Last weekend was a weekend of celebration for our family.  John’s brother graduated from college, and to honor him–like any good, loving family would–we went out to dinner.  Normally going out to dinner is a bit of a question mark for us.  Depending on how naps and feedings go throughout the day, a meal out with Jacob can be a raging success or a stress-inducing disaster.

This situation presented more obstacles than normal, and it seemed the odds were against us:

1. Our reservation was at Jacob’s bedtime, which was the earliest slot we could get.

2. We were dining at a hibachi steakhouse.  You know, where they cook with giant flames of fire right in front of you.

3. This particular restaurant was full of celebrations that evening.  At the next table, a boy was celebrating his birthday, and with his cake came–you guessed it–a gong.  (Note to self: Research birthday gongs to start a new family tradition.)

But all those factors didn’t stand a chance against an awesome set of grandparents and a slew of aunts and uncles.  With a dozen extra arms to hold the little man and as many legs to walk him around, show him the fish tank, etc., Jacob was able to happily be a part of his uncle’s special day.  And I had a chance to relax and enjoy dinner with some of my favorite people on the planet.  Although, when John first got up to walk him around, half the table followed, and I wondered if I’d be eating alone.

The moral of the story is that with enough grandparents, aunts, and uncles, you can, in fact, take a baby to a hibachi restaurant at bedtime.  With a good, loving family, anything is possible.