Email from Lilli Lee regarding our dinner last night -

So, Ben and I were in Malibu with the boys last night following one of Ben's Malibu real estate meetings, and we called our friend Erin for a restaurant recommendation as to where we should take them to dinner. She suggested a little local bistro in Malibu -  she said: Italian, nice but not TOO nice, in other words very family friendly.  Spencer hadn't slept all day and Mason was uncharacteristically crabby. We all were looking dirty and shabby. We walked in and the restaurant was very small and beautiful and we could immediately tell that we'd be no match for it. In any case, they sat us in the corner and the boys were banging their forks on their plates and I was edgy, telling them to stop and this was a fancy restaurant and they couldn't be loud, couldn't make noise, nag nag nag. I think I threatened to leave with them right then and there at least twice. Then, much to my relief, I saw a couple with a baby come in. Thank God- at least the pressure came off because of  course a baby brought more risk of being loud than my two angels. If anyone would get the stink eye, now at least it would be that family and not us.  I looked at them again with greatful relief as they took the other table right next to us- clearly this restaurant's no man's land for parents ignorant enough to dine upscale with their young children. Much to my surprise- the mother, in a casual pony tail, toting a Dora backpack and a few toys to keep her young toddler busy... Julia Roberts. She was there with her husband and one of their three kids, Henry.

Now if any of you have ever seen Spencer when he gets near a baby... you know that he is quickly and immediately enamored. It's really a sight to behold. He absolutely and unabashedly loves babies. So, not long after they sat down, you can imagine how pleased Spencer was to visit their table. I kept whispering to him to come back, let the baby eat, etc. but he was unmoved. All he wanted was to get to that baby. Of course Mason, ever the dutiful big brother, assured me that he'd get Spencer back so now the two of them were over at the Roberts/Moder dinner table, chatting and flirting and having a grand old time. Ben and I took turns apologizing to them but of course they were extremely generous with the situation, saying it was fine and they were OK with it "SO OK," said Julia. Ben mentioned to them that we were going to have a new baby in our family and her eyes lit up saying how great it was to have 3. I joked with her that "3 is the new 2," which she lauged at and then added, "3 is the new black, ha ha." The whole time during our exchange Spencer was just nuzzling into their boy Henry and vice versa. It was a love fest. When we finally lured our boys back to the table for dessert, their son said, "goodbye, friend." to Mason. A few minutes later they paid their bill and left but not before turning to us to wish us luck for the new baby and to say goodnight to the boys.

When we got in our car to leave (after a wave goodbye in the parking lot to our new best friends driving away in their ecofriendly prius), we tried to explain to Mason how cool it was that we just hung out with the biggest movie star in the world and how he/Spencer were so cute with their son. He was pretty unfazed. "She's bigger than Dora!" we said. "What about Obama?" he asked. "Not quite as big as him, but pretty close." "Mom, when can we see Obama perform?" he asked.

Anyway-- the food was delicious, the company even better and we had a fabulous Malibu evening. And yes, she looked beautiful and was extremely nice to the chef who came out to greet her and another diner who said hello, asking how old her kids were (I interjected that 2 of the 3 were mine).
Fun night!