Benihana

I am so happy to have the week off and spend some extra time home with my babes. It's great that Todd had yesterday and today off. So sad that he can't join us for the rest of the week. Whenever we have time off we try and plan a few fun outings with the kids. We have been wanting to take the kids to dinner at Benihana. We thought the kids would get a kick out of someone cooking their dinner in front of them and doing tricks with their food. Todd called this morning and made reservations for 5:00, but the lady said they didn't open until 5:30~ so 5:30 it was. We thought for sure it wouldn't be busy because it was a Tuesday and on the earlier side. When we pulled in we were a bit early, but that was okay because both kids were sleeping and a few extra minutes would do them both good. It was a non napping day for Aubrin today. It seems to be a trend when I'm home. She is just so concerned about what I am doing downstairs without her! When we pulled in we noticed about 8 other cars sitting in the parking lot filled with people. Were all of these people waiting to eat dinner at 5:30? Who would have thought on a Tuesday night? Once the doors opened we made our way into the restaurant. I am so glad we made a reservation. When we went in we found out if you don't make a reservation you have to sit on another side of the restaurant and you order and are served like a typical restaurant. If you make a reservation it holds a spot for you at the cooking tables. Thank goodness we thought ahead! The place was packed.

As they took our group back to the table- our family, another couple and a mother and daughter, I could tell that a few of them were thinking, "Oh no, we are stuck at the table with the two kids!" When we sat down I reassured them that Jackson and Aubrin are great restaurant goers.

The kids were both excited to see that their menus turned into chef hats. Jackson wore his, but Aubrin decided hers was better next to my purse on the floor. Before going I checked out the menu so I could give the kids their options on the way there. They were both pretty set on chicken and steak. Once our chef started cooking, Jackson couldn't take his eyes off of the food being flipped and chopped. Todd and I knew he was loving every minute of it, but he is so intense when watching or learning something for the first time. The look on his face was so serious. Aubrin thought it was pretty great as well, although she was asking the chef 100 questions and dancing to the music they had playing.

Todd and I were both so pleased to see that Jackson and Aubrin tried everything, and liked most of it. I was surprised to see that they both liked the shrimp appetizer. Aubrin loved the dipping sauce. Todd and I also loved our dinners too.

After dinner both kids had a small bowl of ice cream. I'm glad that Jackson and Aubrin didn't prove me wrong to the people we were sitting with. They were both great during dinner!

When we were driving home Jackson said, "I think I want to practice cooking when I get home." Sure enough, his coat wasn't even off and he was up in the playroom getting food together to make for us. He got all of the food and put it in his shopping cart and brought it downstairs. Then he had Todd, Aubrin and I sit at the table so he could cook in front of us. I know at dinner when he was watching so intensely he was thinking how he could do it at home. I love his imagination.

I'm glad we went and gave them a different and memorable experience for dinner.