There’s a five year-old in this house who loves movies.

No, there’s a five year-old in this house who LOVES movies. And for the last couple of weeks, he’s offered me the same gentle reminder at least once a day: “Mama. I need for you to please remember something. Madagascar 2 is in theatres on November 7th.”

MEMORIZE PREVIEWS MUCH?

So, since one of our favorite mama / son activities is to go to the movie theatre and find good seats and lift the armrest in between the two of us and snuggle up and share some popcorn and laugh a whole bunch, the little guy and I made a trip to the movies this afternoon. It was damp and rainy outside – pretty much perfect movie-going conditions – and once we bought our tickets and got settled in our seats, I decided there was nowhere on earth I’d rather be at that moment, and the only thing that would’ve made it any better would be some sort of seatside diet Coke fountain / Rotel dip dispenser / melted milk chocolate pump with bowls of tortilla chips and pretzels readily available.

Oh, the sweet and salty combination is a gift, isn’t it?

Anyway, we watched the movie and I got just a wee-bit teary-eyed when I saw the animated versions of acacia trees (LET ME REPEAT: ANIMATED TREES MADE ME TEARY-EYED, FEEL FREE TO PITY ME), and then I laughed a whole bunch at the silly antics of the wacky animals. I even decided as I gazed upon the animated African landscape that I could totally live there, maybe even in a tent right alongside the Nile provided that someone can figure out how to air condition the outdoors, because really, what could be more natural (and sensible!) than a girl who has numerous nature-related phobias deciding to spend the rest of her life camped out next to a river where wild animals roam freely?

So. Back to Africa it is. I’m glad that’s settled.

Also: I may have dozed off in the movie for one or fifteen minutes because I was a little chilly and the little guy snuggled up really close and I got all warm and toasty and my eyelids felt a little heavy and then suddenly it was VERY loud and I was totally surprised that the airplane was working again, but even with my gaps in plot point memory I can tell you that the movie is super cute and I especially enjoyed the music, the end.

(I mean, it’s no High School Musical 3, but that is understandable since there is no basketball-playing / drama-loving tiger named Troy Bolton in Madagascar 2.)

(But if there were? I’d give it seven out of five stars.)

(With four exclamation points at the end.)

(OHMYGAH TROY!!!!)

So now we’re home, and we have exactly zero items on our weekend agenda, which is JUST LIKE I LIKE IT. Hopefully the husband will build us a fire, and I’m going to sit on the couch with my favorite blanket and watch TV and enjoy the blessed calm while I try to figure out if I’m going to cheer for Alabama or LSU in their game tomorrow.

Which is to say: I think our weekend’s gonna be just dandy.

Hope yours is, too.

Tonight’s episode of “The Office” was near perfection in my humble opinion. You had Michael fumbling – but not to the point of utter humiliation, Jim pushing Dwight’s buttons to beat the band, and FINALLY a decent level of interaction between Jim and Pam.

Plus, the conspiracy plotline? GENIUS.

Some of my favorite moments:

1) “Whenever I’m getting married, you don’t believe me.”

2) “Kelly Kapur is our dusty, exotic customer service rep….”

3) “What color is his shirt? Mustard or dijon?”

4) “WHAT DO YOU THINK I’M SAYING TO YOU?”

5) “…and there’s our smudgeness.”

6) “OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER!”

7) “I don’t want to be married in a tent like a hobo.”

8) Dwight driving in the parking lot.

9) Pam: “That’s what she said! That’s what she said! That’s what she said!”

10) “I was right. I was right. I was right!”

And finally: OH MY LANDS, DWIGHT KICKING IN CELEBRATION, I’VE NEVER LOVED ANYTHING MORE, WE WATCHED IT SIX TIMES IN A ROW.

To top off all the funny, we got a touch of bittersweet with Jim and Pam – and a touch of mischief with Dwight and Angela.

Tripled loved it. I enjoyed having a little break from All The Awkward.

What about y’all? What did you think?

Please. Don’t. Miss. It.

Now I know it’s only the beginning of November, but in case you’re a planner, I thought you might like to have some basic info on this year’s Christmas Tour of Homes.

First, the code for the cute button Shannon made:

<a href="https://www.boomama.net/2008/12/15/christmas-tour-of-homes-2008/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/boomama205/boomamachristmassmall1.jpg" border="0" alt="BooMamaChristmasTour"></a>

Second, here’s what the button should look like if you add it to your blog:

Third, the details, which are the basically the same as they’ve been the last two years:

I only ask a few things of you if you plan to participate in our humble little tour:

– That you actually post pictures of your holiday decorations (and by all means, if you celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas, please join us).

– That you don’t mock the season. Or the Reason. Or the people who are participating, oh thank you.

As for what kind of pictures we’re going to post…well, I’m thinking pictures of your tree…pictures of a particular collection that you love…pictures of your favorite nativity scene…pictures of your front door…and pictures of your outside decorations if you’d like to share them. Show us your favorite traditions.

So basically, you know, whatever.

And really, it’s only fair that you should provide some refreshments (I mean, you ARE inviting us over and all), so I think it would be great fun if everyone posted his or her favorite quick and easy holiday recipe along with the pictures.

And if you’re wondering how this works, it’s pretty simple. You’ll put up your Christmas Tour post on your blog on the 15th, then hop over here and leave your link on the Mr. Linky. Once you leave your link, you can start clicking through the list and visiting other people. It’s like an Open House, but since it’s on the internet you get to experience the Open House while you’re wearing your pajamas and eating chocolate.

And maybe even drinking some egg nog.

I for one cannot imagine anything more delightful, except that I don’t like egg nog, but I will not let that damper my enthusiasm.

Can’t wait to deck the halls with y’all!