Chance called me Friday evening and told me that they just found out that afternoon that they would be leaving Tuesday. I told him about his mom’s texts the night before and he told me that until Friday afternoon, it was 50/50 on whether they would leave Saturday or Tuesday. So either Bio Mom is much closer contact with the Lord than I am, or she just took a chance. Oh well, I will not worry my pretty little head about her.
Although it is funny that she ended up getting a hotel in Alexandria….an hour and a half away from DeRidder…because there were no rooms available. Well, DUH, you have to book early for a deployment weekend. Oh, and apparently there were no rooms in Lake Charles either….45 minutes away.
Bob and I got to DeRidder around 1:30 and I texted Chance our room number. About 2:00 or so, there was a knock at the door and there were Mere, Sam, Chance and John (Sam’s boyfriend.) They walked in and said, “What a great room. Mom is staying in a dump.” I did not LOL. We hung out for a while, then headed to a Mexican restaurant for a late lunch.
We had a blast and got stuffed on delicious Mexican food. It was not cheap, though. As usual, I picked up the tab….$89. Surprisingly, I did not pass out. I have just accepted the fact that when we go out to eat with our kids, we are expected to pay. Maybe they will not always be that way. I quit expecting my parents to pay for my meals when I finished college. But, that is me. Not everyone is a perfect child like me. LOL!
After lunch, we went back to our hotel and just hung out. It was hilarious and fun. Sam and John had come up Friday and stayed with Mindy, I guess. Or they may have gotten their own room. I didn’t ask. Anyway, they were coming back to Houston on Saturday, but after we had been there for a while laughing our butts off, Samantha said, “I don't want to go. I want to stay here tonight.” Then started figuring out where everyone would sleep. LOL! Fortunately, THAT did not come to pass. There were 2 queen beds and 5 people. (Since Chance would go back to base.) Anyway, it was pretty funny.
But Sam and John did head back home Saturday night. Meredith went back to Alexandria to stay at the “dump” by herself, as their mom decided to go back to Houston on Saturday. I think that she had already paid for the room and didn’t leave Mere to pay that night, but I did not ask. We told her she should have just checked out and stayed with us. But it was too far away for her to go get her stuff, check out and come back. So, she went back there.
Yesterday morning, Mere and Chance came to the hotel and joined us for free breakfast. Yummy. And lest anyone think that I am less than ethical regarding said free breakfast, I did ask the manager if I could pay for Chance and Mere's breakfast and they said not to worry about it.Then they came back to our room and hung around a couple of hours until almost checkout time. Chance said he needed to go do laundry and I think he needed a nap. LOL! Mere was ready to head home and so was Bob.
There was never a sad moment. Though we did all tell Chance how much we will miss him and how proud we are of him. We told him he was a hero and he said, “I don’t think like that. I am just doing my job.” That made me even prouder of him. We also discussed care packages and what he would like to receive while he is there. Which was great. When he was in Iraq, he would just tell us to send whatever. It will be nice to send something we know he likes, wants and needs. (Though he says he liked and used everything sent to him last time.)
We got home around 2 yesterday, Bob watered the plants, then left to go camping. It is his early Christmas gift. Apparently there are some “big games” on over the next week and this is his favorite time to go camping. I think I will clean out the closet while he is gone. LOL!
Here is a pic. I look more than chubby and I am getting old. But I don’t care. I was really happy.
20 comments:
Sounds like all of you had a great weekend!
I paid for my daughter's lunch on Friday, but she paid for everyone's lunch on Saturday when we helped them move. It's starting to even out now.
My parents are a different story. We can hardly agree to get them to go out to eat, but when when we do, we have to be really quick to pick up the check before they do. Then they fuss about us having paid for their meal. They won't voluntarily go Dutch, either. They are stubborn like that. Glad I'm not that way. ;)
Maybe it will even out for us when our kids aren't so poor.
Well, Chance offered to buy last time we visited, but it WAS his birthday, so of course we would not have expected him to pay anything.
When I visit my parents and we go eat, I always grab the check. I am quick like that. Though, on ocassion, Mom will say, "Dad said we are buying and that is final." Then I will let them.
I know some parents want to pay for meals no matter how old their children are. I just don't think they should be expected to by adults.
That is, of course, my opinion and anyone is allowed to disagree.
Ideally, we like to go Dutch, whether with family or friends. That way, there are no hard feelings, no expectations, etc. But sometimes it's very nice to be treated, and we appreciate it when someone pays our way. It's also nice to do the treating, and when our parents fuss about it, it kind of takes the fun out of it for us.
I guess like everything else, it's all about finding balance.
I agree with you, Annie Jones, it IS nice to be treated and it is nice to treat others. I don't ever want to make someone feel bad by arguing about them paying.
I just am ready to get to the point where ALL my kids will at least offer to pay for their meal once in a while. LOL!
Oh, and for the last year "my kids" has included Samantha's boyfriend. Come on....he should at least offer to pay for his once in a while. Right?
Glad you had a good weekend! Since my kids still live at home, we just pay for them wherever we go. I do tell them that I have only such and such amount, and if they want anything over that amount, then they have to dig in their wallet (or purse) to fund the difference. That works pretty well! :)
And, you look lovely in that picture, and very happy!
Hi, A.Marie. Thanks for coming to see me. When our kids lived at home, I never expected them to buy if we went out. But none of them have lived at home for years.
And it might be a little easier to swallow, if they didn't usually pick the most expensive items on the menu. And often, the girls leave half the entree uneaten.
Though, since Meredith has been living as a single mom, she is better about taking leftovers home with her.
It must be a parent thing nowadays. When we go out with my parents, they ALWAYS pay, eventho my mom is out of work right now (for a year and a half). My mom last her job last April, and we always go out to eat on Good Friday together. Well, it was my parents, myself and DH, my sister, BIL and their 2 kids. My dad paid the whole bill. And it was an expensive place. Good thing he has a frugal daughter/picky eater. DH will eat meat on Friday's during lent, so he got a meal that came with a salad. He doesn't eat salads, I do, so I had his salad for dinner. lol
DH's parent's are the same way....if you try to pay, you get slapped on the hand by DMIL...I'm not kidding. We normally just have to leave a nice tip lol
Hi, Spaghetti, thanks for coming by.
I am starting to feel cheap. LOL! If the eating out were only an ocassionaly thing, say holidays and birthdays, it would be different. But I even end up paying when THEY invite US out to eat. For example, for Father's Day, Samantha called and she and her bf wanted to treat us to lunch, on them. They picked the place, but when the bill came, they both got a rather glazed look in their eyes. I paid for me and Hubby.
And he and I weren't the ones that bought the expensive food and appetizers.
Oh well. Everyone can just think I am a scrooge, I guess.
(Although, I need to point out that we gave Chance money for his birthday, spent about $150 for room and gass to go over there. And a couple weeks ago, we gave Mere $300 to help her catch up on some bills. So I am not totally stingy.)
So glad you all got to have a good weekend together before he had to leave. Praying for his safe return.
Blessings
Diane
Thanks, Diane, for coming to see me and for the prayers for Chance.
So glad to hear the weekend went well and there was no drama. ;-)
And you look just FINE in that photo so stop that!!lol
And I'm with you old meanie mommy hehehe....let the grown kids pay now and again, especially if they pick the pricey meals. I got my kids trained finally if I don't give them a dollar limit on their meal, they ask if what they pick is too expensive or not. I had to do that as Daughter would pick the priciest item on the menu.
What I have a problem with his Hubs siblings....they are all older than us(53 to 61 yrs. old)yet if we go out they all expect Hubs and I to pay for their meals. And Hubs just pays and doesn't make a scene...which drives me nuts!lol Maybe this year I'll open my big mouth and let them all know beforehand that it's Dutch treat from now on, or we should rotate who pays. I just have to get Hubs on board and be diplomatic....2 difficult things for me to accomplish.lol
Hi, Sluggy, thanks for not thinking I am too mean. I am lucky not to have the issue with siblings. Hubby doesn't care for his and when I see mine it evens out, since we go Dutch or take turns paying.
As for the kids, I am sure when they are more financially set, we will not have to buy all the time. If it doesn't change, we will just go out to eat less and just have them over to eat at our house. Heck, they all love my cooking. LOL!
I really don't mind treating the kids. Just because they are adults does not mean I never want to treat again. I guess I just wish it weren't expected every time.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend!!
It really was, Denise. Thanks for coming to see me!
I think that you are a great mom and you look wonderful. Don't let anyone(yourself) tell you different.
And I'm glad that you had a wonderful weekend. I think that you raised a wonderful son and tell him that I'm so thankful for him.
Have a great week!
Hi, SonyaAnn! Thanks for coming to see me and thanks for the compliments. Don't worry...I am perfectly comfortable with how I look. I am in a wonderful time in my life and don't so much worry about looks anymore. (Though, I do still wear makeup every day. LOL!)
I'm so glad you had a great weekend. I thought about you all this past weekend and wondered how it went.
Hi, Debbie. Thanks for coming to see me. As you can see, it went great. I have a fabulous family!
Just stopped over to say Hi! Have a great weekend.
Hi, SonyaAnn! You have a great one, too!
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