Pinewood Derby

This is the beginning of my serious catching up...

First up,

The Pinewood Derby!

He has been looking forward to this for a VERY long time. He just barely missed being in scouts last year for the derby, so he has been waiting this entire time. He was VERY excited!

He and his Dad built his car, but he did the paint job himself.

It was a very simple design, but it was fast!

I am new to the whole derby thing, but you wouldn't believe how specific the rules are, and how the track has to be, etc....Wo. This is serious stuff people.

Ready to rumble!

He had a great time!

They did it a little different this time -- there wasn't a winner. 

They let everyone race on all the positions of the track and they did a few heats.

If you won your race you got a metal. If you didn't, you got a lollipop.

They went through A LOT of lollipops and a lot of metals.

They gave all of the boys a chance to race a lot and I think (I hope) there were fewer bad feelings.

A lot gets put into these cars that it makes me feel so bad when there are "losers", so I thought it was great.

But, then again -- I'm a Mom. Maybe the Dad's feel differently about it.

There were some seriously cool cars. 

The important thing was -- Anders had a great time!

{It didn't hurt though that his car was awesome!}

Way to go Anders!!!

The Boy in Striped Pajamas

This was one of those films that changes you.

I will admit it was a bit difficult to watch, but I really liked it.

I cried.

Actually, I wept.

But, it is a beautiful film.

Here is the synopsis from IMDb:

Young Bruno lives a wealthy lifestyle in prewar Germany along with his mother, elder sister, and SS Commandant father. The family relocates to the countryside where his father is assigned to take command a prison camp. A few days later, Bruno befriends another youth, strangely dressed in striped pajamas, named Shmuel who lives behind an electrified fence. Bruno will soon find out that he is not permitted to befriend his new friend as he is a Jew, and that the neighboring yard is actually a prison camp for Jews awaiting extermination

Now, a moment to be a bit superficial --

the movie itself has so many beautiful things to look at.

The costuming for the mother is....so pretty, and feminine with gorgeous embroidery and details. Loved it. 

{The costuming in general is great.They used really great fabric!}

There is a very charming kitchen with turquoise cabinets (that's for you Megan.)

And, there are a few drool-worthy tablecloths (and a farmhouse table that I really liked!)

I know. Superficial. But, those are the details I love to look at.

Back to the film....

It is thought provoking and, I warned you, a bit sad, but I really liked it.

It left me wishing we could all return to a time of childhood innocence with an uncomplicated sense of right and wrong.

Liam and the sidewalk

Liam had a tussle with the curb.

I think it may have won. 

Dear Easter Bunny,

I know you thought watercolors were a good idea.

You were wrong.

Opal Dream

I really like to watch movies. I like to discover new movies.

I love a good story. I love the way a film can look and feel. I just like movies.

So, I decided to start posting about some of the movies that I have liked.

(I have no idea how frequent or infrequent this will occur.)

If you like foreign films and films that are a little more...quiet and sweet, you'll like this one.

It is an Australian film called Opal Dream.

Here is the synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes:

The story of a young girl, Kellyanne Williamson, whose unshakable faith in her two imaginary friends resonates through her small hometown in the Australian Outback. She lives with her family in a town that is well-known for its reserves of precious stones. Kellyanne is an average little girl, but there's something odd about her friends, Pobby and Dingan, because apart from Kellyanne herself, nobody can see them. For the most part, Kellyanne's fantasy grates on her big brother's nerves. However, their father insists on indulging his daughter – he even takes these two extra 'members of the family' down into the opal mine. One day he unwittingly – or perhaps deliberately – 'leaves' them in the mine and Pobby and Dingan go missing. Kellyanne wastes away with grief, and her brother enlists the town to search for the girl's lost friends. As her brother takes it upon himself to rally the Williamson family and the community around his sister and her missing friends, everyone discovers what Kellyanne has long known; that you don't necessarily have to see in order to believe.

It is a sweet tale. I loved watching the soft heart of the brother and all that he was willing to do for his sister. It is a bit slower but I really liked it.

It says it is a family film, but might be a bit....serious or slow for younger kids. I do however think it would be a good one for older children. There are a lot of good things to talk about.

I checked out my copy from my local library.