Hunger Games

A couple nights ago Billy and I had the pleasure of attending the world premiere of The Hunger Games with my sister Kaisa and her husband Matt Janzen. Matt is the vice president of development at Lionsgate (I think I got the job title right?) and has worked on The Hunger Games from the very beginning. I remember talking with Kaisa about the book years ago and I remember her saying "Yeah, I think Matt's company just signed a deal with the author" or something along those lines. It's been exciting to talk with him about it the past few years and get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the making of such an epic movie, and my sweet brother-in-law rewarded my enthusiasm with tickets to the show. My birthday is in a just a couple of days, so the timing of the premiere worked out very nicely. I am so grateful to Matt and Kaisa for treating Billy and I to the time of our lives. Billy says it was the funnest night he's ever experienced, and quite honestly, in terms of good old fashioned giddy excitement, I think I have to agree.

Now on to the good stuff!

First of all, the movie: AMAZING. I know it's hard to convey my sincerity when my opinion is obviously biased, but it is truly a very well-made, true-to-the-original-format, book-to-screen movie. The acting was superb, I loved Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, and Josh Hutchinson did an excellent job playing Peeta. Their chemistry is vital to the plot (in my honest opinion) and they work very well together. The cinematic quality of the movie is beautiful. It has an artistic, tasteful skew on what could have been just plain cheesy (i.e.-- Hunger Games is nothing like the cheese-town USA Twilight movies) and I loved the soundtrack. It switches from haunting to exciting throughout the movie, and really adds that special touch. The director, Gary Ross, was also the director of Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, and Hunger Games is definitely as good (if not better) than those films. Whether you've read the book or not, you really should treat yourself to seeing this movie in the theatre. You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time. I'm so happy the movie was so good, because it would've been awkward having to pretend I liked it. SO-- I am being completely honest when I say: I loved the Hunger Games! Lionsgate and all involved did a great job. GO SEE IT!

One of the funnest things about seeing the premiere (besides the premiere itself), was seeing all the famous people. Billy and I are your regular small town parents who don't get out much, so to find ourselves just feet from Hollywood stars was thrilling. We had to act "cool" and "nonplussed" about the whole thing, but inside our heads and occasionally in frantic whispers to each other, we were screaming like little Justin Bieber fans. The most treasured encounter I had was when Matt introduced me to Suzanne Collins (the author of the Hunger Games). We were at the After Party, and it was really noisy, so I leaned in so I could whisper in her ear, and she kissed me on the cheek! I told her "I've loved you from the very beginning." Which I have. Matt also introduced me to Gary Ross, the director, and I tried very hard to act normal and casually tell him I enjoyed the movie and that I "couldn't wait to go home and tell all my friends to watch it." If you're curious, here are some pictures (from the internet, I didn't take any pictures) of some of the people we saw Monday night:

 Kato--- tribute

 Tribute 

 Fox face-- Tribute

 Tribute

 Donald Sutherlund

 Baldwin brother

 Effie Trinket played by Elizabeth Banks

 Two youngest Kardashian sisters (who btw look nasty and gross in real life)

 Woody Harrelson

 Jennifer Lawrence (who, btw, looks gorgeous in real life)

 I made eye contact with her! She smiled at me :)

 Liam Hemsworth

 Made eye contact with this girl too

 She's one of the makeup people from the capitol 

 Benjamin Bratt

This little girl plays Rue. Kaisa and I actually talked to her in the bathroom before the movie. We had no idea who she was but she was wearing a darling dress and we told her we loved it. 

I don't have a lot of pictures of the four of us from  yet, but I'll upload what I have, and I'll upload more later as soon as I get them from Matt :) 

Some Things Never Change

2009

2008 

2012

Tonight Isla and Liam were friends. They created a train of sorts out of a suitcase, a princess car, and my homemade keychain, and took turns pulling each other around. I grabbed the camera to snap a picture and as I did I realized I have a least twenty of these kinds of pictures that span the last four years. Liam and Isla, driving around in a strange contraption built by toddlers, and now, sadly enough, kids. Above are three of my favorites, including the one taken tonight.

Living Life on the Wild Side

I think all mothers would agree seeing their children enjoy one another is one of life's joys. Liam and Isla are hot and cold. They're either conniving partners in crime, devising new and more destructive ways to outsmart their parents, or they are enemies, writing "No GRILS ALLOWED" on the top bunk and punching each other in the face. When Wren is involved, however, they come together and a beautiful thing is formed. Last night they set up a lightening fast race track in the kitchen.  Liam took on the role of the driver, pushing Wren on Isla's pink Barbie car, and Isla happily stood in as the buffer against the refrigerator-- the finish line. Isla and Liam were having a blast, but I really think it was Wren who was enjoying it more than anyone. She was all hysterical smiles and practically crying with laughter. Her smile reminds me so much of Aunt Kristin, don't you agree?

Happy New Years

I'm not one for New Year Resolutions, but here it goes!

In 2012 I hope to . . .

-- Take more pictures and videos of the kids
-- Record a semblance of a family journal
-- Save money for future home
-- Remember morning scripture with kids before school

We shall see how this goes!