Progressive Dinner Night On The Town

Last night was our celebration of my new approach to our situation and holy cow did we have fun!  It's been far too long since we've been together as a family and my thoughts could be solely on us.

Several months ago this amazing guy I happen to know gave me the wonderful idea to do a progressive dinner.  I took that idea, put a kid friendly Jenn twist to it and away we went!

*********** First Stop ***********

Chili's for Texas Cheese Fries

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To make our adventure a little more fun I found a few restaurant games on line. So while we waited for our first course we had a blast with a scavenger hunt!  Believe it or not, the hardest thing on our list to find was a utensil on the ground.

I'm one lucky mamma to have a couple of kiddos who love spicy... as in they seriously LOVE it to the point they were found in the fridge drinking habanero sauce when they were 2 and 4. Since Chili's cheese fries are topped with jalapenos they were the perfect choice for them.  

 My littlest munchkins didn't get the spicy gene so I ordered the Crispy Cheddar Bites for them.  Chili's offers a points program that we took full advantage of.  I signed up ahead of the fun and was able to receive a free appetizer keeping this adventure within the budget.

********** Second Stop **********

Olive Garden for

Cheese Ravioli & Chicken Alfredo

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We filled our wait time with an ABC game. The goal was to find something in the restaurant that started with every letter in the alphabet. My kiddos were resourceful... employee for "E" and kid for "K" - but no matter how hard we tried that darn "X" alluded us!

****** Fun Before Dessert ******

Glow in the Dark Mini Golf

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Playing a round of mini golf with my kiddos was a blast!  I think we lost 3 balls, Tanner made two hole-in-ones and Shaylee giggled the entire time.

*********** Last Stop ***********

Village Inn for Pie

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By the time we finished all of our fun there were only a few dessert options available and my munchkins all decided on pie.  We didn't get home until after midnight, but who keeps track of time when you're having fun?

Moment of Honesty

And.... we are back!

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 4 years since my munchkins and I moved on to a better life.  A life that I thought would give us the freedom to live.  It's hard to believe that the ex has had us in non-stop litigation for almost 3 years - filing so many cases against us that I've honestly lost count. Too many hours have been taken from me and my little ones in the form of court prep and hearings, police reports and Child Protective Service cases. 

I know the ex promised to keep us in court until I did exactly as he said at all times, but this has been beyond ridiculous.  I mean seriously, it takes a special kind of person to request the court remove my right to take our children to a therapist.  Yeah, really, that's how ridiculous most of the cases he files are. BUT I still have to show up and fight for my rights, fight to protect my kiddos and fight for our safety or he wins that battle... that's just the way the legal system works.  

I'd really hoped the courts would catch on, the protective orders would work and the abuse investigations would put an end to our nightmare... but they haven't and there is no relief or end in sight.  

I've put off living our lives for far too long and I've decided I'm done allowing a mean, controlling, hurtful and abusive man to continue to control our time.  I refuse to let him destroy another summer with threats, court, or harm to us.   How may you ask?  The answer is simple - Stop giving him what he wants and start living our lives.  

From here on out we will ignore the "punches" he throws, show up to court with faith that God is on our side and good will prevail and finally I will let go of the silly idea that the law or protective services can protect us because four years has shown that they can't.  

This blog was always meant to be a place where my little family's happy memories reside... so from here on out I will do my best do only post the memories that make me and my munchkins smile leaving all abuse, threats, court and other such horribleness to be recorded elsewhere.