A new adventure

This past weekend, Sullivan and I headed to Northeast Iowa to celebrate my nephew's birthday and take on another first. We arrived Saturday morning with plans to have lunch and then head to the movie theater for Sullivan's first movie on the big screen. I've been teeter tottering the idea of a movie for a while now. Sullivan loves movies at home and usually does a pretty good job sitting still. But with the thought of making a scene in public and dropping over $30 on tickets and over-priced treats; I wasn't too sure we were ready. 

We decided to try it back home for several reasons. First, it's a much small theater. Less people=lesser of a scene in public if it doesn't go well. Second, this time of year the movie theater in Decorah offers free admission on merchant movies provided by local businesses to the public. This was the main reason we decided to try it out. With free tickets it would be okay if we didn't make it through the whole thing. Third, the movie of choice for free last weekend was Polar Express. This is one movie Sullivan has been obsessed about lately. During one week we watched it every night coming home from daycare and an additional 3 times once in the house. Plus that same week we watch the movie 3 times in one day that weekend!! I thought if any there was any movie we would make it through, it would have to be this one.

So at noon, my sister, her two boys, Sullivan and I all walked into the movie theater. Sullivan was pretty excited because the first thing he saw was tons of buttery popcorn being made and served to customers and two big displays of candy. This kid was in heaven!! We got our snacks and settled in our seats (at the back of the theater) just as the previews were ending, perfect timing. Sullivan thought it was so cool and cared less about the popcorn and more about the pack of M&Ms in his kid pack. 

All in all we did okay. We cruised through the first part of the movie just fine. Then kids and parents started getting up to go to the bathroom or to get more snacks and Sullivan thought it was his turn to get up and move around. We made it through about 3/4 the movie and decided my antsy little one needed to go. We will probably be waiting a while before trying the big theater again, but it was a great experience. 

Later that evening we went over to my sister and brother-in-law's house for a birthday celebration. It was a great time with yummy food and cake and happy kids. I love family time!