August with Sara

OK, summer is really taking a toll on my Dinner with Dad schedule and also the associated blogging.  I am now 2 behind in Dinners with Joe and two weeks behind on my Dinner with Brittany - to be made up next week.  Summer in Wisconsin is something that goes by very quick and is full of one activity after another - maybe that is why we pretty much hibernate in the winter.

After being undecided on where we were going to go for dinner, Sara and I decided to go to TGIFriday's.  The deciding factor on the choice of restaurants - it was a good place to catch the first Packers pre-season game.  Another key factor of Wisconsin - you are not allowed to miss a Packer game - even if it is pre-season.

Given that I am writing this two weeks after the event, I honestly forgot what Sara had for dinner but I know she liked it.  I had the 3 appetizer platter - very good.  Sara has a lot going on these days and at times the conversation was very serious about very serious life decisions and of course some of our conversations were our typical fun humorous laughable topics.  Sara seems to be dealing quite well with a lot going on which was good to hear.  The Packers lost but our dinner was a winner - winner winner Sara's dinner!

Time with Sara - Priceless!

 

July with Henry

Henry put in yet another twist to Dinner with Dad.  When I asked him where we were going for his July Dinner with Dad, he said "I want to do something different and let you choose."  Well that caught my by surprise but I must say that I did not have a problem making a choice.

We went to the Charcoal Grill.  Henry surprised me and for the second time in a row, my dinner date chose a salad.  Henry chose the kids chicken salad.  I was in the mood for mexican food so I went with the "South of the Border" plate.  Henry ate most of his dinner and I ended taking home about half of my dinner.

Henry did some great art work (see picture below) as we waited for our order.  Our dinner actually went pretty fast.  We talked some about sports and summer but that was about it.  We were quickly on our way and then went home to cap it off with some Nascar Wii.  A good night for the boys.

July with Brittany

Summer in Wisconsin goes by so fast and I certainly don't spend much time on my computer (other than work where I need to) and thus I have fallen way behind on my blogging - sorry about that.

So TWO Thursdays's ago, Brit and I met at Georgie's Porgie's.  After my comments about my dinners with Brit being too fast, we both finally had a night with no hurries.  I actually had no where to go with Lisa and Henry both out of town and Brittany had a rare schedule free night too.

Brittany was very good for dinner and had a salad for dinner and I was not so good and went with the gyro combo - I love gyros.  Brit also mentioned that she was practicing great restraint by resisting her favorite - cheesy fries. 

Given that we had lots of time, our conversation covered just about all that we love to talk about.  Brit asked about my new job and we also talked about some stories from her job.  We talked about the wedding plans, and of course stories of our faith and Christian radio that we listen to.  Brit likes some of the Moody Radio programs and I listen to Relevant Radio.  After quite a while we were on our respective ways

July with Sara

Sara's July dinner got pushed back a bit due to our typical summer hectic schedules but we caught up on Monday night.

Sara chose Javier's Cuisine.  Rumor has it that this restaurant was started by a former chef from Jose's Blue Sombrero, which is my second most favorite Mexican restaurant ever (after El Azteca in Kimberly).  I think the rumor must be true because the menu had a lot of similarities and the food was fantastic.

Sara had the steak tacos and I went for the seafood burritos.  This confirmed that the chef was from Jose's because the seafood burritos were just as good and totally my favorite.  Sara said that her dinner was very good too.  And of course we had to partake in "Margarita Monday."  Sara went with the strawberry blended and I with the original on the rocks.

The conversation was all over the place as usual and went by so quick.  Total date time this time was only about an hour and a half which is short for us and that time flew by.  When we got back home, baby Rose was in a playful mood and I had her giggling like crazy.  Great night with Sara and Rose.

Dinner = $39.67  Time with Sara = Priceless!

 

Sara thought the bright background made the picture more "artsy" lol.

July with Joe

Even though it was actually the last day of June, Joe and I kicked off July with another Dinner with Dad twist.  Joe won Brewer game tickets at work and decided to bring dear old Dad to the game so we made it into our Dinner with Dad - Thanks Joe!

Well we got there a bit before the first pitch so we had plenty of time for a fine Miller Park dinner.  Of course we both had brats but the big difference was that I added the kraut - gotta have the kraut.  The dinner was up to Miller Park standards and as we finished our fine dinning, it was time play ball!

The game ended up being a blowout - in a good way.  The Brewers ended up blowing out the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-2 including hitting 4 Home Runs.  Bernie Brewer got a work out that night.

We actually left in the middle of the ninth (I must be getting old, I was trying to "beat the traffic").  I dropped Joe off at the Park n Ride where we originally met up and we were both on our way by about 10pm.

Dinner = ??? (brats, peanuts, beers)  Time with Joe = Priceless!

June with Henry

Last Wednesday evening was Henry's turn for June.  Henry got back to his trend of earlier in the year.  Not just Dinner with Dad but Dinner and ......

The dinner part was actually pretty quick.  Henry wanted to get on to the next event so he decided a quick dinner would be good - but he did not want "fast food."  So I looked in my Entertainment Book, found a coupon for Subway, suggested that and off we went.  I had my favorite Spicy Italian sub and Henry went with salami and lettuce - keep it simple :). 

Then it was off to the next event - the driving range.  Henry has been golfing for a few years now, loves the game and is now getting more interested in practicing and working on his swing.  Plus I was glad to go because lately I think I have struggled a bit on the course.  We both got a large bucket of balls, punched them out onto the range - some far ones and some just beyond three club lengths :).

That finished the original plans for the night but then Henry asked if we could do a round of mini-golf.  I thought that was a great idea so off we went to the waterfalls, tunnels and ramps (no windmills or clown's mouth on this course).  We played match play and let's just leave it at it was very very close.

Then since we already had some great fun on this beautiful somewhat warm summer evening I decided to surprise him with one more stop.  He actually guessed it on the way and I am guessing you can guess it too.  Nothing like having a nice big ice cream cone at the end of a great summer day and evening.  We headed off to Old Dutch Custard.  Henry went with the Creamy Vanilla and I tried something new - Cake Batter.  It was good, but not a flavor that will move into my top 5.

That wrapped up our night, home we went and pretty much straight to bed.  I know I slept well, I am guessing Henry did too.

Dinner, driving range, mini-golf and ice cream = $17.  Time with Henry = Priceless!

June with Brittany

Got a little behind on my blogging so this is the update from Dinner with Brittany from last Thursday.  As seems to be too often the case, but Brittany and I had a lot going on that night and dinner came and went all too fast.  And for the second time ARGH I fogot to take a picture.

Brit and I met at Noodles & Company.  I was in between work and heading out to Henry's baseball game.  Brittany got there a bit late because she was shopping for a wedding dress and of course saw one that she liked right before she was ready to leave.  Now that the date has been set for July 13, 2013, there is a lot of wedding planning and activities going on and so on top of work and school, Brit has lots more on her platter now.

So we talked about lots of the stuff we usually talk about, work, school, God, quirkiness of this world and so on.  And of course we shared some laughs about who knows what.

All too soon we had to each head off to our next stops.  In my last update I mentioned about how Sara's dinners were definitely the longest ones, Brit and I have had too many quick dinners due to our complicated schedules, so we will have to work on that for the next six Dinners with Dad for the second half of the year.

Ok, now for the sentimental part that I hesitated to put in here, but I think this is important for my kids to know and I would not have been able tell them about this verbally without blubbering.  As I drove from dinner to Henry's baseball game I heard the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman on K-Love.  I should have turned the channel instantly because I knew what was about to happen to me but instead I played the whole song and arrived at Henry's game with tears rolling down my face.  I cannot start to explain all the reasons why it choked me up so, but I know that other Dads, Moms, kids and especially MY kids will understand.  I love all four of you with ALL my heart and am so blessed by every minute I get to spend with you!

Dinner = $17  Time with Brittany = Priceless!