Before Lucy started Kindergarten we were dealing with what I like to call the “boo factor”. Lucy would get super scared, spooked watching an episode of Curious George. I ended up sharing this with a dear friend and she suggested we start Family Movie Night. The idea of sitting there and coaching Lucy through a scary bit in a movie as a family sounded perfect. (Secretly, this was one of the things I couldn’t wait to start doing when we started our family.). Taking my friend’s advice, we started with simple movies (steered clear of Disney flicks for a bit) and have worked our way through lots of fun flicks (Lucy even watches Harry Potters now! Yup). This little tradition became a huge hit immediately. The snuggles and family time cannot be beat. My favorite part is watching the girls as they watch the movie. I wish I could bottle these moments forever.

Over the past almost 4 years, Family Movie Night has become a beloved event in our household. The girls are constantly requesting it! I usually make something yummy for dinner. We do our best to keep things easy, however, so (esp during the school year and on Friday nights) we order pizza or make a charcuterie board. The charcuterie board is super fun because we can pick on “dinner” as we watch the movie (now that the girls are older this is really fun. Also, total bonus that we can start watching the movie earlier since dinner is basically out of the way). Its a good way to incorporate something for everyone to eat and its a fun way to have your kiddos try something new!

One of Lucy and Greer’s favorite parts of our Family Movie Night traditions is a build your own popcorn bar. I make homemade popcorn on the stove in my All Clad dutch oven. While the popcorn is still hot I sprinkle it with a generous amount of pink himalayan salt. I then divide the popcorn into these popcorn boxes (which my girls and their friends love!). FYI - (For whomever chooses to add M&Ms) I am sure to layer them in as I add the popcorn so it gives the M&Ms a chance to get melty (mmm). Sometimes as an extra special treat I gather a few different movie theater candy boxes and let the girls choose their favorite (this is a great idea for movie themed birthday party!).

One of my favorite parts to our Family Movie Night popcorn bar set-up is this Rotating Barrel. Mike’s mom gave this to us as a housewarming gift when we bought our first home. We use it for ice cream sundae bars, gingerbread house decorating, charcuterie set-ups, etc. It is awesome, especially on our round kitchen table! It spins so everyone can reach what they need. Ours is from a while back, but here is one I love just as much (maybe even more because it has a lip around it so nothing slides off?!).

ROTATING BARREL TABLE TOP TRAY

Mike and I enjoy Family Move Night just as much as our kiddos. It also teaches them to be quiet while watching something with others. It allows them to unwind in the comfort of their own home and just be cozy as a fam. It also gives us a chance to be together as a family with great conversation pieces for Saturday/Sunday morning breakfasts. It has become our end of the week reward. I have dreams of our girls’ friends joining us as they get older. Lucy, Greer and their buddies wanting to be here, enjoying yummy food, good flicks and each other’s company in the home we’ve created for them. Dreamy.

Below is a list of movies that we’ve watched together and everyone has enjoyed. Keep in mind Lucy + Greer are 3 years apart so we have to choose wisely. However, Greer is totally #secondchild and has been exposed to much more way earlier than Lucy ever was or ever will be! Guess that’s the way it goes! (If you have any suggestions that are not listed below, please feel free to comment!).

DISNEY MOVIES (we worked our way up to these, but have covered most at this point):

Aladdin
Cinderella
Sleeping Beauty
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Returns
The Jungle Book
Snow White
Bambi
Lady and the Tramp
Peter Pan
Dumbo
101 Dalmatians
The Parent Trap (original and updated)
Swiss Family Robinson
Ferdinand
Pinocchio
The Little Mermaid
The Ugly Dachshund
The Aristocrats
The Fox and the Hound
Return to Oz
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
Benji
The Rescuers Down Under
Beauty and the Beast (Animated and Real Life)
The Mighty Ducks
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
The Adventures of Huck Finn
Hocus Pocus
Cool Runnings
D2: The Mighty Ducks
The Lion King
Angels in the Outfield
The Jungle Book
Pocahontas
Toy Story (1, 2, 3, 4)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hercules
Mulan
Air Bud: Golden Retriever
A Bug’s Life
Tarzan
Remember the Titans
The Emperor’s New Groove
The Princess Diaries, Monsters, Inc.
Lilo + Stitch
Finding Nemo
Miracle
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Cars (1, 2 + 3)
Ratatouille
The Pixar Story
Bolt
The Princess and the Frog
Tangled
Brave
Wreck-It Ralph
Monsters University
Frozen
Saving Mr. Banks
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
Inside Out
Up
Finding Dory
Moana
Coco
Incredibles (1 + 2)
Christopher Robin
Ralph Breaks the Internet

SOME OTHERS WE’VE WATCHED AND LOVE:

Matlida

Mrs. Doubtfire (the first bit of this film is about divorce a tad sad. Some of the language is questionable, but our girls were young enough that most of it went over their heads.)

Family Movie Night

DISNEY MOVIES (we worked our way up to these, but have covered most at this point):

SOME OTHERS WE’VE WATCHED AND LOVE:

Matlida

Mrs. Doubtfire (the first bit of this film is about divorce a tad sad. Some of the language is questionable, but our girls were young enough that most of it went over their heads.)

Goonies

Hugo

The Wizard of Oz

Troop Beverly Hills

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Harry Potters (1st least scary)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Harry and the Hendersons (!!!!)

Sing

The Greatest Showman

The Sandlot

Big Hero 6

Shrek the Musical from Broadway (it was on Netflix for a while)

Curious George Boo Fest (usually out in October - PBS)

Goosebumps

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

ParaNorman

Eloise

ET

A Dog’s Way Home

American Girl Doll Movies

Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase