I had another post planned for today, but I was so overwhelmed by my children last night that I wanted to share RIGHT AWAY!! Yesterday morning we were informed that we were required to dress up for a valentine dinner at Valentine Restaurant, which the children were opening just for us that night. We grinned and played along. The children beavered away all day. We were not allowed in the living room, the kitchen, the hallway…. you get the picture. There was much excitement, which by 6pm had reached titanic proportions.
Setting Up Valentine Restaurant
The babies were put to bed, Gary and I bathed, dressed up and looking our best were shown into ‘Valentine Restaurant’:
They had gone to SO MUCH trouble and the attention to detail was amazing. We even had a lantern hanging from the wooden beams over the table:
The Menu
After we were sat in our chairs we were handed a menu:
And this was on the corner (it says ‘book now’ but somehow that didn’t come out in the photo):
The Valentine Restaurant Staff Members
Obviously each child had been alloted a role to play for the evening. Thomas was waiter, Lillie the cook and Charlotte the drinks waitress. Thomas took our orders:
Whilst Charlotte brought us some drinks from the drinks table they set up…
She then proceeded to plonk herself down, next to daddy and settle in for the night!!
After Gary and I cracked up (much to her confusion!) we gently explained that it would be very difficult to have a romantic dinner accompanied by one of our daughters. She happily went to help her siblings in the kitchen.
Valentine Restaurant Meal
Thomas then brought through our meal:
This was the dinner Lillie had been cooking and planning all day. It was simple, beautifully presented and I think one of the tastiest meals we’ve ever eaten. I was SO, SO proud of my girl! She served double cooked baked potatoes with cheese, chives and an egg in the middle accompanied by an avocado salad:
C10, obviously passing on our wishes for privacy, had T11 shut the door after he exited the room:
Privacy was to be in short supply however. We live in a very quirky house, which has an indoor wall with a window. This means one can peek from the hallway and kitchen into the living/dining room. And peek they did:
Again and again:
They just couldn’t help themselves!!
After we had eaten our dinner, the children brought a gorgeous desert of sticky toffee pudding and ice-cream, again, all homemade by Lillie:
Lillie, the Chef
The food was so good that we asked the cook if she would come out so we could express our delight in her cooking personally:
We had a truly special night, for our children had expressed THEIR love for us in a completely unique, tangible way. I can’t begin to tell you how much this all meant to me personally.
Children, I love you all so much. Thomas you were the perfect waiter, attentive, seeing to our needs yet unobtrusive. Charlotte, sweetheart you were just you and kept us giggling the whole night, never change sweetiepie! And Lillie- oh, my goodness!! Your food was just amazing, you are such a natural in the kitchen! Thank you so much!
The Bill
Then we got the bill:
LOL!!!
Over lockdown our children did the same again! For that post click over to Valentine’s Restaurant: Take Two