What's Up These Days?

Curmudgeon is in the midst of student teaching, and yes, he's still working. So the man is busy, tired, overworked and still manages to come home cheerful and happy to play with his children. Wow. I love him so much! He's in a great situation with his mentor-teacher. She has allowed him to jump right in and he's had many opportunities to teach and direct. He's even writing an arrangement of "House of the Rising Sun" for the High School orchestra to play for their end-of-year concert. We'll be sure to record it and share it with you all.
Happy has had lots of excitement in his world lately. He experienced his first major injury. Ok, whatever, as far as this exceptionally healthy household is concerned, a chipped tooth is a big deal. But he survived like a champ on oatmeal and applesauce for a couple of days. I could tell he was feeling better when he returned to his status quo--peanut butter sandwiches.
He has also graduated to a big-boy bed. We're not really convinced he was ready for the change, but little Punky is not so little anymore and she was cramming into the corners of her cradle. So now she's sleeping in the crib. Happy however, is not sleeping so much. He hasn't had a real nap since the change and bedtime, though still begun at the usual time, ends at least a couple of hours later for him. He exhausts himself playing with his toys (or throwing them from one end of the room to the other) then falls asleep in a lump on the floor. Then, as has happened for the past three nights, he wakes up whimpering until I come in to put him in bed and tuck his blankets around him. I sure hope he gets used to his bed soon. And I REALLY hope that this is not the end of his naps. He may think he's ready to stay up all day, but I am definitely not!!
Punky hasn't had as much excitement. The new bed is about the extent of it. We're still trying to help her figure out how to sleep. I do think the crib has been an improvement (at least, once she got a fluffy quilt to sleep on and a quilted bumper around the perimeter). But we're still up 3 to 4 times a night. But believe me, that is an improvement.
Someday we'll all have normal schedules. Someday our children will be able to sleep by themselves and someday their parents will be able to sleep at all. Someday.

April: Cons & Capers (2 of 4)

Ok, so we missed a day, but Robert Redford is as good on a Saturday as he would have been on Friday, so never fear, the con-fest continues.

Look at that cast list...how could you resist, right? Ok, let's just be honest, I can resist the Akroyd and McDonnell, but the rest are (picture me kissing the tips of my fingers like a French chef) superb (obviously said French-ly). Well, ok, that's not true either because as superb as Ben Kingsley normally is, this sure isn't his best performance. But all that aside, it's a great movie. Lots of fun.

For any unfamiliar with Sneakers, Redford plays Martin Bishop, head of a rag-tag team of ex-professionals who do contract work testing security systems...which just means they break in like thieves then report back system vulnerabilities to the clients...blah blah blah. The story really takes off when they get involved with a certain little black box that may or may not have the power to take down the whole system. You know, the WHOLE system. Full of humor, action, suspense and--most important--quotable quotes, we give this our hearty recommendation. 

Full disclosure: may be some language and mild adult situations. I think we'd let our kids watch, but you know what we're like.

coming next week: The Brothers Bloom

Another NIght

Punky, aka Chubbles, is a giant baby. Alys has suspected that part of her getting up every two hours during the night now is due to barely fitting in her crib/bassinet. (Who knows why she didn't sleep a few months ago when she fit just fine?) So, after a particularly bad night, Alys made the executive decision today to put Happy in the toddler bed, and put Punky in his crib.

Happy was pretty happy about the bed. He sat contented on his bed with a pile of colored pencils while I read stories, sang him a song, and held hands for prayer. That was a little past 7. He continued to make noise for another 90 minutes. A little past nine I heard a loud THUMP from his room. I went upstairs and heard nothing from his room but his white noise machine. When I quietly opened the door to look in, he was sitting on his bed, silently sorting some toys. He wasn't facing me and didn't look when I looked in; I closed the door and went back downstairs. No noise since, nor have I checked in again. Chubbles has also not made a peep, but the night is young (11pm).

April: Cons & Capers (1 of 4)

Welcome to another month and another theme! Conmen, tricksters and grifters will populate our Friday nights for the next few weeks as we delve into Cons & Capers

First on the docket is the 1966 "How to Steal a Million" starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. Hard to go wrong with those two, right? They're both as gorgeous, witty and delightful as you'd expect. Tiny teaser to the plot (for those of you who haven't seen it yet...if there are any of you). Miss Hepburn catches Mr. O'Toole red-handed picking off one of her father's priceless Van Goghs and subsequently hires him to steal the precious Cellini Venus currently on display at a Paris Museum. The Venus which, by the way, she already happens to own. Sophisticated, Givenchy-clad hilarity ensues. Enjoy!

Up next week: Sneakers

A Word About Girly

Our little punky girl is almost 8 months now and has made the leap that separates slug-babies from cute, interactive, sparkly babies. (She is the latter now). She still has her mohawk but has added to her punk look with two tiny little bottom teeth. We haven't gotten a picture of them yet because she only displays them for very special occasions.

She rolls around like a champ, sits up straight and tall with no help and can wiggle an impressive distance when our backs are turned. She loves her brother even when he's a little bit rough with her. She also loves to listen to her daddy's fiddling and her mama's singing. Books are another favorite, though she's as fond of eating them as of listening to the stories.

Her favorite game is peek-a-boo with blankets. Pretty simple: she lays on her back and pulls the blanket over her head, slaps her belly a few times, then pulls the blanket off and looks around. This adorable video is of said game. Her parents, of course, do not get bored with it, but we won't be offended if you do. Just don't tell us.

She doesn't sleep very well and we haven't figured out how to fix that one little flaw yet. I guess nobody is perfect. But she's pretty close.

March: I Heart Ireland (4 of 4)

Is it Friday again? Then you're in for a treat because this weeks film is the best of all! (It's also one of Happy's favorites and comes with his strong endorsement.)

Ok, I know this isn't actually a poster for the movie, but the real movie poster is kind of lame. This is much better.

The Secret of Kells is an animated film that gorgeously imagines the creation of the Book of Kells. For those unfamiliar with said book, it is a 9th-Century Irish manuscript containing the four Gospels. It is famous for its elaborate illuminations and is a great masterpiece of early Christian art. I was mildly obsessed with the Book of Kells for about six months in eighth grade and spent hours trying to create celtic interlace myself.
Ok, on to the film. The animation is simply beautiful. You'll be completely transfixed. It received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature in 2010. Nothing like the current trend of digital, almost-3d-creepy cartoons these days, it is painterly and artistic. Of course, it uses digital animation...why not, right? But it's not gimmicky or video-gamey. Such a relief!

The story is great too. There's so much to love about this movie that I think I'll just leave you to watch it and get your own impressions. 

Up next week: How to Steal a Million

March: I Heart Ireland (3 of 4)

Another week, another flick.  This time, it's "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Wayne stars as a man returning to his roots. Irish-born, American-raised (I don't think he could handle an Irish accent, do you?). He returns to the village of his birth and within 5 minutes falls in love with fiery spinster (their word, not mine) Maureen O'Hara. Made in 1952, this film brims over with every quaint Irish stereotype short of leprechauns. As it is John Wayne, it's also full of brooding tough-guyness and an ever-so-slightly misogynistic love-story. But it's a fun classic and worth a watch. 

up next week: The Secret of Kells