Chuck's house

I'm just going to say it -- I really dislike Chuck E. Cheese. It's loud, overpriced and running amok with young kids who have no manners and, apparently, no parents. But, the boys (all of them) love it. And apparently so does Nick's school. The parent organization sent home a letter a few weeks back about a fundraiser night at the restaurant/playland. I promptly threw it away. Then Nick came home today with a sticker on his shirt --- that came directly from the big mouse himself. The school arranged for Chuck to visit the school to remind the kids about the evening's events. Really? Really? That's just plain mean. The second we got in the car Nick started talking about going to Chuck E Cheese tonight and how much fun it would be. Um ... just a second kid. Who said we were going? Certainly not me.

Sure, we had talked about going out to eat tonight anyway, but that certainly wasn't on the short list of options. But, he asked so nicely. And I can't say no. So we talked to Mike when we got home and of course he was game. He plays almost as much as the kids. See what I mean?


Nick found a classmate there and we barely saw him all night (well, at least up close). I never let him get out of my line of sight, unlike the aforementioned parents.


Zander had fun on this little helicopter ride (which I remember loving as a child, too).


And the little daredevil climbed up and into the tunnels floating over our heads. He was just barely tall enough to scoot himself up there, but he was determined to make it work. Thank goodness they got rid of the ball pit. That thing was just disgusting.


This police motorcycle was Zander's other favorite ride. Except every time he tried to hop on some little unsupervised girl (she couldn't have been more than 3 and I never once saw her parents) would come up and push him off. Yeah, that's why I don't like Chuck E. Cheese. Others parents were noticing the same thing and quick to say she wasn't theirs.


Nick liked the helicopter, too. Thankfully his legs were long enough that he could pedal himself. Mike and I had to help Zander get the helicopter in the air.


A couple times the boys even played together. It was short-lived.


And of course Nick and Mike had to play air hockey. I think Mike was secretly bummed when Nick's friend came along to play. But, then again, he did get to go off and play basketball and skee ball and whatever else he wanted, so maybe he wasn't so sad after all.