My Man Boy

Well Brayden is a TWEENIE. That means he isn't a boy, but not yet a man. It is an awkward stage in life. His voice cracks. He sleeps a lot. And people don't know how to treat him. Case and Point... Restaurants. The unknowing hostesses will say "how many kids menus do you need?" And then from time to time a poor waitress will make the ghastly mistake of bringing his drink in a plastic cup with a lid and straw. That is the kiss of death for a tweenie. When this happens, he absolutely refuses to drink out of it. I don't care how hot his wings are. He will die of thirst before he will dare lift that tippy cup to his lips. This situation is a big deal to him. It has nearly caused him to want to avoid eating out altogether.

Well the other night, we went to Red Robin with some members of my family. The waitress asked if we had any birthdays at the table. My brother in law, Russ said... "yes, it is Brayden's birthday and will you please come and sing to him and send that big red bird over here so that he can meet him?" Brayden is going... "Don't you dare. My birthday is November 6th. I don't like mascots. Don't sent that guy over here and bring me a drink in a glass and not in plastic okay."

Next thing we know here comes the bird with balloons. He is patting Brayden on the head and giving him hi-fives etc. Brayden would have crawled under the table if he could have. But he took it well. Then nearly at the end of the meal, here come all the waitresses clapping and carrying a sundae with a candle and then they sing some big ole long birthday song as loud as they could. Raleigh just loved how embarrassed he was. He started clapping like Brayden was a little boy. After the song was over, the manager grabs Brayden by the shoulders and goes "who's a big man? You're such a big man. You don't drink out of plastic cups." It was the greatest. I laughed my head off and am so glad that I had my camera. These are the funniest pictures of my usually very photogenic Man Boy. Don't worry B, someday you'll be all grown up.