can you feel the love tonight?

Oh god. It has happened. Disney has captured my sense of good taste and won't let it go. We've been watching The Lion King the past few days (because a 2 hour movie takes oh, about 5 days to get through with a preschooler). I had never seen that movie before, and apparently I'm the last person on this earth to admit to that. Even Matt, the self-professed hater of all things Disney, was surprised "never? as in NEVER seen The Lion King?" I guess I was too busy drowning myself in beer and bad romances when it came out in the theatres.

So anyway, I finally watched it and really? It didn't kill me. I know, I know - I can't believe it myself. But that first part of the movie where all the animals come running to see the new lion cub and Simba is held up to the sky? I'm embarrassed to say a few tears made their way down my pathetic traitor cheeks. I used to talk a big game about the evils of Disney and the ways they rule the world. But now, here I am bugging my daughter to just "hold on a minute, OK? I know you're about to pee your pants but mommy needs to see what happens with Scar and Simba's big throwdown." I blame her, of course, as surely it is her influence on me. She's also to blame for the Barbie doll I bought her a xmas. So there, internet.

In other news, I'm happy to report that our 4 day hiatus from active parenting was excellent. I took two days off work and just puttered around the house for most of the time. I even got to catch up on some good books and spend some quality time with Matt. We celebrated Scarbie's birthday celebrations with her on Friday night and let me just say this - I was so impressed, and a bit envious of how well she handles herself about 5 tequila shots in. We stayed out with her crowd until late and got to sleep in the next morning. The best thing, it is, this thing they call sleeping in. Even better than better-than-sex pie.

Alice came back to us refreshed and full of energy. I think all of that Lake Huron air and spoiling from her grandparents did her a world of good. And even better? We were all so happy to be reunited - it was amazing to realise how much we missed her presence in the house. We are just not our family without her.