Little boys, transformers and MJ

3 year old: Hey mommy, do you know that Michael Jackson died?

Me: Amm, yeah sweets, I know that.

5 year old: Well, yeah, he was a famous guy!

Me: Uh huh, he was.

5 year old: Yeah, he sang the song Thriller. I like that one.

Me: Hmm, right. Ok.

Then we went to see Transformers… and just for the record, I still like the first one! A lot of people wondered if it was kid-appropriate and I have to say that I don’t even think the first one is kid-appropriate. Rather, if I had my way, I wouldn’t let my kids see any “superhero” movies, but alas I’ve given up on that dream a long time ago – probably the day my eldest came home from kindergarten and I realized his well-reinforced little protective bubble was gone forever! Now I just spend my time making sure that they are well balance – talking about how these things are make believe, discussing their thoughts about what they see, and generally keeping a close eye on their perceptions of things they experience.

Anyway, the movie was very much, I thought, like the animated version, which I am not terribly fond of because of the unending and excessive fighting. It was good though, but a tad overwhelming for me. Kids don’t really get the language in it, well, at least my kids didn’t, so I wasn’t too worried about that, they really enjoyed the visuals though.

What did you guys think of it?

Transformers and other things I am loving at the moment

Well, besides cricket!

So people, Transformers 2 comes out tomorrow! Yay! I don’t think I’ve been so excited to see a movie since, like, well, ever really. I am not going tomorrow, although I really wish I was. Or the next day, or the next day. Ah, such is the life of a mother. But, on Sunday, I will let you know how it was! Yes, I am taking my kids – they have seen the trailer a million times – although they are still more interested in when iron man 2 is coming out!

Next on my list of things I really want to do, is ride a motorbike. It’s a very weird urge. I remember really wanting one when I was a teenager (in fact, I think I asked a bunch of times, only to be ignored by my parents, and occasionally asked if I was crazy) but then I just hated motorbikes for a few years there, and now, well, I almost want to go out and take some riding lessons, like tomorrow! Right. Also does not help that Canada only has like 2 months of warm, so there are no shortage of motorbikes on the road to tempt.

Miriam Toews. She is an awesomely talented writer. If I had one wish I would wish to be able to write like her. Well, maybe not, but definitely if I had like 20 wishes, that would be one. I am reading the Flying Troutmans and completely loving it. It’s not for everyone, you have to really appreciate oddness, irony, intense heartbreaking sadness mixed with amazing wit. These are the only depressing books I allow myself to read, mostly because they make me laugh out loud! Or I somehow identify with the characters. Either way, I only read 2 of her books and they are both, by far my most favorite.

The heat! Except, the air conditioning in the van is not working, which, really is not a huge problem because I detest air conditioning usually (in the car or otherwise) and will use it only in extreme emergencies, as I much prefer to open a window. My issue with open windows on the highway though, is that the drag is not pleasing to me at all! (Which is slightly amusing because I drive a mini-van people!) Just saying…

What are you guys loving at the moment?

How not to play cricket

I am not entirely sure what is happening here. All I know is that I batted first and then may or may not have gotten lost in the sidelines after my turn. Mostly I remember running after the ball a lot. A LOT people. Really.

But. According the rating/shoveling guy/cricket nazi, I was not doing enough and could not get a second chance to bat because, apparently, no fielding means no batting! I wonder if I could add to my house rules… “no cooking, no eating”… I mean, fair is fair right?

On girlie things

Every once in a while, I love to do something really girlie, or, more accurately, I like to pretend I have a daughter, ahem, hang out with little girls. So I shipped off my boys for the day and Sid and I hosted a tea party for us girls.

While the “grown ups” chatted at the table, I played with 6 little girls. We played musical chairs, ring around the rosie, did crafts, and then I said “girls, I don’t know any girlie movies, do you like Transformers?” and as I looked at each of them in anticipation, each of them shook their head and looked at me a little disgusted that I would even suggest it! It was great!

Life in points, again

1) So, I am reading this book by James Patterson, which I just happened to come across quite accidentally and surprisingly because I normally associate the author with murder and mystery and other things that I tend to avoid like the plague do not particularly enjoy reading about. Anyways, apparently at the time his son was 4 year old, Patterson was leaving on a business trip and his son said that he wasn’t going to be missed because “love means you can never be apart”. I thought, wow, pretty profound, and from a 4 year old!

2) By this time next year, I am thinking, I may possibly have no hair – no, not because of anything bad – just that it seems like I have literally half the amount of hair on my head now than I did a year ago (the other half is in my bedroom carpet, and other various places around the house). Slightly distressing.

3) I have to say again time really doesn’t heal anything! You know, just putting that out there. Does it seem to make things worse? Is that just me?

4) I spent the entire weekend doing no work. It was weird! I actually did have work planned, but after months of seemingly non-stop working and child rearing, I took a break and just felt so, umm, I don’t know, relaxed maybe, that I could not focus on doing anything that was even remotely tiring! I did play soccer for like 5 minutes with my 6 year old. I think I won. Really.

How are you guys? Reading anything good?