1/51 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

So, we are embarking on this great experiment of watching all 51 Walt Disney Studio Animated Features before the 52nd, Wreck it Ralph, is released this fall.  As we watch, we’ll make note of our thoughts or comments, write them down, and post them after. Aaron’s comments are in blue.  Whtiney’s comments are in this pinkish hue.  Anything in black is a quote or will help reference what was on the screen at the time.
Feature: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Release: 1937
Viewing:Platinum Edition DVD

The Queen is the first Disney Villian.  She’s MEAN!  And a stepmother.  They get a bad rap…

I hate her (Snow White’s) singing voice the worst of all the princesses. 

Princesses can always talk to animals.  All of them can.

Why is the prince running around the outside of the wall…and climbing over?  Creepy stalker.  That’s how every episode of “SOLVED: FORENSICS” starts.

Oh no…(as the Queen watches the prince singing from the window.)  Scary.  

Where’s the king?

I was always scared at the part when she had to run through the scary woods.  

As scary as the woods are, the only things that attack her are tree branches.  

It must be so cloudy in those woods.  It was really light outside.  I guess it was just her perspective.

That’s very profound.

Yep.  Sometimes it’s very dark and then the cute little bunnies come out and it’s all okay.

I like this song.  (A Smile and A Song)

Uhhh…

You don’t like this song?  

I just don’t like her voice.    

It’s so happy.

This is fun.  Don’t you think?

It would be more fun if I could play with little woodland creatures like that.  

The poor turtle…

That’s cool how they did the reflections on the water.  Even way back then.

It’s Walt Disney.  He’s a genius.

——-

A what? (after some inaudible dialogue)

A doll’s house. (Snow White is inspecting the Dwarfs’ cottage.)

Aw…the turtle.

Snow White knocks three times.  No one is home.  And she breaks in.

She’s a princess.

Snow White is bossy.  She just ordered all those animals around to clean for her.

The dwarfs are loaded!  What do they do with all those diamonds and gems?!

They’re dwarfs.  They’re probably hoarders.

They just sang that they don’t know why they dig them, didn’t they?

(REWIND)

Yep.

They do have to buy Snow White that big coffin later though.

They are hoarders!

Iconic image of dwarves walking across the bridge.  I love it.

—–

Cozy.

Who’s your favorite dwarf?

I was just going to ask you! I like Doc, and Grumpy and Dopey – of course.

I like Sleepy and Doc and Dopey.

“They’re hid in the cupboard!” I love it when they discover the dishes haven’t been stolen.

Oh I forgot about Sneezy!  I like him too.

Dopey is like the least scary to send up to chase whatever they think it is down stairs.  He can’t even talk to scream at it.

“She’s a female.  And all females are full of wicked wiles!”  “What are wicked wiles?”  “I don’t know.  But I’m gonna get ‘em!” – Grumpy (I like this quote!)

Is that why you like Grumpy?  

Maybe…
Did he have a bad experience with his stepmother as a child?
Who?

Disney?

I don’t think he had a step mother.

Well Snow White and Cinderella have stepmothers.  And Belle and Ariel don’t have mothers.  Pocahontas doesn’t either – if she counts, sometimes she doesn’t.  Rapunzel had an evil mother figure.  It seems like in all the movies the princess’ mom like isn’t around, or is bad, or isn’t a big deal at all.

Where is the motherly influence to make these princesses good?

Boys are dirty. (The scene when the dwarfs must wash up.)

“I’m warning you.  You give ‘em an inch, and they walk all over you.”  You said it Grumpy!

Doc isn’t even washing.  He’s just singing to get everyone else to do it.

Oh no…(castle in view)

Poor pig…

She just threw the heart of the pig on the floor…gross.

Interesting she wants to be the fairest in the land but makes herself the ugliest hag ever.  Is it because she’s so ugly on the inside?

I like the spinning part.  I love the spinning.  

Where does it say about the kiss?

I don’t know.  Does it?  It just said it was a Sleeping Death…

I feel like the dwarves song is the first kind of “improv” song.  They have a chorus but each dwarf has to make his own words.  

You mean like the first ever?

I just meant that it’s like one.

Well – what do you mean?

I just…

What are you saying?

Nevermind.

They traced over some of this to animate a dance sequence in Robin Hood.

She only saw him (the prince) one time.  It was love at first sight.  

I love it when they attack Dopey and that pillow.  

Snow White is praying!  

Dopey whines in his sleep…just like Penny.

Oh here’s the answer to your question.  “The vicitim of the Sleeping Death can be revived only by Love’s First Kiss”.  Silly witch.  ALWAYS check to see if there’s an antidote before you turn yourself into a hag and make a skull-caramel dipped candy poisoned apple.

She is CREEPY.

Grumpy wanted that kiss on his head the whole time.  He was just putting up a front.

They warned her not to let anyone in.

She takes the apple through the window though.

But they said beware of strangers.

What kind of pie was that?

A green pie.  Gooseberry pie?

It looked like peas.  A pea pie.  For Grumpy.  That’s what you get if you are grumpy.  A pea pie.

Yes.  Gooseberry pies!  You were right!

Hm. Guess I must have remembered in my subconcious.  

She did get in the house!  Faking heart pains!

Animals to the rescue.  

Always!

I like how Grumpy leads the charge.

Aw.  That poor turtle.

She’s evil!

She’ll get hers.  

Now she wishes she could move a little faster.

Maybe the old hag disguise was not a good choice after all.

Those vultures are happy now.  

Even the candle is crying.

They’re so sad.

They didn’t buy the coffin.  They fashioned it.

There’s the princess “wake up.”  Blink. Stretch.  Look up.  Stretch. Smile.  Birds.

She just says bye.  

Does she say thank you? She should thank them for not burying her in the ground.

I was always confused about his castle being in the clouds.

Brought to you by Hallmark.

The End.

2012: A Quick Catch Up

Well – it’s been two months since we’ve written anything.

That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been plenty to write about.  We’ll keep it to the highlights for now:

For Christmas, we bought ourselves a LG 3D HD 1080p LED TV with 3D Blu-ray Player.  Wow. We don’t have cable. But we like watching movies and tv on dvd.  And Netflix.  Matt Keith was gracious enough to hang it for us.  He did a great lousy job.  Don’t ask him to hang yours. ;)

I spoiled Whitney and finally got her a new computer.  Actually it was a Macbook.  Most people designate the difference between “computer” and “Macbook”.  Just wanted to be clear to the Apple people.

We ended 2011 with a trip to Lynchburg after Christmas.  We like to go there and do nothing because there’s not much to do there!  It was a lot of fun being together with no plans and no rush to be anywhere.

We celebrated New Year’s Eve downtown.  It was cold.  There was a giant ferris wheel with a line that extended all the way to the capitol building. We had a good time though!

Our niece, London Bauer, was born!  She’s so sweet!

Penny has caused one expense after another…she swallowed pieces of a rubber ball. On a Saturday. When the only vet open is the 24 hour emergency vet. Where everything is hundreds of dollars it seems. Then, she decided to get an ear infection.

We completed our Disney Animated Feature collection.  All 51 from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the new Winnie the Pooh.  More on that in a bit.

In January, I went to Disney World…without Whitney!  I went for a conference called CPC and had a fantastic time learning lots and making some great friends in ministry.  And of course…the Vinylmation collection grew by 12 on that trip…

We went on a fancy dinner date before Valentine’s Day.  I picked seafood.  I never eat it.  But I was thinking of Whitney. :)

For Valentine’s Day, we had a fancy dinner at home.

We scheduled for Penny to get spayed, only to have her “become an adult” a week before her appointment.  Dog diapers are money…

We are more in love with each other than we were 18 months ago. :)

I discovered the wonders of Ebay when it comes to Vinylmations…uh-oh.

I have a crazy but wonderfully brilliant idea to watch all 51 Walt Disney Feature Animation Films before their next one, Wreck it Ralph, is released this fall.  So, you’ll expect to see more on that.

Yes, yes, there are pictures to be posted and other things to be said, but this is a quick catch up!

“And next, Jingle Bells Backwards…”

That’s a little line from Sleepless in Seattle when Meg Ryan is listening to the radio.  And yes.  This is Aaron writing this one.  And yes.  I like movies like Sleepless in Seattle.

I can’t believe that Christmas is so soon.  It seems like it was just January a few months ago.  I can’t believe that a year has come and gone so quickly. I know people say that time goes by faster the older you get, and I understand that a bit better now.

But at Christmas, I’d like to think time stops or at least slows down long enough for us to remember what the whole year has been about, to soak in what this season brings, and to look to what lies ahead.

For me, this year, has been one in which I’ve grown quite a bit.  I’ve grown in my relationship with Jesus, and as a husband.  I’ve learned more about loving my wife (a wonderfully gracious and amazing woman, who encourages me all the time).  I’ve also enjoyed new friendships and seen more people change as they grow in Christ.

I guess it’s so easy to be busy right now.  But it’s so good to just be still.

Don’t wait until Christmas Day for that moment.  It’s just 24 hours long.  Find moments along the way now to just enjoy the carols, the lights, the nativity, and the Savior sent of God, born to us as our redeemer.

 

And of course, drive safe.  There’s crazy drivers out there.

a fall trip for two

Penny and I are sitting on the couch while Aaron is on a two hour call with his children’s ministry “support group” of sorts. It’s not really a support group. He had to apply to get in last year. And he did. This is his second year in the group. It’s pretty cool. Networking and what not. My favorite part is that there is a retreat every fall that spouses can attend. The retreat happens to be near Nashville, TN (and Taylor Swift). It also happens to be next week!

Yes, we are flying out of RDU next Wednesday afternoon and will be gone for the rest of the week! I. am. so. excited!

I know this isn’t really a “vacation” because he will be with his group most of the time and I will be on my own. But, I am counting down the minutes because if I don’t get away from our routine soon, I’m going to go crazy!

The last time we got away was in June for our anniversary. And that was it for the summer. No weekend getaways for us. Oh the life of a pastor and his full-time job wife…

I love my job. I love Journey. I love my house. I love Raleigh.

But I am ready to hop on an airplane and get out of here for a few days!

And, don’t call me a sinner for this, but I am almost excited about skipping a Sunday as I am for the rest of the trip! ;)

Anyway, we are looking forward to our small getaway. We happen to be leaving on November 2nd, which is a special day to begin with. It marks three years of us being together.

It’s crazy to think that 3 years ago I was still single with no prospect of dating, let alone getting married!

God writes love stories better than anyone else, don’t you think?

Best Birthday

So, I know it’s not my birthday yet, not until the 29th, that is, but I already have 2 out of my 3 birthday presents from Aaron. They. Are. Awesome.

1. Sweet Penny was my main present (and Aaron’s too). She is of course my favorite present that I love so much! She is growing so fast and is very smart! :)

2. Saturday, on a whim we went to the Sprint Store and walked out with my second present. It happens to be the device I am using to type this blog. Yes, after years of waiting, I finally have an iPhone! It’s so fun!

3. My third present will probably come on my actual birthday. Aaron has promised to buy me some new Sperrys. I have some that I got for my birthday my Freshman year of college, and they are about worn out! They are my favorite shoes in the fall and winter!

The end. I’m excited and thankful for my fun 24th birthday! That hasn’t even happened yet! :)

Dress Distress

I promised in my last blog the story of Renee’s four bridesmaids (including myself), and our scary dress fiasco. Here we go:

Let’s rewind to the beginning of the summer. My friend Bethany, who was also a bridesmaid, and I met Renee and her mom to pick out our bridesmaid dresses. The other two bridesmaids couldn’t come because one (Jessi) lives in Ohio, and the other (Jessie) was out of town.

It didn’t take us long to pick out a cute dress that looked great on Bethany and myself, as well as Renee who wore the same size as Jessi. It was obviously flattering to all shapes and sizes, so Bethany and I ordered ours and Renee made sure to tell the other two girls to order theirs.

All of our dresses were delivered, and we all stashed them in a closet for the next few months to keep them clean and wrinkle-free for the big wedding day.

Fast forward…

So, first, here’s my side of the story:

Thursday night, about 48 hours before the wedding, Aaron and I were packing and I said, “Do you want to see my dress so you can pick something out to match it?”

“Sure!”

I showed him, and then I figured I might as well try it on for good measure.

I slipped it over my head and asked Aaron to zip me up. He got the zipper about halfway up, when it didn’t seem to budge.

“What’s wrong? Can you get it?”

“Well…I don’t know. Can you help me hold it together?”

Long story shore, literally 10 minutes later after many different zipping methods, we finally got it zipped up. I was freaking out!

What in the world? It had fit perfectly in the store, and I knew my weight had not fluctuated so much as to make a dress not fit.

I decided to let it go. At least I knew the dress would zip for Saturday, even if it was difficult!

Fast forward again.

Saturday, while we were all spending the day together, somehow we got talking about our dresses, and we all made a hilarious discovery.

None of us, not one, could get their dress zipped easily!

Now, Jessi is like stick skinny to just elaborate on how ridiculous this was. She said her husband Evan was grunting and huffing and being really quiet as she kept asking him if the dress was even going to zip.

Bethany’s husband Jeremy had the same problem. He said, “Now when did you last have this fitted?” That’s not what a girl wants to hear!

And the other bridesmaid, Derrick’s sister, was told by her grandmother that “she needed to start walking outside more” when she tried her dress on the week before.

We all were going to keep quiet about our calamity, but I’m so glad we didn’t! We were cracking up! It turned out none of us had actually gained weight or something ridiculous!

The other funny thing was that when we all zipped each others’ dresses on Saturday, it was a piece of cake!

Must have been a boy thing… ;)

Mr. and Mrs. Green

You might remember from my last post that my best pal, Renee, was getting married on October 1st…

Well, she did!

I took a half day of work on Friday, and Aaron, Penny, and I got ready to spend the weekend on the south side of Raleigh.

It was the very south side…we felt so far from home!

We were of course running late after all good intentions of having time to spend at my parents while dropping Penny off for her first overnight trip to “Mimi and Grandy’s.” (yes, those are the names my parents have unofficially picked for the future…you will notice my dad just added a “G” to his name. It cracks me up.)

So, we left Penny and headed to see Renee and Derrick’s new home in Fuquay. We LOVED their house and can’t wait to spend time there with them. We might have to make a sleepover out of it because we live like an hour away! :)

Then it was off to the rehearsal at the beautiful, new chapel at Campbell University.

It had been about 15 months since I had stepped foot on the campus of my good ol’ alma mater. It was funny as we drove through Lillington (which is like one stoplight) we passed the four fast food options available to CU students, and I said, “Wow, this brings back lots of memories of me eating lunch by myself in between classes.” (Not in a sad way). Aaron doesn’t understand how I didn’t have any good friends in college except Renee. That’s what happens when you don’t live on campus and are not an outgoing person, I suppose. :)

Anyway, the rehearsal went great once the pastor showed up (he got confused about the time), and dinner was quite tasty. My Aaron left me after that to go spend the night with his friend in Garner because he administered the SAT the next morning very early.

The rest of us went to the reception hall in Dunn to set up and decorate. I have never seen so many paper lanterns that had to be hung, but they looked wonderful once they were all up there!

We all went our separate ways to get a good night’s rest. Renee and I had our last sleepover together at her house. We have had so many sleepovers growing up. She slept over with me the night before my wedding too.

The next morning, we both woke up super excited. It was her wedding day!

We met the other girls for breakfast and manicures, then went back to Renee’s house for hair, makeup, and getting dressed. Tomorrow, I will try to remember to blog about the hilarious discovery all of us bridesmaids made about when we tried on our dresses  the night before with our husbands. Stay tuned for that.

Moving on.

We all cleaned up pretty well, and headed back to Campbell for the big event! Renee put on her gorgeous dress and we took pictures before the boys arrived.

While we waited in a back room for the ceremony to start, I remembered how anxious I was on my wedding day to just get the ceremony over with! I think Renee was feeling the same way, but she appeared so calm! She was such a beautiful bride.

It was finally 5:00 and we lined up at the chapel doors. At this point, I was a little nervous! I hate being stared at by a lot of people anyway. But, I saw Aaron sitting with my parents and that calmed my nerves.

I made it down the aisle at a reasonable pace with no tripping. Whew.

Then came the bride. I teared up. It’s crazy to think that my little best friend from fourth grade was getting married! And that I was already married!

At this point, I was most nervous about fixing her train. I wanted it to look perfect. And I didn’t want to flash the crowd. ;)

The ceremony was short and sweet, and then Mr. and Mrs. Green were finally married!

I was so happy to see Aaron after 24 hours. I hate to be away from him, but it’s almost worth it when I’ve missed him so much and see him again. :)

We took more pictures and then everyone headed to the reception.

Did I mention that being the Matron of Honor required me to give a toast? Well, it did. And I was SO nervous! I had typed it out and saved it to my phone. I tried not to look at it too much. I think it went pretty well. I was just glad to get it over with!

After Renee and Derrick left, Aaron and I made the long trek to my parents’ to get Penny (she was so happy to see us and vice versa!). We then made the long trek to Wake Forest where we crashed into bed exhausted!

Only to wake up at 6:30 for an 8 hour day at Journey…where did the weekend go again?

Kidding. Of course being a part of my best friend’s day was totally worth it!! Aaron and I are so happy for Renee and Derrick and can’t wait to see them when they get back! It was a beautiful wedding, and they are a beautiful couple.

I love you, Pal!