my daughter

Caroline turned 16 last week.  I love/admire/adore her for so many reasons, but for tonight I just have to share one reason that makes me smile . . .

Her uncanny sense of humor and the typical twitter post:

Every now and then I jump on my teens' twitter accounts.  Count it as a little "checking in" and a whole lot of entertainment.  Caroline's sloth posts crack me up.

Thank you Lord for sending me this girl to raise - she's truly one of a kind.

laugh

"The most wasted of all days is 

one without laughter."

e.e. cummings

Our new favorite comedy

OK, seriously?  Seriously??  I don't think I've had more fun at a movie since "Meet the Parents" (which was supposed to be funny).  Last night after Caroline's tennis match we decided to go to the dollar theater for a girls' night with Caroline and Sophie's friends to see the latest romantic vampire episode.  What the hay, it's a buck, and to spend some time with my girls, it's worth it, no matter the movie.

I think Caroline is now one of my favorite movie buddies.  It was shear pleasure sitting next to her and cracking up together outloud every time something corny escaped the lips of the characters . . . not just the script, but the silly music tracks, the contrived plot line, and the downright lousy acting.  Caroline's favorite line to mock is, "It's not a lifestyle choice . . . I was born this way, it's a gene, I can't help it."  Really, by the end of the movie the entire theater was laughing - hard - because once you have a twelve-year old girl not buying this type of movie, the people around you see the light pretty quick!

After it was over, the group behind us commented that it was the funniest movie they've seen in months, and Caroline replied, "ya, and I feel really bad for the people who thought it was serious!" We concurred that it definitely deserves a new title . . .

A Girl and her Dog: A Love Story (it's complicated)

Liza's faith

This evening before we began eating dinner, Chris asked Liza to offer the prayer on the food. She was saying such a sweet, thoughtful prayer - asking a blessing on Grandma Pat on her mission, blessing the food, asking that we all be nice to each other, saying thanks for the nice day and her trip to the zoo (really, she was on a roll). Then, just as I was thinking what a spiritual pre-schooler I have, she ended the prayer with this bold statement: " . . . and please help me and Sophie eat really fast so that we can go back outside and play with our friends. Amen."

The rest of us were immediately in hysterics, and the poor girl just could not understand why her prayer was so entertaining. The frustration of our reaction to her plea for divine assistance in finishing her meal was clearly written all over her face. Then, literally 3 minutes later, after she had inhaled her plate of spaghetti, she announced: "SEE . . . my prayer worked, I'm done . . . can I go back outside now?"

A conversation with Liza Jane

I'm driving Elizabeth home from pre-school this afternoon and ask her to tell me about her day at school. Here's a recap of our convo:

Liza: "Mom, guess what? We learned all about that, um . . . hmmm, that great big monster that is in the ocean."

Me: "Ok, great, tell me more." I actually have NO idea what in the world she's talking about (the Loch Ness?).

Liza: "You know, the big giant green monster - you know what I'm talking about, you've seen it before."

Me: "The Jolly Green Giant??" That's my best guess.

Liza: Getting more frustrated that her dumb mom doesn't have a clue what she's talking about. "NO!" she tells me with exasperation and a loud sigh - "the giant green person in the water holding fire!!"

Me: She's got me here and I don't dare venture another guess - maybe it's the Incredible Hulk? "Liza, is this from a movie we all went to see? Anyway, I thought you said it was a monster? Are you talking about giant sea turtles, like the ones in Hawaii?"

Liza: "Rrrr, NO, NO - not from a movie and not from Hawaii!! It's like a monster it's HUGE, so big, so it's like a monster . . . (now she's practically yelling at me as she gives her last piece of information) . . . it's got that spiky thing on it's head, it's all green, and it's holding a stick with fire . . . and you've seen it, I've seen the picture, even Ryan and Caroline have seen it - they're on a boat - you have to take a boat to see it - ugh, you know what I'm talking about!"

Me: I take a long pause to really think here before offering my next guess - some obscure giant sea creature. "Aaahhh, are you talking about the Statue of Liberty?"

Liza: So excited she can hardly contain herself. "YES, you got it, that's what we talked about in school today!"

Go figure :-).

"The Curious Case of Forrest Gump"

I must give credit where credit it due. It was Chris who, in the middle of one of the tugboat scenes (see previous posting) leans over and whispers, "doesn't this movie remind you of Forrest Gump?" Of course, he was dead on accurate. Then a few days ago my friend sent me a link to this video and we've been cracking up about it ever since. Enjoy the clip . . . then ask yourself WHY oh WHY is this movie nominated for 13 Oscars?? I don't get it and I'm on a crusade to figure it out!

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

Breaking my Blog silence . . .

Who am I kidding - not blog? I think too much and I just can't NOT write when something takes place that absolutely demands my attention . . . when an evening out turns into the perfect blog posting - or maybe my evening just feels like it an episode of Seinfeld rather than a date with my husband. I'll take that back, the majority of our dates could be possible Seinfeld episodes :-).

So, our time was short for a date tonight after a day of tennis lessons, birthday parties, and a hockey game - but I was determined to make it happen because it's been three weeks since our last outing and Chris and I could use some time AWAY from the noise and chaos of the house. As much as we avoid such places with names such as "Megaplex," we took the plunge figuring that Jordan Commons was fairly close and the movie we wanted to see was there. First of all, it's been over two years, and the last time it was a really late movie with a girlfriend who was in town visiting - we walked in late, found our seats in the dark and watched a delightful movie. The time before that was with the kids for a summer matinee of "Curious George." Frankly, I avoid the place as much as possible.

Tonight it felt like entering an entirely different dimension. Um, do people really bring their dinner (let me clarify - I'm talking huge portions of french fries carried in on massive trays) in with them to watch a movie? How much are these people eating? Do these theaters always smell like fried food? Holy crap - are we the only people in the theater without a giant, 5-gallon sized bucket of popcorn - for TWO? Does anyone come to watch a movie anymore without stuffing their faces full of food? Seriously, we look a little out of place showing up with our contraband box of Dots and a water bottle. Maybe I was just in shock and couldn't experience the true depth of the movie we had chosen.

Which brings me to something I am SO passionate about - movies. If I'm going to sit in a theater with large people eating even larger portions of fried food for over 3 hours, the movie better be good. The movie was supposed to be amazing, the critics raved about it, my friends and family loved it, it was supposed to tug at your heart strings, it would make you think . . . it was supposed to be "epic!" Um, ok, great, I'll go to the "Megaplex" for epic.

Lights dim, previews begin - love the previews - that new movie with Sandra Bullock looks cute . . . movie starting . . . I'm watching . . . pretty interesting . . . ok, old dying lady is um, old . . . great, I think I'm getting something out of this, or maybe not . . . I'm still waiting . . . ok, hmmm, there was a little tidbit of wisdom . . . Is this movie Hollywood's version of "depth and feeling?" . . . . oops, I don't think I was supposed to laugh at that part . . . . um, it's starting to feel a little like Titanic and Forrest Gump rolled into one movie, . . . . oooh, Brad Pitt on a sailboat with the sunset - that was NICE . . . ok, nothing happening here - no depth, flat characters, no emotion, contrived, a little lame . . . ok, I'm REALLY getting tired of the dying old lady . . . now Chris and I are whispering lines to each other that the characters should say . . . DO NOT start laughing because the lady next to you is wiping her tears . . . suppress your laughter Julie . . . "Chris stop whispering silly lines - I'm going to burst any minute!" . . . old dying lady is on again . . . . YAWN, when is this saga going to end?? . . . sore butt, shifting my positioning for the hundredth time . . . . Do NOT laugh, it's not over yet . . . . FINALLY, the credits!. . . exit the theater (while the theme from Titanic is now playing in my mind - "near, far, wherever you are . . . ") as quick as possible, try not to laugh too loud . . . ok, can't help it, I'm CRYING, Chris is cracking up, we finally make it out the door and tears are literally rolling down my face and I seriously can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

The movie was The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons. From now on I'm sticking to my tried and true films at the Broadway. Those movies that are filled with powerful, intelligent writing and directing. Movies that make me laugh because they are quirky and beg for laughter. Love stories that are meaningful and filled with simple, yet profound longing. Dramas that truly touch your heart and soul . . . the ones that the tears flow spontaneously because they move us so powerfully.

I don't regret going to see that movie tonight. It was fun to just be out together, view humanity, and reconnect in a way only Chris and I can . . . plus, laughing that long and hard is oh, so good for the soul :-).

"I Got You Babe . . . "

So, it's Groundhog Day today and you cannot properly celebrate without watching one of the Cantera family's favorite laugh together movies, Groundhog Day. Bill Murray is absolutely hilarious and the film goes beyond slapstick humor, there is a lot of truth about each one of our own personal "groundhog days" . . . living the same routine over and over and over again. Really, didn't I just clean up dinner, wipe down the counters, start the dishwasher and turn off the lights in the kitchen yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that?? . . . . SIGH.

It was great tonight when Chris and Ryan arrived home and were so excited to see we had just started watching the movie. Chris exclaimed, "You remembered!! This has got to be one of the funniest movies ever!" So, in celebration of that silly February 2nd holiday, here is one of our favorite parts and of course, the best line in the film - "this is a MAN we're talking about, right??"



Oh, and not to be outdone by a comedy - it's my little sister's birthday today . . . HAPPY 32nd JENNA - love ya!! We'll celebrate both our birthdays when I go visit her in Oregon this spring and attempt my first half-marathon . . . yikes!

5. Laughter

Who can live without laughter? Really, for me it's a necessity of life (i.e. food, water, air . . . a good laugh) and I need it everyday for survival, therefore it's something I feel immense gratitude. Today was one of those days when things were just plain funny. Everything made me laugh and heightened my awareness how great a good chuckle makes me feel. There are times when I laugh so hard I'm crying, and the greatest part about that trait of mine is that Caroline has inherited it - we'll get her laughing so hard tears roll down her cheeks . . . really, can you experience true laughter any other way?? Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, those who have heard Chris' full throttle laugh knows that he snorts and all it does is get us all laughing even harder!

I am grateful for the times we laugh together at the dinner table or before family prayer, I am so grateful for my friends who can keep me in stitches and who know that all it takes is a phrase to bring back a hilarious moment (i.e. "the raquet has been spun"), I am grateful for the times I laugh with all my other family members when we all get together and the inside jokes that keep those bonds strong, and I am especially grateful for those friends who are so dear to me and know when I'm having a tough time or a hard day that all I need is something to make me laugh to feel myself once again.

So tonight the kids picked one of our favorite "laugh together" dvds . . . School of Rock. OK, we LOVE this movie - it cracks us up and Jack Black is absolutely hilarious. It's just one of those movies that makes you LAUGH, so if you haven't introduced it to your kids yet - please do, because no matter what your mood it will make you feel better, and your kids will love it!

"I pledge alligence to the band . . . ."

"Our Moments"

WOW - three posts in one day - that's a first. It's been a crazy week with the summer ending much too soon, the kids getting back to school with all that it entails, and the trip to the orthodontist for Ryan and Caroline's new hardware. The time that I thought would be mine and Elizabeth's flew out the window and I'm shaking my head in disbelief that September is tomorrow. Where on earth did August go? I have to admit that this is the first time in my LIFE that I am lamenting the passing of summer. In years past, I anxiously await the beginning of autum, the drop in temperature, and the change of color. This year I want to scream, "STOP . . . please stay warm, stay green, let the kids run around barefoot for a little longer, and please DO NOT let me see Christmas decorations in any store!!" Too late.

Can't life slow down just a little? Can't people enjoy the summer before feeling the need to display nativity scenes and giant blow up santas? I'm a purist, I refuse to put up Halloween decor (um, ya, that would be the two things that look remotely "halloween-ish") until it's actually October for heaven's sake, and Christmas . . . c'mon, can people at least wait until AFTER Thanksgiving to begin setting up for the next holiday? RRRR . . . such a gripe of mine!

OK, I'm just a little off my topic at hand. Anyway, along the sidebar of my blog I added "our moments" - a running list of little sayings, songs, or happenings that trigger funny, memorable moments for our family. Today I was thinking of all the fun we really do have together and thought I should try and remember some of those little moments that truly only have meaning to our family - those "inside jokes" and memories that define us as a family. You know, the times when you're together and someone says, "remember when . . . " and before long you're all in tears remembering something in the past that was so corny that only your family gets the humor.

I want to remember those times - with just a word or two - because life can sometimes get overwhelming, and raising children and keeping your marriage strong is a lot of work, so I thought why not keep the fun times alive and add to it to our list everytime one of these "moments" presents itself. And please, if any of my readers out there want to know the specifics of any of our moments, just ask . . . I'll be happy to share the story behind the words.