In spite of the lovely day we had attending the parade, followed with grilled turkey burgers and cold beverages, I was kind of beat today. The culprit you ask? The big screen.

The biggest screen in fact. Last night I took the boys to the drive-in. There are two within 20 minutes or so of us, actually, so I routinely check the weekly listings when they are updated on Friday mornings throughout the Summer. This week was an interesting double bill: the new Shrek movie followed by Iron Man 2. With the day off from work and school, how could we skip it?

I must admit, I love the simple pleasures. Sure, I can appreciate the niceties of a Redenvelope.com  gift like anybody else, but the drive-in is pretty high on my list of minor pleasures. It’s a cheap ticket for the double feature, and I don’t have to worry too much about my chatterbox boys getting us thrown out. Sure, I have to deal with a squirming 4 year old on my lap behind the steering wheel – and he really doesn’t stop moving the entire time – but there are a lot of worse things than a 90 minute hug. Even if it is a hug of necessity.

But the price must be paid the morning after. Early in the season it doesn’t even start getting dark until after 8:30. The second feature didn’t start until 10:30 at least, and summer blockbusters being what they are…Yeah, I got to bed just before 2.

I mean, I did sleep in way past the usual wake up with the kids. Yeah, it was almost 7 when I rolled out of bed. But it was all worth it. Movies with my boys, popcorn and sodas in the front seat with the windows rolled down and the soundtrack coming from the radio. I’ll get some sleep tonight, and on Friday morning I know I’ll be crossing my fingers for another kid-friendly first feature followed y a rock ’em sock ’em summer smash in second place…when they finally pass out from exhaustion.

We’re gonna have some fun this summer.