A Tradition with Grammy Gone Terribly Wrong

Every time Grammy comes to visit or we go to visit her, we go to Cracker Barrel at least once. It is a tradition; one that I am very fond of. I love the food, it is fun to look around the country store, and I don't have to cook. We decided tonight would be the night to go.

I must preface the rest of this post by saying that my kids are usually very good at restaurants. It is a huge treat for us to all go out to eat so they usually do well. Tonight was the exception, not the rule. Thank goodness.

We looked around the country store while they were preparing our table. It was nice and fun and fairly calm. I had no idea what I was about to endure.

We sat down and all the wheels began to fall off. First of all, Isaiah is loud. He is always loud, but it seems magnified in public places. He sat right next to me, and I felt like he was yelling in a megaphone all night long. I must have said, "Isaiah, use your quiet voice," at least 100 times. Really, ask my mom. She will confirm that.

The kids were really off tonight. Laila was an emotional mess. She was whining and crying continuously. At one point about 10 seconds after our food was brought out, I had to take her outside to calm her down and help her get her emotions under control. She was a little "basket case." Cody was having some issues as well. He was a bit irritated and that was coming out in his behavior and his tone of voice. The 4 older kids were fighting over those little peg games. There was grumpiness all around. I haven't had a time out like this since the Poop At The Pool incident. Yes, it was that bad or worse.

It was finally time to leave. Laila was whining like crazy because the food is gone and she is done. I go to get Isaiah out of his seat and he is soaking wet. I think he must have peed 4 times in his pants. It is dripping from him. I took him to the bathroom and end of having him leave the restaurant in his shirt, pullup and sandals. It was lovely. I told my mom that I would take the kids out to the car while she went to get Cody who was playing a checkers game with another kid. I load them up, and we wait. Evidently, Cody has decided that he must complete the checkers game before he can leave. 10 minutes later, they come out.

Here are the pictures:(The individual ones are not that great, but I haven't figured out how to edit them on my new computer yet.)

Before we knew what was about to happen.

Still unaware

Grumpy muffin girl

Preteen Emotions

Sad Sammy

We are home. Everyone is in bed. Now, I am going to have a caramel apple to recover.