Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I was fortunate that Jason is on vacation this week so that I was able to go see this movie on opening day. I have been excited for weeks!

There will be spoilers here so if you have only ever watched the movies (and don't already know whats coming) you may wanna stop here!!

My only real disappointment with the film is that it's just impossible to fit the entire book into 2 1/2 hours. So much happened before Harry ever got to school this year and that was briefly skimmed thru. I feel like if I hadn't read the book I'd be clueless as to what was going on but that's probably not the case, I am just sensing what's missing.

I think that given time constraints they did everything they could to get the important parts in but I MUST say.. I am thrilled Book 7 will be two movies so that hopefully more of the last book will be able to be shown on screen.

As for the movie itself? I thought it was great. Casting never ceases to amaze me.
Luna, one of my favorite characters, was wonderfully cast by Evanna Lynch and played to a T. She got a considerable amount of screen time this movie which I was pleased with (moreso than poor Neville).

Another big casting favorite of mine was Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange.



She is brilliant as the slightly deranged follower of Voldemort and nails the performance.

Casting I didn't see coming? Jessie Cave as Lavendar Brown.

She wasn't who I pictured at ALL the the love struck admirer of Ron but seeing it in action I felt alot better with the choice. She's a very pretty girl and did the ditzy affectionate role justice.

The camaraderie between the trio was there as always.



You wanted to cry with Hermione as Ron runs off with Lavendar and you cheered when he said Hermione's name is his sleep.

You clapped with the crowd as Ron got every catch in the Quidditch game. You felt your heart melt a little as Ginny kissed Harry in the Room of Requirement. Here's what I didn't understand though (and another casting win). How did Hermione NOT think Cormac Mclaggen (potrayed by Freddie Stroma) was a complete and total BABE??



Are you kidding me?? He's flat out yummy.

Anyways all in all my only complaint again is how much had to be cut out. The scenes were done well, graphics were great, all the actors did their roles wonderfully. I could have done with less of the Burrows burning down and more shirtless Mclaggen but hey, I am not the director.

The scene that sent chills up my spine and goosebumps all over was after Dumbledore died.. and Harry ran back to be at his side. And one by one... well.. you'll see. I wont ruin that one for you. Just remember I told you about it here first.

Autism Friendly Showing of HP6!!!!

Seriously, you have NO idea how happy this makes me.

Autism Friendly Showing of Half Blood Prince at AMC Theaters

Now, this is not a movie I'd take Mikey too anyhow. Its much too harsh for him, and he doesn't separate reality from fantasy well at all yet.

But it's the point. The fact they are doing this is amazing. I am SO thrilled because it opens up the doors for similar showings with different movies. There's just really not words to express how much hope this gives me for kids with autism everywhere. Look... people are changing for you.. instead of making you change for them. Rock on.

And in other news, Mikey got two cavities filled Thursday. Some of you may remember the traumatic experience earlier this year that left us both in tears when a dentist attempted to do this with Mikey and was IMO way to harsh on him. I decided to go the sedation route because it just seemed way too much for Mikey to handle and I was not going to put him in a strait jacket like the dentist suggested (you're freaking kidding me right? Do parents DO that???)

So we finally got him in Thursday and it went wonderful. They had him drink some loopy medicine and we hung out in the waiting room for 30 mins then I took him back. They sealed up his four permanent teeth first, got a nitrous oxide supply going in his nose, numbed, shot up and filled first the big cavity then a small one.

Mikey did great. They let me stay the whole time and most of it I was at the head of his chair so he could always see me. I did not think they would let me do that so I was very grateful. They were wonderful with him, so attentive, praising him, patient.. it was worth the arm and a leg we are paying for it. I just pray we can keep his teeth clean enough to NOT need to do this again (well except for the 3rd we have to fill in August).

And in even BETTER news, a few weeks back I found out my stepsister Amber is pregnant. She'll be having a little girl due in November. And just yesterday at the family summer birthday party, I found out my SIL (stepbrother's wife) is also pregnant, due in February. So TWO cousins for my kiddoes in a matter of months. Wendy says shes having a boy based on the Chinese Birth Calendar. I guess we'll see!

So.. Aunt AnnMarie? Aunt Annie? Auntie Ann? I cant decide...

4th of July

We had a pretty decent 4th of July. Up until the very last minute I hadn't decided whether we would go to an event they hold every year at out local park or not. Finally I decided to go, even if just for a few hours. It was hot and supposed to rain but I figured it's 5 minutes up the road if we needed to leave.

Plus.. getting Mikey out of the house and away from his computer is always a good thing.

So I told my Mom and she met us up there. They had lots of games for kids, bounce houses, coloring tents, water balloon tosses and more. There was music and tons of food.

It was hot but very breezy so not too bad. The kids played soccer with a ball Heather brought, we bought them a slice of pizza and some juice and we walked around, checking things out and getting freebies.

Finally we decided to go as Mikey was lamenting the fact that it was past 7 and he had not yet had his 7 o'clock snack and Heather wore herself out with sheer brattiness.

Once home we turned on the TV and PBS was airing their annual 4th of July concert near the state capital. When we turned it on they had Sesame street characters singing patriotic songs and the kids and I danced and sang along with them.

Then, they brought out the Jersey Boys. I was very interested in this seeing as how my Dad recently saw and reviewed Jersey Boys in his blog and it sounded wonderful.

They did a number of songs including "Walk Like a Man", "Sherry", "Oh What a Night" and more. The best part? The kids were dancing and singing along with me here too. Mikey kept asking me about them and I told him everything I knew. I told him he should ask Granddad about them too :P.

Once this was over we took the kids outside and let them watch both the fireworks from the park and ones our neighbors across the street were doing in their driveway. Mikey did very well with them but reached his capacity for stimulation in about 20 minutes and went inside. Heather stayed the whole time, laughing and jumping up and down yelling about how much she LOVED fireworks.

I got both kids to bed sometime after 9 and then spent a quiet night (ok, not so quiet with fireworks still going off) reading Forever Odd, the second in a series of "odd" books by Dean Koontz. I finished that today and am looking for the 3rd, hopefully the library has it (or Dad?).

In any case, had a very good holiday, hope you all did as well.