Eating out with twins

There have been stages of ease and difficulty eating out with twins. A few months ago it was pretty easy. We'd keep 'em busy until the food got there. Dick insists (and I appreciate) that they stay in their seats for the entire meal. And they're usually pretty good.

Tonight we decided to all go to Joe's Crab Shack. We didn't get there until probably 6:30, half an hour after our usual dinnertime. The kids were already hungry but I had said "no" to more snacks around 5:30 because I wanted them to eat dinner.

While we waited for a table, I took them both, consecutively, to the bathroom. When one says they have to go, the other always does as well. It's a fun little production of walk to the restroom, set kid on the potty, talk about the walls, the toilet paper, the plunger, the toilet, etc. Maybe the kid will pee, more likely not. Then wash hands, then walk out and repeat the whole thing with the next kid.

Once we got to the table we had to get settled with booster chairs and figure out what everyone wants to eat. The waitress came back three times before we were ready!

Then we waited for our food. A minimal amount of playing took place that was fine and appropriate. There was only a little bit of complaining. I think I also took them both back to the bathroom, one after the other.

Then the food came. It's a shuffle of getting each kid what they want. "I want some applesauce." "I need ketchup." "I don't want this fork." "I want more of your lemonade, mommy." Dick hears about half of these requests. I hear them all. And most are directed at me. So I then have to make my own requests. "Dick, please give Jackson some more french fries." "Pass me the ketchup." "Would you give Jackson some of my lemonade." Etc.!

Finally, halfway through the meal, I get to look down and remember what I ordered to eat! By the time I'm about 1/3 of the way through MY meal (still continually providing all that is constantly needed by two kids) they're done eating and start getting antsy to leave.

And then, of course, they have to go potty again! Out of the three times I had two kids in the bathroom, I think one of them went once!

Anyway, we said "absolutely not!" to dessert, and finally got out of there around 8 - after bedtime!

I felt bad for being a little annoyed about the whole thing. I should expect it to be like that. Dick thought it was pretty funny/cute. But he didn't have to schlep anyone to the bathroom. And seriously, how does he not hear all those requests for this, that and the other!? Does he not hear them?

Overall, I'm sure someone at another table would look over and think, "Look at those (darling) well-behaved kids!" And they are. :-) They just require constant assistance and attention!

Jackson was a chatterbox all night! It's really cute. He keeps getting confused with when to say "me" vs "I." I'll ask, "who needs more milk?" And he'll respond, "I." He also keeps talking about "yester-night" which I think is adorable. :-)