Let's all go to the movies.

So a few months back I was wondering when we'd get to take Vincent to his first movie. Well my friends, today was the day. Since Daddy's company just gave everybody 2 extra days off after the 4th of July out of the blue (Unprecedented, right?), we decided to make the most of the extra time. So after building it up for a few days, today we dropped Peter off at Mom-Mom's and caught a matinee of Ratatouille.

As far as first movie experiences go, ours was pretty mild. Vincent's mood for the morning wavered between unbridled excitement ("ARE THE MICE GONNA SING?! ARE THEY GONNA TALK TO YOU?! WHO'S RATAT AND WHO'S TOOEY?") and subtle apprehension ("Let's just stay home. You (meaning I) don't want to go to the movies. Let's just go to Mom-Mom's."). I can't blame him. His father (read: me) who used to throw up before going to the movies when he was younger because he was so excited/nervous. All things being the same, he did a great job.

We got popcorn and snowcaps and after a few minutes of checking things out in the lobby, got to our seats. I had to take him out to the hallway during the previews but once he was assured the actual movie was starting, he was good. He loved the Pixar short that started things off (as did Rose and I) about an inept alien trying to pull a sleeping child out of his rural, midwestern room via tractor beam but not quite knowing how to operate it. Pixar really knows how to pull of those simple, physical jokes.

We all enjoyed the first 40 minutes of Ratatouille but sadly, that's about all Vincent lasted. He liked watching the little devils scurry around and cook and evade shotgun blasts (not kidding) but having not been inundated with the characters beforehand on Sprout/Noggin/Playhouse Disney or through coloring books, sunglasses, sneakers, figurines, flatware or plastic cups, he had no point of reference. With that in mind, 40 minutes of sitting virtually still is pretty damn good for a kid who's not even 3. Rose and I have talked about going back on a date night because it was so against our guts to leave a good movie.

So we left and went to a nearby park, then back to Mom-Mom's to pick up Peter. All in all it was fun. For two parents who love movies and don't get to go much, 40 minutes was too little but obviously, it was perfect for Vincent. And to put it in perspective - I coulda been at work.

Photo captions: Vincent Simpson in the giant display for the Simpsons movie, Rose and Vincent (looking a little nervous) before the show started. Yes - I brought my camera to the movies. I only took pictures before the previews. I'm not thaaat bad.