work life balance

This is Gideon.  He is every bit as engaging as the pic implies and one very busy little boy.  As with all of my grands I view him as only a Ya-Ya can...everything he does his absolutely fabulous.

So it is no surprise that last night at dinner everything he did was cute and sometimes downright hilarious.
The great thing about being a grandmother is that I have absolutely no inclination to correct his behaviors, worry about how much junky food he eats or what good food he won't eat. This is exactly where our story begins...

On our first evening here in the great city of Charleston, Mac and Lauren took us to California Dreaming.  While the name seems a little odd for a Charleston eatery the view was spectacular and the She Crab soup

My meal of awesome She Crab soup and salad.

was quite delish!  So good, in fact, I decided to have the leftovers for breakfast.  I was so enrapt with Gideon last night I didn't take any of my usual food pics...sorry.  I did find a Facebook photo so I copied and added it.

The service at Californian Dreaming is on the slower side.  The food is meant to be enjoyed while having stimulating conversation with great folks.  Being good parents Mac and Lauren brought a mat that sticks to the table and some snacks for Gideon.  He entertained everybody in the joint with just cuteness and baby sounds.  He can say banana, kitty (which he says in a high pitched voice like he is calling the kitty) and the requisite ma-ma and da-da. His words may be short but his ability to express himself can come in surprising ways. We ordered and had a great time talking and Gideon watching.

Our food came and Lauren shoveled a spoonful of the mashed potatoes she ordered for Gideon into his mouth. Gideons eyes registered the taste and issued a very loud and resounding "Bleech!" The food went out twice as fast as it went in.  I couldn't help myself and dissolved into the type of laughter that creates tears and upsets your stomach.  Two days later, the very thought of it still reduces me to a laughing mess.

To Gideon, no big deal.  He wasn't eating that, so just forget it.  They were awesome potatoes, I ate them for Gideon.  I will forget the taste of the potatoes long, long before I forget the resounding negative critique Gideon passed on them.  Tears stream down my face as I recount this for you.

I am lucky to have the grands in my life.  I thank each of my children for producing such great entertainment for me.  Our grands range in age, we have one in college and Gideon, in diapers.  So much good stuff still to come!