Practicing dinner out

On Friday it hit 60 degrees, and we all were a bit giddy. We decided to go out to dinner altogether as a family. We don't do this very often since...

a) It's pricey 

b) We're not always at the same place at the same time and 

c) Usually we are also with Papa and Donna or Nana too. (back to "a") 

So, off we went to our favorite place in Amesbury, MA, the  Flatbread Pizza Company. It has yum yum yummy creative and organic pizzas, interesting beers and drinks, and to-die-for desserts. There was a bit of a wait, but the mood among all the patrons was festive, as we had all emerged from our hibernation caves on that very day. 

We sat at the perfect table, right by the cavernous wood fired oven and pizza makers. Laughing, joking, and telling stories, we ordered the works and enjoyed not only delicious food, but also the company of none other than... ourselves! If you can believe it, no one whined or pouted the whole time. There was only a minimal amount of texting, and we didn't have to "take anyone for a walk" while the pizza was twirled on floury hands and baked. It was weird.... Suddenly we were "that family" who could all go out to dinner and have a fun time together.  And good thing too, since we're going to have a lot of togetherness on our European Adventure in a few months. 

After dinner, we took a walk on the sidewalks with mill-building overhangs dripping with melting snow. We took a look at the roaring waterfall that careens through the square and the kids all strolled arm in arm in arm around town.  On the ride home, I popped in a CD we got for Christmas, and we listened and practiced saying, "Hello"...."Ciao" and "Please repeat"... "Ripetere per favore?" Maia taught us all how to roll our "r"s and gave us a neat trick if we weren't sure how to say something in Italian. Maia shouted, "Just say, 'Mi piace linguine pepperoni penne pasta pizza!'" 

Although the night was warm, and we were in our Honda Pilot instead of a sleigh, we "laughed and sang" all the way home.