We both wanted to see Gravity, so we went to a 3D matinee today before picking Owen up from school. Neither one of us can remember the last time we did this…though he thought it had to be in Traverse City (and I said that would make it almost 20 years ago)!
And, interestingly, Carmike has their server room viewable by the public.
And I remembered why I hate movies in theaters…30 MINUTES OF PREVIEWS. Seriously—it was 30 minutes. That’s asinine. /getoffmylawn
Someone was up early this morning so I let him watch TV in my bed while I showered.
Owen has been looking forward to seeing Planes for two weeks…and today was the day! As we were getting out of the car, he said “Mama, thank you for taking me to see Planes!” Aww.
It was another sensory-friendly movie and I found it much less thrilling today, which is disappointing because I thought the last one was great.
I’m not sure what was going on but the lights and sound kept changing for the first 15 minutes…and when the sound was down—with all the other noise going on—you couldn’t even hear it. (I was seriously going to leave if it didn’t get better.) The lights were way up (as compared to last time) which wasn’t bad…but the off and on was annoying. Plus they started a few minutes before 10 so we missed the first minute or two (since there are no previews). Plus there were more people and more kids and they were MUCH wilder this time (which is what I expected the last time).
It was half price ($4 vs. $8) but I’m not sure it was worth it. As it is, I want to see it again because I really missed the first 15 minutes because the sound was so wonky.
But Owen LOVED IT!! Since it’s in the same world as Cars, there were some of the same characters that Owen recognized—like Brent Mustangberger and the Sushi Chefs! He walked out saying “That was a great movie! It was so awesome!”
Just chillin’ while watching Sesame Street.
Just a random picture of our living room…
GOTCHA!
After the hot and sweaty time saying goodbye to Tom and then at the playground…the pool sounded really good. Of course, I didn’t realize my waterproof camera didn’t have the memory card in it until I was already in the pool…so these photos are from after I got out and grabbed my real camera.
Katie LOVES the pool. Owen LOVES the pool. They love playing together. It’s awesome.
And then watching Sofia the First.
Tom leaving is always hard, and as the time draws nearer, it gets exponentially harder. But there are stupid little things that you don’t think about or don’t expect.
One of Owen’s random cartoons this morning (that we’ve never watched before) played Pachelbel’s Canon in D. SERIOUSLY?!? A song from our wedding? The day he leaves? Sure, THAT won’t set me off. 😐
Tom’s side of the bed cleaned up.
His side of the sink cleaned out.
His stuff not in the shower.
His shoes not on the rack.
The remnants of his last-minute packing on the kitchen table.
The random shirt hanging over the tub.
It’s seemingly never ending.
After a few days none of it will really bother me, but for now…it really sucks.
Owen loves his new fart gun! It’s both a memento of Owen’s first movie (Despicable Me 2) and a going-away present from daddy! Get it here: Despicable Me 2 Fart Blaster: A Despicable Minion Gadget
Today we took Owen to see Turbo
Thankfully he woke up easily and still wanted to go to the movie! It was a regular movie (i.e. not sensory-friendly) and we were concerned how he’d handle it…but he did just fine. He didn’t even want his noise-canceling headphones!
He did get a little fidgety towards the end (“Is it time to go yet?”) but overall he was great.
My only issue was the $8 matinee ticket prices. EIGHT DOLLARS! FOR A MATINEE! /get off my lawn
But I’ll definitely take him to a movie or two while Tom is gone.
The local autism society hosts “sensory friendly” movies at our theater—lowered volume, not completely dark, no ads or previews, you can get up and walk around, and you can bring your own snacks—which we thought would be a great first experience just in case…
As we were wandering around showing him the lobby, he immediately noticed the Planes sign and was very excited. 🙂
Today’s showing was Despicable Me 2—and he was excited because he likes the minions.
And…he loved the movie and did REALLY well. He didn’t talk that much and only got up once. He did ask for popcorn after his crackers were gone…so Tom bought the cheapest $7 bag…and Owen ate about six pieces. Which means we got to eat it (though I’m not complaining—it was delicious).
He did SUCH a good job that we stopped to get ice cream on the way home.
And since he did such a great job, we’ll try to take him to one more regular movie before Tom leaves…
So, overall…the sensory-friendly movie experience was…interesting. For the most part it was okay but there were more than a few very young (read: too young) kids there who were running around. Now, this showing was meant for allowing that…which I understand. But really, if on a basic level your child is too young to sit still for even 15 minutes of a movie—and you’re constantly chasing them or herding them—I don’t think they should be there–even if it’s a more friendly version. There were also lots of crying babies/kids and noisy older kids…which I was okay with the older kids (this was an autism event after all) but the babies? Still no excuse…but I know some were there because the parents didn’t want to get a sitter. (The people next to us brought SIX kids—three of which were too young IMO.)
So while it was okay and Owen enjoyed it, I’m hoping he’ll do okay at a “real” movie…so we can hopefully avoid some of the other shenanigans.
Alas, I really wasn’t anything special as he was apparently accepting friend invites from anyone! 🙂
*Edited to add: Hmmm, today his Facebook page is completely MIA. Oh well, it was fun and exciting while it lasted!
I think Sesame Street was on and they were both in a trance. Since Katie still wasn’t feeling well, I was just happy she was calm and content for a few minutes (instead of screamy, sneezy, and snotty).
He was content to be watching ninjas and Charlie was just happy people were around.
What a flashback I had today. I was 13 and in LUUUUUV with Don Johnson…so I obviously had this record! RECORD, people. As in not even on cassette…
Quite literally, she rolls around and around…and ended up like this to watch Sesame Street.
Owen has a Lego sticker book that includes, among other things, Harry Potter characters. No matter what I tell him—or how many times I tell him—he still says Death Eaters eat bad food. 🙂
Katie was playing with the iPad on my lap.
Owen: Mama, we need the go go pillow.
Me: The what?
Owen: The go go pillow.
Me: What’s the go go pillow?
Owen: You put the iPad in it.
AHA! The lightbulb goes off. It’s from a commercial during one of his cartoons.
The shows for younger kids save the cartoons for the end of the show…which is when we always stop the recording. But the cartoons for older kids have a break in the middle…which we don’t always catch. Which means he sees the commercials.
Then I remembered he’s also asked for some make-your-own ice cream thing. I couldn’t remember what it was called so I just asked him.
Me: Owen, what was the ice cream thing you saw on TV?
Owen: What thing?
Me: The one you shake.
Owen: Ice cream magic—ice cube, bowls, flavors.
That boy’s memory scares me.
He LOVES Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood-–an animated spin off, I guess you’d say, of Mr. Rogers. I knew about the show but hadn’t gotten around to recording it for him…but he managed to find it himself on the PBS app on the iPad! This is him singing the Good Morning song (eventually).
First, he DOES NOT WANT to watch Cars—but as soon as it starts, he’s dancing around and getting out all the matching cars as they come on the screen.
Here, he’s crashing the cars as they crash on TV:
Then I had to pause Cars 2 when Crabby comes on the screen because Owen NEEDS to get his own Crabby—but it’s out of his reach and I’m feeding Katie and can’t get it.
I get Crabby AND Siddely (to prepare for later in the movie) and then it’s okay to start the movie again.
And on and on.
He LOVES my Doctor Who sonic screwdriver… He was running around checking for monsters and determined there weren’t any!
Well, technically, a televised scrimmage. But it was MSU and it was TV so we all wore our green and white!
The photo session started by me wanting to take a picture of Katie in another gifted 9m outfit before she outgrew it…and then it turned in a sibling love/play session. 🙂
Both entranced by Sesame Street.
Yes, Sesame Street again.
Owen: I want the spoon.
Katie: No I want the spoon.
Katie: NO, GRRR, I WANT THE SPOON. (That face kills me.)
14 Family Handyman
1 USAA Magazine
3 Costco Connection
2 Taste of Home Simple & Delicious
11 Entertainment Weekly
1 Popular Mechanics
1 Cooks Country
3 Cook’s Illustrated
7 Consumer Reports
3 Food Network Magazine
3 Parenting
3 Parents
3 Family Fun
1 Yum for Kids Food & Fun
Though I think most or all of the Consumer Reports have been leafed through. And possibly some of the Family Handymans. But some are still in the plastic…
