This past week, I went to Memphis and spent the night with my three young grandchildren. Paige is five (almost six), Gwynn is almost two, and Landon is five months old. We decided to have a night on the town and eat at Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Fun!

I need to mention that this was Friday night. Friday night in Memphis. Every eating establishment in town was packed and that included Five Guys.

The music was loud, but there were so many people crammed in the too-small area that you couldn’t hear what was playing, all you could hear was more noise. The order line wound as far around as it could go without going outside. The tables and chairs were pushed so close together that you had to walk sideways to get through – not an easy stunt with a two-year old and an infant in a carrier.

Anyway, after ignoring all of the above, and not wanting to drag everyone back to the car to go somewhere else, we made our way through the maze of tables to a six-top that was momentarily empty. We got lucky there. I think.

Mom and dad decided they would stand in line, and grandmamma (me, aka KK) would stay behind at the table keeping the troops entertained, a job I’m usually quite good at doing.

This restaurant serves peanuts for munching on while patrons are waiting for their food, and peanuts happen to be one of Paige and Gwynn’s favorite little snacks, so Paige made her way to the big barrel of peanuts and returned with a box full for Gwynn and herself. I was thinking how great this was; it would keep them busy while waiting on our food.

The music continued to blast over the PA system, Gwynn and Paige were enjoying their peanuts, and daddy wandered over with the drinks, and then went back in line for the food. Everything was going smoothly! I turned and saw a toddler to the side of us; she was doing her gymnastics through the maze of chairs and tables. I was glad that Paige was well behaved, and that little redheaded Gwynn was strapped into her chair.

I looked over at Paige on my left. Smiling, she was doing great. I took my iPad that she had been playing on and put it in my purse, which I zipped up, and placed it on the floor between Paige and myself. Landon, on the other side of the table, was still happy in his carrier, mesmerized by all the noise and people.

I turned my attention to Gwynn. Uh-oh! She had poured her peanuts out on the table and had both arms spread out in helicopter fashion, swinging and sending the peanuts flying! I mumbled a quick “Oops” and started grabbing the flying peanuts. About that time I hear Paige’s panicked voice saying, “Oh no, KK!”

Paige had been negotiating a stubborn peanut shell, and during the process, her hand slipped, knocking over her tall cup of Sprite. It not only went all over me, but spilled squarely in the center of my purse. In fact, most of it went on my purse. This almost sent Paige into a melt down because she tries to be so careful.

Mom and dad were watching the commotion, and before I could even start thinking about what to do, daddy was on the scene with napkins. He took over the clean up of Sprite and Paige, who was apologizing repeatedly, and I turned back to Gwynn who was still flinging peanuts everywhere and making some kind of joyful noise.

Paige got a new drink, and about the time I got Gwynn’s mess cleaned up, the food came, so then it was back to “one-on-one” defense! I stopped after clean up was done, and took a deep breath to analyze the situation: Loud music, oodles of loud, happy people, a toddler doing gymnastics, spilt Sprite, flying peanuts.

At that time, I glimpsed a lady sitting across from us watching our circus. She was quietly waiting for her husband to bring their food with her hands folded on the table. She was captivated by our entertainment!

Well, there’s my story. There is no moral – or maybe there is: “Grandchildren will always keep you from sitting quietly with your hands folded on the table while waiting for your food.”

Here’s a quick peanutty breakfast for your kiddos.

One last thing; I would do it all over again!

Peanut Apple Toast

2 slices wheat bread, toasted and buttered

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 an apple, thinly sliced

cinnamon

1 teaspoon brown sugar

Dip apple slices in lemon juice. Spread peanut butter on one side of each of the two slices of toasted bread. Arrange apple slices on top of peanut butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Put on a baking sheet and broil three to five minutes or until lightly browned. Delicious!