Ahhh, the joys of Motherhood!

Today, August 31 is my second son, Alec's 12th Birthday. It's hot, and I mean, HOT outside and the two hurricanes (Danielle and Earl) that are brewing off of the East coast are stirring up some nasty rip tides. Rip tides mean no swimming at the beach so it's not a beach day for us! So, what's a Mom to do?

Being that we have an appointment this afternoon to have Alec do a walk through of his Middle School schedule for September, we have a time crunch problem. I decide, LUNCH, might be the perfect solution!

I consult Alec. He agrees, lunch sounds fun, so he picks Spicy Cantina. Spicy is on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, they have outside, balcony seating so it sounds fun, right? We can look at the ocean, people watch, enjoy the cool ocean breeze while we enjoy a pleasant birthday lunch.

WAIT ONE MINUTE! I must have forgotten, I have six kids! Okay, I didn't forget that I have six kids, I just forgot what dining is like with six kids.

We arrive in Seaside, walk over to Spicy and sit. It is largely uneventful. Time to pick our meals, this is where is gets tricky.

You see, I have a 14 year old, who wants to eat like an adult, but doesn't like all the things that come with an adult meal. My 9 year old likes essentially, nothing, but eats like a horse. My 7 year old son likes everything, my 7 year old daughter knows what she likes and only orders what she likes, she's easy. Then there is my 4 year old, oh, he's fun. (Read sarcasm)

Here is a summary of lunch; kids drinks come out in kid cups, 14 yo, 9 yo are annoyed.

Michael (14yo) orders empanadas, too spicy.

Justin (9y0) orders adult tacos (because the kids meal is too small) but tacos must be only meat and cheese. No lettuce, no tomato. He hates the beans and rice.

Nicholas and Clarissa (7yo twins) are happy with their meals. Yay!

Aidan (4yo) Discovers "dots" on his mac and cheese. These "dots" can not be seen by anyone else but him so I assume that he has superhero vision, take his word for it, and order him a new meal.

The new meal comes and now he has a "stomachache".

We get through lunch and Alec wants to walk on the boardwalk. It is Alec's birthday after all, so we go, but not without a running dialog from Aidan;

"I want to go to the arcade!"

"I want to go on the rides!"

"My knee hurts, carry me!"

By now we're ALL over it and we head home. Aidan promptly falls asleep on the ride home, and the silence become Alec's best Birthday present ever!

Happy Birthday Alec!