Monster Jam 2010

We decided to go to Monster Jam 2010 this year. The last time we went was in 2008 and Braden had a blast. We thought about going last year but decided it wasn't a good time. Unfortunately there was a child killed due to a piece flying off a truck and hitting him in the head. I was glad I didn't go last year and this year made sure to be in the upper nosebleed seats. It was cold - but we had a great view. I kept thinking about the poor family and boy last year. Such a terrible tragedy.

We had a ton of fun this year but I will say that if we go again we will aim for the Saturday afternoon show in order to visit the "pits" to see the big trucks and get pictures and autographs.

Worst Movie Experience EVER

Christmas weekend Valerie and I decided to take our daughters to see New Moon, which they'd both been begging to go see. We went to a 4pm showing at a nearby mall. Ideally we were thinking that this movie has been out for awhile and it's not a peak time we'd have no problems! Man were we wrong!!!



We arrived just in time for the previews to begin. When we tried to find seats we got stuck in the second to front row. In most of the newer theaters this would not be a problem because the seats/screens are situated so that you can see just fine from anywhere. In THIS theater it meant sitting all the way back in your seat with your head resting on the back and then still looking up as high as possible. Oh and did I mention that if there were two people on screen you'd have to turn your head to see the other half of the screen? Not cool. Well, this we could've lived with, but add in the rest and not so pretty. After awhile I actually considered attempting to get my money back because it was not fun.


The people behind us brought a baby - now it was a pretty well behaved baby with only a few whimpers or coos here and there but the parents were downright annoying. Talking to the baby in a normal tone of voice, saying things like "aww... do you want to have a conversation? I think she wants to talk to us, etc." In a theater, in a normal tone. What the heck?! THEN the dad or someone in their group had a nose that whistled when he breathed. So for the first 5 minutes of the movie that was ALL I heard. At that point Valerie and I were still kind of laughing. A bit further into the movie the toddler in their group was attempting to get candy out of a wrapper - for atleast two minutes. All we heard was crinkle, crinkle, crinkle, smash, crinkle. Did the parents help? Nope... they just went on talking to the baby or whistling while they breathed. Finally people started turning around and staring at which point the kid got the candy out and the crinkling stopped.



About 30 minutes into the movie the baby started getting fussy so they popped a binky in and we had relative quiet again (still nose whistling and some baby chatter, but mostly quiet) but apparently a binky was not enough and mom, or aunt, or grandma (it was a big group) decided to start patting the baby's bum in hopes to put it to sleep. So for about 20 minutes all I hear is pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat pat... until I thought I was going to scream.



By this point Valerie and I are getting annoyed and even Kelsey who has had the back of her seat kicked more than once. Eventually the movie ended and I think we ran out of the theater. I did seriously consider giving that family a piece of my mind but decided to keep my mouth shut. There were more of them than of us and I didn't want to teach Kelsey those things. ;) Needless to say, Valerie and I both agreed NO MORE MOVIES EVER. Why go to a theater when I can buy the movie and watch it at home, on my couch, with a blanket and a pause button? I've since decided that I'll probably go to a movie again but I doubt it will ever be at that theater. That one needs a major overhaul.

Another year gone!

It's been a busy holiday season and I can't say that I'm sad to see it gone! It was a stressful time of year with money and economic woes. The kids however, don't seem to notice that there is any shortage. They had a great Christmas and got pretty much every gift on their list including *gasp* Kelsey getting a cell phone. She has been asking for one since she was about 7. This year Santa decided to oblige but with a few stiupations - it is prepaid and we will buy her a certain amount of minutes a month and then if she runs out it's up to her to earn the money needed for more. So far she's done awesome and hasn't even used 1/3 of the amount the phone came with and still has two cards that she was given for christmas to purchase more minutes.

Bradens only request was a for a helicopter transformer and a I think a dumptruck transformer. He got both along with 4 nerf guns. I can't walk thru the house without finding nerf bullets ALL OVER the place. The cat thinks they are great fun to play with at 4 am if there is a stray left out.

The rest of the holidays were just as busy. We had Thanksgiving with my Grandparents in Mount Vernon - it was great seeing all of them. Christmas Eve was spent with Scotts parents at his Uncle Boyd's house. Where nerf gun battles ensued.

Christmas day was pretty laid back. We had a quiet morning at home with the kids and Scotts parents. Christmas afternoon we went to their house for dinner and had a movie marathon. THREE movies in one evening. My favorite was Four Christmases - that movie is a blast.

New Years Eve was spent at home with company coming to us. We had about 15 people there not counting kids - the kids may have outnumbered the parents. :) All kids made it until midnight including Braden. New Years day we drove to Pasco and spent another christmas with my mom's side of the family. We always have a ton of fun and did a DVD exchange in lieu of name draw gifts this year. The theme was christmas movies. We ended up with a couple good ones but I still need to get The Santa Clause - I need that darn movie! :)

We're finally getting back on track here and my goal is to get back in shape. Starting last night I play soccer on Thursday and Sunday for the next 7 weeks. Thursday night is an all womens adults team - whole new ball game compared to what I've been used to for the last 10+ years of playing coed. I realized that I am even more out of shape than I thought and some of these women are damn good.

I will save the rest for the next post and hopefully be more consistent in my updating for 2010. Perhaps I'll make that my new years resolution since I didn't make any others. :)