Photo of the Day

Having fun at the drive-in!

Feeling Lost

Several months ago Tara and I started a Netflix subscription. We figured it would be a good way to catch up on some movies that we never saw in theaters. Truthfully, we don't go to movies very often. If it isn't animated - we usually don't see it.

Sure, we've enjoyed several good movies through Netflix, but last month we discovered something that has really captured our attention. Don't look now, but 7 years later we finally found LOST!



I knew this was a series I wanted to see. Even when it first aired it looked amazing. Still, there was always something that came up and we never watched the show. After a while I knew it was too late and so we gave up.

Until Netflix that is.

About a month ago we found the entire series available in the Instant Queue and that was all we needed. We started watching Season 1 and buzzed through all 25 episodes.

We usually end up watching the show once the kids are in bed. The trouble is that each episode ends with a cliffhanger. Several times we've agreed to head to bed. Then we get all wrapped up in our current episode and end up watching one more. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've watched past midnight on more than a few occasions.

I guess you could say we're addicted, I just think we're catching up. That's what happens when you're LOST.

Movie Review: The King's Speech

For my birthday Tara and I went to the movies.  And this time we saw a film that wasn't animated or dealt with talking dogs.  We went to a movie for grown ups.  We went to see The King's Speech.

Going into the film I really didn't know much about the story.  Ok, so the Duke of York has a stutter and can't get beyond his speech impediment.  I knew that much.  This story was so much more.

I am a big fan of Geoffrey Rush to start off.  We saw him the movie Shine years ago and have followed his career ever since.  He is a real actor (excluding his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies).  Not someone who sells movies on his looks.  This guy wins you over with his ability to become a different person.  He is fantastic in this film as the speech therapist.  A common man dealing with a larger than life situation.

I haven't seen Colin Firth in many movies, but he was great in this one.  Playing the role of King George VI, you can totally empathize with this man who has no confidence in himself.   It's amazing to see someone so powerful that can't control something most of us take for granted - his voice.

These are certainly my favorite kinds of movies.  One in which the story and the relationships therein dominate the plot.  It was interesting to learn a bit more of the history surrounding some of the events leading up to WWII, but this wasn't a movie about war.  It was a movie about two men and how they learned to rely on one another.  Great film - go and see for yourself.

Boys Night Out

A few weeks ago Tara took Kennedy out to dinner and a play.  Nothing major, but a great chance for the two of them to spend some time together alone.  I decided I needed to do the same thing with Alex.  It isn't often that Alex gets to do a lot of things on his own with the fellas.  So, last night, it was his turn to get some extra attention.  I knew the perfect activity for us to share together - How to Train Your Dragon in 3D on  the iMax screen.  Jason wanted to join in the dragon fun, so our "Boys Night Out" was set.

You may not know this about Alex, but he is a dragon junkie.  He is totally obsessed with them.  If you talk to Alex for 5 minutes he'll find some way to weave dragons into the conversation.  The second he learned there was a new movie about dragons - he was in.

We started out with dinner at the Mayan, or I should say I started out with dinner at the Mayan.  Alex was far too interested in the cliff divers to eat any food.  He kept asking me why they were diving into the water and when would he get to take a turn.  On another note I think the Mayan is totally overrated.  The food is way too expensive for the quality.  I don't need to pay extra for the atmosphere - I'd rather have something good to eat.

After dinner we headed off to the iMax theater.  I was a little worried whether or not Alex would wear th 3D glasses, but he came through like a trooper.  It didn't hurt that I told him they were dragon glasses.  The movie was great.  Lots of action, fun story, and tons of DRAGONS.  Alex absolutely loved it.  And I loved the fact that I was spending time with my son.

Movie Review: The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock is on my list. I have a list of actors and actresses I don't really care for and I generally avoid their movies. The list is long and getting longer. Sandra Bullock is on there. Still, Tara really wanted to go and see the movie, The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock. I decided to give in, especially since the movie was about football, I figured I could overlook Ms. Bullock's part in the film.

This one really took me by surprise. It was a great movie. It may just join the Hall of Fame of sports movies for me. There are a few select sports movies I never tire of watching on TV. They include: Hoosiers, Remember the Titans, The Natural, The Rookie and Rocky I, II, or III. There is something so inspiring about an underdog story, especially when it deals with sports.

Micheal Oher's story is one that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. I've watched the Ravens play a few times this year and didn't know the true story of the offensive tackle. Having learned of his life and achievements I can honestly say I'm rooting for him and the Ravens. This was an incredible movie and I'm glad Tara made me look beyond Sandra Bullock and my list.

Movie Review: The Princess and the Frog

I think we've seen every major animated movie for the past three years. While each one has it's own charm, the best one I've seen is the new Disney movie - The Princess and the Frog. It was a wonderful movie, with great images, great music, and a great story. There was something so engaging about this look into New Orleans that it almost made me rethink my trip to the Bayou five years ago. Now that's saying something, because I wasn't terribly impressed with New Orleans when we went there in 2004.

The characters in this film were great. The Shadowman made for a classic Disney villain. Tiana and Prince Naveen were fun to watch. I will say that Ray the firefly stole the show. With his Creole accent and hopeful attitude, he "lit" up every scene he was in (sorry for the bad pun). I think one of the best things about these characters is they were played by relative unknowns. When the credits rolled I had no idea who played most of the voices, and I didn't care. They were that good.

My favorite part of our trip to the movies was Alex's reaction. He absolutely loved it. Tara told me that Alex said, "Mom, I really like this movie" about 10-15 times during the film. That's pretty high praise from a three-year-old. Our family's final review - Five stars for The Princess and the Frog.

Harry and Louise: Then and Now

With all the discussion around health care these days, here's a blast from the past. Maybe you'll remember Harry and Louise, the classic middle American couple and their chats about the Clinton health care plan? Take a look at them then, and now.


Harry and Louise - 1993


Harry and Louise - 2009

Triple Play

Since the arrival of the iPhone one of the coolest features I've tried is video camera. It really takes clear video and the audio is surprisingly loud. Over the weekend we played around and made some short home movies: Dylan eating pears, Kennedy's first week of preschool, and Alex loves his vacuum. Take a look:


Big D loves Pears


Kennedy loves Preschool


Alex loves his Vacuum

Double Feature

Last week Tara and I did something unheard of for the past couple of years - we went to the movies, twice, in one week. Sure we maxed out our babysitters for the next month or so (thanks Mom and Dad), but it was so nice to head to the Megaplex for a show.

On Thursday Tara and I saw Angels and Demons, the latest Dan Brown/ Ron Howard / Tom Hanks adventure. We both really like the book and it was fun to see it brought to life. Now, I read the book about 3 years ago so I have to say that I really couldn't remember a lot of the twists and turns. Still, it's nice to escape into an action/ adventure movie for a break from reality. Is it better than Da Vinci Code? No - but if you liked the one you'll probably like the other. Just remember to suspend reality for the last hour or so and you'll be good to go.

Saturday was the true movie event of the week. We packed up Kennedy and Alex and headed off to see Up. What a great movie. I have to say I think I would rather watch the Pixar / Dreamworks movies that most of the other stuff around today. I loved how Up profiled the couple at the beginning of the film. Even though it was a bit sad, it was great to show kids all the different phases of life. The rest of the movie was really fun. The characters that Pixar dreams up are awesome - I absolutely loved the chubby little cub scout, Russell. Even though I HATE balloons go see this one, it will truly make you smile.

Under the Sea

For the past few weeks we've been looking to take the kids to the planetarium to see one of their 3D movies. I knew that Alex would really like it if we rode Trax, so he could say he was on the train. Now, I don't mind Trax, but a stroller on Trax is never easy. Still, it was for the kids. So, we packed up the kids, added a few cousins and grandparents, and off we went on a downtown adventure.

If you haven't been to the planetarium lately, it is really fun. We got there about an hour before the movie started and no one cared. They played on all the different exhibits which included the moon and mars scapes and everyone loved the weather station where they could see themselves on TV. We even piled everyone on the giant scale to test our weight on other planets. Funny, but we didn't take a picture of that one! Still, it was fun to watch the kids as they just kept running from station to station to see the cool stuff.


The movie we saw was called Under the Sea, about a 45 minute show detailing life along the Great Barrier Reef. It was awesome! The 3D allowed the kids to get up close and personal with all the different creatures and plants along the ocean floor. For Alex it was his first 3D experience and he kept reaching out to touch the "fishies". Once he couldn't grab them he kept taking off his glasses to figure out what was wrong...

Two big thumbs up from our family about the Clark Planetarium and Under the Sea.

Video Review: BOLT

My parents gave the kids BOLT for Easter a couple of weeks ago and it reminded me to look up Kennedy's movie review from back in November. I hadn't seen the movie yet so I wasn't sure what to make of her disgust for the man with the green eye. Now, it make s total sense. Take it away Kennedy.

Double Feature

Since we went to the movies I thought I'd share a double feature of movie reviews. Kennedy loves to share her thoughts on the latest flick she's seen and Alex - well, he just wants to share. I'd like to thank my hairstylist for the exciting look of "bed head" that I was sporting for the interviews.

Let's go to the Movies

I know that going to the movies isn't that big of a deal to most of you. Truthfully, much of our time at home is spent with the kids watching some kind of video. Yesterday was a big deal though. This was the first time we took Alex to the theater to watch a movie. His attention span is so short that we really didn't want to chase him around the theater while interrupting everyone else.

About a month ago things started to change. Alex would actually sit and watch a movie. He followed what was going on and enjoyed the action. We decided that the 2:20 showing of Monsters vs. Aliens would be his debut on the movie going scene. He was really excited as we talked about the difference between watching a video and going to the movies.

Well, we packed up the car and headed to Hurricane (we're down at my parents this weekend) to see the movie. He loved it. He loved the volume of the speakers, the size of the screen, and the big bucket of popcorn! We had a great time and he was perfect. No getting up to move around. No whining for more treats. He sat there and soaked the experience in. I only wish church could be this easy!

The Red Balloon

the red balloon
Originally uploaded by covili

A couple weeks ago we had some valentine's balloons delivered to our home for the kids. If you don't know - I HATE balloons, but watching the kids play with the red balloon was too good to pass up. Enjoy!

Baby Coming

Alex is a man of few words, but these ones matter a lot (at least some of them matter a lot - I'm not so sure about the Cheerios).

Movie Review: Swing Vote

As part of my retreat to Logan, Tara came up to the UCET dinner and worked it out so she could spend the night. After a wonderful dinner at BlackStone, we decided to take advantage of our night out and we went to the movies. Rather than a summer blockbuster, we headed to the small opening of the latest Kevin Costner flick, Swing Vote.

I'll be the first to admit that Costner movies aren't what they once were, but this one was a pleasant surprise. I don't want to play the spoiler, but watching Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper flipflop from one position to another to get Bud's vote is hilarious. Even though this movie is billed as a comedy, I think there is a thought provoking message at the heart of the film that makes you consider what your role is in the American political system. Some questions you face in the movie include: How far are people willing to sell themselves in order to get what they want? What does a good parent look like? How important is it for the average American to understand the issues facing the Nation? Can one person make a difference?

I really liked this movie and think it's a great watch during this election year. I know it won't win any oscars or break any box office records, but the last twenty minutes will really make you think and you just might get a bit misty...

Movie Review: The Dark Knight

Every summer a movie comes out that breaks all the records and gets all the hype. Half the time it's some crazy action adventure movie with a cast of overrated stars who really can't act and a plot that is too far fetched to be believed. This year it's The Dark Knight's turn to be the "it" movie.

I will admit I really wanted to see the movie. I loved Batman Returns and think that this new rendition of the caped crusader has the character spot on. He isn't the savior of Gotham, just a guy who does what needs to be done to help people in trouble.

I found this film wildly entertaining. Even though it's 2 and 1/2 hours long you feel as though you can't catch your breath for most of the action. I thought the acting was good, a bit wordy with too much dialogue, but everyone did a good job. I even thought that Heath Ledger lived up to the hype as the Joker. He made Jack Nicholson look like a joke with his dark portrayal of the psychopathic killer.

In the end I kept asking myself the question: is anyone in this movie a good guy? There really isn't any sense of closure as every character has flaws and no one ever seems to win the day. The Dark Knight is just that - DARK. Like a horrific traffic accident, you're disgusted and yet, you can't look away. Perhaps that's the way Gotham really is, a place of unbelievable promise, with too many falling into the traps that potential brings.

"You either die the hero, or you live longer enough to see yourself become the villain."

Blessing or Curse?

About a month ago we finally broke down and got a DVR. Sure, we're two years behind all the rest of you out there, but I wasn't really sure I needed an excuse to watch more TV. Truthfully, there aren't that many shows out there that I want to watch. Even so, I never seem to have time to watch the programs that are on my radar. Hence the DVR.

I've really enjoyed having the ability to record an entire series without having to find each individual program. Set it once and you're done. This means I'll never have to miss another Red Sox game. Still, I always seem to have at least 3 games that I haven't even looked at yet. In addition to sports, I've set The Office, 30 Days, Top Chef, and Frontline into the scheduler.

The problem with having access to so many recordings is the only time to watch is after 9 pm, once the kids are down for the night. This was the case on Sunday evening when Tara and I sat down to watch a show called Love Actually (I can't believe it either).We had seen it starting on USA (glad we got the edited version based upon a few scenes) the other night and recorded it to give it a try. I am embarrassed to admit it, but it was a really good show. A complete and total chick flick and I loved every minute of it. We finally finished the movie around 12:30 am, and neither of us regretted the loss of sleep (until I had to get up to go to Brigham City the next morning). That being said, if you get the chance to watch Love Actually, give it a try.

Hooray for the DVR!

Pangea Day

It's not often that you can witness a world changing event from your computer, but Saturday was one of those days. Sponsored by TED, Pangea Day was a worldwide film festival designed to bring the world together. For 4 hours we watched films, speakers, and musicians from all corners of the Earth. Their goal - to help us realize that our differences are minimal compared to the vastness of our similarities. The films depict those emotions that we all share: love, despair, joy, and hope. I hope you'll take a moment to watch some of the films or to watch the highlights from the festival.

This was one of my favorites today....

Double Feature

Tara and I never watch any movies. We like movies, don't get me wrong. It just isn't much of a priority. Over the weekend we happened to catch two quirky movies from last year: Juno and Lars and the Real Girl. Here are some thoughts...

Juno is a movie that we've both wanted to see since we heard about it months ago. Of course, the trailer was funny and the fact that it included Dwight from the Office didn't hurt. Still, I was a little apprehensive because the topic of the movie is teenage pregnancy and adoption. I guess I was worried that it would be a little too close to home. Juno is a great character. She embodies what I remember so much about teens while I taught high school. Students could be profound at times, and then a few minutes later, they could say some of the most absurd nonsense you've ever heard.

The scenes where Juno and the birth parents discussed the upcoming event, were far too familiar to me. It was interesting because the husband in the film (Jason Bateman's character) was way too stereotypical of the guy who isn't ready to become a dad. That didn't reflect my emotions at all. I wasn't sure if I wanted to adopt, but I never questioned my desire to become a father. Watching Jennifer Garner's character hold the little baby for the first time was a 3 year flashback to watching Tara snuggle with Kennedy at the hospital.

I liked the movie - in fact I watched parts of it twice. Tara and I spent much of Friday night talking about whether or not we'll want our kids to watch the movie when they are older (much older). Who knows? Maybe it will help them to understand the decisions that brought them into our family.

The second movie, Lars and the Real Girl, is something that's hard to describe, but impossible to forget. Lars starts out slowly, with a tale about a quiet man who lives an solitary life. Everything changes when Lars shows up one day with a life size sex doll that has become his new girlfriend. You know that there's no way to accept the premise of this movie, but you can't stop watching - anxiously waiting to see how people will respond to Lars and Bianca.

Over the course of the movie you really start to understand how important it is to be accepted for who you are, regardless of how different each of us may be. I thought about how this show would play out if Lars was a Mormon guy bringing his plastic girlfriend to the Ward? How accepting would we be? Even though the film takes a while to get going, I hope you'll give it a chance.