This just in: Chipotle kids' meals rock!

OMG-- Chipotle is the best!

This is like really insignificant breaking news here, people. (Except not because I am pretty sure this news is at least 6 months old). Chipotle has an adorable kids' menu!

The reason I am only just this minute discovering the make-your-own taco kit that the chain now offers is that Harry has always HATED Chipotle, so the only one I ever go to is the one on campus (where Ben and I often have lunch dates), and they're not into advertising a kids' menu because there are no children there ever.

But I digress. Not only does Chipotle have organic milk boxes and serve pork and chicken that's farmed humanely, it also has an adorable kids' menu with several options (including the cheese quesadilla we should have gotten for Jack since he actually hated his tacos). Harry had the best time ever with the make-your-own taco kit. He was good and quiet and he ACTUALLY ATE HIS DINNER.
I have proof:



Jack though? Was a huge pain in the ass. He wanted to drink his juice from the little ledge on the back of the booth, refused a high chair even though he's not booth material just yet and kept kissing Ben's hands (which was actually really cute). He ate not one single bite of his meal (don't be fooled by the pics), but he seemed to have fun.




Also, they serve beer and margaritas, and all of us ate tons of food for only $30. And it was fairly healthy food. I LOVE the salad with chicken and salsa in lieu of dressing (under 400 calories without sour cream, beans or cheese. So basically just lettuce and chicken in a bowl, but still delicious).

Random, I know, but I was so happy with this post-grocery, pre-Target dinner spot, I wanted to share.

Foie Gras is a meat brownie and Jack's birthday party

Last night at dinner, Ben and my brother Jon had a serious conversation about how gin is a dangerous drink because the first one goes down as smooth as the 10th one. Then they ordered gin on the rocks.

Then martinis. Then dirty martinis. Then Jon called his foie gras a meat brownie. The Ben had some port.

Then my brother Ben and his girlfriend Stephanie and my parents and I went home and Ben and Jon dirty-old-manned it at some campus bars, and Ben is upstairs taking a shower, which I think means throwing up.

But yesterday was also Jack's birthday party!

We went to a local bar that features free beer and signature mug on your birthday. Jack went with milk, even though our waitress was confused by the two bouquets of giant #2 balloons we brought and thought he was turning 22. Here he is watching the bartender write his name on the birthday board:

With his mug

We had so much fun! And we were a very unruly crowd





Jack picked his nose just for the camera.

Jack bounced around the table

Aren't you proud of me for finally figuring out how old Jack is?

We gave all the kids stuffed Buckeys, and Harry's was rabid



At one point Harry said he was going down to the other end of the table to feed Lucy like a goat. Which I think meant go hang out with his cousins.


Jack approved of the festivities.



Look at him blow!

Jack has 2 forks because he insisted upon 2 pieces of cake.

It looks like I am going to slapabitch for some cake, but that's not what happened-- Even though they both had two pieces and I had, um, NO pieces.

Harry was plotting his next move

Which was to stick his fat hand on the cake and swipe and handful of frosting-- and that's the sign of a good cake-- frosting by the handful.

I wish I took a non-gross picture of the football helmet cookies, but they were really, really cute-- they even had little chin guards. And I totally made them. If by made, you mean CALLED THE BAKERY.

PRESENTS!!




(I have a million more like the ones above, but suffice it to say, Jack got awesome stuff! Lots of Imaginext, which makes me happy because that stuff comes already assembled and is really fun to play with)

After the party, we adjourned to the zoo.

I am totally into the wildlife, obviously.

The kids had a great time, though




I love rhinos. We have common interests.

Jack's birthday: lunch, afternoon, and evening

After Little Gym, preschool, and swim lessons, we launched Phase 2 of Jack's birthday: Playground picnic. One of Harry's friend's brothers shares a birthday with Jack (and is a year older), so we celebrated both kiddos with baked good and balloons. We ran into a small stumbling block when we found the school playground locked (and it actually took a ridiculous amount of time for someone to unlock the gate, but they did, and the playground was fab as usual).

6 kids ate a combined 11 bites in 3 minutes and fled the trashed picnic area

General playground merriment ensued




The birthday boys face off on a slide

Next, Jack and Harry and I went to Toys R Us to spend the gift cards that Grandpa Jack and Bomma sent for Jack's birthday. Thank you for including Harry-- he was so excited to get a present!

Team Jacob!

They both tried out the SmartCycle

Jack almost chose this large Iron Man doll.

Then he ran to the other side of the aisle and found a Woody and Bullseye he had to have



Harry was clearly very serious about these Bakugan toys

They loved using their gift cards to pay, and they were happy to carry their own bags



We rounded out the day with a trip to Jack's favorite pizza place. (Actually, pizza is his favorite-- the place doesn't matter)
Harry and Jack were actually really fun and companionable at dinner tonight. We played "I Spy" for a long time.





Look at him! He loves to be sung to

Jack was reaching his fat hand right toward the candle flame when Ben leaned across the table and blew as fast as he could.

Phew! Ben holding the candle he blew out in the nick of time

Jack shared his ice cream, but he didn't want to

Doesn't he look like such a little man?