as cozy as spring

Movie Review

My very off-the-cuff, spoiler filled review of the Half Blood Prince in the comments section.  Don't click over if you haven't seen it!

Too much computer time

I was just writing out my daughter's lesson list for today.  I put a smiley face at the end and had to stop myself from turning it sideways.

And that's all for this morning because my mom is on her way over to babysit so we can go see a movie!!  

Au Revoir, Les Enfants

From IDMB: During WWII, in a Catholic boarding school in the French countryside, two boys become friends. One is a French boy, Julien Quintin, and the other is a Jewish boy, Jean Bonnet, who is being hidden from the Nazis by the friars who run the school. Louis Malle directed this film based on what actually happened when he was at a boarding school himself during the war. 

I watched this movie in college as part of an assignment for one of my French courses.  It has been running on the Independent Film Channel for the last few days and I caught part of it yesterday.  It really is an amazing film.  Father Jean, especially in the last scene, shows such faith and bravery.  (I cried, but you could have guessed as much.) 

I'm not sure it is suitable for children, even older children, but that's a bridge I haven't approached yet.  I do highly recommend it for the Netflix queue.

Half-Blood Prince Preview

Here! 

So what do you think?  Yawn!  I do love actor playing young Tom Riddle.  He looks fantastic.  But book 6 wasn't my favorite, being so bitter over the ending to book 5 (I'm still bitter over that).  I hope it will be funny.  From what I've gathered most of the scenes I liked from the book are included.  So yeah.  I don't have much to say.  There just wasn't much to it.  

AHH!  Quick update that that page is NOT suitable for children.

Still July

July is going out with a big obnoxious bang:

Up this week:

• Negotiating the rising cost of roofing materials with our insurance company
• Insisting to my credit card company that the charge on that credit card?  Not mine!  Firstly, I've never been to New York, I never use that card, and that is NOT my signature.  And, AND!  Waiting to talk to a claims person while listening to a recording of how I'm not responsible for fraudulent charges while reading a letter that says "Sorry!  You are!"  
• Two full days of car repairs and drum roll, it's still not done.  This, by the way, included two mile walk to retrieve the car on this very hot summer day with a still broken toe.

But at 9:00 PM EST I get to watch the preview for the new Harry Potter movie!!!!  The little things cheer me up more than the big things bring me down.  

Other little gifts from today:

• Milano cookies
• Coffee (always thankful) 
• Children who don't whine on a very long hot walk to pick up our car 
• Tracing paper!  So fun!  Thanks Dawn! 
• Surprise visits from my brother and father.   
• Air conditioning 

All is well. 
 

Scary stuff

The four of us are cuddled in my bed watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The new version is just as nightmarishly freaky as the first. That movie (and frankly the book) gave me the creeps as a child. Some things don't change.

And also: Mary Poppins. Freaky, creepy movie.

Photography Notes

I attempted the Christmas photo, even though I know it's probably too late for cards. My daughter could not stop laughing and one day I will love that but my goodness, that makes it hard to get a good photo.

I have to give a huge round of applause to One True Media. I had the true honor of taking photos of my sister-in-law a few days before she delivered. She was (and is) absolutely beautiful. My brother was in the photos as well. I didn't expect it to be so much fun, but to capture the laughs between the two of them as a couple just prior to the birth of their daughter was breathtaking. Scrolling through the photos, I had the idea to do a little montage of the day their daughter was born. So that day, my camera and I made giant pests of ourselves in order to get as many great shots as I could. Using One True Media was super simple, just add photos from IPhoto and music from ITunes. Easy cheesy. I ordered the DVD for them as a Christmas present and oh wow. I didn't think the quality would hold up on a 38 inch television, but it is absolutely gorgeous - so much better than my computer screen. I highly recommend this as a baby gift. Everyone has loved it.

A fun shot if you have the opportunity: My best pal has a photo of her daughter in the nursery just minutes after she was born and in part of the photo is the reflection of her sister looking in at the new baby. It's a really cool effect. I attempted this and got the reflection of of my mom looking in at my brother holding hands with his daughter. It's not as distinct as I would like, but my brother said it was one of his favorites.

Date Night

I'm about to settle down with a cup of coffee, my sweetie, and a movie. Amazon didn't come through on my pre-order which I hoped would be here today, so my super husband went out and rented it for me because I couldn't wait another second to watch it.
Busy days and I'm having a hard time posting regularly. I know! You're heartbroken, aren't you? We spent last Wednesday at the hospital, waiting for the arrival of my niece, and I still have not caught up on housework and everything else. It is truly amazing how quickly the children can trash my home. Alas, more tomorrow. Farewell!

A morning out

My husband insisted that I go see a movie yesterday.  I was just about the only person present for the 10:20AM showing of Becoming Jane.  I liked it.  It was good.  I kept thinking that the story line has been done a million times before.  But of course it has - because Jane Austen wrote about it in her novels.  Yes.  Not so quick to pick up on that.

I'm so pleased that there was only two other people the the theater.  It was less humiliating for me to burst out laughing several times at the Fruit of the Loom video that played in the previews.  Vince Gill's duet with the Apple on "Apple of my Eye" and the earnest  expressions on the "band" member's faces is just the kind of ridiculousness I love.