a little love and gratitude.

Leigh at Leigh vs. Laundry - What can I say?  I mean really?  A pegasus in the salsa?  She's gotta be amazing to be raising a kid with an imagination like that!

Charmaine at Middle Aged Dating - You've gotta love a woman that bulldozes an ungrateful's place...  Hehehe!  Can I borrow your bulldozer, please?

Lisa Anne at Smell the Coffee Lisa - One again, she already has this award, but since I've been following her, I've come to the conclusion there is nothing this woman can't do!

Lunhatikk at Attitude of Gratitude - Not only is it damn hard to be that grateful all of the time, she is a kick arse face/body painter.

Amy at My LaLa Land - An adorable, 20-something, non-mommy blogger I heart.

Now for 10 Honest Things About Myself

1. I never wanted to be a mom, but my kids are my whole world and the force that drives my lazy butt out of bed every day.  They are the cheese to my macaroni.

2. I am involved in animal rescue, mostly bully breeds, and have had over 100 different foster dogs in the last 10 years.  Check out Underdog Rescue.  It was started and is run by my friend Shannon.

3. I was laid off last April (2008).  I have no desire to go back to work full time.

4. I'm looking into going back to school in the spring.  I always wanted to be a veterinarian.  Marriage and kids halted that...

5. I am a movie junkie.  I own over 300 DVDs, still have an extensive VHS collection, AND DVR tons of movies weekly.  Being an only parent only enables this addiction.  (Hey!  It's better than crack!)

6. I love trying new beers.  When I travel, I always try local or regional microbrews.  My favorite beer (currently) is Spotted Cow from New Glarus, WI.

7. I am a REALLY BIG DORK.  I love sci-fi and fantasy.  I watch Star Wars (The Clone Wars cartoons), read Tolkien, and love things like The Dark Crystal.

8. I was supposed to get married this year (10.17.09 to be exact).  My ex-beau (Chef) is 7 years younger than me and is probably one of my best friends in the whole wide world.  I love him very much but think he is too young to settle down.

9. I have two brothers.  Redneck Brother and Baby Brother.  Redneck Brother lives about 15 minutes away from me and I see him maybe  a dozen times a year.  His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.  Please pray for them.  Baby Brother lives in Chicagoland with his wife (Wonder Woman).  They are high school sweethearts and have 4 B-E-A-Utiful boys that I adore.

10. I believe that my husband's death was a blessing in disguise.  Some feel that is callus, but I don't care.  My kids don't have to live with his demons and broken promises.  I think that is far healthier than having a crackhead dad that pops in and out at his convenience leaving a wake of heartache in his path.

So, that's that!  Check out the 7 fabulous women I listed above and have an amazing day!

Banging My Head Against the Wall

Dream Guy invited me to a movie.  We've never been to a movie together.  We've attempted to watch plenty of movies together, but have never actually gone to one.

Neither one of us likes scary movies, but we both love the paranormal.  We watch Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and other random shows having to do with the paranormal. 

So, Dream Guy sent me a text the other day that said, "Paranormal Activity.  I want to see it.  You need to come with."  Mind you, I haven't heard from Dream Guy in weeks.  My response?  "Ummmm...  Ok?"  Nothing more was said...  Until last night.  I got another text that said, "Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  Lady's choice. 7 or 9:50."  I was a bit taken aback, but simply responded, "7 Tuesday"  To which Dream Guy responds, "Yay!  I'm so excited!"

Am I completely retarded or did I miss something here?  This man goes weeks without talking to me, invites me to a movie, and is excited to see me?  WTH?  Where have you been, Dream Guy?  I certainly haven't gone anywhere.

Part of me wants to shoot him a text at 6:45 on Tuesday and tell him I'm not available.  Unfortunately, I'm completely smitten with this stupid man and I know that I won't do it.  I do know that something has gotta give, though.  Dream Guy is gonna have to make a choice - Just Friends or More Than Friends.  I'm fine with either choice.  Obviously I'd prefer one over the other, but I'm fine with either.  I guess in the meantime I'll just try to figure out how on Earth we're going to make it through a scary movie WITHOUT clutching desperately to one another...

What I Love About... Saturdays

Saturdays are rough.

As I've mentioned previously, I am a bartender.  I generally don't get to bed on a Friday night (let's be real, it's Saturday morning) until at least 3:30 a.m.  That's IF I come straight home. 

I'm fortunate that my kids sleep at their baby-sitter's on the nights I work.  They do, however, start calling me by 9:00 a.m.  That, my friends, is entirely too freaking early! 

I really do love Saturdays, though.  First of all, even though the ungratefuls wake me too damn early, I love that I get to spend the afternoon with them.  Nothing makes my day more than calmly reminding The Girl to keep her hands off of other people, to stop taking things that don't belong to her, and the reason we are out of Go-Gurt is that she is constantly helping herself and I have no idea that we've run out.  And truly, what could possibly be more rewarding than repeatedly telling The Boy that the obnoxious sounds he makes are not only irritating as hell, but piss me off beyond belief.  And as much as he would like to be, he is not, nor never will be Ace Ventura and if he would like to practice being Jim Carrey, to please do so while outside or locked in a sound-proof booth.

Another of my favorite parts of Saturday is shower time.  After spending the day enjoying all the amazing gifts of motherhood, I sadly have to begin getting ready for another stimulating night of dealing with drunks that love karaoke.  (Oh!  I forgot to mention the bar has karaoke?  Well, what was I thinking?)

I love the solitude of shower time.  Even at 9 and 10, my children still burst into the bathroom multiple times during one shower.  It's ALWAYS super important stuff, too.  Life-threatening issues like, "Where is my DS charger?", "The Boy won't share his games with me!", "The Girl went into my room without asking!", "Am I allowed to watch Old School? But Mom, I've seen other Will Ferrell movies!  That's so unfair!"

Sadly, when it's time for me to drop the kids back off at the baby-sitter's, I know I'm going to miss the little monsters.  I think about how much more fun it would have been to rent a pile of movies and eat popcorn all night, or how great it would be to let them have huge sleepover parties at our house with their friends.  And when the phone at work rings around 10:00 p.m. and a familiar little voice on the other end says, "That One Mom, please.", it warms my heart to know that regardless of how rotten, spoiled, and ungrateful they are, they're mine.  All mine.  And I don't have to share them with a soul.  Truly, I am blessed.

Winning Is Fun! (I Should Do It More Often!)

I'm so excited!  Singlemomseeking ran a give away for 5 sets of free passes to the screening of The Boys Are Back starring Clive Owen!  And I won a set!  Yay me!!!

Here's the trailer!




I'm super excited to see it!  A). I heart Clive Owen.  He's on The List.  B). My inner masochist loves to see movies that make me bawl my eyes out.  C). Winning is fun!

I'll let you know how it is!!!

You Go, Girl!

Since I lost my super fancy professional job in April 2008, I have been bartending at a bar and grill in my hometown.  I know, it's glamorous.  Don't be jealous.  I'll give you a minute to check that....

So!  Since I have been bartending, I have met so many young, fabulous women!  Some of them are mamas, some of them are not, but they're fabulous none-the-less. 

Tonight, I happen to be baby-sitting for one of the fabulous mamas.  She is currently involved in a child-support issue with baby-daddy #2, and isn't able to afford her normal evening childcare.  It's all good, though!  I'm home and happy to help out.  I mean, after all, her oldest is the same age as The Boy and having him here will definately limit the antagonism of The Girl.  AND, her youngest is the ripe old age of 13 months!!  Can we say FREAKING CUTE!!!  It's been years since I've had a baby!!!!  I digress...

So, Fab Mama was done with work at 9:00.  I get a phone call asking if I would mind if she stayed for a glass of wine with another of the fab women we work with.  I'm just putting the kids to bed and say, "Heck no!  Every mama needs some wine once in awhile!"  She's grateful.  I put four children to bed.

It's 10:45.  I've just wasted an hour and a half of my life watching Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (it just came out today, Matthew McConaughey is the same guy as he was in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days - that movie was good, this one isn't so much - I'll never get that 90 minutes back) and I have a text message from Fab Mama.  She is wondering if I would mind if she has a 2nd glass of wine.  I say, "Drink up, sister!"  Yep, even more grateful.

Truth is, I bartend on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  The kids sleep over at the baby-sitter's those nights.  If I'm done with work at a reasonable hour, I'm gonna hit the town!  I am MORE than happy to allow a fellow mama the same opportunity!  Mamas need kid-free time!!!  Fab Mama called me just before I started this post.  She met a man a week ago.  He popped in to see her.  She wants to go chat him up for a bit.  My response?  "Honey, have fun and wake me when you come for your babies.  This mama is gonna get some sleep."  (Need to save my energy for my time to play!)

What Should Be Simple Pleasures...

Yesterday, the new X-Men movie came out. As we are all huge X-Men fans, I thought it would be a great treat to head over to the Red Box and rent it. On a school night. So I did.

Honestly, I don't know why I try to watch movies with the kids. The Boy, a self-proclaimed expert in EVERYTHING, spent the entire movie talking. Every new character that was introduced was provided a backstory. ("Oh! Mom! That's Sabertooth! He's Wolverine's brother!" ) And each and every storyline was critiqued. ("What! That's not how that is supposed to happen! That's not what the story in the books is!") Repeatedly I find myself unable to hear any of the dialogue or following the plot. Repeatedly I find myself saying, "Boy! Stop talking! Watch the movie!"

Then there is The Girl. While she is considerably more annoyed with The Boy than I, she isn't repeatedly telling him to can it. Instead, she's interrogating me. "What just happened? Who is that? What does that mean?" Argh!! Really!?!? I'm confident she knows the movie was just released today. She is also very aware that I, like her, did not see it in the theatre. Taking a deep breath, I say to her, "Girl, I've seen just as much as you. You know everything I know."

Needless to say, all I know about the new X-Men movie is exactly what I knew prior to renting it. 1). I really want to see it. 2). Ryan Reynolds (#2 on The List) is freaking HOT!!!

Note to self: Watch all movies you really want to see after the kids are in bed. They can watch it later.