Dining out is very challenging for Luke. He doesn't have the patience to wait. He doesn't have the patience to sit through a meal. He doesn't really have time for the whole eating thing. He's a grazer and wanderer. Literally. Some nights he'll pick up his plate and go eat outside just to walk in the grass while eating. #whocanblamehim But we decided to try it anyway.
The first place we tried was the adorable restaurant on the marina that Terry found good reviews about. No wait...eating outside...seemed ideal for our motley crew.
Adults look happy enough...right?
At one point Gemma was behind the bar mixing drinks (just kidding, she was just wandering), Luke was sitting in the smack dab middle of a walkway and Evan, well...Evan did pretty good. Two out of three children spilled water across the table. Luke's entire dinner ended up on the floor at one point. By the end, I was sweating bullets and John was power eating just to able to take care of kids. That was the night I didn't even taste my food.
For some reason we decided to try it again. Everyone who I mentioned Orange Beach to just raved over Lulu's. So out we go. We arrived at 5pm to an hour wait. To occupy the children, there are lot of activities. A ropes course, water walking, piles of sand, water play areas, live music. Yeah...so here is how the Asbells spent that hour. I took Evan to the water walking. It was the best 7 minutes we spent there. lol He was hysterical and had so much fun. I laughed so hard my abs hurt.
The next 53 minutes was pretty pitiful. At some point Luke sat down in the water play area making the back of his pants completely wet. He also threw sand in another child's eyes. Thankfully the mother of the other child was cool about it and said, "Don't worry too much. My child just did the same thing to someone else." Evan and browsed the gift shops which translated into - I bought him something so he'd be entertained for 20 more minutes. It was hot...we were hungry...our children were over the sand piles and Luke ate his entire meal while we waited. When we were finally seated, we all could take a breath....or so I thought. We were sitting on a deck over looking water (not the ocean). The table behind us threw a french fry out to a bird. Within seconds, there were about 20 seagulls cawing and flying within feet of our table. Birds are second least favorite animal. Second only to the dreaded fish. Evan told our waiter, "My mom is FREAKING out," and I was.
The next 53 minutes was pretty pitiful. At some point Luke sat down in the water play area making the back of his pants completely wet. He also threw sand in another child's eyes. Thankfully the mother of the other child was cool about it and said, "Don't worry too much. My child just did the same thing to someone else." Evan and browsed the gift shops which translated into - I bought him something so he'd be entertained for 20 more minutes. It was hot...we were hungry...our children were over the sand piles and Luke ate his entire meal while we waited. When we were finally seated, we all could take a breath....or so I thought. We were sitting on a deck over looking water (not the ocean). The table behind us threw a french fry out to a bird. Within seconds, there were about 20 seagulls cawing and flying within feet of our table. Birds are second least favorite animal. Second only to the dreaded fish. Evan told our waiter, "My mom is FREAKING out," and I was.
We put technology in the hands of our children (something I don't do unless on vacation) and ordered a pitcher of beer. Everyone was able to drink, eat and talk in peace. No wandering kids...no spilled water. And the food was actually very good! I thought this we might just might have this eating out thing down ...Then my dinner made a reappearance 6 hours later. Thank goodness I was the only one to get sick and it was only one time.
From then on we ordered take out and ate on our balcony. Cheers to vacation!
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