Outdoor Movie

I think it’s becoming a summer tradition!

Last Friday night, for a second week in a row, we hosted another outdoor movie. This time, we got a little more high tech. We moved out of the backyard and onto the driveway. We used magnets to attach a white tablecloth to the garage door, and figured out how to rig a boom box to the system to improve the sound quality. Woo hoo! We are high class now, people! We’re going to end up annoying ALL of the neighbors!

We started the night with an attack of spray Silly String. That got the kids all riled up. Fun!

Then we got out the big popcorn machine and glow sticks. Some of the kids tried to make shadow puppets on the garage door as we pulled benches, chairs and blankets up to the driveway. We let the kids vote on which movie to watch, and they chose The Sandlot. (Note to self: this is NOT a good movie for three-year-old boys who like to repeat off color words. Yes, even the sh*t bomb was dropped. Aaargh!)

The movie started and the kids settled in, and we spilled lots of popcorn all over the driveway. The adults enjoyed a few beverages and time to chat before the night was over and everyone headed home.

My only complaint about outdoor movie night is that it starts so darn late because we have to wait for darkness to fall. But the tradeoff is we are making great memories for our kids and neighbors. I guess we’ll call it even.

By the way, here’s a little link love for some other outdoor movie ideas. Tauni has a few posts on her blog (www.itsatradition.com) that give great tips on hosting a backyard movie. If you can’t find the specific post, here’s one that will get you started. I also LOVE this idea on Homemaking Fun for a homemade drive-in movie theater, complete with cardboard cars.