Table for 6 please..

Tonight we headed out for a rare treat of dinner at a restaurant. I mean don't get me wrong we have eaten non cooked/purchased food often enough since I have been working. But well this was the true sit down and be waited on kinda meal. Honestly I cannot recall the last time it wasn't family Chinese dinner or Pizza Street. While both we love (well Chinese) but otherwise it is just plain expensive for us now. #1 eats an adult meal and then some these days, growing boy syndrome was bound to hit sometime. Yet, kids eat free seemed as though it would work for the other 3. Sadly, that still meant we spent 30.00 plus tip but hey there are just plain times we need the opportunity to be together like this.
Here is a recap which will demonstrate just why I have to keep it real and light these days so I appreciate them all and don't go crazy. Time is relative for sure!

Arrival scene:
Cheers and crowd excitement as we pull into a parking space, everyone rushes out of the vehicle half inappropriately dressed for the cold weather partly because cheer practice/Tae Kwon Do and partly because they just don't seem to feel the cold. Everyone that is but littlest whom needs the rider next to her to unbuckle her 5 point harness. me noticing the mishap and littlest yelling #3 attempts to rectify what his sister forgot while I swoop in, grab and carry her inside. The three big kids proceed to run across the parking lot oblivious to the fact that other cars are actually present and this is NOT a country road.

Inside:
The family half burst through the less than crowded door greeted by a sweet elderly lady whom takes kids eat free as a personal responsibility. Hubby and I smile and her interest while she explains things to the kiddos. I request our table, the waitress gathers 4 different color straws and coloring pages. Thankful for her action I complement her. We trek all the way across the establishment probably to keep us away from the much older non kid tables. Momentary debate of who sits next to mommy, poor daddy is nearly like a punishment to sit next to. Daddy calls it boys and girls and we are seated. Mind you that took about 3 long minutes to negotiate with #1 responding in his "Ooooooh" fist clenched way.
Ordering takes us another 10 minutes because every child must tell me various things such as the least time we were here what happened, or read the riddles on the coloring page, negotiate soda/water (so not a win for them), mind you simultaneously too! Daddy cannot take the mayhem and the unlucky people adjacent to us clearly make escape plans. Once talking is halted Daddy still is the last to decide. #1 orders the biggest breakfast they have, #3 a kid similar breakfast too but with sunny side up eggs otherwise known as circle eggs. #4 orders grilled chicken and salad mostly because I order salad and sandwich, #2 mini cheeseburgers, mac and cheese as her side. Decisions made we return to the taking turns approach to talking. #1 struggles with noticing his brother is talking and #3 veers back and forth from attempting to be sick in some way and happy to be out. I do need to keep up with giving him attention when he is not got some ailment so he doesn't play wolf.
#1 seems to get into an argument with whomever he is near simply because he is bossing not leading. He also intrudes on Daddy's personal space which I suppose I am less bothered by but everyone works through that stuff too. #4 celebrates by shouting "Yes!" and pulling outstretched fist in towards her core in the most adorable way when my cappuccino gets delivered. Normally I do not like those but I have to say Bob Evans must make them weak and glorious. Aunt Net introduced us to them a year or so ago, and the best part is there are free refills! She swipes all the whip cream off the top too. All the oohs and giggles from the waitress' as she struts in her pink cowgirl boots to the bathroom doesn't hurt the ego either.
As if all that sounds like it would be enough, nope there was still time to debate whose food we would see exit the kitchen repeatedly. #1 did have ours pegged quite well and had the entire group cheering for the waiters as they arrived. #1 knows his food! After #2 and #4 prayed cause #4 just cannot be left out we dug in. Sadly the food to mouths didn't stop the chatter even for a minute. #1 swiftly ate every bite though I did notice he does not hold his fork correctly which may explain why he has to much trouble cutting food. I wish I had seen at a younger age during therapy years. We have slacked on PT visits lately. The surprise of the night was that #2 ate every last drop and asked for more. Thankfully #3 had a pancake and a half left which did the trick. #1 wanted more but I do believe he had enough.
Exit:
Upon our exit the table was semi together because I pile things nicely. The workers do not get paid enough to clean up the mess these kids can make. Sweet old lady appears like the fairy godmother and collects coloring pages. She also had instructed kids to pick a number 1 to 15. No one picked the winner but did net a goody bag each. Sure candy is exactly what they needed today :) #1 held the door for two women and a baby on his own but then ran ahead in the parking lot without looking. I guess you win one, you lose one. Reminders to all about ummmm public places behavior, minor murmurs while climbing inside the van and off we were again.
Now, I ask you all who are actually reading this. How much time do you think went by? Comment if you think you can figure out this riddle?