Hoot's Birthday Party

After sleeping in until about 8 am (hey, by our Disney standards, this is really sleeping in...) we got up and started getting ready for the trip out to Plant City to see my Granny. DH is surly. Hoot is grumpy. And there is "no white yogurt" to be had, only berry yogurt with the "wrong colors." Surprisingly, we managed to hit the road west right on schedule.



We pick up the cake that Tee ordered from Publix, toodle downtown, and snag a sweet parking spot right outside Granny's assisted living apartment building. Score. Hoot refuses to participate in hugging and kissing. He has met Granny before, but he was only 16 months old at the time. But, Granny's got his number. She had four boys of her own, and a big bunch of brothers. Really, she's not going to be phased.



We took Granny out for lunch to a place she likes called Buddy Freddys. We knew DH would love because he would be able to get good fried chicken. Hoot, well, we just crossed our fingers and hoped that he wouldn't go ape ****. After all, it's not like Granny wouldn't be watching. (Insert all kinds of family issues such as judgement and fear of failure.) Since it was early, the place was pretty empty, but the food was loaded on the buffet tables. After we order sweet tea all around, we load Hoot down a plate with a fried chicken leg, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. You know, full tilt kid food. My mantra the entire time, "please be good, please be good, please be good..." I fix my own plate and have to uncross my fingers to make sure I don't drop anything on my way back to the table.



OK, I don't really know what happened there. Maybe it was skipping breakfast. Maybe it was getting a day of Disney under his belt. Maybe it was divine intervention. Hoot was so nice and pleasant throughout the entire meal. I was stunned, but attempted to act like this was just how he always is in restaurants. Home made fried chicken, rutabaga, sweet tea, and angel child! I was on cloud 9. As the rest of us were finishing lunch, Mr. Surly even took Hoot out to rock on the front porch!



Back at Granny's we commenced with cake and presents. There wasn't a lot to open, but Hoot didn't seem to care.

Oh, how did there ever get to be FOUR candles on his birthday cake?
Taking these candles off was a very serious job, indeed!

Hoot sat in Granny's lap to open his presents.
I even got a fairly good picture of the two of us at her house. Hoot loved crawling on Granny's walker. Anything with wheels....

Sadly, there was a madman, aka Mr. Surly, aka DH in the background of this one. I cropped the copy I'll send to Granny! We may have been taking a girls only picture, but Hoot was up to something. Granny's really keeping her eyes peeled, though.

Eventually, he did start to get a little on the wild side, but we had passed a couple of very good hours where he said please and thank you enough to make me proud. So, we wrapped up our round of family photos.

After walking us downstairs, we said our goodbyes and Hoot really made Granny's day. He gave her a big hug and lots of sugar! Oh, happy day! I feel like we scored an A on this one!

Up next: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! Ooh, I can't wait to write about it! What a blast we had!

At the home front: City won't give us a permit until the gas company fixes their meter. Gas company says their meter is fine. Plumber says to call when it is all worked out. Many, many cold showers in my future...