Chick-fil-a: The 8th Wonder of the World?
For those of my readers that have toddlers, have you discovered the wonders of the Chick-fil-a
family night? Each and every Tuesday night, the family friendly chain sets up a jumpy in the parking lot, sets out arts and crafts, and gives you one free kids meal with each adult meal. Some guy in a giant cow costume wanders around patting little kids on the head and posing for pictures. Of all the attractions, I think the Cow takes the prize. Kids follow him around like a little tribe of Worshipers of Large Fuzzy Cows. The Cow can persuade persnickety children to eat their dinners, behave in the jumpy, and not fling food across the table, all without uttering one single word. Behold the picture of the two smiling toddlers who were, momements before this photo was shot, trying to rip each other's ears off.
family night? Each and every Tuesday night, the family friendly chain sets up a jumpy in the parking lot, sets out arts and crafts, and gives you one free kids meal with each adult meal. Some guy in a giant cow costume wanders around patting little kids on the head and posing for pictures. Of all the attractions, I think the Cow takes the prize. Kids follow him around like a little tribe of Worshipers of Large Fuzzy Cows. The Cow can persuade persnickety children to eat their dinners, behave in the jumpy, and not fling food across the table, all without uttering one single word. Behold the picture of the two smiling toddlers who were, momements before this photo was shot, trying to rip each other's ears off.4th of July
We got really lucky this year and Grandma got to come visit for the 4th of July holiday. It was a 
three day weekend this year, so we mad ethe most of it. We picked Grandma up at the airport very early and whisked her off to a morning parade in Del Mar where the kids were the parade. We decked Luc out in a Bruce Springsteen-esque outfit and wreathed his bike in garland and pin wheels for the big parade and marched around Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. With the crazy beach-saving partiers as our audience, we stomped, danced, rode and marched around that park making as much noise as possible. We checked out the fire engine from the Del Mar Fire Department and, when we were too pooped to pop anymore, we headed home for a rest before
the afternoon festivities.
three day weekend this year, so we mad ethe most of it. We picked Grandma up at the airport very early and whisked her off to a morning parade in Del Mar where the kids were the parade. We decked Luc out in a Bruce Springsteen-esque outfit and wreathed his bike in garland and pin wheels for the big parade and marched around Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. With the crazy beach-saving partiers as our audience, we stomped, danced, rode and marched around that park making as much noise as possible. We checked out the fire engine from the Del Mar Fire Department and, when we were too pooped to pop anymore, we headed home for a rest before the afternoon festivities.
The Party that Barb Forgot 
After everyone had a refreshing nap, we packed up and headed for the 4th of July party at Aunt Bubba's house. Aunt Bubba's house is set up perfectly for kids; there are no exits and there is a nice circular track between the front door and the slider door. The party reached a crescendo when the little boys found Aunt Bubba's dress up box that she uses in her classroom. The boys found some butterfly wings, a rainbow wig and a NASA helmet. Luc crashed on the way home and missed the fireworks completely. 
Mommy's Birthday
Liking parties as much as I do, it was a shock to discover that I did not really want to have a birthday party this year. So instead we went on a "stay"cation. We got a room at the local Four Seasons and treated our family to a nice weekend at a hotel with a pool. Luc was a little disappointed to discover that my friends were not joining
us complaining, "but who is going to PLAY with me Mommy?" His attitude changed the minute we walked in the door. As Daddy was checking in, a nice man wheeled out a Radio Flyer wagon piled high with toys and encouraged him to take one. He was agog with indecision. He recovered, his Batman tops clutched to his chest, and started asking about the pool. We squeezed him in to his inflatable suit and headed for the family pool. We played in the pool for a few hours and then went back to get ready for dinner. Our room had been visited by a crew that was very kind to Luc. They left him spong letters spelling out his name on the side of the tub. They left him a pint sized terry cloth robe to keep him warm after his bath. They left
him a plush stuffed froggy so that he wouldn't have to sleep alone. But the coup d'grace was his special "turn down service." Left for him on the desk was a large dinner size plate with a molded chocolate beach bucket and shovel, the bucked filled with gummy bears and M&Ms, perched on a mound of coarse sugar that looked like sand. A chocolate cupcake and his name written on chocolate on the plate completed the smorasboard. He was speechless, unable to utter even a single squeal of excitement. Had he been a cartoon character, his eyes would have popped out of his head, his tongue would have been lolling out of his mouth and he would have made some "aaroooggaahhh" noise. Between the pool and the cupcake, he is already asking when my next birthday will occur.
us complaining, "but who is going to PLAY with me Mommy?" His attitude changed the minute we walked in the door. As Daddy was checking in, a nice man wheeled out a Radio Flyer wagon piled high with toys and encouraged him to take one. He was agog with indecision. He recovered, his Batman tops clutched to his chest, and started asking about the pool. We squeezed him in to his inflatable suit and headed for the family pool. We played in the pool for a few hours and then went back to get ready for dinner. Our room had been visited by a crew that was very kind to Luc. They left him spong letters spelling out his name on the side of the tub. They left him a pint sized terry cloth robe to keep him warm after his bath. They left him a plush stuffed froggy so that he wouldn't have to sleep alone. But the coup d'grace was his special "turn down service." Left for him on the desk was a large dinner size plate with a molded chocolate beach bucket and shovel, the bucked filled with gummy bears and M&Ms, perched on a mound of coarse sugar that looked like sand. A chocolate cupcake and his name written on chocolate on the plate completed the smorasboard. He was speechless, unable to utter even a single squeal of excitement. Had he been a cartoon character, his eyes would have popped out of his head, his tongue would have been lolling out of his mouth and he would have made some "aaroooggaahhh" noise. Between the pool and the cupcake, he is already asking when my next birthday will occur. 