Flashback

A couple of months ago, we checked out the Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper DVD from the library. Ella initally didn't want to watch it. Apparently, there was a mean-looking, white haired lady on the back of the case that freaked her out. Yeah, in the past she's had a thing about white haired people. I think it is a holdover from her fear of Santa Claus. Anyway, Lucie was totally set on watching it. She has no such qualms about white-haired people. I put it on while they were eating lunch and eventually Ella was hooked. Come on...princesses, singing. It's gotta be a winner for two princess-loving girls, right?

Oh yes. Yes, it is.

Soon enough, they were pretending to be the characters in the movie. I used to do that ALL the time as a girl -- The Parent Trap was one of my favorites. (The original Haley Mills version, of course...no Lindsey Lohan for me.) Not only were my girls pretending to be the characters, they were fighting over who got to be who. Yes, I confess that I used to fight over the same thing with my sisters. However, since there were three of us, we used to fight over which one of Charlie's Angels we were going to be. Because Jamie had the brown hair, she automatically got to be Jaclyn Smith's character. Because Jessica was the oldest, she called dibbs on Farrah Fawcett's and/or Cheryl Ladd's character. As the youngest, I was "forced" to be Kate Jackson's character. I was never happy about that one. She wasn't nearly as glamorous as the others.

And now about 30 years later, I sit and watch my girls fight over who gets to be Princess Annelise (the blonde) and who has to be the pauper Erica (the brunette). Strangely enough, it is my two-year old who insists on being the Princess, and my five-year old who gets upset. I can't help but laugh.

A-ha

Okay, I think that I solved the mystery of why Ella has been calling me "Mother" rather than "Mom" or "Momma" or "Mommy"! Surprise, surprise...I think it has to do with a movie.

Usually, in the morning, Brett gets Ella going with breakfast and a video while I sleep a little more and/or nurse Lucie. Well, the other morning, she was watching a movie called Summer Magic - it's a Disney Classic that featured Haley Mills. I LOVED this movie when I was a little girl and jumped at the chance to buy it when I saw it online at the Disney Movie Club.

The Synopsis: When a close-knit Boston family loses their fortune, they find a wealth of family secrets, young love, and charming summer nights in Beulah, Maine. A good-natured postmaster, pretentious cousin Julia, and the mysterious absentee landlord, Mr. Hamilton, populate their new life in a charming old yellow house.

Anyway, back to Ella...

In the movie, Haley Mills plays the main character Nancy. In it, she refers to her mother as "Mother". For some reason, that morning after Ella had watched it, she just used the right inflection of voice when she called me "Mother" so that it reminded me of Nancy. Then, it clicked. She picked it up from the movie!

This girl picks up all sorts of things from movies, tv, commercials. I realize how careful I need to be with what is on there. In fact, Brett actually objects to parts of Summer Magic. There is a song in it when Nancy and her cousin Julia are advising a younger girl on "how to catch a beau". Some of their advice includes to "hide the real you." Yeah, I can't say that I want my daughter emulating that in the future. But, rather than banning the movie, I took the opportunity to turn it into a teachable moment. I still love the movie, and I think Ella does too.

Recipe Swap: Johnny Appleseed Cake

It is officially Apple Season and locally grown apples have made it to my grocery store shelves. The taste sooooo much better than those shipped from afar. I drive past a local apple farm when I take Ella out to preschool, but so far, I've never made the stop. One of these days I'll do it....

Anyway, yesterday Jessica at Life as Mom had her weekly recipe swap (a Thursday feature). The theme was Apple Recipes. Yeah, I'm a little late to the game, but I thought I'd go ahead and post an apple recipe from my childhood. I remember making this with my mom...and boy, did we love it! I made it a couple of months ago on a Saturday morning and it was as good as I remembered it.

Johnny Appleseed Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup melted butter or oil
1 3/4 cup applesauce
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon*
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg*
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves*
1 cup raisins

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of 9-inch square pan. In large bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30 - 35 minutes or until top springs back lightly when touched in center.

* You can substitute 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves if you wish.

My Latest Addiction

A few weeks ago, Brett was enjoying a sailing trip. Now, when he is away overnight, I usually stay up really late watching a movie so that I am so exhausted that I fall asleep quickly. Well, I wasn't in the mood for any of the movies that we own, and we don't have cable. So, I turned to the Internet to see if there were any interesting shows to watch online. I went over to NBC to see what they had available. Much to my surprise, I found a "Vintage Show" available online.

It immediately caught my eye. It was something that I used to watch as a girl with my little brother JJ. Oh, just the name brings back memories. You see, they used to film the show occasionally in the area where I grew up. I have a memory of driving with my mom around town and seeing the van...and my poor mom had to endure JJ and I screaming from the backseat. Do you know what show I'm talking about? Here, I'll give you a hint...





Did you guess it?!

Yes, I admit. Once again I am watching The A-Team (and you can too - just click the link and it will take you to where you can watch it online)!

It may be a bit on the cheesy side, but I love it! Lots of that catchy theme music, explosions, cars jumping and flipping, the good guys fighting evil, corruption...and no one ever seems to die or get hurt. Plus, I get to look at Face -- I had a crush on him as a little girl. But now that I'm older, I can appreciate the humor of Hannibal and Murdock too...BA even makes me chuckle.

Well, I've pulled Brett into my little addiction and we've been watching online episodes together. I don't think he ever thought that he'd watch The A-Team with his wife...and at her suggestion no less!

My brothers tell me that they might even be making a movie too. If the rumor is true and it will come out in June, I just may have to go see it for my birthday!