Happy Hunger Games

I saw this movie last night. 

Have you read the book? Well if you haven't it is quite the read and well worth your time, in my opinion. 

If you let it, it will make you think-a quality i relish in my literature. 

As to the movie...i enjoyed it. I cannot say i loved it and here is why. 

It is...sobering. 

I am not a flippiant creature when it comes to death. I take it seriously and because i have read this book a few times and loved it i have tried to find parallels with Katniss. Consequently i have wondered what it would mean to me to fight to the death. 

Thus having this book put to screen, for me, is more difficult than i would have liked it to be. 

In a book i can not conjure the meaning of the word "screaming" if i don't want to. 

I can overlook the meaning of "starvation"

I can buffer the heart wrenching innocence of the young.

Not in a movie.

 My mind doesn't have the same opportunity because it is there, on a screen in front of my face, impossible to overlook. 

So it was hard for me.

However.....

The garishness of the capitol citizens was even funnier than in the book. 

Their simplemindedness was astounding. 

Haymitch was far more real and human to me than in a book. The man who played him (i have no idea who he is) did a wonderful job!!

I loved katniss and peta and gale and cenna.

So, go see it. 

It is worth it. 

Anything that has the power to make me think so dang hard is always worth it and that is why i recommend it. Not because it will do the same thing to you, but because i got something out of it i feel it is worthy of recommendation. 

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On a philosophical level:

As i walked out of the theatre a question popped into my mind and has haunted me:

Are we (the audience) any better than the people at the capitol? 

reading/watching the story of children fight to the death, are we just as simpleminded and dulled?

Are we so driven by entertainment that we are no better than the citizens of ancient rome cheering on the gladiators to their impending doom?

Like i said...it made me think hard. 

Will this happen to you? Who knows. 

Do not let my thinking reaction shy you away. 

Mothers for Freedom Plug

Mothers for Freedom had their march meeting on the 10. Click here for the redux of the meeting as well as the next reading assignment.

love to all

Sundays are agonizing

We are that family.

As Rob put it yesterday, we are the family everyone likes to watch because we are entertaining and our kids make their kids look like angels.

Our church is three hours long. I work with the children so i am with them for two hours where we have classes, group singing time and group learning time then onto the congregational meeting where the real fun begins. 

All the kids become a herd running (even though they know to be reverent in the church) from their primary classes  to find their long-lost-parents, get seats and treats in the chapel. 

Parents pass children and babies around and taking care of last minute business while passing knowing looks of empathy to each other: gird up your loins the meeting is about to begin.

I begin to deal with Caleb because by now he has figured out which friends are on the nearby pews, who has what toys, if our snacks are worth paying attention to or better to barter with. My favorite parts--the songs--happen if i am not holding colton or if he is eating. Caleb is usually busy eating and drinking--preparing for his mid-meeting bolt to the bathrooms.

Usually we manage to make it through The Sacrament: the most important part of church because the whole meeting is quite. The kids, on penalty of death or perpetual practice of reverence at home are momentarily quiet. 

As soon as the deacons are sitting with their families the motherly pilgrimage of screaming tired babies begins. Usually i am in that group. By this time Colt has had it with the toys, treats and other distractions we try to use to convince him to sit on our laps for three hour straight and is ready to move. I try to listen in the foyer but chasing him so he doesn't crawl through the chapel, not kill himself on the stool for the drinking fountain, working to prevent screaming or tackling of other children usually keeps me distracted. 

It is at this time, i am told by my husband, Caleb really puts on a show. 

"Sharing" snacks with other children

hiding under the pew eating treats with his newest girlfriend

making faces at people around us

pestering colton (if he is there)

needing more water

figuring which friend is nearest to play with

NOT playing with any of the toys he has brought for himself.

At least once in the meeting he attempts to come for me wanting to "be by mom and colton". He usually bolts out twice to "go potty". I swear he goes potty enough just during Sacrament meeting to last the rest of the day. 

And then the organ starts to play the closing song and i go in and attempt to sing the closing song pretending i have just had all kinds of upliftment from wrestling children for the past three hours. 

Exhausted Rob and i get to the car, belt the children in and pause to take a deep breath before getting in the car to head home where upon penalty of death caleb will sit in an uncomfortable chair and irritate us while he attempts to 'practice' being reverent. 

"you can't be reverent in church? you will be reverent at home" we tell him

then we go to grandmas for dinner. 

Phew.

Thankfully i do find moments of upliftment. 

i love the children i work with 

i usually get to sing the songs

The Lord has helped me learn to find joy and humor in the chaos that is church.

Picture Update

Caleb was inspired by Puss in Boots to be a cowboy. 

my hat

his boots

dads lotion pump lid as the sword

He rode his rocking horse, Thunder to fight the bad guys. 

I got them matching pajamas for football season. They get new football gear every year at the start of college football. Isn't this smile from colton adorable?! 

Colt's two new favorite pastimes: Getting in the fridge and playing in posts and pans

combined!

Just love the hats!

My attempt at glamor

makeup and hair

Where have we been?!

My PC is dying so i don't have any new pictures.

We have been:
Painting the family room
Playing with friends
Dreaming of spring
Celebrating Rob's new job: Lease Agent for American Fence. The hours are a billion times better and he comes home happy--not stressed, overworked and underappreciated. :)
Reading books
Car rides
Colton turned 1


I am in full on redo-my-house mode. Really i have a million projects i want to do and a reluctant husband i am dragging through it all. Painting is almost done and i am ready to build a cubby shelf. Poor Rob. It is probably the bug for spring that has me going. I am not pregnant. Colton is getting more able to do things on his own like move, eat finger snacks, play with caleb-as long as he isn't being a bully. Caleb tries to be a good helper who loves to do projects around the house--except that he tends to not be so helpful.

I will get to work putting pictures on here--i have a ton on my camera. In the meantime--life is fabulous.
Happy March--warmth and greenery are around the corner.
Praise heaven!