Red Lobster

Tonight we finally got to use our Red Lobster gift card from Christmas. Seeing as how Christmas wasn't even a month ago, using "finally" sounds silly, BUT we've been planning it for a few weeks. So, yes, we finally went tonight. I cannot even remember the last time we've gone to a sit down restaurant. Probably Red Robin for our birthdays almost two years ago. The boys feel so cooped up and are so very impatient, why take them to restaurants. But since they have grown up a little, we figured they wouldn't be so bad. And they weren't! (well, Gavin was kind of a sour puss... but that's part of his personality if he isn't getting what he wants right away... which is totally fine...). 

We were able to get seated right away, which is always a great sign. Our server, Shannon, came by a tad later to get drinks and let us know biscuits will be on the way. Um, yay! Looove Red Lobster biscuits. We got the boys excited for their dinner (popcorn shrimp and mac and cheese) and then tried to decide on our own dinners. Holy cow. So very hard to decide what to eat with three chatter boxes and you haven't been to the restaurant for YEARS. While we were deciding, our angel of a server said she would take the boys order and split it up three ways for us. Yes! We don't like to get the boys too much food when we go out because they rarely eat it all- there is just so much going on for them! Anyhow, we finally decided on our own dinners and we got our salads and the boys' food soon after. They did a great job and ate a pretty good amount. We got french fries and broccoli for their sides, and of course they didn't touch their broccoli. Shannon quietly asked me if I wanted her to get the boys some ice cream, split three ways again. I said of course! Before she brought it out, though, she told them that they had to have at least three bites of broccoli. Ha! So very awesome. The second she said that, Jack took a piece of broccoli and stuffed into his mouth. "Mmm, broccoli!" He ate at least two more pieces. James ate two pieces and Gavin, true to form, fought us on it. Though he was still happily devouring his fries (who can blame him). He still got some ice cream :) 

I have to say, I really appreciated her encouraging the boys to eat their veggies. I had already said it, but they were definitely aware that I was not in charge of their food and she was. She was such a grandma to them! Apparently they were all talking about our cute little boys in the back and were ready to babysit! After our food came out (and ice cream devoured), she took the boys to go pet the lobsters. How fun!! Jack, who had been fine alllllll night sitting across from me, all of a sudden went into Mommy-attachment-mode and could hardly be out of my presence without having a panic attack. Brad went with them, which pacified him for a bit. I went with him after a few minutes to look at the lobster and was with the boys while they showed me how brave they were. Seeing as how Brad and I had barely started eating our food, Shannon put the lobster away and promised the boys to take them back later. They were so excited. I got crab since the boys have been wanting to get some lately and showed the boys how to crack its shell open. James actually ate some meat (yay!!) while Gavin liked playing with the legs. Once I was all done, I let James play with the cracker and he kept cracking the legs open even more. After we were done, Brad took the boys back to the lobster tank where the hostess was able to show them another lobster. The boys did not want to go home, they had so much fun. It was such a great night- couldn't have asked for a better experience!