Lunch With Sister and Company!

I made what most moms would consider as an insane offer to my sister one Saturday afternoon. I don’t know what I was thinking, really. I mean, we had just finished watching the new Harry Potter movie at the Boardwalk and I suppose I must have been feeling rather normal and mundane.

You have to understand that my sister & I do not get to do ANYTHING much together anymore. This was a very rare and special occasion for us to get to go to see a movie and take our respective eldest child with us to do so.

I had wanted to be able to take everyone out to lunch or tea after the movie, but my tummy wasn’t too happy after having the requisite movie popcorn and super-huge drink that sister had so very thoughtfully brought me from the concession stand while I reserved our seats.

We talked about it, and opted to let the kids check out the toy store instead and I told sister that I would take her to have strawberry pie at Strawn’s on Monday or Tuesday. I assumed she would realize that ALL of my children would be in attendance!

Apparently the thought of the ever elusive strawberry pie was too much, and she decided that an outing was just what we needed even if it meant with taking the babies.

Monday morning, after the babies woke up from their nap, my eldest and I packed the diaper bag with bibs (we don’t normally use them at home) and loaded up the car with all of our outing-gear.

You have to consider logistics in all of this. I drive a car. Our stroller doesn’t fit into the trunk all of the way, so it must be bungeed shut. I have three baby seats across the back seat and that leaves room for the diaper bag and insulated drink/sippy cup bag in the floor boards.

Today, we were adding in three little portable booster seats (they look and fold up like camping chairs but very tiny with straps) and an extra person into the mix! Normally, I cannot go anywhere with anyone who cannot meet me at our destination because of space-issues. Sister does not have a car, so we were going to have to improvise.

Bregon had already figured out exactly what we were going to have to do to get us all there. He never told me, but he actually climbs into the backseat when he stays in the car with the babies while I run in to get groceries and such. As luck would have it, he is small enough to sit and still have room to move, on the back floor-board hump. Who knew?

Sister looked at us really funny when we ran by to pick her up. Luckily, she is used to my bizarre and often time spontaneous arrangements! Nothing should surprise her anymore.

We actually made it to the restaurant with little problem, only the parking lot was rather full. We ended up having to park next to the grass at the end of the lot. It took us a bit to unload because of all the added gear.

I had high hopes of getting to use the booster seats for the first time. We even managed to figure out how to get all three little folded up seats into the basket under the stroller somehow and still have room to bring the diaper bag and necessary toys!

Unfortunately, we got there during lunch time and all of the big tables were taken which meant that we were not going to get to try out the booster seats. Luckily, the babies didn’t know the difference as they are used to eating in their stroller most of the time anyways. We ended up in one of the booths towards the back.

Everyone, sister included, was surprised at how quiet the babies were. Vivie only had one little tiny outburst, but it was because she had a rather large gas bubble that quickly resolved itself. They spent most of the time watching the people and throwing cups and toys towards the ones they wanted to meet (their usual way of meeting and making new friends.)

Sister ended up sitting in front of Kai, who must be told exactly what it is that he is being served before he will actually eat it. She didn’t know of course, and she was very surprised when he held up a piece of food and asked her if it was chicken.

The boys proceeded to insist on sister setting up a baby buffet line at the edge of our table. They wanted to pick up everything themselves. Amused, sister obediently complied. We discovered that they love garlic bread, and are not very fond of strawberry bits from pie. Coconut pie, however, is just fine with them!

Everything went surprisingly smooth and quiet considering we were having lunch with three 16 month old babies and a 12 year old. It does help that the waitresses are familiar with them and remember them from their two much earlier visits!

As we were leaving, Kai surprised us all by waiving frantically and screaming, “Bye-bye everybody! Thank-oo, see you later!” He had most of the restaurant laughing over his zealousness!

I am very lucky to be able to take all of my children out to lunch together successfully. Nobody made a scene or spectacle of themselves (other than being a limo-load full of triplets) and sister even got to have her strawberry pie. And oddly enough, we all managed to fit into my very tiny car, stuff included. Mission accomplished!