Play Date: Parent Included

Last night, Sebi was snuggling up with me in bed. I had just reached that mid-wake/mid-sleep phase where you're about off to dreamland when somehow I got snookered into promising him that he could stay home from school and we would go to ChuckECheese the next day.

I also had promised to work that day from 7a-3p. When I called in for my shift assignment at 5:00am, I was told, "Surprisingly, we don't have a shift for you today" Praise God. Needless to say, I went straight back to bed. By morning, I had lists of things running through my head that I needed to get done today.

And then I turned over and looked at Sebi. He was smiling this big goofy smile and staring at me bright-eyed in anticipation. That kid doesn't skip a beat. He remembered. So we discussed going to school and then visiting ChuckECheese as promised right after school. I was aiming for a win-win where I could get some things done and he could get his mouse fix.

No deal.

We took Homer and Gabriel to school all the while I kept reminding Sebi that we could go to ChuckECheese AFTER school, and then he wouldn't miss out on seeing all his friends.

No deal.

Back home to "snuggle some with Mommy in bed". It was cold outside and I don't do cold.

No deal.

He was ready for ChuckECheese. I had to explain that we needed to wait until lunchtime, and he took it with mild reservations- probably because I got too extensive in the circadian rhythms of mice and how they don't start their days until lunchtime. When in a rut, throw a lot of information at them. It stuns them into acceptance.

Finally, by 10:00 he had lost all patience and was almost at the breaking point which I like to call the grand mal toddler fit. So, I convinced him to make a trip to WalMart to pick up my contacts (shout out to the vision center for getting my contacts in so quick), and then we would go to ChuckECheese.

We made it there by 11:00 and thank goodness they were open. In fact, I was surprised that they actually open at 9:00. So much for my theory on the circadian rhythm of mice...

We spent two hours there! We had a blast. The place was practically empty and it was not the experience I have had at ChuckECheese in the past with mass quantities of energy balls bouncing off of one another. It was AWESOME. Sebi and I were a team. He picked every game that was a two seater so that I could play with him. We tore up some giant spiders let me tell you. I don't know who had more fun with that game. We shot baskets. Sebi blew me away. We air hockey'd. Sebi told me to quit putting my blocky-thingy in front of the goal because he needed to win. Is he still young enough for me to let him win and then talk trash? Because He mentioned to Sebastian that he scored a lot and mommy didn't AT ALL!

He's going down next time.

Oh, and we were accumulating some tickets all the while. And then I saw it. In the back corner tucked away- I saw the only pinball machine in the joint. I made a beeline. Not that I was fighting off any competition or like the 7 and under crowd could take me if I needed to.

I like pinball.

I was playing and Sebi was getting frustrated and here is where I went down the- this was about me and not about my 4 year old having fun, avenue. BUT. When I finished my game, out sput a ticket that said I had just earned 150 Free Tickets! My first thought was that I needed to keep hitting up this pinball machine. We were going home with the BIG prize today. And then I remembered that this wasn't about me playing pinball and Sebi standing around too short to see what was going on. I know, I was weak. How was I to know that I was going to rock the pinball world?

We moved on. He was especially happy when I told him how many tickets I had just won us. Only he didn't believe me because he was all, "where are they?" And I was all, "this ticket says so" and he was all, "but I want to see them".

And that's when he convinced me to buy 40 more tokens. I am weak.

It was a really good day. I imagine that things are going to get easier when the babies get older because today was just so effortless. That, or we're going to be going to ChuckECheese on three separate occasions for individual treats for the boys. Either way, I had a GREAT day. And I 'm pretty certain that Sebi did too.