A Movie Recommendation (Best Taken with a Grain of Salt)

Yesterday, when all our friends were seeing Frozen and Saving Mr Banks, we stumbled upon The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  Ryan and I have the worst luck at choosing movies to watch in the theater. We know it and we sort of accept it.  It seems like whenever there is a blockbuster out that everyone raves about, we either stay home and wait for that to go away, or we choose the one playing at the same time opposite it.

It has become a joke to us that if we are actually paying to see it, it's bound to be bad.  It all started back when we were engaged and we actually went to see Naked Gun 33 and 1/3. (I know. Awful! I almost broke off the engagement.) With the exception of a rare few--mostly the  Lord of the Rings movies--we have been on a bad streak ever since.

We don't go out to movies very often at all, so when we do, I can get my hopes up that it will be worthwhile.  It's funny, we don't play the lottery but I guess when it comes to movies we tend to gamble.  I honestly don't know why. When you take the number of movies we've coughed up the money to see and then divide by the number of disappointments, we have a quotient of like 1.2. I'm slowly learning that reviews are my friend.

At the top of that list of let downs would have to be Water World.  We actually paid to see Water World, people! As poor newlyweds who didn't get out much due to living in a small, Texas town, duties to Uncle Sam, and empty pockets, our one and only movie experience that year was Kevin Costner's colossal flop.  But it lives in infamy in our "date" annals.

Also, we have seen such masterpieces as 50 First Dates, Crocodile Hunter--The Movie, Star Wars Episode 3 (midnight showing, mind you), The Aviator, Matrix Reloaded (would love a refund on all of those) and once ,when on a date by ourselves, when we could have chosen anything, we went with Hotel Transylvania. The first movie we took our kids to was VeggieTales' Jonah.  (It had potential but...no.)  So awful was our record, that when Napoleon Dynamite came along, we liked it so much we actually paid to see it THREE times.  (Does this tell you anything?)

So, yesterday, when we plunked down our money and said "Walter Mitty"  instead of "Mr. Banks", I wasn't hoping for much--maybe just a little entertainment and a couple of mutual laughs with my husband.

But it was fun ALL the way through.  I found myself smiling at the screen, just happy to be there. I felt all the years of being a Date-Movie-Loser slip away as I took in the story and the humor and the beautiful cinematography.  It was a great blend of story, humor, action and adventure.  Ben Stiller was terrific in it (no surprise to my husband). And now there is really no reason for me to get him confused with Adam Sandler ever again. (My husband is shaking his head.)

As the movie came to an end, we were both grinning through tears.  Tears not completely due to the story.  We were struck with disbelief and gratitude.  Ryan leaned over to me and whispered, "I think we just broke our streak."

10 Christmas Traditions that I Don't Do and Refuse to Feel Guilty Over

Well, it's the time of year when all the social media posts and Christmas letters can make us moms feel less than adequate and maybe behind the game.  So, I've compiled a list of things I honestly don't do (and why) to sort of help off-set any Non-Perfect-Christmas Guilt you may be suffering from.... I'm NOT alone, am I??

1) Visiting Santa

There's enough available conflict without trying to explain to my husband why I dropped $40 dollars on a photo with a scary old man holding our children.

2) Christmas Cards. 

  Okay, I used to do this one, and spent many a stressed out Christmas season over it. It did make some sense back in our Military days. Now I just lay it all out on Facebook a status at a time so you already know everything. EVERYTHING.                                                      

3) Christmas Photos.

I used to do this one too and would completely stress out over everything from the outfits,the background, who would take our picture, to getting into and out of Costco to pick them up.  And then there were the years when not all the kids would cooperate and we had to photo shop non-crying heads on. We have a particularly horrifying one of "baby Summer" who looks like a doll with her head screwed on backwards.  I still cringe.  And there's "angry Reagan" who was experiencing resentment at brand new baby Jason.   But once again, the power of social media has saved us from this torture.   There is the downside of less record of family cuteness.  And as you all grow older that proof becomes more valuable.

4) The Christmas Pickle.

 I could actually go either way on The Pickle.

5) Baking for Neighbors.

This one KILLS me!!  I would LOVE to bake for the neighbors....if Christmas were on the 31st.

6) Eggnog.

I'm Baptist.  (I claim that to get out of lots of things that make me gag.)

7) Ugly Sweater Parties.

I guess the reason is because I've never really been invited to one--probably because of #6.

8) Elf on the Shelf.

I will answer this one with a question:  Why WOULD I???  I just don't get it!  Actually, I do--that's why I don't!  If my kids won't behave without me driving myself insane, then lock me up now!

9) Christmas Cookies and Gingerbread Houses

They just don't taste good enough to invest that kind of time and effort, in my opinion.  BUT, just so you know that I DO love my children and it's not ALL about me, I do BUY sugar cookie dough and ready-to-assemble gingerbread houses....for the children's sake.  (But never both in the same year.)

10) Christmas Crafts/ Homemade Gifts

I'm not crafty the other 11 months of the year, why would I start now!?

Bonus~ Clean House

I admit it.  I don't clean my house for Christmas.  I have tried.  I have TRIED.  But I just can't succeed in anything but frustration and guilt.  My room is a pile of Christmas wrap and ribbons and countless scraps on the floor.  The bathrooms and main room floors were cleaned the week before, and we try to de-clutter the main rooms as much as possible right before the extended family rings the bell, but beyond that, I just can't get it done.  And I am finally OK with that.  It only took about 16 years to realize I can't. And. Christmas. Still. Happens.

Okay.  There you have it!  If these are your traditions, I really do commend you.  It's not easy to give gifts to every person you know and love, send personal greetings and photo updates to everyone in your life, make your house exceptionally beautiful and cheery, bake every yummy cookie you'd like, prepare the feast of the year, host parties, and still remember the Reason we do it all.  May my confessions make your season brighter and a little less free of guilt. And may your children appreciate the traditions that you DO do!    Merry Christmas!!