We went to Movies in the Park yesterday over at Polk Bros. It was our first time going to a full movie and, well, it’s because it was ENCANTO.

I got there an hour early just to get us out of the house, but I’m so glad I did because that lawn was CROWDED when the movie started.

Everyone showed up with their picnic dinners and their boxes of pizza and their lawn chairs. (Ankur – if you’re reading this, don’t you think we need to invest in some lawn chairs for our Chicago summers? Yes, yes, I think we do).

I pulled out my ghetto canvas tote that I threw snacks in with some ice packs. And Ishu and I ate some snacks and read some books while we waited for the movie to start. Ankur joined us at 6:30 right as the movie started and right as Ishu pointed at the screen screaming, “MOVIE MIRACLE.” (Except he says it more like, “MOOFIE MEEYACLE!”

He wore his Bruno shirt that his Auntie Jen got for him. Very appropriate for the evening.

I got teary-eyed during the movie, yet again.

But, this time, I think it was less because of the plot and more because I was looking around watching everyone say the lines, sing the songs, and get up outta their lawn chairs and dance.

The kids were my favorite.

They were all running around in circles, singing songs, swishing their swishy skirts around. It made me think about how cool it must be to be a part of creating this movie.

They gave the entire world a gift in the form of this movie and these songs.

I mean, I knew that. With all the TikToks and the endless amount of Instagram stories analyzing the movie, re-enacting the dances.

But, it’s different watching an entire crowd of people together, swaying to the music and screaming out the one-liners.

It’s really one of the best movies ever.

Anyway, this was our first movie-at-the-park, but certainly not our last. I’m happy our first was Encanto though. It made for a real happy evening.