Cartoons are fun for all ages
Cartoons are fun for all ages
By Allan Olson
When walking into a local business last week on my delivery route, I spotted a good old classic on the large television. There on the screen was none other than Bugs Bunny. Whether it was on because a kid had just left the room or because the staff needed some amusement was uncertain. One thing I am certain of is that Bugs Bunny is always good for a laugh.
What it reminded me was that it was due time that I spent a day watching cartoons – the old classics that I enjoyed – with my kids.
Opportunity knocked on Saturday. With nothing better to do with the pouring down rain that we had all day long, I decided that I might as well spend the morning watching cartoons with the kids (and possibly catching up on a few Z’s). We started the morning off watching cartoons. I searched for Bugs Bunny on the television in vain – and on the Wii.
With no luck, we settled down to watch another classic – the Smurfs. Those little blue creatures sure do find themselves in a pile of trouble, but they teach lessons as well. Papa Smurf, the guardian of all, is quick to point out the perils of running away, or lying, or other bad habits. Teamwork is another lesson that is taught on the show – how they all work together and help each other.
We tried watching Rocky and Bullwinkle, but it wasn’t as amusing to the kids as it was to me.
I remember (maybe fuzzily) watching a couple others, but since my oldest is in school as I write this, I can’t jog his memory to assist me.
In the evening, after supper and baths, the five of us (once mom again opted out of the cartoon watching) tuned into another classic, the Jetsons. The kids and I sat nearly quiet watching this movie about living in space. They laughed when George used his inflatable cop and siren to get out of a traffic jam, only to have a real cop pull him over. He provided him with the needle and George, busted and looking sad, deflated his inflata-cop permanently.
A “promotion” prompted a forced move into outer space where he, of course, ultimately became a hero by saving some little fuzzy creatures’ homes.
That was my weekend – at least on Saturday. On Sunday I managed a nap and one movie with the kids. The kids were supposed to pick out a movie, but the trick was they had to unanimously agree. While that is not unheard of, I wasn’t going to wait forever for them to pick one out. After all, I had a nap to get to.
Eventually I pulled rank and found a movie on the Wii called “The Retrievers.” It was about a family from the city who moved to the country (like that hasn’t been done before). They found a dog who, at some point during my nap, had puppies. The family gave them away and then went on a recovery mission, as they wanted them back.
My youngest two were more interested in playing than watching the movie. My rule was they had to watch the movie or take a nap. They ultimately ended up heading to their rooms. The oldest two sat virtually silent (which is amazing for my oldest daughter), enjoying the feel-good puppy movie.
This weekend, we are hoping for some company and some decent weather for fishing. I have a lake behind my house that’s been calling my name for the last two weeks. Living on the lake creates this need to go fishing, and that’s what I certainly hope to do.
It should be interesting, with a possible combination of seven kids and five adults who all could possibly want to wet a line. Regardless, it promises to be a fun weekend with family. IF I get my lawn mowed again by then.
By Allan Olson
When walking into a local business last week on my delivery route, I spotted a good old classic on the large television. There on the screen was none other than Bugs Bunny. Whether it was on because a kid had just left the room or because the staff needed some amusement was uncertain. One thing I am certain of is that Bugs Bunny is always good for a laugh.
What it reminded me was that it was due time that I spent a day watching cartoons – the old classics that I enjoyed – with my kids.
Opportunity knocked on Saturday. With nothing better to do with the pouring down rain that we had all day long, I decided that I might as well spend the morning watching cartoons with the kids (and possibly catching up on a few Z’s). We started the morning off watching cartoons. I searched for Bugs Bunny on the television in vain – and on the Wii.
With no luck, we settled down to watch another classic – the Smurfs. Those little blue creatures sure do find themselves in a pile of trouble, but they teach lessons as well. Papa Smurf, the guardian of all, is quick to point out the perils of running away, or lying, or other bad habits. Teamwork is another lesson that is taught on the show – how they all work together and help each other.
We tried watching Rocky and Bullwinkle, but it wasn’t as amusing to the kids as it was to me.
I remember (maybe fuzzily) watching a couple others, but since my oldest is in school as I write this, I can’t jog his memory to assist me.
In the evening, after supper and baths, the five of us (once mom again opted out of the cartoon watching) tuned into another classic, the Jetsons. The kids and I sat nearly quiet watching this movie about living in space. They laughed when George used his inflatable cop and siren to get out of a traffic jam, only to have a real cop pull him over. He provided him with the needle and George, busted and looking sad, deflated his inflata-cop permanently.
A “promotion” prompted a forced move into outer space where he, of course, ultimately became a hero by saving some little fuzzy creatures’ homes.
That was my weekend – at least on Saturday. On Sunday I managed a nap and one movie with the kids. The kids were supposed to pick out a movie, but the trick was they had to unanimously agree. While that is not unheard of, I wasn’t going to wait forever for them to pick one out. After all, I had a nap to get to.
Eventually I pulled rank and found a movie on the Wii called “The Retrievers.” It was about a family from the city who moved to the country (like that hasn’t been done before). They found a dog who, at some point during my nap, had puppies. The family gave them away and then went on a recovery mission, as they wanted them back.
My youngest two were more interested in playing than watching the movie. My rule was they had to watch the movie or take a nap. They ultimately ended up heading to their rooms. The oldest two sat virtually silent (which is amazing for my oldest daughter), enjoying the feel-good puppy movie.
This weekend, we are hoping for some company and some decent weather for fishing. I have a lake behind my house that’s been calling my name for the last two weeks. Living on the lake creates this need to go fishing, and that’s what I certainly hope to do.
It should be interesting, with a possible combination of seven kids and five adults who all could possibly want to wet a line. Regardless, it promises to be a fun weekend with family. IF I get my lawn mowed again by then.
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