creative photography courtesy of Uncle "Yuke"
We hit Choo Choo Johnny's last week.
Lane couldn't really sit down. There was too much to look at...
They deliver your food via train...very cute!
Parker was indifferent,
although she was intrigued by the train...
So this NEVER happens. Last night at about 7, when Lane and I were heading into the shower (for the day, whoops!) Matt brought in clothes instead of pj's and decided we were going out for dinner. I must admit I was totally on-board, even though, in the back of my mind 7 is Parks bedtime and Lane's not too far behind. They did both take late naps and Lane was all excited to get a "birgur." So, aww, what the heck! Let's give it a whirl.
I was worried I would eat my words instead of my "birgur," but tonight I was willing to find out! Just as I was finishing getting ready, Parker was as happy as could be in her bouncy seat watching me apply my mascara. I bent down to talk to her and got a whiff of why she was so happy and then I got a look and suddenly Matt was whisking her away for a quick dip in the tub.
Well, this didn't seem to be starting out too well. But really it was a small bump in the road to getting out of the house. Lane declared he wanted to get handsome, so them mommy got "handsome" and I put Parker in a "handsome" little outfit instead of pj's and Daddy was feeling left out so, you guessed it, he got handsome too!
We even made time for pictures. Matt came out from giving P a bath and said "My date's ready, what about yours?"
Well my date was too busy reading in his toy closet to be bothered with pictures, so I used his date to pose with:
She was compliant as long as she could have her hand in her mouth. (The tip of one bottom tooth has poked through and the other one is not far behind!)
This picture is as sweet as our dinner turned out to be.
I mean, you really never know, do you?! Is someone going to have a meltdown when they ordered mac-n-cheese, but really wanted chicken strips or because they wanted a booster seat and not a highchair and/or they didn't want a booster seat or a high chair, but just to sit on their knees to reach the table. There most definitely is a drink to be spilled, more times than not a toddler playing on the floor underneath the table, and quite possibly a baby who is crying because a) it's bedtime b) she wants you to stand up while holding her c) she wants out of her car seat d) she wants in her car seat or e) all of the above!
But not last night. It didn't look too promising when we pulled up and Parker started to fuss and when Matt put in our name, he was told 40-45 minutes and it was already after 8.
But we pressed on. We went inside, not really believing the wait time and I quickly fed Park to pacify her. Lane played with the games while we waited not more than 15 minutes for our table. We got a quaint booth, that seemed like it was made just for our family of 4. I continued to hold Parker cradled in my arms and she stretched her head around so she could look at all going on behind her. She talked, and she chewed on my arm and just had a good ol' time. There were no drinks spilled, no meltdowns about sitting in a booster seat and when he ordered mac-n-cheese (PS I LOVE when he orders for himself!) he did in fact eat every last morsel of mac-n-cheese and when given the choice of fries or apples, he picked APPLES! Seriously, am I dreaming, LOL!
Matt and I actually enjoyed our food. Okay, I did maybe inhale half of my burger for fear that Parker was going to turn at anytime and I would have to take her to the car. But nope! She just chilled despite the fact that it was 2 hours past bedtime. We didn't have a 4-course meal, but we did order appetizers and after each drinking one beer, ordered one more to split.
If you didn't know us, you would have thought we had these perfect well-behaved children who are seasoned at dining out!
And so, my friends, I had to mark this one down in the record books. It may have given us a little more courage for our next meal out, which will inevitably not go as smoothly, but until then, this one will stay fresh in our minds!
Oh and also for the record:
Lane was coloring at the table when he looked up at the light and said "Dat's a twiangle" Matt and I looked at each other because it was a traingle. Um, what?
"Dat's a twiangle and dere's a sqwere and look momma dat's a circle." So apparently, in school, he has learned his shapes and we, uh-um, cough, had no idea.
Last Thursday was another date night for Lane and I compliments of Mac Kid. But this time we had a double date with Angela and Jade.
We saw Disney on Ice....PRINCESS Classics. Yes, it was all about the princesses. Parker is more gender-appropriate for that but not so much age-appropriate, so Lane it was! Parker stayed home with her Daddy and I promised her that when she gets old enough she can go. But it was Disney so Mickey, Minnie and Goofy were there, but lots of Princesses as well!
We started off at Barley's for pizza where Lane started getting loopy and the question of whether he napped or not was quickly answered. He apparently was starting to majorly meltdown and I thought I was going to have to drop him off at home before the show even started. On top of that, after each enjoying only one piece of pizza the entire pie feel on the floor. AHH! And it wasn't even by the kids. So by the time we waited for the second pizza to come out it was definitely time to go and get our tickets at Will Call because the show was starting soon.
We headed to the Bi Lo Center and quickly found our seats which were really good. Aladdin was the first story and it started off with the Genie coming out of the bottle with fireworks shooting off. Lane started crying hysterically. Oh boy! He was really scared of the loud noises and even some of the characters, I think. He kept telling me he wanted to go home to see Daddy. And when I said ok, but you'll have to go to bed he said ok. So he was really scared.
I think I enjoyed the show more than he did. It was SO good and it reminded me so much of when I was little. My favorite was probably The Little Mermaid and of course, Cinderella. I thought they did a nice job of putting the show together. I was able to talk him down eventually and after intermission, he somewhat enjoyed it, but still from the comforts of my lap.
Jade who is 3, absolutely LOVED it.
Cinderella's ugly stepsisters. It was amazing how they all skated in those costumes. I can barely ice skate, let alone with all the wardrobe in the show.
Going to the Ball
Bippity boppity BOO!
The best part about the Bi Lo Center is it took us longer to get out of the parking garage than it did to get home. It's a short 5 minute drive from our house and good thing because it was LATE. Matt took Lane up to bed and he said his eyes were literally closed before he even laid all the way down. Matt was asking if he liked the show and he was shaking his head yes, but his eyes were closed. And then Matt said he was like "Night Buddy, love you" and Lane was already asleep. When I went to check on him before I went to bed he was still in the same spot and covered up which never happens. He was a tired little boy!
I'd say it's almost a weekly thing.
This Mister loves his trains...
It's the perfect setting. Books galore, Thomas the Train table, Starbucks, Hello! It's practically like a day at the spa...
Except, with 2 kids, no robes or slippers or champagne. But who's counting! I do occasionally get to read a page or two from a book while sipping a latte. That's considered a day at the Spa with 2 kids in tow.
This one...
She's not so much into the trains yet.
But in no time, her big brother will show her the ropes, I'm sure!
His best cheeser!
Then after we play, we usually grab a muffin from Starbucks. Lane loves his muffins. :-)
Earlier this week, my sister, Tyler and I took Lane (and Parker) to Chuck E. Cheese. This was his 2nd time there. My parents took him one evening when Matt, Parker and I were still in the hospital. And thankfully they clued us in...when you take Lane to Chuck E. Cheese...you don't even need tokens. It's great! He is happy to sit in the rides
and "play" all the games and you don't even have to spend money.
Now being the nice uncle that Ty is, he did get a few. I think it was more for us to play Skeeball. :-)
He also rode this ride...which Lace and I were calling Handy Manny and Lane kept saying "No! bob builder" Whoops! Guess we don't know our characters. He doesn't even really watch either of those shows so I don't know how he knew them!
He liked this one too!
We had a very nice visit with Aunt Cece and Uncle Ty. We were laughing all week because we were calling ourselves the "sister wives." Matt was working so everywhere we went it was Tyler with Lace and I and the 2 kids. HAH! Tyler, thankfully, isn't a creepster like Cody.
Fun fun times=Halloween with a 2 year old. He was in COMPLETE awe of everything around him. He didn't know where to look first. There were costumes and decorations and people galore! I absolutely loved watching him take everything in.
I decided to go the semi-homemade route this year in the costume department. Costumes can be SOOO expensive and they only wear them for such a short time. I found Parker's at a consignment sale back in July. It was a cow costume from Old Navy for 4 bucks and it looked BRAND new! So then I decided Lane would be a farmer, a dairy farmer to be specific. :-)
Pretty soon, some overalls, a flannel shirt, a hot glue gun, some straw, rain boots, a hat (that I already had from Gap Outlet) and a milk pail (complete with a white sheet for the milk) later and we had the cutest farmer you've ever seen.
I was a little nervous how it was all going to come together, but we got so many compliments on it, that I think it's safe to say it was a SUCCESS! And he was ok with wearing it all. I wasn't sure about the hat and boots and last week when I tried to put the overalls on him he said, 'no, momma. take off.' But come last night, the little man rallied. He even carried his milk pail around all night.
The Greenville Zoo did a really nice job. It was a members only event. They had everything decorated...even some of the animal exhibits. And they made it so it wasn't scary so it was fun for even the little ones.
Blurry, but one of the rare mommy and baby photos so it was a must post...
The little cow was a hit as well!
By the end of the night he was walking up to all the blow-ups and then turning around to pose for a picture.
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