puppetmaker | The Flapping of Large Wings

Last night was a family night. Really around here most nights are family night but this is one that we did a little more than usual.

We started by watching the new Futurama Movie called "Bender's Big Score". Caroline has always liked Futurama and the Simpsons. Over all it is a pretty good animated film if you like that sort of animation which I do. They had tons of in jokes for those of us who are long term Futurama Fans and enough information for those who are picking it up for the first time. For us old fans, the first five minutes was worth the price of the DVD. I'm going to asks that if you talk about this film in the comments that you don't spoil it for those who are going to see it on Comedy Central in the near future.

Then we tried Disney's Scene It with Caroline. We went for the short game because we were not sure how she was going to do with it but she won on her own with little to no help from us. Her die rolls were high and she answered her questions correctly including her final trivia question. She wanted to play the long game, but we informed her that we would do that at another time. She did very well waiting for her turn and playing by the rules. I was very proud of her.

While we were playing the game, a clip came up from "Hercules" which Caroline hadn't seen and I had only seen bits and pieces of. We had the DVD so we put that on and settled in to watch the movie. Caroline made it about half way when she fell asleep which is about what we expected after her busy Caroline day.

We finished up the movie and Ariel went to bed since we were losing an hour's sleep (stupid DST but that is a rant for another day. How many clocks did you have to reset?) Peter and I were checking the doors and making sure that the cats had plenty of food and water since they tend to come scratching on the door at sun-up if we don't. Peter asked me if I knew were Ariel's large Pegasus was. This is a stuffed animal the size of a small pony. I had vague memories of it being in the attic. After a couple minutes of checking, we found it buried under a bunch of old coats and something that we think was dead sea bath salts which had gotten all over him. We brought him down and clean him up. I sewed up a couple of holes along the seams that needed some repair. Peter finished cleaning him up and set him up in the living room.

Caroline came knocking at our door about a quarter to eight. We let her in and she jumped up on the bed for her morning hugs and greetings. Peter asked her if she remembered falling to sleep watching "Hercules". She nodded and gave us the short version of what she remembered of the film. Peter asked her if she heard the storm outside? She nodded and said there was a big wind. Peter asked her if she heard the flapping of wings last night but he thought he did. I agreed with Peter that I had heard them too. Caroline agreed with us that she had heard them. We took her downstairs and she stopped on the bottom stair in total surprise as she saw Pegasus sitting in the living room with one of the cats sitting next to him. She ran to him and looked him over carefully. She turned to Peter and informed him that this was the best present ever. She hugged and petted Pegasus and introduced him to the cats who had come over for their morning head scritches.

She has been playing with him all morning. Introducing him to her various stuffed animals and giving him plenty of hugs and attention. I think we have a hit.

I am grateful for watching my child use her imagination.