Continuing the Journey

I Don't Care What They Say...

...it pays to be cute in this world!

We had our weekly "China food" outing tonight with Carson. We have been going to a really nice (and pricey) China buffet the past few weeks, but tonight we headed back to our neighborhood spot. The woman who works the register (who Carson calls his "girl-fwend") always treats him to extra cookies, free of charge. Well, tonight, she went over the top!

I got to the restaurant first and ordered our food. They brought out the food just as the boys were crossing the parking lot. When Carson walked in and saw Daddy's food, he yelled out, "Chicken nuggets!" I told him they weren't chicken nuggets, it was Daddy's dinner. He then happily sat down for a feast of chicken lo mein (or "noodas" -- noodles -- as he calls it).

A few minutes later, Carson's "girl-fwend" brought over a small bowl full of chicken nuggets and a bowl of sweet and sour sauce. No charge. On the house. We were duly appreciative, and I figured we'd just leave a big tip to make up for the free food.

This is when things went out of control.

There is a Starbucks type coffee place right next door to this restaurant. One of the employees went to the coffee place and came back with two drinks. I figured they were for the workers. Nope. Carson's "girl-fwend" brought one of them over -- a medium-sized caramel frappucino -- and gave it to Carson. I was a bit taken aback. I said, "Is that coffee?" She said, "No, a cooler." (I happen to know that they call their frappucinos "Coffee Coolers" at this coffee place.) I asked if she had bought that for Carson...she said, "No," giggled, and walked away.

Are you kidding me?!

First of all, who gives a 5 year old COFFEE?!?! And if I WERE to give a 5 year old coffee, it wouldn't be from a place that charges $5 for it!! Not to mention the jolt of caffeine she offered our Little Wild Man just two short hours before bedtime. Jeez, lady!!

Carson spent the rest of dinner trying to convince me that he likes coffee. Yeah. Nice try, Little Man, but we took the frappucino home and nicely donated it to...me!! (Hey, it WAS a $5 coffee. You didn't think I was going to throw it away, did you?!?!)

And we wonder why Carson gets so excited to go for China food. He has figured out that his charms, his adorable face, and his "girl-fwend" combine to make every trip to this restaurant a "win-win" situation for him! I'm almost afraid to go back there...it's getting a bit embarrassing accepting all her freebies! (Especially when the restaurant is full of people and the others are offered nothing as "girl-fwend" keeps returning to our table with free stuff!)
Yeah (as this year's Preschool picture shows) you are a smooth ladies' man, Carson!

In Molly news, I have been anxiously following a blog called Bringing Home Michelle. Bill and Midge are in Luohe adopting Michelle...who we found out today is Molly's foster sister! That is awesome to know and we will do our best to maintain that "sister" connection when both girls are safe and sound at home in the States. The bad news? They visited the orphanage and the foster home today and Molly wasn't there. She was on an outing with her foster aunt. While I would give ANYTHING for new pictures of Molly, it does make me happy that she isn't always stuck in the orphanage or the foster home. You should read today's post on Bill and Midge's blog...the visit to the foster home was QUITE interesting!

I set up my office today at the College of Nursing...I'm such a dork, but it really is fun to have a space to call my own at work! Meggie is DYING to see my office, so I promised her I'd take my camera to work tomorrow and take pics...and, of course, I'll post 'em here.

Can you believe we only have a week 'til Christmas?! So much left to do...I'd better get off of here!!