Best Dinner

Kuh-kuh the Birthday Critter

Dad took Anson for a dance

Brotherly love, mostly

Photo book gift

Looking at the photos

Anson ate half a grilled cheese, some chips (real potato ones), half a cookie-ice-cream sandwich AND half a cupcake. Lucky kid.

Simon's dessert face

Dessert part two...b/c Simon insisted that we have birthday cupcakes. We smuggled in the gourmet filled cupcakes from Arnie's and squeezed a few candles on for mom and Simon...just for fun for Simon.

Anson's cupcake

My mom celebrated a birthday earlier this month but was out in WA with my sister & her family at the time. Last night we went out to celebrate with the Grand Rapidian contingent.

Factors that made it the best meal/party/event in a long time:

1. We went to Bostwick Lake Inn out in Rockford (?) - one of mom's current favorites. It was ideal b/c we sit outside, there's water with fish & boats, there's fresh air and space for kiddos, it's not a big deal if they spill, and there's also live music.
2. The guy playing last night, Sam Corbin, was really good -- and excellent for background music. I remember last year there was a whole band & it was too much, too loud. We loved this guy. Both kids danced plenty (even though no one else did other than dad when he "helped" Anson) and a few of us bought CDs. Nice.
3. The kids ATE THEIR FOOD. This is no small miracle. We ordered one kids meal & they split it, happily, and nothing from my emergency stash had to be pulled out. They just ate.
4. Those Arnie's gourmet stuffed cupcakes are ridiculously good. We smuggled them in, probably very much against restaurant policy, but no one said anything. Yummers.
5. The food is good there. Really good. We shared 3 appetizers amongst us all & they were all good, and I heard only completely satisfied comments from everyone about their meals. And the kids ate theirs. Did I say that before?
   
6. Diverse beer & adult beverage options. Yay. We all had something different, we were all happy.
7. The weather was perfect.
8. Mom had "ride home" treats b/c it's a little bit of a hike...Simon ate them both b/c Anson didn't seem to want them, so both kids were happy.
9. Because it's outside & because Tia & Andy & Grandma & Grandpa were all there the kids were entertained, fed, cared for, loved on, danced with, shared with...they were happy. And it was okay for Simon to get off the bench & dance, go look at the boats & fish, wiggle around. Perfect.

If only every dining out/party experience turned out so well! I could just relive that night over & over & over for weeks - or months - and not tire of it. What a gift!

You have been sent 9 pictures.

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