Almost Angels

Next up on the list is an older movie from the 60's about some boys in the Vienna Boys' Choir. 

I ended up watching this one alone. It was nice to listen to the music, but mostly I found it sad that the boys are put under so much pressure to have these lovely high pitched voices and then they dread when their voices drop because then they cannot have the solos they wanted. There were plenty of little boy jokes and pranks, though. It was a bit boring, although it was a pretty rainy and boring morning anyway. 

We were inspired to write and perform our own little song. We do love singing in my family but we never wrote our own song together so that was a lot of fun. It was about stars. I snapped a picture while he was singing about how they shine so bright. 

Alley Cats Strike

It is time for another fun Disney Channel Original Movie - Alley Cats Strike! I remember watching this movie when it came out - so good. And now you look at the cast and it is mind-blowing. Yep! That's Penny from Big Bang Theory. Hah!

This movie was fun to watch because it brought a little popularity to bowling - which by the way, is so fun and it was my first date with the Mr. It also had a bit of a 50's vibe going on and I love seeing the retro clothes and music in a more modern environment. 

Of course we went bowling for our activity. It just so happens that our baseball team was having a banquet at the bowling alley so we were very excited to get to do this activity for free! 

No, that is not a fireball or special magic powers the kid possesses. Just a shiny yo-yo or something. 

Aliens of the Deep

Aliens of the Deep is a documentary about some fish that live very deep in the ocean and they look very cool and creepy. 

I have to say I am enjoying the documentaries. The kid thought some of the fish were cool, but he was getting sleepy at the other parts - mostly during the tech-talk. I think I am going through a phase where I am actually interested in learning more about the world and beyond so this was right up my alley. 

We were inspired by the fish and had the chance to go to the nearby aquarium for a party. We touched some stingrays and sharks and starfish. We explored all sorts of sea creatures. 

Alice in Wonderland (Live Action)

This week we watched the Live Action version of Alice in Wonderland. 

Some of the movie was similar to the cartoon, but most of is was very different. In this one, she is returning to Wonderland, although she doesn't remember being there in the first place. She is much older at 19, and is expected to slay the Jabberwocky already. It was only more confusing when I discovered that Disney is releasing a sequel soon when this already felt like it was based more on the second book than the first. I did like the actors in this movie, though. And of course I am still excited to see what they come up with for the sequel.

Nearby in Philadelphia, you can visit the Please Touch Museum where they have an exhibit dedicated to Alice in Wonderland, including this tiny room, the Mad Hatter's tea party, a maze of bushes, and Flamingo croquet. 

Alice in Wonderland

Time for another classic - Alice in Wonderland. I cannot believe that I have never watched this movie all the way through. Maybe I did when I was really little, but I don't remember it well enough to count. 

I can see why this movie has such a cult following. It is entertaining, but I kept finding myself going "what the...?" The kid loved it. So many great things about the movie. I think my favorite part has always been the Cheshire Cat. He is so sneaky.

We were inspired to have a tea party of our own. It was yummy! Of course we sang Happy Very Unbirthday. 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I never read the book, but boy do I love this movie!! 

This movie came out last year and I didn't see it until now. I loved it! There is humor for the kids and humor for the adults. I thought it was clever and just so silly. I love a good laugh.

The movie is loosely based off a book, and in the movie there is a very funny scene where Dick Van Dyke is reading a book. The kid is about to start kindergarten this September and is learning how to read some Disney stories to get ready for school.

Aladdin and the King of Thieves

This week we watched the third Aladdin movie. 

Robin Williams is back as the Genie, making a ton of pop culture references and jokes. We meet Aladdin's father, who turns out to be the King of Thieves searching for the Hand of Midas. 

Once again, I love the music. I am excited to hear they are planning to make a live-action Aladdin movie about the Genies. As far as the straight-to-video sequels go, I think the Aladdin sequels are pretty good. 

We were inspired by the thieve's secret hide-out and the Cave of Wonders from the original movie. We found a cavern nearby to explore. If you are wondering where you can find a cave or cavern to tour in the U.S., check out this website. It was a really cool experience -literally - it was 52 degrees while the surface was somewhere around 95 degrees (F).