Brave…the movie

While I was in the Hospital after my  prophylactic mastectomy, Frank and the girls went to the movies to see Disney’s Brave.  I remember when they got to the hospital the girls hugging me and telling me that they all cried at the movie. I was not too aware of the plot.  The girls told me that they thought of me when the princess almost lost her mommy which is why they cried.  Frank compared me to the momma bear.  I was intrigued  but I was still on the pain pump so details of any conversation from that time period are a bit hazy but it stuck with me for several reasons.  One because I was happy that they were out doing things together.  Another because whatever had struck them about the movie caused them to talk which is something that the girls did not often do with their father.  This movie was an important bonding time for the three of them that has continued nicely to this day.

Since the movie was important to them, especially to Madison, I wanted receiving it to be just as important.  For Christmas, 120530_XX_MeridaBraveEX.jpg.CROP.rectangle3-largeMadi received the DVD and a play set that included both Princess Merida and Angus (her horse).  She was very excited!  Usually when we get a new movie there is a big rush for the girls to watch it but not this time.  The three of them agreed that we all needed to watch it together.

So today was the day.  I made hot chocolate for the girls and I and the four of us settled in for movie time.  The girls even took turns sitting on my lap, which is not normal nor it is easy these days with their sizes.

The movie was very good!  There were no tears this time but I understand imageswhy there were the first time.  In the movie due to decisions made by the princess, the queen is turned into a bear and unless the bond that was broken can be repaired, the spell will not be able to be reversed and her mother will be lost forever.  She needs to be Brave to save her mother and protect her from hunters while trying to reverse the spell.  Even in her darkest day with hunters upon her, the momma bear still protects the princess fully knowing that she is in the situation because of her daughter. My baby girls explained that when they saw it while I was in the hospital, they thought of me as the Brave momma bear who they would never want to lose and that they needed to protect me.  Pretty cool!

As I have stated many times throughout the process, the babies who I was so worried about somewhere right in front of my eyes grew into beautiful, caring young girls.  I am so proud of them both!

And as a movie review, I would give Brave 2 thumbs up!  A great family movies that can spark even better life lesson conversations!

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Use the force

For the last several weeks the girls have been interested in seeing Star Wars.  I guess the interest came along side the download of the Star Wars angry birds app.  They love those silly birds and the new one has them all decked out with different abilities including one who uses a light saber.

So with the holiday and my limited activities, a few days off from school and our first weekend soccer free, it seemed like a perfect time to rent the movies.  We have a Netflix membership but I was surprised that it was not available.  I checked Video on Demand and apple TV to find the same result.  I actually own the original trilogy on VHS but no longer own a VCR.

This morning I called a friend  and neighbor who has a son.  I know he loved the movies.  They must own them on DVD.  The next thing I know their teenage daughter knocks on my door with a bag and a VCR.  They have the newer movies on DVD but figured they could solve my VHS issue.  Very exciting!

I hooked up the player and turn to reach for a movie.  Madison, in her short 6 years does not remember ever watching a VHS tape.  “Can I put the movie in Mom?  How does this thing work?” If that was not bad enough, it was followed by “I saw these things on TV”. She inserts the movie with a giggle as if it is now the coolest thing she has ever seen.

I remember the first time I saw a VCR.  It was the size of a small car and had a pop-up door on the top so you could not put anything on the thing.  I guess I looked at it with the same amazement Madison did today.  The only difference was my amazement was due to the super cool technology.  Madison’s was more of child standing at a display in a museum wondering how we ever survived.

We settled in with mugs of hot chocolate and microwave popcorn.  That is our thing…it all helps make Bailey girls movie time special.

Me and my girls on Thanksgiving

Now, what really makes this all very interesting, is after all of this I start flipping the channels tonight to find a special airing on Television.  Tomorrow is The Empire Strikes back and Monday The Return of the Jedi.

Strange sometimes how things work out!