Labor Day = Family Day!!
It's been a rare days in the past 3 months or so, that we've been able to spend time as a family. Are there lots of reasons? Surely, school, work, sleep, ensembles, lessons, teaching... you name it.
But this day was gonna be different. Occasionally, we take the kids out to breakfast. They're favorite is IHOP. The first time we went we ordered them each a meal and ended up with 5 times as much food as we could possibly eat, although Ben tried! We've since learned that we can get away with ordering 2 breakfasts and splitting them between the kids. So, this morning we headed out at 930 to go to IHOP. I know, you're already saying to yourself, "9:30?! On Labor day!? Good luck with that one!" and you're right. We didn't even stop. The line was out the door.
So much to our kids dismay, we began the search for another restraunt. We drove and drove and drove until we ended up almost at home. Once the boys recognized where we were, we were assaulted with pleas to not go home. But I had a plan, I had remembered there was a new Mom & Pop cafe that opened just down the street from us. So, what the heck, I'll try it.
The kids were skeptical, it looked nothing like IHOP. No bright colors or over the top menus or logos. This certainly wasn't what they had in mind. Thankfully, hunger was beginning to set in which made them willing to give it a shot.
The insides were clean, humble, there we nothing fancy. The place could only seat maybe 40 people at time... max... and that's a high maybe. Probably more like 25-30 people.
The kids were excited to see that they're favorite breakfast, "Happy Pancakes", you know, the smiling pancakes made with whipped cream and all the other healthy stuff kids love, were on the menu.
We'll take 3 of those thanks, as for myself, I'll have the chicken fried steak and eggs (my normal eating out breakfast. For those of you that don't know me that well, I really dislike sweet breakfasts. I don't know what it is... I'm happier ordering a burger than pancakes or french toast.) Helen took some simple eggs and pancakes.
We were happy that they had crayons and place mats for the kids AND they brought out a small plate of goldfish. The kids were stoked. IWHO? This place has goldfish!
They bring out the food and Ben, the observant and outspoken one, realizes that, these are not Happy Pancakes. The waitress had barely put the plate down and seriously, I mean, barely put the plate down before it was "These aren't happy pancakes". What was placed before him was a single, large pancake with a orange slice perched on it.
Now, I'm going to assume that most of you have and/or once have been children but remember that face where they were expecting something fabulous and fun for Christmas and they opened the box socks. Yeah, remember it? That's what they looked like. In almost total silence, speechless by the disappointment of a "unhappy" pancake presented to them.
There's always that brief moment where they:
1. Analyze the situation
2. Decide what course of action needs to be taken
-Do I cry, do I take this horribly unhappy pancake and eat it? Prehaps drop it on the floor, always a good choice.
3. Act
Luckily for us, the waitress heard Ben and realized the mistake before step 3 could be followed out, cause by the looks of things, they were planning on taking the "Lets throw a fit in the middle of a restraunt" decision.
Apparently, we were being served by 2 waitresses, on that took the order and one that dropped it off, so, the unhappy pancakes were removed and made happy.
Yea!
With the corrected plates and peace and tranquility restored to the table we enjoyed our breakfast. Ben devoured his food, Josh ate half of his pancake... the top half and Morgan was the perfect little girl. My chicken fried steak was the best one I've had since.... well, it could possibly be the best one I've ever had and I didn't hear any complaints from Helen. I snitched a couple bites from Morgans' pancake... and it was good. Not the doughy, flavorless kinds at IWHO, these were lights and sweet, not icky sweet but a "hmm... these are good" kind of sweet.
And the happiest part?
The bill!
We ended up paying $23 AFTER tip compared to the $36 or so from IWHO.
We'll be going back. It's nothing fancy but then, neither are we. The food is good, I like good food and the price was cheap, I happen to also like cheap.
Then the next question... what now? We had several options:
1. Bowling
2. Miniture Golf
3. Movie
4. Hiking
5. Aviary
6. Zoo
We immediately eliminated the Zoo, we knew that place was gonna be thronged with people. We have an annual pass so, we'll go when we have the place to ourselves thank you very much. The Aviary is nice but we had the same feelings about it like the zoo.
Hiking, well, is hiking. If you've ever been hiking with a 6, 4 and 2 year old, you know how much fun that can be. 20 minutes in, I'm carrying the 4 yr old and Helen's got the 2 year old and the 6 yr old is somewhere.... I'm not sure where exactly... but he's not crying.... yet.
Lets try the movies, kids like those, we like those. Confined environment with drinks and snacks. We decided to see Cars, which everyone but me had already seen. The next showing was in 10 minutes (11:50) eh... I'm sure that one is packed, lets check out the next one. 2:20. That'll work. We can do some shopping and maybe a light lunch and then come back.
Well, when we came back it was SWARMED with people. Umm... yeah, no thanks. Miniture golf it is!
Now, this is something Helen has been wanting to do for a long time. We got enough clubs and balls for everyone, including Morgan. Well, at the 3rd hole, we were lapped by the group behind us, Josh decided he didn't want to play and Morgan... well... is 2.
In order to stay ahead of the people behind us, we had to skip every other hole. Ben was not happy about that. But he had fun nevertheless. He had a couple of nice shots including the only hole in one. And Helen beat me on just about every hole. Except the 18th, which I had 2 holes in one! (my ball and Morgans). Yea! Who's the man?!
We finished off the day at Iceberg drive in, a local burger joint with some great shakes.
My day ended with going home and sleeping in preparation for work and school today!
All in all, it was a fun day! For everyone!
Here's hoping yours was as enjoyable as ours!
But this day was gonna be different. Occasionally, we take the kids out to breakfast. They're favorite is IHOP. The first time we went we ordered them each a meal and ended up with 5 times as much food as we could possibly eat, although Ben tried! We've since learned that we can get away with ordering 2 breakfasts and splitting them between the kids. So, this morning we headed out at 930 to go to IHOP. I know, you're already saying to yourself, "9:30?! On Labor day!? Good luck with that one!" and you're right. We didn't even stop. The line was out the door.
So much to our kids dismay, we began the search for another restraunt. We drove and drove and drove until we ended up almost at home. Once the boys recognized where we were, we were assaulted with pleas to not go home. But I had a plan, I had remembered there was a new Mom & Pop cafe that opened just down the street from us. So, what the heck, I'll try it.
The kids were skeptical, it looked nothing like IHOP. No bright colors or over the top menus or logos. This certainly wasn't what they had in mind. Thankfully, hunger was beginning to set in which made them willing to give it a shot.
The insides were clean, humble, there we nothing fancy. The place could only seat maybe 40 people at time... max... and that's a high maybe. Probably more like 25-30 people.
The kids were excited to see that they're favorite breakfast, "Happy Pancakes", you know, the smiling pancakes made with whipped cream and all the other healthy stuff kids love, were on the menu.
We'll take 3 of those thanks, as for myself, I'll have the chicken fried steak and eggs (my normal eating out breakfast. For those of you that don't know me that well, I really dislike sweet breakfasts. I don't know what it is... I'm happier ordering a burger than pancakes or french toast.) Helen took some simple eggs and pancakes.
We were happy that they had crayons and place mats for the kids AND they brought out a small plate of goldfish. The kids were stoked. IWHO? This place has goldfish!
They bring out the food and Ben, the observant and outspoken one, realizes that, these are not Happy Pancakes. The waitress had barely put the plate down and seriously, I mean, barely put the plate down before it was "These aren't happy pancakes". What was placed before him was a single, large pancake with a orange slice perched on it.
Now, I'm going to assume that most of you have and/or once have been children but remember that face where they were expecting something fabulous and fun for Christmas and they opened the box socks. Yeah, remember it? That's what they looked like. In almost total silence, speechless by the disappointment of a "unhappy" pancake presented to them.
There's always that brief moment where they:
1. Analyze the situation
2. Decide what course of action needs to be taken
-Do I cry, do I take this horribly unhappy pancake and eat it? Prehaps drop it on the floor, always a good choice.
3. Act
Luckily for us, the waitress heard Ben and realized the mistake before step 3 could be followed out, cause by the looks of things, they were planning on taking the "Lets throw a fit in the middle of a restraunt" decision.
Apparently, we were being served by 2 waitresses, on that took the order and one that dropped it off, so, the unhappy pancakes were removed and made happy.
Yea!
With the corrected plates and peace and tranquility restored to the table we enjoyed our breakfast. Ben devoured his food, Josh ate half of his pancake... the top half and Morgan was the perfect little girl. My chicken fried steak was the best one I've had since.... well, it could possibly be the best one I've ever had and I didn't hear any complaints from Helen. I snitched a couple bites from Morgans' pancake... and it was good. Not the doughy, flavorless kinds at IWHO, these were lights and sweet, not icky sweet but a "hmm... these are good" kind of sweet.
And the happiest part?
The bill!
We ended up paying $23 AFTER tip compared to the $36 or so from IWHO.
We'll be going back. It's nothing fancy but then, neither are we. The food is good, I like good food and the price was cheap, I happen to also like cheap.
Then the next question... what now? We had several options:
1. Bowling
2. Miniture Golf
3. Movie
4. Hiking
5. Aviary
6. Zoo
We immediately eliminated the Zoo, we knew that place was gonna be thronged with people. We have an annual pass so, we'll go when we have the place to ourselves thank you very much. The Aviary is nice but we had the same feelings about it like the zoo.
Hiking, well, is hiking. If you've ever been hiking with a 6, 4 and 2 year old, you know how much fun that can be. 20 minutes in, I'm carrying the 4 yr old and Helen's got the 2 year old and the 6 yr old is somewhere.... I'm not sure where exactly... but he's not crying.... yet.
Lets try the movies, kids like those, we like those. Confined environment with drinks and snacks. We decided to see Cars, which everyone but me had already seen. The next showing was in 10 minutes (11:50) eh... I'm sure that one is packed, lets check out the next one. 2:20. That'll work. We can do some shopping and maybe a light lunch and then come back.
Well, when we came back it was SWARMED with people. Umm... yeah, no thanks. Miniture golf it is!
Now, this is something Helen has been wanting to do for a long time. We got enough clubs and balls for everyone, including Morgan. Well, at the 3rd hole, we were lapped by the group behind us, Josh decided he didn't want to play and Morgan... well... is 2.
In order to stay ahead of the people behind us, we had to skip every other hole. Ben was not happy about that. But he had fun nevertheless. He had a couple of nice shots including the only hole in one. And Helen beat me on just about every hole. Except the 18th, which I had 2 holes in one! (my ball and Morgans). Yea! Who's the man?!
We finished off the day at Iceberg drive in, a local burger joint with some great shakes.
My day ended with going home and sleeping in preparation for work and school today!
All in all, it was a fun day! For everyone!
Here's hoping yours was as enjoyable as ours!
posted by Mike at Tuesday, September 05, 2006
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