Whoa, we've got a couple of addicts on our hands.  I thought I loved movies (at least before we had children - now who has time??), but Josh and Audrey put me to shame.  Back in February, our house was decimated by the Flu.  Somehow I avoided it, but Audrey, Josh and Ann all got hit with it and were rendered useless for varying numbers of days.  It was definitely a tough couple of weeks, with puke stains all over everything.  I swear, just when you think a kid is getting over it, they want to eat something bright red (marinara) or in Audrey's case, black and purple (a birthday cake) and then they do it.  Just when you are complacent and not on your toes to run them to a bathroom, they launch puke from one end of the room to the other. We even had to go out to Target and buy a new Hoover vacuum to try and 'contain' the spreading stains.  And to this day, we'll hear Josh ask, "Can I play with the puke vacuum?" and if we answer no, "Can I play with the dirt vacuum?"  Think Hoover would like that categorization?  Puke Vacuums versus Dirt Vacuums.  All I know is that Josh better still like to vacuum in a couple years when we are 'making' him do it!

Anyway, the point being, for those two weeks of down time when someone caused Ann, Josh and Audrey to be 'pinned' at home, we let them watch movies because they literally couldn't move a muscle.  They just vegged on the couch waiting to throw up.  Well, after two, three, four movies a day during that period, we are now out of control.  Is there a "Watch To Many Movies Anonymous" group we can get these two into?  Not that we find time to watch TV, but I find it strange that they refuse to watch regular television (even cartoons).  They want feature length movies or nothing!  Audrey was easily sitting through an entire film with complete concentration at 20-24 months.  I am still trying to figure out if that is a good thing (meaning she's smart) or a bad thing (we are letting her watch TV in the first place).  I do say that I think it's fun to be able to take the kids to a theatre (they obviously love it) and not have to completely 'entertain' Josh and/or Audrey.

So just what movies do they like?  Well as evidence by Josh's birthday party, Harry Potter I-V were they daily staple, but Star Wars is now the reigning champion.  Just to get the TV pundits off my back (and rid a little guilt of our own), Josh and I are on Harry Potter III...the book.  We do read every night to Josh and Audrey when we don't keep them up too late doing other things (I'd wager 80% of the nights).  I wanted to get through to HP 6 with Josh so that I could read the book before the movie came out, but I don't think we'll make it as we usually alternate HP with 'shorter' 50-70 page stories (ask Sissy how much she loves Junie B Jones, Henry and Mudge, Fluffy, and Nate the Great books) and picture stories (he still loves Suess which I enjoy reading and *any* truck/garbage book - Trashy Town being his favorite).  We'll see if we finish HP 6, but I guess we should make it before it comes to DVD as long as I can avoid any movie commercials or spoilers on the Net.

I kind of chuckle since HP and SW are not really in the 'strike zone' of Ann (or Sissy our primary baby sitter), so they get to suffer through the movies over and over.  Not to mention Audrey and Josh quoting lines when the movies aren't on.  Josh's favorites right now are "Laugh it up...Fuzz Ball!" and "Whaa-tee-dee!" quoting a Jawa's yell.  Audrey just walks around 'whistling' like R2-D2 and proclaiming her love for Princess Leia.

IV-VI, I-III or I-VI?

So now that I've admitted our house's movie addiction, for those Star Wars fans out there...what order would you recommend watching the saga in?  At first I was all geared to have them watch them in the same 'cycle' I did.  I made Josh wait until he was four to watch his first Star Wars movie (of course Audrey got to watch it when she was two, glad Josh didn't catch that).  He was so pumped going up to his birthday that he was going to get to watch Star Wars.  When he turned four he was telling everyone.  Anyway, I had the delusion that I was going to make him wait a year or so before V and the same for VI - basically to 'experience' it somewhat the same way I did.  Most of all I wanted him to get the 'shock' of Darth Vader being Luke's father and then have to let that fester a while (that was a dark time in my life, but I will not go there).  Another reason for IV-VI first was that I thought they wouldn't like IV-VI as much due to the better special effects in I-III.  But after watching IV once or twice, I decided to change my mind and watch them in I-VI order.  We are currently on Empire Strikes Back and the kids are loving it - too bad there is only one more to go!  Every day Josh reminds me "I can't watch to watch Star Wars number 6 Dad.  I just can't wait!"

Anyway, let me know your opinion on which order to watch and why!

Morning Movie Ritual

Admittedly we are late risers at our house already (kids usually get up about 7:45-8:00, I know some parents will say we've got a total blessing there), but we milk even a little more time out of it since 'waking up' is one of the times (along with winding down a bit before nap time) they get to watch TV...er movies.  Morning ritual is as follows:

Josh comes up to our room about 7:45am, movie remote in hand, blanket up to his mouth and nose.  He comes to my side of the bed and taps me on the head until I respond.

I lift him into bed and he lays there sniffing his blanket in anticipation until Audrey wakes up (no noise until  the 'screamer' makes herself known).

8:00am - Audrey starts her head ache inducing moan - why can't she do what Josh used to do and say "I'm awake!  Dad, I'm awake!"  She uses her moan because that is what she used as a torturing tool when she was younger and wanted to torment Mom and Dad.  She has refused to give it up even though she's been talking for months (at least the required words to ask us to come and get her).

I go get Audrey as Ann remains sprawled out on 75% of our King size bed - hey, she needs a break sometime.  As Audrey and I come back into the room...

Audrey: Mom's sleeping...she's sick! (morning sickness has left quite the impression)  Can we watch a mooooo-beee?

How could I refuse such a empathetic kid's request?  She thinks her Mom's sick in bed, yet she wants to turn on the movie! ;)  Anyway, Josh is already on it, using the DVD remote to coordinate the DVD player with the modulated TV channel and firing up Star Wars.  Whenever Sissy is having problems with computers or her DVD player we make Josh deal with her...how long until he's sick of that??!!

So how big is a King size bed across?  7 feet?  How wide are my shoulders...2 feet?  Well, Josh, Audrey and I are a tangled mess in about 3 feet of space as Ann fakes sleep...er catches up on some sleep, comfortably sprawled and cushioned by all the pillows on the remaining 4 feet of bed (just giving you crap Ann, you do a better job than any one I know and I'm happy to give you a break any time I can).  Why those kids think I'm a human pillow is beyond me.

As with all DVDs, it shows the little 'sequence' to test your Surround Sound.  As soon as that starts, Josh and Audrey in unison, "Surround sounds Dad!" in a tone as if it's a new surprise of the movie that I've forgotten from the previous 350 times I've been forced to watch the open sequence ;)  After the surround sound sequence, the screen goes blank...

Audrey: Here comes your favorite song Dad! Do you have goose bumps?!

The opening song starts up and I can't help but wake up a bit...hey I still do get goose bumps every time I hear the Star Wars theme song.

Josh/Audrey: Will you read to me? (the opening story)

Me: "Star Wars......Episode V...The Empire Strikes Back..."  I've seen it so many times now, I don't even open my eyes, I just recite the open story from heart.

Audrey: There's Luke Dad!  Therrrrrrre's Luke! (again, the way she says it as though I should be surprised is so damn cute)

Josh: There's Lukes tauntaun Dad.  *imitates tauntaun sound* I love they way they talk!

Audrey: There's the Wampa Dad!

Audrey: There's R2-D2!

She says this with extra excitement and her little finger pointing.  It's the same way every time she see's R2.  I won't go on, but Audrey continues her play by play with every character in the movie telling me their names the first time they appear on screen just in case I've forgotten.  Princess Leia is obviously her favorite, but R2, Chewie, and Yoda are all tied for a close second.  She gets hysterical when Chewie 'talks'..."Chewie talks funny Dad!"

Then Darth Vader shows up...

Audrey: There's Darth Vader... (little more concern in her voice this time)

Josh: Darth Vader is the meanest guy in the whole planet!  I can't believe Ani is Darth Vader, I just can't believe it.  Dad, the Emperor taught Darth Vader to be mean.  Why did he do that?  The Emperor is even meaner than Darth Vader!  The Emperor and Voldemort are the meanest people in the whole world! ...How close do they live to us?

Josh has this 'meanest person' conflict *every* morning.  He can't quite decide who's the meanest...but hey, Darth Vader is relegated to a planet while Voldemort and the Emperor terrorize the world!

So even though we probably let them watch too much TV according to some, there's nothing more they like than to be playing all the time outside, so a little relaxation a couple times a day can't be that bad of thing right!?  Especially when it's Star Wars and Harry Potter!