There's no friend like an old friend

Meredith is holding Maria's stunt double!

Nine years ago, our friends Jill and Gaspare would come to visit and we would go to dinner in a quiet restaurant. We would sit through appetizers to dessert and linger as long as we wanted. We did not leave the table 17 times to go to the restroom and we didn’t play tic tac toe or hangman on a paper menu. We never asked for a lid.

Oh, how times have changed.

Many months ago, Jill C. and I looked at our calendars and picked a date for a visit. Between my commitments and Jill’s, finding two consecutive dates that would allow for a sleep over visit wasn’t easy. We threw a date on the calendar and decided to see if it would stick. Low and behold it did. We just had 70 degree weather instead of the 90 degree day we thought we’d spend at the pool.

Brandon, who is almost always traveling during the week, is home. So, Jill talked Gaspare into leaving their very busy restaurant in capable hands and making the trip with her and her kiddos. There’s a first time for everything.

The Cucinellas arrived in time for a chilly evening swim and a BBQ. Brandon put ribs on the grill and we fired up the margarita machine once again. (I don’t mean to boast, but my margaritas as so much better than what Senor Brandon makes. No contest. Seriously, Jill will vouch for me! If you’ve been to our house lately and I didn’t make your drink, come back and I’ll right that wrong.)

After dinner we stuffed ourselves full of Jill’s incredible chocolate laced brownies and the kids made s’mores. Alex decided to eat a marshmallow straight off the hot wire and we’re now on the search for chapstick with aloe.

After running themselves silly, we put the kids to bed and listened to the boys talk until darn near midnight. They could not lull themselves to sleep. I don’t know how those Brady boys ever got any rest. Meredith and Maria were out like lights!

We had a leisurely breakfast this morning and then headed to the Children’s Museum. The new entrance is open. Seems like a waste of space, but I’m sure they have big plans. The great part is, the walk from the garage is completely enclosed, so no more dragging coats! It was pretty crowded and the kids were pretty tired and the dads were pretty hungry, so we left.

After some debate about whether or not we wanted to attempt fine dining with five kids in tow, we went for it and had lunch at Fogo De Chao. We don’t know if it was the constant show of meat on a skewer, complete exhaustion, or the danger of falling on a giant knife, but the kids could not have been better behaved. They were incredibly good!!! For once, my last minute threats outside of a restaurant worked!

I just talked to Jill and the restaurant is still in business and the kids slept quietly on the way home. We might be able to talk Gaspare into visiting more often!