The Pursuit of Happyness

When this film came out in 2006, I remember watching it with Charles. It was so moving to me that I decided it was one that I wanted to watch every year around Thanksgiving. It's not a Thanksgiving or Christmas movie, but for some reason, this movie always helps me to gain a little perspective. It's a good reminder for me to "not sweat the petty stuff." It is SO easy for me to get stressed out over things that really don't matter. But watching this movie also helps to remind me that I have a good life and so much to be grateful for. No matter how bad my day may have seemed, someone else is always having it worse. (Not that that is comforting to me!) It's a good reminder for me to count my blessings more, shut-up about my "problems" and go help someone in REAL need.

So this was my 3rd year watching it, and I decided to allow the boys to watch it with me if they wanted. They definitely didn't understand the movie to the full extent, despite my efforts to explain a few things here and there... but there were a few parts where I think the boys did get a little bit of the message. There's this scene where Christopher (the little 5 year old) has his only toy in his hand. He loves that toy just like the boys love their bear or blanket. But he and his Dad are running to catch a bus so they can make it to the shelter on time so they'll have a place to sleep that night. As they are running, Christopher drops his toy, but they are in too much of a hurry to go back for it. He loses his toy. This and a few other parts, I think touched Jaden, and with tears in his eyes he really felt for the little boy.


After the movie was over, Jaden had a lot of questions about why some people don't have money or food or toys or moms or beds or homes. We talked about it for a little while and then I asked the boys if they could think of a way that we could help little kids like Christopher. Jaden sat and thought, while Kaleb piped up. "I know what we can do! We can give them our beds, and we can just sleep on the floor!" He was so serious when he said it, I thought it was very sweet.


Then Jaden said, "I have lots of toys. Maybe I can take out the ones that are old and broken and trash and give them to the little kids." I asked him if he thought the kids would like to have old, broken and trashy toys. He said no, and started to think again.

Then Kaleb said, "They can have some of my toys!" So we decided to go through their toys and see if there was anything that they would want to give away. I got out a small tub and we went through every single toy the boys own. I didn't push them one way or the other. If they wanted to keep it they could, if not they put it into the tub themselves. As Kaleb was going through the cars he would say, "This one I want to keep because it is special to me, but this one can go to the little boy." It really amazed me how much Kaleb understood and how willing he was to give away his toys. I had hopes that Jaden would be giving, but I didn't think Kaleb would at all. He really surprised me. That small tub became 4 trash bags full of toys. I was so proud of them. There were things they gave up that I hadn't thought they'd be ready to part from, and things that they wanted to keep that I had no idea they even cared about. They made all the decisions themselves. Sometimes Jaden would say, "I have to think about this toy some more." Then after a little while, when he was ready he would make his decision. They went through their books and stuffed animals as well. As soon as I find the right place for the boys to deliver their contributions, we will do that. I hope this is something they will do every year.


I asked Jaden if he wanted to say anything in the blog about it and this is what he said...

"People don't have much things like we have. You know why? They don't have phones, friends, stuff, toys, TV and food so they have to stay outside on a cold wintry night. I saw a movie that the people didn't have clothes, food, and he lost his favorite and only toy. He lived in a bathroom one night and on a train. He didn't have a home because his Dad didn't have enough money and his mommy too. His mommy left to go far far away to find a job. We picked out toys people might like cuz they don't have all the stuff we have. We picked out cars, food, toys and books too. It makes me feel good to help them, and it makes me sad that they don't have all the things that we have."

I also asked Kaleb what he would like to say.

"Coney on a pone."

Well, that's Kaleb for you!

Bradley's Prayer

Bradley says his own prayer. He's very reverent at home and at church when it comes time to pray. He will clasp his little hands together and bow his head. Sometime at dinner or at bedtime he will want to "say" the prayer. He gets into his position and he makes this particular sound that he ONLY makes when he's praying. It almost sounds like a whispered, "kuh-lick-a-lick-a-lick." It's very soft, so you may not be able to hear him. And when he is finished he opens his arms wide to say Amen with, "Daaah!" And he is so proud of himself every time.

I've been trying to catch this on camera for over a month now. I finally did, but it's not till the end. It starts at about 1 min. and 40sec.

Thanksgiving Week

This year we got to have Charles' parents over for the week of the Thanksgiving. It was really nice to get to spend some time with them... even if there wasn't much to do!


Because it was so freakin' cold, we only went outside once. And once was enough! We walked over to Jaden's school to let the kids play on the playground.










Remember how Bradley is my Closet Walker? We think maybe he was just waiting for Grandma and Grandpa Socci to get here before he felt comfortable enough to show off. He walked so much that I wonder if Chuck and Sherrie thought we were lying when we said that he just started walking in front of us (a lot) the day they arrived. Here's his first trip to the park where he's not being carried everywhere.



But I guess he got a little winded!

Another day the boys took their Grandparents to one of their favorite places... Jumpin' Jacks.

Charles and I didn't go because we had the Scouts coming over that day, but I have to tell you. I love this place. And I'll love it even more when Bradley gets big enough to take off on his own. It's just this big room full of bounce houses. Kids go and bounce out all their energy while the moms sit on the couch and read, visit, check email, whatever! And it's a decent price for a month's Mommy and Me pass. We come here about 1-3 times a week. The kids love it! It's the perfect place to take kids in the wintertime when it's too cold to go outside.


The kids also wanted to take their Grandparents to their other favorite place. This place is called Jungle Jim's. It's like an indoor carnival and arcade. The price here is awesome when you have a coupon. Otherwise, I probably would not come.





This trip was also the first time that Bradley insisted on joining the fun... which meant I got to ride a lot too. :)






Sherrie was brave enough to ride the "fast" one with us TWICE! And Bradley loved it. He whined whenever the ride would end. I guess Disneyland prepared him well!






We peer-pressured Chuck and Charles into doing it one time, and I'd say they did pretty well... for a couple of sissy-boys!



Now, I don't usually let the boys do the arcade because it seems like such a waste of money to me, but it was a special day. I'm afraid they may have had a little too much fun with it and will want to do it every time we go! Oh well, sucks for them!



Here's Bradley tearin' it up at Hungry Hungry Hippo.


Nice shot Jaden! Nice "Double-shot" Kaleb!

Bradley's turn!






Skeeball was a joke. So the boys had to take matters into their own hands.





The kids ended up with a grand total of 435 tickets. They redeemed them for a sword, a few little toys and candy for each of them.




The rest of the trip was spent playing like this...


and being goofy like this.


We made edible playdough. Kaleb didn't do much playing...



and Jaden didn't do much eating.


But the majority of the visit was spent just relaxing, talking, playing games, and watching movies. Lots of movies. Well, not lots of movies, but 2 movies over and over and over. I think we all have Spiderman and Ice Age 3 memorized by now. But hey, what can you do? It's too cold outside, and it keeps the kids quiet and happy, right?


We played LIFE a couple times, and it was funny to see how much Jaden is like Charles. Whenever he had to pay anyone money he would get upset and try and figure out a way to get around it. Like when a tornado hit his house and he had to pay for repairs, he said, "I'm not paying that! I'll fix it myself!"

On Thanksgiving Day we all went to MY parents' house for dinner. My Mom and Alli worked hard to make such yummy food, while my Dad put up the Christmas lights. It was really nice to have them invite us over. I sure wasn't confident enough to try hosting my first Turkey dinner with Charles stuck working then having to sleep! No doubt it would have been a DISASTER! Seriously. I forgot my camera that day, so unfortunately, no pictures. :(

But we DID have a pilgrim join us...


and a couple Indians.


Kaleb's Indian name was "Quiet Spider." We thought it was pretty appropriate since he hardly speaks a word at school, and he is obsessed with Spiderman. :)


All in all, it was a very nice visit. My kids are very lucky to get to see their California Grandparents as often as they do. They look forward to their visit and are always sad to see them leave. Thanks for spending your Thanskiving break with us, Grandma and Grandpa!