Arigato

We topped off our great day today (zoo in the morning, Aunt Katie in the afternoon) with dinner at Arigato, a Japanese steak house — you know, the kind where they cook at the table. I love the fact that we can start out the evening with everyone around us having the “oh great, we’re stuck with a toddler” look on their face and end it with everyone complimenting us on how wonderful Alex is.

And truly, he was absolutely wonderful for the entire dinner. He did great with his soup, and we got him practice chopsticks, with which he ate his salad and rice and chicken better than some of the adults at the table. That got a lot of oohs and aahs ( big thanks to Auntie Mel for teaching us how to teach him how to use chopsticks last week! We looked like geniuses, all). I scored major advanced parenting points by realizing that my sake might be a bone of contention for Alex (he always wants to drink what I am drinking) and heading off that meltdown by getting them to bring Alex a sake container full of water to drink during his meal. It was frankly hilarious to watch him pour the water into the little cup and sip away. He ate well, was full of wonderment and delight while the chef did his knife work and started lots of fires on the grill right before his eyes, and sat nicely in his seat throughout the whole thing. Nate, too, was wide-eyed during the cooking; he was definately taking it all in. Our tablemates (three other unrelated couples on dates) all thought they were both just the picture of good behavior. He particularly charmed the couple closest to us — a pair of pro golfers and life-long Red Sox fans, it turned out — by saying “go Red Sox” at their request, and showering them with high fives.

When we got home, Alex showered and got ready for bed. As I was snuggling with him before tucking him in, he told me all about the giraffes, and zebras, and the baby elephant we saw at the zoo, and the how he saw Aunt Katie, and how he enjoyed dinner.

Domo Arigato. I can’t thank God and the universe enough for my amazing kids.