We have a rule in this household that you are not allowed to see movies until you have read the books. Well actually we have that rule for our kids. In general I make it a rule not to see movies after I have read the books because I always end up in an angry rant shaking my fists at the screen. Movies rarely do books justice.

In my little house of readers this is rarely met with a complaint. If a movie comes out that is hyped up for kids mine have usually become so engrossed in the book that they forget the movie exists. But from time to time it is fun to see a movie and all the more fun to talk afterwards about what we liked better and what was the same and different.

And with that last sentence I have just admitted to the world that we possibly need to get out more.

if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you know that I recently polished off The Hunger Gamesseries. I had some friends who had invited me to see the movie and after extensively researching to make sure it wouldn’t disappoint me if I had read the books, I tackled the books in record time and headed to the theater. Yes the books are much better, but the movie is pretty darn good. I will admit the hype was warranted (although you could not pay me all the money in the world to read a book about vampire love).

For a year now I have been trying to convince Lily to read Harry Potter (yes I just used an affiliate link in case one of my readers lives in the jungle and had never heard of the book until this post). She stubbornly refused saying she wouldn’t like them.

where I found Lily 5 hours after bringing book 4 home

Well she finally caved. And she devoured those books like nobody’s business. And now we are all things Harry Potter all the time. All. the. time. She has read books 1-4 and I am making her wait a bit to finish the series because I hear the last 3 books are rather dark. I had never read the books until she started and I have finished book 1 and am reading book 2. I must say, I completely understand why people love these, adults and children. They are fantastic.

In fact, my current problem is finding other books for her to read because every other series we have tried is met with, “well they just aren’t as good as Harry Potter!!”

So it is for this reason that I found myself tucked in bed next to Lily on Thursday night with pizza in our laps and Harry Potter on my laptop. She had earned the right to see the movie. And I had the pleasure of watching her face light up as she saw one of her favorite books come to life. As soon as I finish book 2 we will have another movie night together. I don’t know who is more excited. Her or me.

What book have you loved that was turned into a movie that didn’t disappoint?

This past weekend with just my oldest daughter and me was honestly life changing. Our relationship is sometimes hit or miss. And because of that sometimes I forget how awesome of a kid she is. Truly extraordinary.

In the last three days I think I learned a few things from my daughter that will help me be a better mom to her. And in turn be a better mom to all my kids. It is amazing what you can hear from you kids when you slow down and listen.

1. Say yes more than you say no: Yes, responsible parenting dictates that you often have to say no. But how often do you say no when you very easily could say yes. And how often do you say no because it inconveniences you when what you child is truly asking for underneath their request is that you spend time with them. It might look like they are asking to make a mess of your newly cleaned house with their playdoh but really they just want to play with you. And while you are at it throw in a little surprise. So yeah, they are probably already surprised by the fact you didn’t put up a fight when they asked to get out the playdoh, but surprise them again. This time with something YOU came up with. For us this weekend, it was pizza and movies snuggled in bed. Granted it is easy to have pizza in bed when you know you don’t have to clean up after. But still. It felt good to say yes.
2. Give them each one on one time: I try and do this. Silas gets a lot of me because he is home with me all the time. Hannah gets a decent amount of me because she is home two days a week from school. But Lily just gets me on our crazy weekends. I think sometimes our kids are so desperate for our attention they really don’t care how they get it. Good, bad or ugly. At one point in the weekend when the bloggers and the kids were supposed to separate Lily started being kind of clingy which is very uncharacteristic of her. When I asked her about it she told me “I just never get you all to myself.” Let your kids have you all to themselves. Without double dating with your cell phone and their Nintendo DS.
3. Tell them how awesome they are: Not because they have a good report card or a great goal in soccer or make their bed without asking. Tell them they are awesome just because they are. No strings attached, nothing asked in return, Just plain awesome. Then watch their eyes light up and their spine stand a little straighter.

Just three. Not ten. Not even five. I think we are up to the task. Don’t you?

You remember that feeling you used to get way back in the day when you had a date with a boy you really really liked who finally asked you out?

That is how I feel about taking a trip with my oldest.

And while I am going to miss my little dude who took my face in his hands tonight and said “Mama, stay here.” when I told him I was going on a plane. And I am so sad to miss Fine Arts Night at our kid’s school where we get to see all the amazing art they have done all year. And I will of course miss my hubby who I need a date night with like nobody’s business.

But I always need more one on one time with Lily. Of all my kids our relationship is the most challenging for me, but when it is just the two of us, we are amazing. And so I can. not. wait.

Portland here we come!!