So What's Up with the Mouse?

So the kids were on break this week, so along with getting things done around the house it was important to spend some family time doing some activities that my kids love. We spent time playing games, going outside, watching movies, working on puzzles, but the big activity this week was going to Chuck E. Cheese. Yes parents that's what I said I entered the mouse zone on a week that would make any parent shake in their shoes! Lanie was asking to go from the beginning of the week, since we weren't going anywhere this week I thought it would be fun to splurge a little and have some crazy fun.
Going to Chuck E. Cheese is not just a family outing it is a major family event since we don't visit there often.I had to prepared for the day, I downloaded my coupons and refinanced on my home(just kidding of course). If you have ever been to Chuck E. Cheese you know that they are sittting on a gold mine. Anyway back to the story as we entered the building you could see the excitement building on the faces of my kids. The restaurant has bells and whistles, tickets, lights, pizza, cotton candy, and best of all rides. This restuarant has all that goes into any kids goodnight dream. The excitement mounted as their hands were stamped and they knew that the rides were within their grip only to find that we had to wait in line to get a table. Yikes! a long line for a table and food. A quote came to mind from my doctors office...parenting can be like being pecked to death by chickens! don't get me wrong I love being a mom, but when the kids see the rides, smell the food and have to wait it can be a little nerve challenging!
So we got our seats, ordered our food and were ready to roll. Lanie ran off to the big kid games where the tickets can be earned and the fun can be had. Kara and I headed to the "baby" area. She found a great slide that she loved and kept going on, the funny thing was it was the only free thing in the place. I gotta love a kid who can find bargains! I then saw a merry go round which she loved and smiled each time she passed.(Look for these pictures on the blog site)Every token that we spent on that ride was worth it. Lanie soon came back to find us with tickets and cotton candy (what every kid needs-- more sugar) she was all smiles and ready to keep going it was enjoyable to see the excitement she had over winning the cotton candy. Lanie was very sweet helping her sister to see what Chuck's place was all about. It was then time to eat so we enjoyed our pizza and some family time talking about the games and which rides were the best and then back to play time.
As Kara walked around she came to the area where they have the stand up machines with Chuck E. and his gang. She was so excited and waved Mou Mou she knew he was a mouse and that is a good thing in her eyes. As many of my readers know her love for another well known mouse Mickey! As I saw the excitement she had for the mouse I began to wonder what is up with the mouse? Who said to themselves hey lets take this small animal and make it lifesize and having him running around a restaurant where there are games and serve what every mouse eats- pizza! Don't get me wrong I have no problem with the mouse other than the fact that he should be gold instead of gray since he is making lots of gold from the money that walks in the door each day.
I just think it is funny that two characters that kids love are both mice. I wonder where people come up with this concept.After leaving the rides and games you get the most painful part of the time at Chuck E.'s -- ticket redemption. I feel like there should be a noise dum dum dummmm( that doom sound) Kids anxiously wait in line to make their decision on a bunch of gumball machine toys that will end up inbetween the car seats before you make it home. The decisions are as painstaking as the Geneva Convention. Once the decisions are made it is time to leave and kids leave the place in one of two ways with smiles or screams. Parents leave only one way exhausted.
Don't get wrong although I think Chuck E. is a little weird it does create great family fun for us and it is worth the money and the lines. So the next time you want a chance to let the kids run wild, add some smiles to your kids day and get a hankering for every mouses favorite food... pizza head over to Chuck E. Cheeses. Although it sounded like I am complaining we really did have fun it was just fun to share a parents perspective!
I am adding pictures to my site also so be sure to check them out!