All 4 Hansons are going to be around for the day, so we planned what we thought would be an exciting day of family fun and bonding! We started with morning snuggle and lounging time!
Does life get much better than hanging out in only your diaper in an empty toy bucket?
After picking Carter up from his birthday party, it was time to start the family fun. We got the ball rolling with a trip over to Woodbury - our old stomping grounds - and an early dinner at The Green Mill that is owned by Billy's company. FUN for Mommy and Daddy because the discount is 50% off! Next, off to PetLand where they have the typical pet store animals PLUS puppies. We used to take Carter here to see and play with the puppies all the time when we lived over here.
Carter picked out tonight's puppy playmate.
Amelia loved the puppy...too much so. She thought it a good idea to pick him up right from his neck!
It was love at first sight...for both Carter and the puppy. He would leave Carter's lap (which was his safety zone from the wrath of Amelia) only to fetch his little toy and would then snuggle back up with Carter once again.
The tears from Hanson child #1 came when it was time to go and the puppy had to go back. Carter SO badly wanted to take the puppy home and even volunteered to make a withdrawl from his college account in order to pay for him. We do foresee a puppy in our future (especially one like this who we learned is great with kids and does not shed) Carter...but not when we're planning on putting our house on the market this spring, moving this summer, and potty training our toddler. Soon, buddy, we promise!
Our next stop...the discount movie theatre to see Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 (for the second time for most, as Carter, Daddy, and Mommy saw it around Christmas time when it was first released). We thought this would be a positive experience...with Amelia's LOVE of the Chipmunks movie we have at home and the expectation that we may be the only one in the remote theatre. However...
Amelia has never seen so much popcorn in one place before. She was thrilled!
So, we're ready to go. Unfortunately, the small theatre was quite full with other patrons. Amelia was fascinated with the big screen and interested in sitting to eat popcorn for about the first half of the movie. However, she then thought that the theatre was just like a home, where she can wander near the screen and talk incessantly. After chasing her up and down the stairs and "shhh-ing" repeatedly and receiving dirty glares from Daddy, it was time for Mommy to take her out. We tried coming back in on a couple of different occasions, but to no avail. So, while Carter and Daddy enjoyed the remainder of the movie, Mommy sat with her back against the door so that Amelia couldn't open it while she screamed "MY CHIPMUNKS PPPPLLLLEEEEEEEASE" over and over and over. Hence, tears from Hanson child #2 on our day of family fun.
Can it still be called a family fun day when both kids become hysterical at given points during the day? Well, we still had a great time together!
In the hopes to get all of Amelia's musical aspirations BEFORE the show starts, we hung out in Mommy's classroom until the last minute before the show started. 
"We Sing, Dance, and Play" was the theme of the 1st grade music program this year. And, yes...the old Sesame favorite from long ago was part of the show. Mommy couldn't help but tear up at the "Sing, sing a song. Sing out loud. Sing out strong. La la la la la. La la la la la la. La la la la la la la." part!
Carter had a "speaking part" in the show! He had a blurb to introduce the next song that the group would sing - "Miss Mary Mack". After rehearsing his line, he rocked it into the microphone like a pro!
Carter, you and your friends sure did captivate the audience! It was an awesome show! We have a wonderful music specialist at our school and Carter proves that the musical talent does not stop with Daddy in the Hanson family!
