Diamond in the rough

Mark and I actually had to pack up and leave a restaurant tonight before our meal was served. In my 5 years of parenthood, we've managed to avoid, persuade and coax our ailing children into compliance. But not tonight. Oh no. My oldest (saint that he is) asked to go to the Clubhouse to play, so he was absent from this little drama. The other two beasts, however, were - - - monsters... little hellions... demons possessed by a devil with the sole intention of making all those around them miserable. 

We decided to try a new place for pizza called Pizza Gallery on Hwy 360 just before the Pennybacher bridge. They seat us in the far back - right next to stacks and stacks of bottled red wine that are oh so appealing to under 18 month old hands (who wanted nothing more than to remove each precious bottle from it's nice, safe holding place). The place was one solid room of concrete, and every voice echoed. Bellowed even. Lucy, my claustrophobic child, started to shake her head "no no no" and climb out of her high chair. Luke, echoing his sister's sentiment, decided that he, too, wanted nothing to do with this place. Service was nonexistent and the white wine (which I desperately needed) was warm. So - Mark scuffled the kicking, screaming beasts who were so rudely interrupted from their wine-removing endeavors outside to a nearby fountain to splash in the water while I humbly succumbed to the idea that I would have to eat my delicious pie in the car on the drive back home. *sniff*

Feeling quite defeated, I shuffled out to the car with our pizza and the $2 bagel I purchased for Luke to try and pacify him and greet my husband who is beaming proudly and proclaiming "Lucy walked all the way from the fountain to the sidewalk on her own! She did it! She's walking!" 

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - my not-so-little girl - she's off and running on her own! My constantly sore arms thank you so very much! 

Two weeks ago I thought there may, perhaps be true delays, and within that time, they both branched out on their own. I am so, so happy.