Dinner Out

So the other night, NPayne comes home from work and makes a suggestion that I never even imagined he would. We had already decided we would eat out that night....just because we had not taken the family out to eat in a very long time, and it was payday! :) He walks in, greets everyone with hugs and smiles and heads to our bedroom to change his clothes...which he usually does. I followed him to ask him where he wanted to go, so I could tell Cal and let him have time for it to sink in. NPayne then surprised me completely and said...."Why don't we use those gift cards and go to Outback?" "All of us?" I said. Honestly I was thinking....Is he nuts? He wants to take our family of 7 to Outback? It will cost an arm and a leg, and none of them have ever been there....except Addi. Instead I smiled nervously and agreed. NPayne called Cal into our room and said...."Cal, we want to go eat at Outback. They don't have chips there, but they do have french fries. Is that okay?" He smiled and nodded his head yes, so off we went. We told the girls where we were going, and they were excited....mainly because they had not been there before....and in Addi's case because she had been there before. We arrived, and I got out to go inside to put our name on the list. I asked if we could sit outside....I'm thinking at least if there's a meltdown....we won't be inside for everyone to stare. NPayne and the kiddos walked in, and I said...."Do you want to sit outside?" He said, "Not if we don't have to." He then said, "If there's a meltdown, at least I want to be cool." I reluctantly agreed, and we were escorted to our big round table. Everyone ordered, and NPayne ordered us some of those loaded french fries for an appetizer. When they arrived, NPayne put a serving on everyone's plate....except Cal's. He started to sit the fries back in the middle of the table, when he and I both noticed the expression on Cal's face. He looked a little confused and almost insulted....as if to say....why didn't you serve me any? So NPayne said, "Would you like some?" Cal said, "Yes!" And you know what? He ate them....french fries with cheese and bacon and even some ranch on top. Now some of you are probably thinking.....big deal....he ate some fancy french fries. What you have to understand is that Cal doesn't eat fancy french fries or usually anything except chips in a bowl at a restaurant. When he ate another serving, I literally could feel the smile on my face as I chewed my fresh steamed veggies. I couldn't believe we were sitting in Outback with our children, and all was going quite smoothly, and our son was eating loaded french fries....ahhhhh....the simple things. We got the bill, used our gift cards, and ended up owing $4.95 plus tip of course. It was such a wonderful night, in such a "fancy" place as Drew called it. Although the food was great, the company was awesome, and it was a huge milestone for the boy; we won't be going to Outback, as a family, again for a very long time. Had we not had those gift cards, our bill would have been $100. Tonight, we were going to grab a quick dinner out; and NPayne was asking for suggestions....guess where Bryna suggested? You got it....Outback. Guess where we ate....You got it again....not Outback....but the ever so tasty Taco Bueno!