Do you have traditions in your head that you want to implement as a family but then life just gets busy and they never quite happen. Well family movie/game night is that for me. As the kids get older and busier I really wanted to find one night that is sacred and protected where we spent great time together. Games and/or movies seem to be the perfect way to do that.

We are really picky about the movies we let our kids watch. Actually, really picky is probably an understatement. I am totally fine being a freak about it. Too much of what is billed as “family friendly” is just not cutting it in my book.

So when I was asked by Collective Bias as part of their #couchcritics to have a family movie night watching Dolphin Tale, I was super excited. I had heard nothing but amazing things about the movie and how family friendly it was. My kids had heard great things too and loved the idea of family movie night.

In our house, pretty much the only way we rent movies is through Redbox. It is super easy, crazy cheap and you can find them just about everywhere I normally shop. Imagine my delight when I went to check out their website from my phone and discovered they also have an app. Hallelujah, even easier!!

While I was at Walmart I had to pick up a movie watching essential!! Forget the microwavable stuff, we like our popcorn old school, on the stove.

I figure a movie these days at the theater will set our family back about $50. When you rent a Redbox movie online (or through your phone), it costs $1 (and free tip: sign up for text alerts and you will often get them for free, you can also find them on Facebook and Twitter). That huge container of popcorn that should last me through a whole lotta movie nights was under $5. I’d say that beats the theater any day.

Plus I would say snuggling is MUCH easier on the couch. Although I really wish I had someone else to pick up all the stray popcorn kernels. The movie did NOT disappoint. It was so touching and inspiring. Even the young ones cried. And it is rare when I watch a movie and don’t find a single thing objectionable. Our whole family gave it two big thumbs up.

Want to see details of my whole shop? This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias As always, all opinions are my own.

I feel like when it comes to blog posting Lily and Silas steal the spotlight. And like a true middle child, Hannah gets way less of a mention.

What is odd is in our day to day life, Hannah probably gets the bulk of my time. Lily is in school full time and Silas still takes daily naps. And although Hannah is in school three full days a week, she is home with me two other days.

But Hannah flies a bit under the radar. She has never really been a challenging kid (except for when she was three, but I have yet to know a perpetually pleasant three year old). She is pretty much always in an upbeat and happy mood. She is thriving in school and making lots of new friends. She keeps us giggling with her sense of humor. She is, for all intents and purposes, the perfect middle child.

Lily has a much stronger personality. And because she is the oldest, every phase she hits is a first for our family. She has always challenged me more as a mom, but also is growing and maturing in ways that make me burst with pride. So she gets a fair amount of dedicated posts.

Silas is still growing and changing. Sometimes it seems like every week is something new. He is still young enough that there are cute stories aplenty about his development. Plus he, as a typical baby of the family, LOVES to get attention and will do what he can do to get a laugh or a smile.

But Lily is getting to the age where her stories are getting less and less mine to tell. And Silas is getting old enough that the cuteness will wear off as we get closer to the dreaded threes. Maybe that will be Hannah’s time to get volumes written about just here.

But in the meantime she will continue to be the perfect fit for smack dab in the middle of our family. She brings and incredible amount of sunshine to our family. So I want to make sure from time to time she gets recognized for it.

What birth order are you? Any middle children out there who get lost in the middle? Use the comments for venting therapy