Wow, And Thank You! 3 Cheers For My Littles!

After an extremely long 12 days since hub has flown away, I am holding in my bearings. The long trips are soooo much easier now that our Little's can, walk and talk, and dress them selves, and put their belongings away. They have really been absolutely amazing. Yes of course there are THOSE DAY. You know the ones when you look around and you notice the extra amount of work that needs to be done in the house, on the property, in the car, in the room, and the other room, and the big room, and the small room. So you PANIC! 

Your really hoping that the ghost of Joan Crawford doesn't make an appearance, and then you sigh and realize, you haven't even had your tea yet. Yes, my Little's are my little solders. 

I really, really, really, believe that their Montessori education in preschool is the reason for this. I would love to chit chat on and on about Montessori but that's for another post.

Today's post goes out to my Little's. My Littles whom I remember telling 12 days ago while driving home from dropping daddy off at the airport.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo taken by Stephen Linsley 

"Hey guys, lets see how many compliments we can get from others while daddy is away!" In the confinement of our car, with no opportunity what so ever of GETTING a compliment IN the car. This is a technique I started when they were all old enough to start rationalizing with mommy. Don't you love that stage of child development. When you can start making deals, and mental contracts. I didn't promise them anything, just used my a really exited tone!

Tonight, after I took Grandpa for his evening ride, we picked up my famished little Littles  from the gym and we went to our favorite Chinese restaurant Dragon Palace. It was buffet night which meant, no waiting, no "I've got to go to the bathroom!", x three (well four with Grandpa.  We sat down and I immediately became server extraordinaire, and began to serve everyone. While also tending to the removal of jackets, and mittens, and scarves, Grandpa included.  Rolling up sleeves, and folding up walkers.   Oh by the way did I mention it was 16 degrees? I told my self I wasn't going to start complaining  about the cold weather yet because we have friggin 6 more months. (Am I to young to become a snowbird?) 

Eventually we all sat quietly, eating passionately, (remember the famished part?) I asked the waitress if I could get a bottle of the house sake bagged and ready for departure as we left. Everyone was eating. Little buddy had about 3 bowls of egg drop soup, and Grandpa had a hefty few bowls including a mile high plate of fried rice himself. 

Biggest Little was wailing about getting some ribs, and stating, "I don't see any ribs on the buffet, can we get some ribs?" I shout at my lowest to the  waitress as she walked past our table about ordering ribs. She repeated about 100 times. "You order? You order? No buffet. You order?" Yes I shook my head as I took my  first bite.

 "Have we already been here for 25 minutes?" Predicting my growling belly 15 minutes after we leave. 

Little Buddy says, "Mom did you order?" smiling at how considerate he sounded at a mere 4 years old I answered, "Yes dear."  Middle Little said. "Oh yes, I've had order." Biggest Little says. "What does order taste like?" Enter the ribs.

The teen hostess is now crouched near my seat. "You know the sake is $$.$$ dollars right?"

With a freaky look I said. "CUT the sake." as if I were on set.

Of course the the trips to the  bathroom started shortly after. Next, seconds for everyone. GROWL, I look at my plate. What was I eating again? I knew I had to drive Grandpa back home to the next county over, I didn't dare go near the steaming and fresh General TAO's they just put out due to the absence of my gallbladder. It's 13 degrees by now. 

I start missing Grandma as she is at home recouping from her hip replacement surgery.   I take a pic of my crew to send to Grandma's phone. Don't want her to miss Grandpa living in the moment with his daughter in- law and only  grand children and Alzheimer's. He loves going for rides with me. He grabs a rib.  I stand up and to take a picture on my CrackBerry, but polite enough to make sure that I am not bending over in front of that Nice Couple I noticed sitting across from us earlier. They were gone so the bending began at my leisure.  I am proud, and look like I have just crawled out from under a rock. CLICK! "Wait, Middle, your not in the picture." CLICK!

After I sit down, the waitress comes to my table and crouches down. I'm assuming she is going to tell me what the hostess told me earlier. She did not. What she did tell me was that, the Nice Couple just paid for our entire dinner, and complimented on how well behaved my children were. After crying and trying to cover up my small elated breakdown, I wiped my eyes and said. "Wrap up that sake." 

After looking at the fuzzy picture closer, I can see the Nice Couple in the background. In times like these I am glad to be in a small town, because I know I will one day get to say thank you to that Nice Couple one day.

With daddy coming home in just 2 days and with more than one compliment behind us while he's been away. Bravo to you my Littles I needn't hang Santa over your heads any longer. You've  just received one of your biggest compliments ever.