Apple Crisp and Christmas Pictures

I consider myself a tolerant person. I understand in the world of restauranteuring and food management that not all can be perfect, especially when specific ordering may occur. However, I DO expect something to arrive correctly the way it's described in the menu. The other night Tom and I went out to do some Christmas shopping and dinner. After shopping we went to Garfield's (a chain restaurant at malls on this side of the country) for dessert where I ordered the apple crisp which was described as a HOT apple dish with crispy streusel topping, served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. It was cold when it arrived to our table. How can this be missed? I was very irritated, but politely asked for our waiter and when he came I explained what was amiss. Tom thought this was hilarious. First, because he has never seen me send anything back at a restaurant. And honestly I don't think I ever have had to. The thing is, why was it so hard to miss? The restaurant was not that busy (other waiters were standing around and I had to ask another girl to find our waiter for me due to his lack in checking back on us) and how do you miss an ice-cold plate?

I'm also preparing to host Thanksgiving for the first time this week. I have a mile-long list of cleaning and shopping to be done, and Tom is working late every night he can this week. So, my fabulous MIL and SIL are coming to watch the kids so I can do my grocery shopping in peace and maybe not spend $100 more than planned.

I also attempted to squeeze in Christmas pictures at Sears this morning. Well, not really morning, noon. Terrible idea, I know. The older three kids were fine. Cate, however, was a train wreck. She was hungry and tired and decided to let us know this by screaming bloody-murder the second I attempted to place her between Beth and Patrick. I continued to try and she continued to cry. I decided to go ahead and do the individual shots and maybe she would warm up to the idea.....Once again, the older three were fantastic. The first shot of each of them was perfect. The photographer thought it would be great for Cate to sit in a little wicker chair. Uh, no! She screamed, squirmed out of the chair and collapsed to the floor. I tried a few more times then thought maybe if I weren't in the room to hold her she would be alright. A different photographer came in and tried his luck but when they called me back in she had thrown herself on the floor and was kicking and screaming. This has never happened to me before!

I told them I would call later in the day to reschedule and took the kids to get lunch where Thomas promptly wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve, cleaning the ketchup off his mouth at the same time and when we left he rubbed up against the dirtiest car that had turned to mud due to the pouring rain. So, now I have to wash picture clothes before I can take them again. But first I have to get my dryer fixed since I blew the fuse in it (again).