I'm Lovin It! @McDonalds‏ #happinesssservedlocally

I was really excited to take my boys to a new McDonald in Omaha. You can find this McDonalds at 14449 W Center Rd Omaha, NE 68144. I love going to new places. Everything is so clean, and in this case modern.

I get tired of McDonalds getting a bad wrap for having unhealthy food, when they try to have options for their Happy Meals, salads with options, and now fresh burgers.

Did you know that most fast food places have pre frozen meat patty's, and do not serve fresh meat? McDonalds was one of those places, but they have changed their ways. :)

We were welcomed with smiles, a fun McDonalds backdrop, and a display of good food!

Mica had the craziest look on his 12 year old face. It was cracking everyone up! I knew he was having a great time once the words, "You can have whatever you want, and it's on us!" came out of the manager's mouth.

Isaak typically puts on a great smile for the camera. He hasn't entered that new stage of, I'm too cool for the camera.

Their set up of food looked so yummy! 

What to Order in Their Kiosk:

Typically between the 4 of us we order 2 meals, and 2 sandwiches. Then we split the fries, and drinks.

Last night it was just the two boys and I. Since we could have anything, but knew we were getting samples we ordered fairly light. Each boy got a sandwich, I got a South Western salad, and we each got a shake.

I have to admit that was was judgy with the any self order spot in any store. I'm getting used to it. The boys love it. Possibly it's my old school ways. I'm finding myself using self check out more at stores because it's faster.

My salad was good, but I didn't use any dressing. It tasted good without it. It's great if I can get used to eating salad without dressing. That's where the calories are.

They asked why we didn't get one of their Quarter Pounders, so we got one for the boys to split...

and one for me that had some yummy seasonings. It tasted very Southwestern. Oh my goodness it was good! Isaak had a sliver off mine.

They gave us a fry, for waiting on some chicken to grill. It was so not needed. We had so much food. We all split the fries.

The boys were really excited to have a shake! They picked chocolate and I picked strawberry. What's your favorite flavor of shake?

Food Coma

After that we were in a food coma. Isaak was laying his head on my shoulder at the booth, and Mica couldn't even stand up straight. Ha!

Swag!

They were so nice and gave us a some McDonalds swag.

 Maybe I'll be a McDonald's worker for next Halloween. ;)

Go to McDonalds and order a Quarter Pounder today!

Disclaimer: McDonalds was kind enough to give us the food mentioned in this post. They in no way told me what to say when writing this post.

Date Night

I had a date night with Isaak tonight.

I asked him this morning, "What do you want to do tonight? It's going to be just you and me tonight. Mica and Daddy are going out. So you get me all to yourself. We can go to a toy store, out to eat, go swimming at the Y, whatever you want to do. So what do you want to do?

Isaak said, "I want to have a picnic in the living room, and then play games all night long."

I said, "Ok we can do that. Do you want me to make something, or do you want me to pick up something from somewhere to eat?"

Isaak said, "You can get something at MickerDonalds."

So I got a Southwestern salad for me and 4 piece nuggets happy meal for Isaak. Then chopped up some veggies for him at home. Then it was time for our picnic and games.

He had fun.

Daddy and Mica came home.

Daddy said, "Mica why don't you tell Mom what we had for dinner?"

Mica said, "We had sandwiches at Jimmy Johns." Jimmy John bought them."

Daddy said, "No I bought them."

I think Mica thought Jimmy Johns is a person, not a place.

McDonalds Makes Him Crazy!

Mica's on spring break. I've heard him say, "I'm bored!" I don't even know what the summer is going to be like. This would be one argument for year round school. I can think of many arguments for no year round school as well! Luckily one of our community centers has a day play camp that we're going to send him to. They only asked for a donation for him to attend. Then we're going to see about a few summer school options. Fun classes, not boring drawn out classes.

Really Mica and Isaak are pretty good kids; when they are separated that is. Their teachers love them.

When they are together it's Kung Fu fighting, they like to try and out run one another and chant, "I'm faster than you! I'm the Gingerbread Man!", of course toys get fought over as well. They are typical brothers. Our boys have a lot of all boy in them. They let the neutering side out once in awhile. Mostly it's rough play!

Yesterday was no exception of this behavior. They were at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I got a pretty downer report when I went to go pick them up. I tried to hurry them out of there. I knew Grandma and Grandpa were done with children for the day.

I went inside to go pick up Mica and Isaak. Mica says right away, "That toy that Isaak's holding is mine. Isaak is not to share it!" Then Isaak threw it at me. I collected it, and refused to give it to anyone. The TV got shut off and Mica threw himself on the floor. I could see Isaak doing this, but with Mica it sort of surprised me. I grabbed them and off we went. Then I had a talk with them in the car and Daddy had a talk with them at home.

Daddy thought we should take swimming away. I thought it was something we should do. Part of why they were acting up is: A) It was raining, so getting outside to run all day just didn't happen. Activity for our boys is something they really need! B) Isaak didn't get a nap. He's weaning from naps. Isaak's a punk a monk when he doesn't get a nap.

I told Mica, "When I tell you it's time to leave, you get up, grab your stuff and leave." Then I asked Mica, "Why in the world did you throw yourself down like that Mica?" Mica said, "Because McDonalds makes me crazy Mom!"  I don't know if he was  referring to the happy meal toy that they were fighting over, or the food that never breaks down?!

Source

So Mica gets no McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's and so on because that type of food, the toys that come all packaged and kid advertising friendly, makes him crazy! That's fairly easy to take away. Grandma and Grandpa were told, "No McDonalds for Mica because it makes his behavior crazy!"I don't know how long Mica won't get fast food. If we need something quick Subway or some other place will have to do.

Part of me feels like a horrible parent when my kids act up. Then I have to remind myself that our kids are people to, they have their moments, their bad days, stages and moods. I know we are far from being perfect parents. As long as they are not consistently kids with problems I think we're doing an ok job.
 

Grandparents

I love Grandma and Grandpa Spiehs - they are my parents after all.

Yesterday they took Isaak, Cousin Elijah and Cousin Evan (he's still out of school and goes back on Monday) to McDonalds after preschool. Grandma said a big reason why she took them to McDonalds is because she wanted to hear Isaak say, "MikerDonalds" over and over again. I had to chuckle. Just for the record, we don't go out to eat there all that often. They also took them to Red Mango afterwards.

Today I called to check up on how things were going? I asked Grandma how Karate Kid was? I let them borrow the newest one that Mica got in his stocking from Santa. She said it was ok, but that she wished it was in English. She didn't like the subtitles. Somehow the movie was in a different language and they didn't check the setting prior to watching it. I had a chuckle over that one to. When I told her the movie can be set to English she said, "No wonder why Isaak wasn't watching it too well. He was bouncing all over the place." They get really confused when I send over Blue Ray | DVD combo's as well.

In all seriousness they are great with the kids. They babysit them and that's HUGE! Grandma has rocked them when they were babies and still does when she reads to them. They take the boys for walks; make Mica run when he get stirred up. Grandpa lets the boys help with gardening stuff. They work on puzzles. They play with them. They take them places sometimes to.

Last Night I Felt Like a Disappointment

Daddy took Mica out to play on the metal slides downtown and then to gallery openings.

I had date night with my Isaak man. I asked him what he wanted to do after giving him options? He wanted to go to the pet store to see puppies. Guess what? They didn't have puppies at this pet store! I didn't feel too bad because we did like looking at everything else.

Isaak liked watching mice play in a wheel.

This lizard was a better model then most pets.

 I gave Isaak options of what/where to go eat. He said, "Home to eat split pea soup." at first. Then he quickly changed his mind to, "Mickerdonalds" McDonalds.

We ate and I asked Isaak if he wanted to go get his hair trimmed? He said, "Yes." He told me, "Mommy I won't be shy this time." ;) They got him right in. He looked uncomfortably shy the whole time! Then at the end when I asked him, "Do you like your haircut?" He said, "No." I thought he was still being shy. As we walked out he said, "I wanted my hair shorter!" :( Then I didn't know if he really wanted his hair short, or if a certain person that watched him this week made fun of his hair again? That's where the disappointment of a night comes in.

Well Daddy and I talked with him last night because we wanted to know if he wanted his hair short because that is what he wants, or if he was just made fun of too much about his long hair? He really wants his hair short. I wish I would have known this! So...we're cutting it all off for him. I want him to like his hair. It's not about what I want, or what any family member wants. I want Isaak to be comfortable with himself. 

Today or tomorrow Isaak's getting his hairs cut short.

The Start of Winter

Two days ago we got up and I realized {crap} that we were supped to drop off our vehicle to get an oil change. We woke up at our normal time; when we should have woken up early! Both boys did not want to get up because Halloween was the night before and it has recently started to be dark when we wake up. Isaak was the most whiny lovely child.

Off we went. Both boys seemed almost concerned that we left the house without eating breakfast. It was kind of funny! We stopped off at McDonalds to eat. It is rare that we go eat breakfast somewhere! Usually we only eat out for breakfast on Mother's Day, Father's Day and trips. The boys were super excited! It was like we were going to the toy store. Isaak is so funny because he calls McDonalds "MickerDonalds."

Yesterday it rained, hailed and snowed for the first time. It has been unusually warm here. The snow melted before nightfall. That's how warm the ground was and wet the snow was. Sometimes we get our first snow before Halloween. I'm not complaining about the warmer weather. The love for warmer weather is part of why I moved to Georgia for awhile. Along with warmer weather comes bugs, mold and lots of pollen! With the fall of allergies, migraines and the love of family, I'm back in Nebraska. Home of the Heartland.

Ten reasons why I hate dislike winter: 

1. I hate dislike putting the kids in a cold car with heavy coats on! I know I'm not supposed to put the kids in their car seats with their coats on. I was told this by a nurse when Isaak was born. I had a thin sweater jacket on him to take him home. She said, "Do you know that you are not supposed to have him in the car seat like that?" No I didn't know. How am I supposed to put the kids in their car seats without coats on? The car is freezing; their coats are hard to put on!  It's illegal to start your car here, while unattended. {The next two sentences are full of sarcasm} Why don't we just keep our kids naked and stick them in the car? They can turn into little ice cubes. I mean really! I'm one of those parents that shove their kids in their car seats with a coat on. Don't judge please. :) I don't know anyone who doesn't do that. At least I abide by putting my kids in car seats. Old times kids sat in the back or front of a car without a safely belt on. Now Nebraska wants you to have a kid in a car seat until they are 100 pounds. I'm not even being sarcastic with that last sentence! It's not a law, but it's recommended. They had a whole news section about it last year. I told Aunt Angela that she should still be in a car seat. She's tiny. Times have changed.
2. Getting up early to a dark sky! No one wants to get up when it looks like it's night out!
3. Coming home to a dark sky! It feels like bedtime when I get home from work! Boo!
4. Slipping on the ice. Yep this has happened both while walking and with driving. Not lately, but shit happens.
5. Time change bites! No matter how much you try to adjust; it still sucks. There is always one more clock somewhere that Daddy or I forgot to change. Then I'm completely confused! Read here for good time changing advice!
6. I dislike Shoveling! Enough said.
7. Retraining my three year old to put socks on. I think he's got it now. Sandals I love you!
8. Sending our kids outside to play is harder.
9. Our floors inside become a mess.
10. Traffic becomes a mess! Yes this is true. There are more accidents in the winter because it's dark and slippery. The moment it became dark in the mornings, traffic has sucked! I've ran into two traffic jams in the last two weeks.

A Cheeseburger is a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

• We went to McDonald's yesterday for dinner. Something we don't do often.
• I usually get a mix of all different things. 
• Two boy's happy meals. One with apples and a cheeseburger. The other with fries and chicken nuggets. They get chocolate milk when we're out; it's not something they get at home. I get a salad. Daddy gets whatever he feels like.
•  Then the boy's and I split everything.
• Isaak in the past wouldn't eat any part of a cheeseburger. Last night he did.
• He kept saying, "What a yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwich." Then he'd take a massive bite!

• I give the boy's their toy's at the end of their meal. They are starting to eat it all!
• Someone messed up and gave one happy meal a girl toy. I told Daddy to take it back to get a boy toy.
• Nope! The boy's wanted the My Little Pony. We kept it. They fought over it. ;) Kids!