Matt picked a bad weekend to head to the Mall of America for a movie. The inner theme park just opened today with its transition to Nickelodeon. So, Diego, Dora, Blue's Clues, Sponge Bob, etc. were in full effect. Troy always loved to go on the train, but the train is now blue, has a face on it and is called, "La Aventura de Azul" or the Blue Adventure. They have added a lot of roller coaster rides as well. There is a new Sponge Bob coaster. Matt really wanted to go on that, but the line was long. Smack dab in the middle of the mall is another new ride. I am not sure what it is called, but it is a huge skateboard that allows two sets of 8 people in the center of it. The skateboard moves like it is going up and down a ramp, with the people in the middle spinning. It looked really cool! So, needless to say, the mall was nuts!
Aside from the mall, we were anxious for this Dr. Seuss movie to come out, because Troy and I have been doing the dance animation programs they have had available on our cable network on TV. I am sure this is an interesting visual for some, but I digress.
Troy was very curious going into the movie. However, he is is father's child, so he was more anxious for the popcorn. After sitting through 30 minutes of previews, the movie was really cute. Troy did pretty well. He had his own little bucket of popcorn, but he was doing well sharing. Emma slept through the first 30 minutes, but was really good for the rest of the movie.
The synopsis from MSN Cinemama Movie critic: "Horton" tells the story of an elephant who lives in the lush and lively jungle of Nool. He's sweet and contented until the day he hears a sound coming from a floating speck of dust. People live there, he realizes, and he sets out to rescue the inhabitants, keeping them and their wee world safe in the pink down of a thistle.
Along the way, he makes some enemies: a reactionary mother kangaroo (
Carol Burnett); the Wickersham brothers, a band of ill-mannered apes; and a mercenary vulture of Eastern European descent (
Will Arnett). The kangaroo especially hates Horton because he insists there is life on the speck of dust, even when no one else can perceive it. The story focuses on Horton's battle against the doubters and a parallel struggle the hereditary mayor of Whoville has with an obfuscating city council and a populace that would rather celebrate than believe their world is in peril.
I loved that the movie also had a narrator that brought in actual lines from the book. Some reviews have not been so nice for the movie, but I enjoyed it and it seemed as if Troy enjoyed it as well. The movie made for a great morning out with the family.
If you have a chance to go with a child, go for it. I wouldn't say it is exactly filled with adult humor, but there are definitly some funny parts for everyone.
Emma has had a big month! She learned to not only sit up by herself and drink her bottle by herself, but she also loves using her hands for everything whether it be to touch your face, shake her little giggler, or steal her brother's toys. She likes to bring her feet up to her head and she has even started to slide backwards. Emma also started daycare this past month, and the teachers just adore her! 
Troy got a much needed hair cut today. Afterwards, he was just wired and acting goofy. So, I took the opportunity to take some classic pictures of my future-class-clown. Oh yeah, he thought it was funny to walk over his sister and proceed to try and sit on her. Don't worry, she got some good hits in. She gives noogies as well.
For those who are not aware, I attended an all-girls private school in the eighth grade. During that year, I developed an appreciatiation for Art, Art History, Architecture and the Renaissance period. Therefore, I was very excited for this movie to come out. Not only was fellow Australian, Eric Bana cast as Henry VIII, but it was a movie I could see during some much needed Mummy time.
