Family Date to APPLE, APPLE... airplane arms and big boy stairs

This afternoon, we stopped at Target to pick up some cat litter, soda and hair products that were all on sale. We also dropped off paperwork to transfer our prescriptions from WalMart to Target, where we are hoping that the service is better. (We've been disappointed with the customer service at WalMart Pharmacy for a while now... they, seriously, roll their eyes at you when you ask a question there... HOW RUDE! Being that I used to work in a pharmacy, I guess I expect better quality of service than what they have offered us in the (almost) 2 years that we have lived here.)

Then, we went on a family dinner date to Applebee's; Grandma Carol had surprised us with a gift card for there as a Valentine's Day present. We don't normally go there so, it was a nice change of pace to try it; we were happy to learn that we picked the right night to go.... kids meals are just 99¢ with the purchase of an adult meal - on Wednesdays. (Sydney got 2 mini cheeseburgers and an order of fries for just 99¢; although, he was surprisingly more interested in eating the tortilla chips from our appetizer platter's artichoke dip. He also tried a bite of Mike's hot wings - where Sydney declared "HOT!" and some blue cheese dressing on some celery stalks. Because of his age and the potential for allergies, we did NOT let him try our shrimp appetizer.)

Following our appetizers, Mike had a Philly Cheesesteak Burger and I had a Reuben; we each ate half so that we could try both of the selections. Sydney enjoyed the pickles off of our sandwiches and would have probably eaten the fancy toothpick, too if we would have let him.

While there, Sydney was SUPER EXCITED to play with the salt & pepper shakers. (He plays with them at Grandma & Grandpa Olson's house and likes to pour them into his hand.) He kept sprinkling pepper into his hand and surprisingly, kept LICKING it off! Soon, though, he GROSSLY licked the top of the pepper shaker. EEEEWWWWW! Just think how many hands have touched that! Although, I am sure he is NOT the first, or last kid, that will ever do that. We did notify the waitstaff so that they could get wiped off post-licking; Mike wondered if they would REALLY do that or if they would just put them back onto the tables as is.

Sydney was also QUITE EXCITED to play with the sugar packets that displayed an Applebee's logo. Every one he pulled out, he would excitedly report "Apple... apple... apple!"

He's SUCH a delightful kid!

Thanks for our family date night, Grandma Carol!

• • • • •

Earlier today, Sydney decided to start running all over our house with airplane arms. (They do it in swimming lessons; although, Sydney puts his arms behind him moreso than out to his sides.) So, while yelling and singing all-the-while, he kept running from the living room, through the dining room and into the kitchen AND BACK... over and over... thinking that it was THE COOLEST THING EVER. At one point, he tripped in the dining room and managed to catch his fall with his arms. (I, honestly, had my doubts that he would pull that off if he fell - running in that form, but he managed just fine... must have fast reflexes... quick, like a cat! I tell you... sometimes, kids just make you cringe and want to look the other way!)

• • • • •

We are also witnessing that Sydney is FINALLY starting to play shy around people! This is a new development within the past week or so.

Also new... he climbs the stairs like a BIG BOY now! He has been refusing to crawl UP the stairs or back down them. He is now climbing them like we do; although very, Very, VERY SLOWLY. It was as if he flipped a switch and decided one day that he's not a baby anymore and that big kids do it like this. (Sometimes, he does give up and yells UP! so that we will carry him down.) To him, UP is still an inter-changeable word meaning UP or DOWN. He's funny and makes us laugh!