Tuesday, February 19, 2008

GRANDMA'S JOY


Our younger granddaughter, Oksana, will turn 13 tomorrow, February 20th. Since her birthday fell on Wednesday she celebrated with her friends last week-end. She had a slumber party and then I picked her & her 4 friends and took them to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch and then cheesecake for dessert!!!


The Cheesecake Factory opened in Tulsa just before Christmas and is "The In Place" to go at the moment. I had told Oksana I would take her & her friends there to celebrate. She was thrilled with that idea.

Here is the picture her Dad took of me and the girls when I picked them up at 11:30 Saturday morning.

(Back Row) Alicia, Lauren, & me (Front Row) Amanda, Oksana & Krystal

Oksana and Amanda sitting in the front seat with me on our way. We did not get a picture of the 3 in the back seat.



Oksana took this shot of them in the entrance area to the restaurant as I was parking the car.



The restaurant is very fancy. I wanted to get a picture of the outside but it was raining so didn't. Here is one shot of part of the interior from our booth.

Another angle of the interior from our booth.



Alicia, Amada & the honoree, Oksana

The food is not only delicious but presented beautifully. Alicia's hamburger. This girl orders hamburger no matter where she is! The menu is a 19 page book!!!! AND, there are 30 different flavors of cheesecake!!!

This is a 4 Cheese Pasta dish that both Lauren & Krystal had.


This is my BLT salad. A full head of lettuce. I almost fainted when they brought it out. Needless to say, 1/2 of it went home with me in a box. It was delicious. It not only had bacon & tomato but eggs, blue cheese and nuts and served with a wonderful blue cheese dressing. Yummy!!!


This is Oksana's Chicken Fetticini.


Amanda's Orange Chicken.


A serious moment of Krystal & Lauren.


Amanda taking a picture with her telephone of Oksana's Chocolate Mud Pie Cheesecake with her birthday candle in it.

The wait staff singing Happy Birthday to her. Our waiter, Chuck, is the one on the left. He was great and wonderful and so patient and caring with the girls.


Oksana's birthday plate after 1/2 of it has been devoured. We ordered different flavors and then shared in sampling all. It truly is devine Cheesecake.


Here are the girls as we left the restaurant. You can see they are ALL carrying their "doggie box" bags, except Amada. We also had a "doggie box" of left over cheesecake. They do like to pose!!!!


It was not only a fun time for these 5 girls but Grandma throughly enjoyed it and them. These 5 girls are all delightful , very intelligent and turning into delightful young women. I am VERY proud of not only my granddaughter, but her choice of friends.


One of my very first posts on this blog was about taking the girls on another occasion in my '93 Caddy "Limo". Click here if you'd like to read about that Very Special Occasion.

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29 comments:

Susie said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful granddaughter. It looks like such a fun outing! We've only been to a Cheesecake Factory once (in San Diego) but enjoyed it so much. The portions were huge (and so delicious)
xo

Barb said...

Aren't grandchildren wonderful. How nice of you to treat them to such a special place.

What cute girls. Thanks for the pics.

While living in Oklahoma I would often be in Tulsa. Wish the Cheesecake Factory had been there then.

Susan Skitt said...

Oh Susan what a wonderful fun Grandma you are. Your granddaughter and her friends are blessed to have you in their lives. I love the Cheesecake factory too. Yummy food and the cheesecake? There's nothing like it, thick and rich and oh my, now I'm sounding like an advertisement :)

A Captured Reflection said...

Wow this post made me hungry. These cheesecake factories sound too good :-) Happy Birthday to your gorgeous granddaughter and wonderful you taking all the girls for this great outing! February is the month for birthday's - my oldest - son Joe, turns 7 on February 21st.

The Olson's: said...

Susan,
The food looks great (except for the blue cheese part - not my taste!). I've never been to a Cheesecake Factory but now I'm curious to find out if there is one in our area! I've only just started appreciating cheesecake!

What a fun time you had with your granddaughter and her friends! Such a treasured time!
~ Leanne

Momma Roar said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday Oksana! A teenager - alright!!

Susan, its looks like the girls all had a wonderful time with you as well - what a great treat for all of them! :-D

There is a Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore, but the one time we were there, it was too long a wait, so we got cheesecake to go and ate it on the way to see a Baltimore Ravens game!! YUMMY! Those meals all look delicious too - making me hungry!

Short Stop said...

The Cheesecake Factory is one of my all-time favorite places to eat! I LOVE the food there. And, the portions, they're HUGE! Jason and I will split a meal sometimes because it's just SO much food.

I remember with fondness the times I spent with my grandmother. And, my friends all loved her because of her kind heart and fun spirit.

I bet Oksana and her friends feel just the same about you! :)

Tracy said...

Looks like a fun day! Happy Birthday to Oksana!

j said...

HAH! The last photo was so great - that is what my kids do ALL the time - what is up with that pose?

My birthday is in April Susan, and I love LoVe LOVE the Cheesecake Factory. Will you be in Alabama around the 17th? You are welcome to treat me too! LOL Jennifer

JEWELGIRL said...

Cheesecake Factory!? Oh my another
place I've never heard of but definitely want to go to. This
is really a neat idea, taking your
grandaughter plus friends out.
My daughter + her friends would
think this is fun and grown up.
Happy 13th (TEEN)Birthday to your grandaughter!!!

Anonymous said...

I remember that first post about the Caddie :)

My birthday is coming. If I come visit you will you take me for cheesecake. We've only been to the Cheesecake Factory in Dallas. We sure would have fun.

Happy birthday to you precious girl. I know how much you love her.

Bobbi said...

You are the "coolest" grandma in the world!!! Can we adopt you? My dh's parents stink as grandparents...my kids don't even claim them as family. (but then again neither do I and dh only does cause they are...)
blessings!
Bobbi

Dawn said...

Okay, I gained 5 pounds just looking at the pictures! We went to the one in downtown Denver for our anniversary and you're right - HUGE menu! But ours isn't nearly so fancy.

Bobbi said...

ALCC...Abundant Life Christian Center...Pastor Walter Hallam Click on the ALCC and it will tek you to the site.

Bobbi said...

It was Pastor's teaching that taught us to come up higher. ALCC still has a very very special palce in our hearts. Pastor is our spiritual daddy. We love him and his family dearly and look forward to going home every chance we get.
Blessings!
Bobbi

Kristie said...

Lucky granddaughter and I am sure you felt lucky to spen the day with your beautiful granddaughter and her friends. What a blessing to know that she has chosen good friends that is so important.

Anonymous said...

You are the bestest grandmother! I took Bailey there for cheesecake for his 14th birthday Feb. 7. The cheesecake is so wonderful! Now I'm hungry looking at all that food!

KarenW said...

Happy birthday to Oksana! I was given a gift card to the Cheesecake factory and I haven't gone yet. That food looks great! I'll have to try it out.

... said...

your cheesecake factory looks a lot like ours. it's one of my favorite restaurants. isn't that menu crazy!? but yummy food.

how great it is to see a teenage girl with her friends AND her grandma. and a grandma who wants to be aroud 5 teenage girls. it makes my heart smile.

and happy birthday oksana!

Betty said...

How sweet of you to take your granddaughter out for a fun time for her birthday. I enjoyed looking at the picture you posted. Looks like a good time for all.

Nadine said...

Happy Birthday to your granddaughter. She and her friends look like they had a good time. What good looking food. Yummy cheesecake...one of my favorites.

Anonymous said...

Susan,

You look so cute in there. Just one of the girls, smiling from ear to ear :).

Love the Cheesecake Factory. there is one where my daughter lives. Mmmmmm.

pearlie said...

Oh .. my .. goodness .. Feb 20 is my son's birthday!!!!! He is turning 10 today :) We have planned dinner tonight with the uncle and auntie (aka my bro and my sis in law) and the grandparents.

Happy Birthday Oksana!!!

Anonymous said...

awww what a great grandma you are! I wish mine would have wanted to do something like that! i'm also wishing we had a cheesecake factory here! yummmmyyy

Barbara said...

The Chicken Fetuccini would have been my choice from that selection.
We are always amazed over here that you take food home in the US.

Susan the photo of y ou in the first picture would be good on your profile.

Tammy said...

A Happy birthday to your youngest granddaughter!
They look like they are having so much fun!
I went to the Cheesecake Factory out here when it first opened for my birthday two years ago, too!

concerned parent said...

What a great day you all had!! There is just so much energy in teenage girls it becomes contagious and looks as if everyone loved it.

P.S. I have not been the the Cheesecake Factory in years your making me hungry.

Mary@notbefore7 said...

What a special celebrations! I love that place - I like the Orange Chicken!

That salad looks amazing! Salads are my favorite foods.

Happy Birthday to your beautiful granddaughter!

Peculiar Blogs said...

What a sweet time!!