Once kids enter the picture, is it still possible to have fun?

This  question has been running through my mind today because:

1. My friend Kate sent me this picture from a recent gathering of friends:

That field of babies is so adorable, I can’t stand it. But–there I am, looking the picture of poise as my son climbs on me and the other one crawls away. Most importantly…the glass of wine in the upper right hand corner is…just…out…of…reach. The riddle: if you need to keep the wine glass at a safe distance from the children, and you must be near the children at all times, how can you, in fact, enjoy a glass of wine? Answer: take your wine to the bathroom and chug.

2. One of my favorite bloggers, Stark Raving Mad Mommy, wrote an excellent post on going to Olive Garden with her kids. Dinner with the kids can be so stressful. For me, it goes something like this: Secure high chair. Throw out back while wrestling toddler in high chair. Gather all bottles, shakers and liquids in center of table out of child’s reach. Pick up menu thrown off floor. Get crayons. Sweat. Apologize to next table. Order drink. Sweat more. Look at veiled threat in toddler’s eyes as he holds fork above head, decide to skip dinner for yourself. Pick up pacifier off floor, re-insert into baby’s mouth without washing, hope nobody saw you do it. Sweat. Apologize to waitress. Order milk for kids, pray it comes in a styrofoam cup. Nurse baby under your baby burka, hope Kim Kardashian isn’t in restaurant to get disgusted and tweet about you. Sweat. Fish french fries out of water glasses. You didn’t order french fries. Where did they come from? You feel a dirty look burning a hole in your back. Flag down waitress, ask that all previously ordered food arrive at the table in a doggy bag. Order husband out of restaurant with both kids. Sit at table by  yourself and wait to pay bill. Take your beer to the bathroom and chug.

3. The funniest video blogger ever, The Mompetition, posted a video called “Moms Have Cooties” about being left out by friends for girls’ nights and getaway weekends because you have kids. It’s true, something inside of you becomes very uncool once you have a child. So what should you do the next time you’re at home watching White Collar and you log on to Facebook only to find out all of your friends are at a karaoke bar without you? Pour yourself a nice vodka and Fruitables juice box cocktail (an ad hoc MOM fave), lock yourself in the bathroom and chug.

Assuming that beer helmets are hard to find and a bit too showy, how can we have fun with babies? I think the key is to find people who have the same low expectations of what makes a fun evening. Aim too high (say, brunch at a bistro, a rock show in Williamsburg or a yoga retreat), and prepare to get sad, mad, hungry and thirsty. Aim too low, and all of the sudden you’re toasting your bathroom tile with 3 day old red wine.

For me, the best solution to date has been to order pizza, get beer, and invite people over in the afternoon between 4-7. No babysitter required and you conquer dinner time while having fun with your friends (the friends you have left.) But this year, I’m kind of thinking I need to try something new. I need ideas!

What about you? What’s your idea of a happy medium somewhere in between disco nights and french fry fishing?