Yep, I watched High School Musical 3: Senior Year for the first time tonight. No, I wasn't grasping at something new to do this week. It was actually part of a weekend of fun with my oldest niece Charlee. Movie night was all for her.
I should back up. Her birthday was back in January, and I couldn't make it to her party. As an apology and her gift, I decided to give her a weekend pass to spend any weekend with me she wanted, and we'd do whatever she wanted. This was the first weekend we both had free (she's been playing basketball on the weekends for the past 3 months.) So, technically, my new thing is that Charlee is spending the weekend alone with me here in St. Louis. I've babysat both her and her sister Remi before, but never Charlee all by herself at my house. She's 9 now, and I figured it was about time she had some quality one-on-one bonding time with her favorite aunt.
We started by heading to the Arch this morning. I've been up in the Arch a handful of times, but today it was like seeing it for the first time. Charlee was super excited about going up in it, and apparently wrote about her upcoming trip in her free writing class this week. This is where you're supposed to get a bit choked up...I did when she told me about it. She's been excited for the last 3 months, as was I. :) As we were walking up to the Arch, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Wow! That's huge!" She saw the tiny little windows at the top and asked if that was where we were going to be. The closer we got, the more excited she became.
It was a bit chilly this morning, so we didn't waste any time heading straight inside. I figured we'd look at the outside after the tram ride. We had a bit of a wait time before it started, so we stopped in the Museum of Westward Expansion. The first thing we saw were the mechanical people that talk to you. And Charlee was equally fascinated and creeped out. One of them turned and looked right at her while they were talking. I thought she was gonna have a heart attack. "He looked right at me!" She later described them as rubber-faced robots to her mom and dad. Hey, that was pretty accurate.
I should back up. Her birthday was back in January, and I couldn't make it to her party. As an apology and her gift, I decided to give her a weekend pass to spend any weekend with me she wanted, and we'd do whatever she wanted. This was the first weekend we both had free (she's been playing basketball on the weekends for the past 3 months.) So, technically, my new thing is that Charlee is spending the weekend alone with me here in St. Louis. I've babysat both her and her sister Remi before, but never Charlee all by herself at my house. She's 9 now, and I figured it was about time she had some quality one-on-one bonding time with her favorite aunt.
We started by heading to the Arch this morning. I've been up in the Arch a handful of times, but today it was like seeing it for the first time. Charlee was super excited about going up in it, and apparently wrote about her upcoming trip in her free writing class this week. This is where you're supposed to get a bit choked up...I did when she told me about it. She's been excited for the last 3 months, as was I. :) As we were walking up to the Arch, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Wow! That's huge!" She saw the tiny little windows at the top and asked if that was where we were going to be. The closer we got, the more excited she became.
It was a bit chilly this morning, so we didn't waste any time heading straight inside. I figured we'd look at the outside after the tram ride. We had a bit of a wait time before it started, so we stopped in the Museum of Westward Expansion. The first thing we saw were the mechanical people that talk to you. And Charlee was equally fascinated and creeped out. One of them turned and looked right at her while they were talking. I thought she was gonna have a heart attack. "He looked right at me!" She later described them as rubber-faced robots to her mom and dad. Hey, that was pretty accurate.
One of the animatronic robots.
Charlee has been sick the past few days, so her excitement level wasn't quite on par with how it normally is. I think she really did enjoy being up in the Arch and looking out the windows, although she was pretty exhausted. And she must have had a great time. She used an entire disposable camera up there! I'm guessing there will be about17 photos of the Mississippi River on that thing. The tram rides didn't really seem to excite her, but at least she's not claustrophobic. I've seen grown men get freaked out in those things.
In the tram.
A view of Illinois.
Downtown.
New Busch.
Charlee is taking in the sights from the top.
It was a bit bright out this morning! This is us next to the Arch.
Rather than heading to the Science Center afterward like I originally planned, I took her home for a nap. She was practically sleep walking. Her nap lasted longer than planned too, so we'll be heading to the Science Center in the morning. But, she was definitely awake for movie night. I asked my sister to send High School Musical along with Charlee so we could watch it together. I knew that the trilogy is by far some of her favorite movies, and I wanted to share that with her. Up until now, I've made it without seeing a single movie, and have avoided hearing most of the songs. I was afraid they'd make my ears bleed. I probably should have started with the first movie, but #3 is what my sister sent.
When I was putting the movie in, Charlee asked me to sit by her. I asked if I could snuggle with her her, and she said yes. Then she paused and said "just don't snuggle too hard." How cute is she? Two seconds after the movie started, I was getting the play by play out of Chatty Cathy. I told her she didn't have to tell me what was going to happen next, but she rolled her eyes and said "I know, I do that all the time." I asked her who her favorite character was and she said Gabriela. Then, I asked her who her favorite boy character was. She made her father proud by saying "None of them. They're too dramatic." LOL The opening scene involved some instense moments on the basketball court by said boys...well, as intense as singing/dancing/basketball players can be. And she just kept saying, "See? They're so dramatic. And loud." I laughed and told her most boys don't grow out of that. lol
I told her that I hadn't seen the first two movies, but she kept talking like I knew who these people were. She said at one point that if I had any questions about any of the new people, I should just ask. She pointed out who those new people were though. In case I didn't catch it. ;-) She seemed fascinated by "Chad" & "Troy's" huge muscles..."See? Chad's muscles are HUGE!" I'm not so sure daddy will like that comment.
Fatigue finally got to her, and she wasn't nearly as helpful in her comments for the rest of the movie. She was a trooper though and she made it without falling asleep. And I made it through without wanting to jab a fork in my eye. It really wasn't that bad, and I know if I was her age, I'd be all about the movie too. I mean what's not to like about singing, dancing high schoolers?
On Sunday we headed to the Science Center, and it was actually a good idea because it was dead at 9:30 in the morning. We were able to look at everything without a ton of kids running around. Charlee absolutely loved the place. There was so much to see. Her favorite part was the giant ball slides in the lobby that shot the balls around in circles. She watched those for quite awhile. Next, was the tornado simulator. She thought that was pretty neat. Everything she saw she liked, and she just kept saying "this is AWESOME!" I think she liked it. ;-) We picked up a bag o' rocks from the gift shop for her and her sister. They do love shiny rocks!
Future surgeon? She's holding a heart, a liver and part of the spinal cord.
Touching the tornado.
She really liked the wind machine. :) And I really like this picture.
So, thanks to Charlee for coming to visit me and for spending her first birthday weekend with Aunt Heather. I can't wait for many more of these weekends with all of my nieces.
4 comments:
This is awesome! With me being an only child, and Dave's sister never looking for Mr. Anything... I don't think I will ever be the favorite aunt... I'm pretty close to my aunt, so I know how cool this would have been.
(Charlee's comments) Hey, why did you write about the muscles? But the rest was cool! Thank you, I had a really fun time! I hope Remi is going to have a good time when she is 9. I love you! From, Charlee.
I like to think I'm the favorite Aunt too! I try to do something one-on-one with each of them at least once a year. I do love those kids.
Aww...too cute, Heather does have real emotions! And you too do look so much alike! Loved it! Julie
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