chuck e.

Yesterday my wonderful friends and their children and I with my rambuctious bunch all met at chuck e cheese in Harrisburg. My dear friend moved to State College over a year ago, and in order to see her and her children, we meet about halfway. We used to get together once a month with each other and our children when we all lived in the area, but it is now no longer possible. We do try to meet once or twice a year now, and especially for Christmas. Several years ago we decided to get together after Christmas so it would be less stressful, but this year as it turned out, January was just as busy if not busier than December. So the only day we could meet was yesterday. Thankfully no one was sick and nothing came up so we all made it!!! We had a wonderful time, although it is a bit crazy. There are 13 children between the 3 of us, all between 1 - 13 years old, with the majority 8 and under. We feel as though we take over the place, but it is a blessing that we are all of the same mind in regards to raising our children to be well-behaved, mannerly and kind. (Those are my ambitions anyway.)

Last year, chuck e. walked around and greeted the children and my friend's 3-year old was hysterically afraid of chuck e. Well, when he saw the sign before he entered yesterday with chuck e.'s picture, he was again hysterically afraid. He wouldn't leave her side for an hour as intense fear ravaged his poor mind. Thankfully he got over it and was able to enjoy himself. That is, until chuck e. showed himself.

Wouldn't you know it, we were ready to leave, and had coats on and our arms full of bags as we had just exchanged after-Christmas presents, and Steph and I were each waiting for a child to get out of the bathroom. Well first her hands are full and she is trying to console 2 children, and I approach chuck e. who is standing at the exit and ask him if he would mind moving as there are several children who are deathly afraid. He kindly moved, and Rowan looks at him and points and says "chuck e" over and over. So finally my friend is able to approach the exit, and Grayson is exiting the bathroom with Gavin, but Gavin is paralyzed with fear and screaming because he sees chuck e. I am at the exit with my hands full and guiding Ro to leave, and I yell for Gavin to come and then Ro starts screaming because chuck e starts rounding the corner towards us. So with 9 children, 4 which are screaming, we are trying to shove them all out the exit as the poor employee is trying to scan our hands and make sure we each have the right children and all of them. Oh my, it was hysterical. Steph and I could only laugh because we are just such a spectacle, and there are only so many things you have the power to control, and after that, you just have to laugh!!

It is a great memory, and will make a great story for a long time.