Before you all start reading this and think there is something a little "odd" about us, let me clear the air. No, we aren't Amish. Yes, we own a TV and we live in the 21st century. No, we didn't have horrible childhoods and no, we aren't trying to be the meanest parents on the face of the earth. Blame it all on me. I'm a stick in the mud. Or just a low key simpleton trying to teach her kids that there is more to life than what everyone else is doing.

I have known for quite some time that the little people are a tad sheltered. I have even had friends tell me that my kids are missing out. I guess it all depends on how you define "sheltered":
4 houses in 4 years, check
chewing gum, not so much
Times Square, check
Ice cream sandwich and smores, not so much
multiple airplane rides, check
movie theater, not so much

I felt awful when the little boy across the street offered C an ice cream sandwich. "Eww" he said. "That's gross! I like peanut butter sandwiches". Poor guy turned it down because he had no clue what he was missing. (For all of you wondering, I let him have one and now both little people are big fans of ice cream sandwich goodness. )

A few days later, we were invited by our younger neighbors to go to the movie theater. C&G don't watch TV on a regular basis and think a "movie" lasts 30 minutes and is recorded on our DVR. I politely turned the invitation down, but began to think. While pondering what other great treats in life we have missed out on (Neal would say Twinkies, fishing, camping, and ding dongs), I decided it was time to branch out and try new things.

So....we went to the MOVIES! (well, after we had reinforcements) Mom, Dad, Babs and the little people ventured out to see Toy Story 3. I had no clue what to expect, so we made sure each little person was flanked by an adult. I think Babs strategically placed herself in the middle so that both little people had equal access to her lap.

So, armed with popcorn and booster seats, we headed to our theater!


I was beginning to think we were in the clear. Smiles all around...
Just what she needed, Babs and Daddy both in arm's reach.


Stop taking pics already. There is stuff to see on that big screen!

In case you haven't see the movie, I'm going to spoil it all now. Toy Story is a kid's movie, right? Then what exactly was the purpose of the possessed monkey? Or deadly conveyor belt into the hot fire? Yeah, there was a science lesson hidden there about magnetic properties of metal, but that isn't exactly the focus of a 4 year old when all of the characters he has just come to love are quickly approaching the incinerator. Just sayin...

It was a little loud, a little scary at parts, and both little people ended up in someone's lap, but I think they enjoyed it. Ironically, no one has asked to go back to the theater, but I heard G say the other day that she needs to make C a buzz lightyear helmet for dress up time.