Thirty~six For Sunday

There would be few places I wouldn't go without my three little ones... We weren't a gang, we were a club! ;) From straight out of the gate, I'd strap one twin to the front of me, the other to the back, plant Tiffany's hand firmly in my own, and off we'd go!! We would adventure together! Of course, there would be the packing of necessities first (cheerios, wipes, a binky or two, diapers, blah, blah blah blah blah). You Moms know the drill. Not to mention the getting them all in car seats and then back out, and then back in, and then... I would learn to scale the anxiety of hittin' the road way down. I would keep a bag basically stocked, one for "out the door let's go", and one for "mmmmm, not sure how long we'll be gone". The kids would become excellent travel buddies. Ready for anything. It was truly amazing. The twins had their own suitcases by age 2. How I loved to watch them all pack!! Priceless memories indeed!

Often, it was the car time that was invaluable. I loved it soooo much that we would take long rides just for the fun of it. Oh the singing and entertainment!! There is just something about being connected in the bubble of the cars interior that really invites bonding! The twins would rock out in their car seats, with Tiffany in charge of the music selections, and we'd party on down the road! And the singing that would come out of those road warriors? Just hysterical! This is of course long before souped-up minivans with DVD players. Seriously, those things freak me out. Do those kind of parents realize how much quality time they are flushing away?? ...But don't get me started on that...

We did a lot of going out to eat. I mean, once we reached wherever the car led us, we'd have to explore restaurants, right? After all, a club has to energy up for what lies ahead! At first we'd get some weird looks. That was fine.... just get us two highchairs and a booster and sit us outside or by the window. Good times. As they got a little older, Sushi? Not a problem... we would rig chopsticks so they could squeeze them together and drop food all over the table, and then help pick it up and feed it to each other. Deep fried artichokes by the ocean? Done. Korean? Yum. Dim Sum? Let's go! No fussy eaters in my gang...I mean club. ;)

So one day I have them out at a restaurant for breakfast. Now, they are getting a bit older and are insulted by the children's menu. I mean, sure they still want the crayons if it's optional...but they only want to order off of mama's big girl menu.... Great! This would cost me... Anyway, so we're at this restaurant one morning and we're pow-wowing over the menu. Mostly, the twins are pointing at yummy looking pictures. None of the things they are pointing at actually come TOGETHER with a meal...but none the less... They point at the pancakes, then at the picture down below with the sausage, then on the other side of the menu at the scrambled eggs...no, no, they meant fried eggs...no, no, Heidi meant bacon and not sausage... no, no, Tiffy meant french toast, not pancakes... wait a minute... milk, no, no, hot cocoa... and then the inevitable, "I have to go pee-pee...", pack 'em all up and head to the bathroom...

Then, when you get back to the table, they've forgotten where they were, so you start all over...Tiffany is reading the menu to them for the eighth time... And the poor waitress?? She's like, "Do you need another minute?"..."Another minute?"... "Wuzza omlet?"...Heidi wants to know... "Waffle with sterburys and whip ceam?", Blake wants to know... And mama is on her 4th cup of Joe...

This little adventure got me to thinking... What if I had more than three?? Oh, Lordy!! And so I would pen this later that evening... I mean...what IF??

Thirty-six for Sunday

Going out to breakfast

is a special Sunday treat...

My favorite part is when the waitress

asks "What will 'ya eat?"

Understand my family

is bigger than most others...

Together we are fourteen girls

and we are fourteen brothers!

Once we've all decided

what our menu choice will be,

instead of being breakfast time

it's usually 2:00 or 3:00!

Since this is a spectacle

you wouldn't want to miss,

a standard order placed by Mom

is typically like this...

"Jimmy, Jamie, Joan and John,

the twins, Marie and Fran,

would like to start their morning off

with juice and Raisin Bran...

Barney, Marney, Meredith,

the triplets and Lucille,

would like their eggs all scrambled,

sausage, bacon and oatmeal...

For Benji, Peter, Rick and Ryan,

Lois, Dawn and Pam,

fry their eggs, three hard, four soft,

and they would each like ham...

Tommy, Tim and Tina

all agree with brother Jack,

four small milks, and apple juice

plus four pancakes, short stack...

Cancel out the order

taken earlier for Pam,

replace it with a waffle

topped with cream and berry jam...

Francie, Joyce and 'Lizabeth

want special number four,

delete the hash browns, add french toast

if not too much a chore...

My husband's in the restroom,

with our number nine son, Murray,

I think they mentioned number two

but they left in a hurry...

Also in the ladies room,

our first born, Meg and Helen,

are counting every calorie

so bring them each just melon...

Mom just wants some coffee, black,

we're not quite finished yet,

add a Denver omelet

for our nineteenth girl Paulette...

Bring along some extra toast,

and keep the butter light,

split it up in even stacks,

some wheat, some rye, some white...

Today, our waitress sent the cook

to verify our order,

and he said if we come again

to "...bring a tape recorder!!"

As the kids grew older, they would of course have friends join us. I would for sure, for SURE, learn the beauty of this poem that I had penned years earlier. Soon, the employees at our favorite haunts would learn the names of the kids. They would call them by name when we came in.. "Hey, Mr. Blakie Man!...What's up Heidi Poo?... Yo, Tiffy, good to see you!..." Sure, I was a good tipper... I'll give you that... But the biggest tip I would get?? Take them with you, enjoy the day, and fill your plate with giggles and memories!!