Top of the world

Last weekend I took Noah to a "restaurant in the clouds".  After Mandy and I came back from our snowshoe trip, I spent a lot of time catching up at work - going in early, leaving late - and she mentioned to me that he had really been missing me all week.  So after attending a baptism on Sunday, I decided to give him some one-on-one time.  Trying to think of something fun to do, I asked him if he wanted to go to a restaurant in the sky.  His first question was, "Is it in the clouds?" I told him it was.  He eagerly said yes.

We headed down to the Hyatt a little before 4:00. I didn't realize the restaurant didn't open until 5:00, so that gave us an hour to kill.  The skywalk system down there links the Hyatt hotel to Crown Center and to Union Station, so it was easy to wander around without him getting too impatient.  It may have been that the Hyatt was hosting a convention called Naka-Con, whose attendees struck us both as a little (ok, a lot) odd, or it may have been that he just seems more attentive when one on one, but he was happy to stick close to me, and wanted to hold my hand as we walked and talked.

We took the skywalk over to the toy store in Crown Center first, and he played a while with the various unique toys they have on display. After that, we visited the "Under the Sea" exhibit, an underwater-themed play area.  We then walked over to the Crown Center hotel itself, and rode the glass elevators to the top. As we went, I pointed out the restaurant we were headed to, another 20 or so stories higher.  We sat around out in front, across the street from the fountains he and Elliot played in so much last summer.  Along the way we talked about nothing in particular - his school, his mom, the planets, his brother and other things important in a 4 year-old's life.

As it neared 5:00, we headed back to the Hyatt and rode the elevator to the top. We were still three minutes early, so we had to stop on the 40th floor for a few minutes, where we took in the city.  Noah was duly impressed, and not nearly as nervous as I was about walking right up to the glass window.

A few minutes later, we were seated in the lounge of Skies restaurant at a table right next to the windows.  The restaurant not only has a great view from its high vantage point, but it also rotates 360 degrees over the course of an hour, allowing you to see the entire city.  Noah was sort of speechless for a while, which is unusual for him, but then he started peppering me with questions as I explained all the things he was looking at.  He saw trains, people playing in the parks, tv towers, and people in the office buildings next door among other things.

I ordered him a raspberry lemonade to get started, and after they brought it out, he didn't speak much until it was gone. I have to admit, I tried it and it was damn good. I didn't see much on the menu that he would probably like, so I ordered some french fries and some sort of chicken appetizer.  Noah took one bite of the fancy cumin-flavored ketchup that came with the "truffle fries", and gave the waitress a weird look that probably made her think he was getting ready to spit it out.  He may have been contemplating it.  She quickly offered to bring him regular ketchup.

Noah must have asked me a thousand questions about different things - the restaurant, how it moved, what we were looking at, etc - and I dutifully answered each one.  It was a fairly quiet place, but Noah doesn't have a "low" volume setting, and I could hear the couple next to us laughing once in a while at some of his questions.  After our appetizers, we split a piece of cheesecake as we watched the sun go down.   After it was done, we sat there for a few minutes and then he said quietly, "I love you, dad." It was one of those moments that make having kids worth everything you've ever had.  He then followed that endearing moment by saying (loudly), "Pay the bill and let's get out of here."  He doesn't like waiting for the check any more than I do, apparently.

We finally got it paid, and I apologized to the couple next to us for interrupting their dinner as we left. The lady said, with real enthusiasm, "No, I loved it, I loved listening to him."  We rode the elevator down and walked through the lobby.  As we were walking through the parking garage towards the car, Noah said, "I had a really fun time with you."

I'm not sure when children begin to retain specific memories - I know it varies. But when I have days like this, when being a dad is so enjoyable and easy, I like to think that he'll remember activities like this as fondly as I know I will.  These days also help remind me that with the smallest investments of time, you can really reach your kids and they can reach you.  Children are naturally curious and in awe of a lot of things that adults find ordinary, and it's fun to rediscover being a child again when you're with them.  In case you don't end up remembering it someday, I had a really fun time too, Noah.

Looking at the traffic on Grand St from the skwalk.

Hanging out near the  some of the fountains in front of Crown Center

Playing with robot spiders in the toy store.

A sign from in front of one of the Hyatt ballrooms - get your "Ninja Weapons of Death" and your "Lolita Tea Party" all in one place. Almost all of the attendees were wearing costumes of some sort, many having to do with animals.  It was a little bizarre.

Waiting for Skies to open, looking north into downtown KC from the 40th floor.

Going, going, gone.  The raspberry lemonade was a big hit. He wanted to know if we could make it at home.

Children's Mercy Hospital.  I pointed out that his mom worked there, and that his brother stayed there when he was sick.  He was really hoping to see the helicopter on the roof fly away.

Checking out the city.

Our fancy candlelight dinner - essentially french fries and chicken pita, at twice the price.  

Watching the sun set

Heading back down.