fire pits and movies

Projector, external dvd player, chocolate, and Planet Earth.
Can't go wrong anywhere on the planet.

Tonight Stephens had a movie night. Since I learned how to set up the projector in our movie hall (computer lab), we have had plenty of movie nights. The kids get out of studying early and I get to re-watch movies like Spirited Away, Aladdin, and Monster's Inc. It's a win-win. Usually I get some chocolatey treat to keep everyone chewing and quiet at the beginning and then the movie takes over the command of quiet and quells conversation. There is a slight language barrier, but they all have a decent foundation of English and I add subtitles whenever I can (all movies in the city are pirated, so you really never know what you're going to get or what features will be available. The first Planet Earth set I found turned out to be six blank DVDs.) Plus, animated and action movies (their favorites) are pretty universal--they all still had watery eyes at the end of Toy Story 3 the other night. I'll let you know how the first 10 minutes of Pixar's Up go in a few nights.

Planet Earth garnered fewer tears, but a moment of silence
washed over the kids when the baby caribou fell to the wolf 

In addition to the movie, we had a fire pit lit tonight after dinner to stave off the cold during our mandatory post-dinner outdoor digestion period.

Trash + sticks = fire pit

I love our post-dinner hang outs because the kids are relaxed and silly. It is the furthest away from the classroom I ever get with them and in this digestion time they ask the best, uninhibited questions. The clear night, the fire, and the promise of Planet Earth and all its wonder made tonight a little extra special.