Yesterday was my birthday. It's interesting having a birthday when your children are old enough to know what birthdays mean.
In the morning, Berkeley and Griffin demanded to know where my birthday cake was hiding and when we were going to eat it. I explained that they needed to make my cake. They didn't think that was a good idea and suggested politely that I make my own and could it be chocolate with white frosting. I said, no, I wasn't going to make my own birthday cake but I would be happy to make an apple zucchini cake for breakfast and I could even throw in some chocolate chips for good measure. They thought that was a good idea until they were inspired to try to pick out the microscopic bits of "green stuff" from their breakfast cake.
After breakfast we discussed where we should go for Mommy's birthday meal. Chuck E Cheese! Chuck E Cheese! Chuck E Cheese! Again, NO! We went to Chuck E Cheese last year for my birthday. (Grandpa Bug had his first vist to CEC with us last year and he quickly noted that it was like Las Vegas for toddlers!) Two years in a row is too much when you are in your thirties. After much debate we settled on Rainforest Cafe. Lights, noise and drama for the kids and good food for the parents. It was fun.
Really, it was fun. About 2/3rds of the way through our meal Ian and I looked at each other and asked if we were actually enjoying a pleasant meal with all three of our children in a restaurant. I think it was a day for the record books. There were no temper tantrums, no food throwing, no one threw up and the big boys even politely shared their crayons. Is there hope?
After lunch we were walking around the mall when the boys spotted Baskin Robbins. It was decided that ice cream would stand in for a birthday cake and we all got our own little bowls. Everyone but Parker. In another surprising twist of behaviour, Griffin was happy to share his ice cream with Parker. It worked out just fine but next time, I think we are a five bowl of ice cream family!
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