Funny Face

Tonight was Michael's second annual Mother-Son Night-Before-Birthday-Dinner-Out.  Yes, yes, we realize that we screwed up the timing, but more pressing functions (his birthday party) landed on the appropriate calendar date.  Our only rule for this special event is that he picks a new venue every year.  His choice this year?  IHOP!!!  Not only is IHOP a restaurant where he can actually find something off the menu to eat, but this particular franchise location also hosts hundreds of motorcyclists every year around Rolling Thunder time.  So, Michael dressed in his finest new Motocross gear (not taken off for at least 36 hours and running) and brought along several of his toy motorcycles in hopes of running into some other bikers.  Alas, not a single motorcycle was in the parking lot...  Undeterred by this slight disappointment, we ordered our decadent dinners and dug in.  Well, correction on that:  even though Michael ordered this awesome chocolate pancake with a whipped cream/choco chip/cherry funny face on top, he didn't touch a bite of it.  (I think it actually scared him a little.)  Instead, he requested a bowl of croutons to dip into some ranch salad dressing.  Sigh....  Anyway, it was a fun evening filled with some actual conversation, some table play (each of the different syrup bottles were Paw Patrol vehicles), and lots of laughter.  Please, kiddo, stop growing up....