John's Incredible Pizza, a haircut, and a challenge.

The boys had a field trip yesterday to John's Incredible Pizza Co.  This was our first experience.  All I have to say is "goodbye" Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza.  There are a million reasons we'll be back to John's, but let me weigh the pros and cons for you.  


The cons:

Every person that enters has to pay.  So, this means you can't just walk in and let your kids play the games or ride the rides like CEC and PPP.  

That's the only con I can think of.  Honestly.


The pros:

*The atmosphere.  It's competitors do not begin to compare.  Even I felt like I was a kid in a candy store.  There are 4 themed dining rooms.  I can't remember all of them, but one was a Cartoon room that was decorated cute and played cartoons.  There was also a Sports room that only plays professional games - so, if you don't want to miss the Charger game, this is your place.

*The buffet.  Don't even get me started.  There's a salad bar with a great selection of toppings, fresh pasta salads, huge homemade breadsticks, etc.  There's a pasta bar with tons of fresh pasta and sauces, baked potatoes with the fixings and a a couple soup selections.  There's the pizza bar with a million different kinds of pizza.  For anyone that's ever been to a pizza buffet - I'm not talking CiCi's pizza, folks.  This was tasty pizza - in any flavor you can think of - Pesto, Margherita, Alfredo, Veggie, Nacho, Spicy Peanut, and all the norms.  There was a dessert bar - an ice cream machine with a multitude of toppings, cookies, brownies, cheesecake bites, etc.  The buffet included drinks - soda, tea, and even a cappuccino machine with at least 5 different flavors.  Let's just say, the food was impressive.  

*The system.  There are no tokens to carry around, just a card that you swipe for each ride/game.  Easy enough.  Also, no tickets.  The card calculates how many tickets you earn and when you're finished, you take the card to the prize counter to pick your prize.

*The price.  Some people may put this under the cons.  I do not.  Though it is pricier than CEC or PPP, it's worth it for the buffet alone.  Prices are different, depending on the time of day you go.  If you go in the afternoon, adults are $9.49 and kids are $4.49.  Here's the kicker - You can get a hand stamp when you leave.  IF you have a hand stamp, you can get back in all day.  Yes, you heard me.  Have your go at the buffet again.  Two meals for the price of one.  I'm all about value.


Did I mention that since we were a group, the kids got to make their own pizza and tour the kitchen.  Awesome.  They loved this and made the experience really special for them.  All of this to say, John's INcredible PIzza Co, you are indeed incredible.  We will be gracing you with our presence again soon.  Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza - okay, maybe we will be back for birthday parties because you are more affordable in that respect, but in terms of competition - you're getting your butts kicked.  


Ms. Jennifer took this in the classroom before we left.  They were excited. 
I've said it a thousand times, I'll say it again.  They are BEST friends. 
their masterpieces. 
so happy about the ice cream bar. 


Eli's pizza making skills. 
Silas' pizza making skills. 
perhaps the BEST part about field trips?  They're totally exhausted :)


While I'm blogging, I have a couple random things on my mind.


First, haircuts.  I have a love/hate relationship with haircuts.  They are totally necessary, leaving my hair looking healthier and fuller, and giving me that pick me up that I need.  BUT, even if it's a great cut, I never like it at first.  I mourn the loss of the length and it seems to fix completely different.  Even the slightest trim makes it feel so short.  I hate the first week of a new cut, where you're readjusting.  Dusty has always told me after I cut his hair, "I'll like it in a week."  This used to bother me, like "What do you mean, you'll like it in a week.  If I do say so myself, that's one darn good haircut."  But, I really do get it.  Coming off a fresh trim, I'm annoyed with my hair right now.  I'll love it in a week.


Second, my workouts.  I've felt in a rut lately.  Not because I'm not working out - I am.  I'm too crazy obsessed with working out that I do so on vacation, days that I travel and even when we stay at a hotel to go to Disneyland.  I know not everyone gets that, but it's just part of my routine.  It's a lifestyle, like eating healthy consistently versus crash dieting all the time.  I'd rather invest time everyday to stay in shape, than be spontaneous about it and fluctuate my weight 5-10 pounds in either direction.  In January, I chose to stop running to do the Insanity workout.  I love it, but it's getting old.  I know every workout inside and out, so it's not a challenge anymore.  I'd love to run again, but I simply cannot push those boys in the stroller anymore up and down the hills at Lake Murray.  So, that leaves me feeling like I'm just going through the motions, lacking a challenge.  


I told Dusty yesterday that I needed a challenge.  I needed to be inspired.  The boys were having a sleepover with their cousins, so I told him I wanted to run with him in the morning.  He planned to run 10 miles.  I am obviously in shape, but that's a pretty cocky thing to believe that I can just up and run that far without having really run in 7 months.  But, I set my mind to it, knowing that running is mostly a mental game if you're in decent enough shape.  My jogging teacher in college said that anyone should be able to run 3 miles.  I'm not sure if that's true, but that was her rule of thought.  Running long distances is about putting one foot in front of the other and not letting your brain shut off.  It's about not stopping because you're bored.  If you turn your focus off for a moment, you may find your feet stopping or your mind rationalizing why you should stop.  I knew I would have to be focused.


We left the house at 6:30 a.m. and we ran.  I made sure I had a good playlist of upbeat music before I started and I turned it all the way up.  I was feeling really great until mile 8, where my feet were beginning to bother me.  I knew I was getting a blister and my legs and hips were tightening, which is not surprising at all.  I knew if I stopped for even two seconds, I would not be able to begin again.  I'm glad to say that I finished.  I would have liked to have accomplished a slightly better time, but still -  I needed that.  I'm desperate to begin running more and will probably work it into my schedule when Silas begins Kindergarten next month.  I think I'm also going to look into getting Asylum, the workout that follows Insanity.  It just may be the inspiration I need.  And, the name totally fits with my whole workout regime --- crazy!  If I keep pulling stunts like today, I may need to be committed :)

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