WallyBall BonAmie

D&T

Date #44

We got a last minute invite to go join a group of friends for Wallyball and we JUMPED on that!  (thanks to the in-laws for being so available to babysit!).  We had a BLAST with 3 other couples we had really never hung out with before . . . but we love making new friends.  Had dinner at Cafe Paesan after (the italian version of Cafe Rio) and we really like eating there!   I am failing in the picture taking category, but its the date that counts.  :)

Costume Party

M&R
Date #32
Costume Party

Hey! It's true. We are still alive and it seems as though we have completely and utterly failed our goal of one date night a week for a year. [head hung in shame]

I've learned a couple of things. It turns out that having a husband who works 60+ very inconsistent hours each week is not very conducive to planning date nights. You know what else, we are learning that without grandparents around, ya just gotta bite the bullet and pay for a babysitter. Otherwise friends and neighbors are going to grow weary of babysitting trades and favors. I don't want to be that friend that people avoid because they are afraid of what is going to be asked of them. As cheapskate as this might make me sound, it's hard to cough up babysitting money on top of any costs for a date, but, I think it's just time. It definitely is more convenient having the babysitter come to you though.

Anyway!! This dating thing has turned out to be more challenging than I thought. But, we will never ever give up! So here I am, with what should be Date #43, but instead it's Date #32.

We received an invitation to a Halloween costume party. We were supposed to go as characters from a book called Fablehaven, which I know nothing about. So I Wikipedia'd it (didn't you know that's a verb?) and found some characters to imitate. Hubby and I aren't crazy about costumes, but we threw something together. I made some cat ears and a tail (for $1.71 thank you very much!) and went as a black cat. Hubby was "the Grey Assassin".

The party was so so fun!! We only knew the hosts, but they know how to choose a good crowd, because we didn't feel awkward the whole time. The company was fantastic, and hilarious, and they had plenty of games and food to keep us busy and entertained the entire time.

There was a best costume competition and we obviously didn't come close. Maybe next year!

YEE- HAW

D&T

Date #37

It was time for a movie night . . . we had a few options, but we were both tired and in the mood for some entertainment that did not require any effort on our part.  Sort of pathetic, but very true. :)  We went to our favorite cheap theatre and saw COWBOYS and ALIENS.  Interesting flick.  I liked it - entertaining enough.  D LOVED it - very much a manly movie. 

Happy 8 years!!

B+C

Date # 21

HP and Butterbeer, in a fort

We celebrated our 8 year anniversary on Monday!

We've never done anything huge for our anniversaries. Lack of money and grandparents who live nearby, keeps us from doing anything too extravagant. This year we made a fort in our living room, got a babysitter, and made dinner together.

Since we're still reading Harry Potter together, we decided to watch The Goblet of Fire in our fort and make a Harry Potter-ish dinner. We made a meat pie that turned out to be really delicious. We also tried our hand at making BUTTERBEER! Yum! recipe here.

We had a nice, relaxing night together before B and our boys went out of town, the next day. It was nice to have a home date where our kids weren't sleeping in the other room. We had the house all to ourselves. No stress. A great way to celebrate 8 years married to my love. It was perfect.

A Late Night Movie

M&R
Date #30
Late Night Movie

During a crazy weekend, Hubby and I were lucky enough to steal away a few hours to catch a late night movie. We decided to jump on the Thor bandwagon. We loved it. It was much more funny and lighthearted than I thought it would be. Besides the movie, it was nice to just sit next to each other and relax for a couple of hours.

This summer has been so so fun, but I think we are feeling ready to be back in a routine, especially with the kids. Can we really be the nearing the end of August?? And did we really mess up our "one date night a week" track record? Yes! Darn it! I'm afraid so.

We're still trying though. How is everybody else doing? I think we need to have a motivational group date to get us all back on track. :)

Can't wait to see more posts on what everybody has been up to!

Stretching the Jazz

J+D

Date #28

As I've said, July has been hard for dating...

But I bought a great GROUPON to the Jazz Fest up in Salt Lake, so instead of begging someone to take our kids, I made the call and decided that the cultural experience (plus the awesome jazz music---my FAVE) would do the kids some good....even though I bought the tickets hoping to have it be just for me and D to use together.

Well, here's our "JUST HIM AND ME" picture even though our kids were with us. The music was A.W.E.S.O.M.E as I had expected and the kids LOVED it too, which I hadn't expected. D was a little annoyed that we brought the kids, but oh well.

-I- had a great time. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and make yourself LOVE where you are even if you don't LOVE where you are.

And anywhere with D is a good place to be, so I loved the "date" even though it was a bit of a stretch for him. Sigh. Oh well.

Oreo of "Us Time" with Family Fun Filling

J + D

Date #25

Like an Oreo, this week started with a sweet cookie of alone time, then filled with a whole bunch of fun family events, followed with another sweet cookie of alone time.

(black & white picture=like an oreo--get it?!)

Let me explain:

First Cookie of alone time:

Last weekend we were blessed to head down south to attend an ordinance the Manti LDS Temple. D's little brother graciously watched our kiddos for 2 1/2 hours while we were inside such a magnificent building as the Manti Temple.

Filling: Since it was Strawberry Days in our town, we took the kids to the Parade of Homes one night, The Rodeo the next, to D&T's house to watch our favorite show the next, and to the Carnvial the next. All fabulously fun family activities.

Other Cookie:

Yesterday we then attended the Wedding of D's sister in the Mt. Timpanogas temple. His Aunts watched our boys and for an hour we sat hand in hand (I cried a bunch) and listened to the sweetest man give the sweetest couple the sweetest and most thoughtful advice for married couples. It was incredible.

Here are a few of the points he touched on:

Marriage should be focused on:

SACRIFICE--we need to make sure we are ALWAYS sacrificing for our spouses. ALWAYS.

OBEDIENCE--healthy & successful couples don't try to mimic the families they came from, but decide together how they are going to run their home. Then, by obedience to the principles of the gospel and to the rules of the house you both agree on, the household is a peaceful, productive place.

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST--as long as we pray & play together, keep quiet & controlled voices in our conversations and home, and maintain the standards of the gospel in our home, we'll have successful marriages

CHASTITY--we can love, respect, and feel close to our friends but we need to keep the love we have with our spouses sacred and special and eternally focused.

GENEROSITY--be generous in all you do as often as you can be...with your time, your efforts, your love, your patience, your talents, your possessions, etc. because we can never outgive God and we all should do our best to be like Him. And when we give of ourselves, we are blessed beyond measure.

Though we had a really busy week of loud, crazy fun events to go to as a family, I'm so grateful I got to have TWO temple dates with my hubb in one week to be alone in such quiet, peaceful settings. Being in the temple with my hubby is such an honor and a privilege.

Picnic in the Park

B+C

Date #16

Picnic and a movie

B's birthday is on Monday and, since Father's Day is the day before, and he will be working ON his birthday and the day AFTER, I figured the best time to celebrate would be the Friday BEFORE.

I had plans for something, but B thought we'd be too rushed, since it was in Salt Lake and we have a nursing baby who would need mama home on time, so I'm storing that idea away for a future date.

So, I just kept it simple and relaxed this year. I picked up some Kneaders (surprise, surprise! We really like Kneaders) and packed a bag with a blanket, a candle to 'set the mood' : ), some fun drinks, the laptop, and a redbox.

We ate our dinner in the shade of a huge tree, and watched our movie, snuggled up under a blanket.

I sang 'happy birthday' to my man and we shared a piece of burnt almond fudge cheesecake.

A beautiful night shared between us. I thought the date turned out perfectly. I love that man and I'm thankful I get to share every birthday of his with him, forever after.

Double Dating

D&T

Date #13 & #14

We did actually go out twice this week, babysitters and all for the kids.  I was only going to blog about one, but decided we went to the effort, we deserve the credit . . .  and I want to remember them both. 

First date night was a Passover Dinner that our church put on.  Not Jewish, but we respect their culture and it was interesting to learn about their biggest holiday of the year and how they celebrate, and how it relates to our celebration of Easter and our own religion (LDS).  D and I got all dressed up and sat at a beautifully decorated table with some friends in the ward and ate parsley dipped in salt (tears of slavery in Egypt) and horseradish (bitterness of slavery) and Mahtza (unleavened bread they took with them out of Egypt)  . . . along with some perfectly regular salad and chicken and rice and goodies for dessert.  It did make me realize that Easter should be MUCH more focused on the Savior and the Atonement  . . . we may start a fancy dinner tradition of our own to discuss the meaning of Easter and celebrating the Resurrection and what Christ did for us . . .  and less on the eggs and the bunny. 

The plan for the second date night was to sit through one of those Travel Group (NOT timeshare :) presentations to get free stuff. I am a sucker for free stuff and great at saying no to the sales pitch at the end (most of the time).  D does not love it, but he appeases me in going and we have had a handful of what could have been quite pricey date nights for free thanks to the free gifts just for listening.   However, as we were answering questions in the first 30 seconds of the presentation, and we discovered (to the absolute shock of the presenter guy - which was pretty funny) we are already members of the mass purchasing part of this particular travel/buying business (something D & I did when we were FIRST married and paid some one time fee for and often forget about) so we did NOT have to sit through the presentation.  The other couples in the room were pretty jealous and we got up and waved goodbye, cause most of them came just for the free gift too.  We got a mini pitch about how we can upgrade our services (NO THANKS for now) and still got the free stuff for our efforts to come.  AWESOME!!! 

We were so elated we were pretty giggly.  We had a little extra time so I made a return at a store on the way home and we were STARVING so we decided to find a place to eat.  We were searching for some options at the strip mall area we were in and we both saw it at the same time - FIVE GUYS Burgers and Fries!!!  Some people may think its gross - but its a favorite of D and I, and we both on the exact same page with our food cravings - SCORE (cause we all not that's just not always the case)!!  I love FIVE GUYS for the free toppings - I counted and put 9 (lettuce, tomato, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, bbq sauce, mustard, pickles, green pepper, jalapeno) on my burger.  D loves their burgers but I think he is hooked on the fries. 

Just a night full of unexpected bits of happiness!!!

Top o' the mornin' to ya!

B+C

Date #9

(Dinner and a movie with a twist)

Breakfast and a classic movie

For date #9, we dropped one kid at school, the other two at a friend's house,

and enjoyed a nice, quiet breakfast at Jamba Juice.

Fruit Toppers and a yummy Blueberry Streusel Muffin

Then we headed to the Scera Theatre, to see one of their 'CINEMA CLASSICS'.

We saw 'Walk, Don't Run', starring Carey Grant (his last film, 1966), for just $2 each, plus free popcorn.

SO CUTE!! First of all, we were the youngest ones there. We were surrounded on all sides, by 70-somethings. What a fun group! The women in the back were laughing so hard, they could hardly contain themselves.

But other than the atmosphere, the movie was so cute! I think there's something very refreshing about old movies. This was funny and romantic in a whole new way! A great alternative to dinner and a movie.

Make 'Em Laugh

M + R
Date #11
Wiseguys Comedy Club

I've never been to a comedy club before. This was new for us both. We got there and found our seats, ordered a little something to snack on during the show. There was a host, and middle act, and then the main comedian.

It was so so funny!!! I don't enjoy overly crude humor, so we got lucky and this comedian kept things pretty clean. Though Hubby and I didn't spend this whole date talking, it was good to try something new and LAUGH a ton. I love to hear my husband laugh. Really-watching him laugh is entertainment in itself. We both really had a good time and definitely plan on a repeat with this date.

After Wiseguys, we walked around Trolley Square. There are lots of dreamy stores, like Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, Restoration Hardware, and Williams & Sonoma. Then a stop in Whole Foods....and then back to reality and my poor screaming baby. She did not enjoy her first time away from her mama for more than 2 hours. We're going to have to work on that.

Shoot 'Em Up

D & T

Date #8

(Our Date #1 that is not recorded on this blog before we jumped on this bandwagon was

 3 days in Mesquite)

This week was a "Date for D" 

This week was a "Date for D".  My husband loves guns.  Owning guns, looking at guns, shooting guns, watching other people shoot guns, convincing people to own and shoot guns.  If its gun related, he probably likes it (it the safest, non-violent ways, that is).  He has been wanting to take me shooting for awhile, so we loaded up a old toilet and fridge along with the arsenal of guns and explosives and went out to the desert with some family/friends.   D is awesome and very serious about his shooting.  I just think it looks pretty cool to hold the gun and shoot it (safely) without worrying too  much about the accuracy of the shot. 

Overall, lots of fun.  Next date night we might have to go to a chick flick or shopping to balance us out. :)