shopping

B+C

Date #4

Cheesecake Factory and shopping at City Creek Center

I love to shop.

This is pretty close to a dream date for me. No kids. Just me and him. A beautiful mall, new stores to discover, and good food.

We went straight to the Cheesecake Factory when we got there and took our time eating some delicious food. Then we went to a couple stores. It's crazy how fast time flies by when you're shopping. There were at least 5 other stores I wanted to look at but the mall was closing so we had to go home. I DID get a pair of nude heels and a pretty blouse. And the highlight for me was probably that B bought a couple things for himself. He's not much of a shopper, and couldn't care less about 'style', so this was big for him. We brought our camera and then left it in the car because we didn't want to carry it. : (

I got these heels (LOVE them) and this top and B got these pants in brown and a few t-shirts.

May the odds be ever in your favor

B+C

Date #3

quickie movie

B and I wanted to see The Hunger Games, so we offered our neighbors a babysitting swap. We did it all in one day. Things never seem to go quite as planned for us. Something usually gets in the way. B went shooting down in Rocky Ridge with some buddies in the morning and was supposed to get back by one. The plan was for us to catch the 1:40 showing and then our friends would go to the 6:00 show. Well, B's friend got a flat tire on the way home, throwing everything off, and the time kept getting pushed back an hour, then another half hour, then another half hour. . . .

He ended up getting home at 4:00!! (Luckily our friends were flexible.) I had a change of clothes ready for him, so he changed in the car while I booked it to the theatre for the 3:50 show, which we were a little late to. We watched the movie and booked it home so our friends could make it to the 7:00 show and B could get to a prior engagement (which he was nearly an hour late to. oops!)

Things don't always go as planned, but we made the best of it. We thought the movie was great and stayed very true to the book. Even though it was a bit (VERY) rushed, we enjoyed our little time in the theater together.

hole in one

B+C

Date #2

dinner and golfing

For date number 2, the husband and I decided to go to Trafalga for some miniature golfing and games. We started the night with dinner at Kneaders. (I don't think you can ever go wrong with Kneaders.) Then we headed to Trafalga. I'm a baby when the weather is one degree colder than 76, so we played indoors.

I had never been there before and wish we had brought the camera in because it was all lit up with black lights (reminded me of our Halloween party a couple years ago). After our game, (which I won! yea! that never happens.) we tried playing a few games but they kept eating our tokens. We ended up giving the rest of our tokens, and our tickets, to a very excited little boy. It was a really fun night!! We hadn't been on a date in awhile and I was in major NEED of some alone time. It was just perfect.

J + D

Date #3

At Home Date:

Movie Night

After a super-fun evening with the kiddos at a very parent-friendly kiddo birthday party, we put the kids to bed, got in our jammies, watched the snow fall for a few minutes, and then snuggled up to this movie:

CRAZY STUPID LOVE

We didn't know anything about it, nor did we expect much.

BUT WE LOVED IT!

(the trailer doesn't do it justice)

I'm not even hesitant to say that I think I'm going to buy it.

It was hilarious and sweet and thoughtful and totally great.

Go see it with your honey! 

GAME NIGHT

D + T (Date #   )

C + B (Date #   )

J + D (2012 Date #2)

Game Night

D and I have decided to revamp out date nights this year by organizing them a little differently.  We've decided that one week a month will be for a temple date night (without kids), one for a game night with friends (where kids are invited--since they tend to play the games with us anyway--and we can still have adult time), one for an alone date (going out without kiddos) and one that's either a home-date or a family date.

For us, that's easier because

3 of 4 dates = Potentially FREE

2 of 4 dates = Don't need babysitters

2 or 3 of 4 dates = Just US alone still

2 of 4 dates = Potentially at home

2 of 4 dates = Potentially with friends

We figured by trying it this way, we'd be more apt to stay on the ball without feeling guilty about leaving the kids (which I realize we shouldn't feel that way, but we often do), spending the money, or having to trade/find babysitters so often.  

We'll see how it works out for us as we go along...

Anyway, our date night was super fun!

We had D&T and C&B over for a game called QUIDDLER, a big bowl of popcorn, a pan of brownies, a package of oreos, and some other assorted fingerfoods.

We laughed, we had a great time, we didn't worry about getting back to the kids, and best of all,

I won the game. :)

Laughing.

Here we ladies are--including C's darling baby girl P.

Such a great crowd!

Thanks again for coming!

Dinner with the Big Guys

J + D

2012 Date #1

Tonight we were invited to a dinner party with the Executive Leadership Group of our church

and though we were a little nervous about going

(mostly because we didn't know who would be there nor what we'd talk about with whomever was there)

it ended up being a pleasant evening.

We sat with a handful of couples who are mostly our parents' ages or older

and had a delightful time hearing everyone's stories of how they met their spouse and

how it all lead up to their marriage.

We laughed and were pleased to feel comfortable afterall.

We were served HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS and played a few games

with everyone afterward.

The one thing we took from this date was that you can't always assume

fun can only be had with those you feel most comfortable with.

It was a great learning experience

and a great evening for us both!

J + D Playing CatchUp

J + D

Dates 38-47ish

First off, its been a whole year since we started "dating" regularly again.

I must say that it has been an AWESOME and CRAZY and BUSY year for us....

So first, here's a quick anniversary movie I made for the hubb...

We've had several dates that I haven't posted on here for 2 reasons

1..repeats of things we have already done

2..having had the time to sit down and punch it out

So here I am...at the start of a new year:

Dates 38-42 I'll give credit to at-home movie watching.

For about 8 weeks I was INCREDIBLY sick

(thank you non-credited-due-to-not-being-appropriate-on-this-blog babymaking dates :))

so we (I) spent a lot of time on the couch

watching movies

And D would often lay beside me so sweetly.

I wish I could say that at I was this perky and happy....

but I'm still counting them as dates...

Next on the list are our 3 mega fun Christmas parties we were able to attend without babies...
(Dates 43,44,45)

1: Our annual Christmas party that we throw for all of our bestest friends
(a total success--I didn't even feel sick)
2: My work's party at a fancy schmancy country club where we got all gussied up together for
dinner and a hilarous white elephant exchange
3: A fondu party where we nearly hit a deer and ate so much dippable food we came home nearly puking.
All were so fun to go to together.
I have the bestest dating partner. :)

Date 46
consisted of staying up SUPER late Christmas Eve and wrapping gifts together, placing them strategically under the Christmas Tree, and acting joyously like Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Why doesn't she have a NAME?
We were more excited about Christmas Morning than the kiddos were...
Being a parent at Christmas time is SO SO SO fun!

And then Date #47

 was saved for our Anniversary, just a few days after Christmas.

We always go to the temple on our Anniversary, so that's what we did again.

Its my favorite thing to do on our special day...

And then we got some take-out from one of our favorite places and hurried home to put the kiddos down to bed. so we could have the rest of the evening together.

We didn't make it to 52 dates this year, but 47ish isn't all that bad.

We've made a new goal to start up again FRESH and EXCITED for 2012 and 

we're excited that our first official date of 2012 is TONIGHT!!!

Yay for Dating!

End of Year Catch-up/Review

D&T

Dates #46 - 50

Things have been pretty crazy at our house - but I can't just bail and not finish out our 2011 date goals!!  Its been awhile, but here were our last dates of the year . . .

#46

D's parents wanted to have all the grown-ups together for a night, so they took all the kids and spouses out to Tucanos in Salt Lake.  With all the grand kids left at home . . . it was quite a treat for us adults to spend some uninterrupted time together.  It was a memorable dinner for D&I (and everyone else hopefully) because D&I got to announce our big news to the family!  D passed around his phone with a random picture of an ultrasound on it . . . it took a second, but everyone figured out our news . . . Baby #3!!  Also memorable to me . . . this was really my last normal evening for quite some time . . the next morning I woke up with full blown "Morning-but-really-ALL-DAY-sickness". 

#47

J&D threw their annual Christmas Party and its one of our favorite events of the holiday season!  We love feeling the Christmas Spirit with all our friends and having some GREAT laughs during the white elephant gift exchange! 

#48

D's work always throws an amazing Christmas Party.  Nice Dress, awesome food & entertainment - its something we look forward to every year!  This year was no different.  Held at Thanksgiving Point with a Movie Star theme . . . the Vegas entertainer (juggler/funny man) was hilarious!!!  Its always romantic to get dressed up for Dane to spend the evening with him!

#49
Taking from J&D - I am going to count our Christmas Eve as a date too.  It was super out of the ordinary cause we also stayed up super late (thanks to a good round of puking that made me feel much better) wrapping presents and getting the house ready for Christmas morning.  I love wrapping presents by the light of the Christmas tree and I was afraid I would have to lay on the couch and watch D do all the work.  I feel super blessed to feel well enough to be involved as we wrapped presents for our kids and families and listened to Christmas music.  Even Christmas morning was special as our kids slept in SUPER late, but D&I couldn't stay in bed so we got up and made muffins and put on the music again and had a little more time together before the kiddos woke up and we were able to see their little faces as they walked into the room.  I love Christmas!!

#50
As is tradition in D's family - we always see a Christmas movie . . . although this one was more a New Years movie cause I think we went on New Years Eve afternoon.  D's family LOVES movies so we try to go see some of the big ones (well at least one) together every year.  This years movie was SHERLOCK HOLMES.  We loved it!  It was fun to cuddle up with D (and eat popcorn nonstop to try and curb the sickness) and just be entertained for a couple hours.  I definitely recommend the movie . . . Robert Downy Jr. rocks!!

2011 has been AMAZING!  This dating goal has been incredible for me & D and our relationship . . . I hope the other couples feel that way too.  It was always well planned or super fancy or anything, but making sure to take time out for each other . . . and making it a habit . . . really strengthened our relationship.  We have more great memories of dates and laughs and just good times together this year than we have had in a long time!!  I have to thank J& D for their inspiration and including us in this dating group!  For us the timing has been perfect too - a year of incredible dating leading into a big year filled with change for us.  Nothing helps dealing with change better than the stronger, more deeper relationship that we have built this year.  Being pregnant and having a baby are LIFE CHANGERS, but we are ready to handle anything!  :)  I wish I could say 2012 would be just as good or better than 2011 for dating . . . but that's just not realistic.  Between the sickness & exhaustion of pregnancy and then the newborn in July . . . things will be more low key.  But we are SO PROUD of what we have done this year and will keep the spirit alive in a more low key way in 2012.  But watch out 2013 . . . we will be back!  :)  I will keep posting dates - especially the good ones - as they happen - but maybe not keep such great tabs on numbers & such - we shall see. 

Epitome of Romance

D&T

Date #45

I realize I may be stretching it just a bit . . . but I get to define what a date is right???  Our Thanksgiving Date was Thanksgiving morning at the Oborn family Turkey bowl!  At the family reunion in St. George for the long weekend I had written off a date for the week.  But the grandparents all offered to watch the littles while we played football in the morning.  I have not played in a Turkey Bowl since I had kids - so I was thrilled.  I am not great at football, but D&I love to play sports together and running around for a couple hours in the gorgeous St. George weather with him and our cousins that we love was plenty date like to me.  D & I were on opposite teams - and my team kicked trash.  :)  Just couldn't forget to document that. 

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.  :)

Costco Trip

D&T

Date #43

Admittedly, without my in laws being so incredible, I am not sure there is anyway we would be doing so great on our date night goal.  This mini date was very unplanned.  D&I (and the kids) went over to help them with a TV thing (just D was helping really) and we were supposed to be done quick cause the plan was family dinner at Costco before it closed.  Well the "quick fix" was taking much longer than planned - so my in-laws offered to keep the kiddos while D&I had some alone time at Costco and then meet at Shakeys pizza for dinner (then back to thier house to finish the fixing).   I LOVED that plan.  Although SHORT, any alone time with Dane is SWEET (not to mention Costco without the kids - SCORE).  And although it was a whole family dinner - have to put in a plug for Shakeys Pizza (by the AF Walmart - right next to the Petsmart).  Its really well priced and not at all bad for a pizza buffet.  There is a salad bar and the pizza was actually pretty delicious (probably the deep dish).  They also have pasta and yummy potato bites and stuff the kids LOVED. 

Trying New Thai

D&T

Date #42

We had a restaurant.com certificate to a Thai place in Sandy and decided to use it.  Dropped the kids off at D's sisters on the way up there.  Although - I forgot the gift certificate, so we had to turn around - and it took us over an hour to get to Bluffdale cause traffic was so bad.  Not a great start to our date . . .  but D was SUPER patient and once we were at the restaurant it was all okay.  We were starving and really enjoyed the food - as always - but tis not our favorite Thai place for sure.  Always fun to try something new!

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!

Down Time

B+C

Date #24

Dinner and Internet at home

J offered to babysit for us and we happily accepted! Thank you, J!!

Since we hadn't really thought about it ahead of time we just stayed home. I'm a little embarrassed by how many of our dates have taken place at home. I have a great time, anyway. I AM a home body. I just feel kind of lame doing the same thing each week. Please don't judge. At least we're trying! : )

aaaaaaanyway,

I had already planned for dinner at home, so I went ahead and made dinner for us and then we watched funny things on the internet and looked at art online.

B and I both have a need for a creative outlet, so we enjoy doing artsy things together.

We watched bad lip readings and died laughing, and then we checked out the cool hunter and dreamed about the day when we have a house to fill up with art. We loved the Cate Parr watercolors, Theo Altenberg's AH-mazing oil paintings, and the Francoise Neilly paintings. I guess we like a lot of color. There's some WAY cool stuff on this site (hence the title i guess). We could've spent hours looking. It's so amazing what people can think up and bring to life, and I absolutely LOVE that my hub and I share a passion for it.

SOFTBALL!

D&T

Date #41

D and I got invited to play in some tournament softball games.  We LOVE playing softball together but have hardly been able to play together since the kids came along (we switch off playing seasons so the other one can watch the kiddos - although D is nice and usually I get to play cause teams always need girls and softball is MY sport and he can do just about anything).   We were so excited to play together.  My In-laws were the babysitter and they decided to bring the kids to watch - and we loved the family cheerleaders.  Even though it ended up a family night activity, we still counted it as a date cause we just got to be together doing something we loved with no parental responsibility for an hour! 

Temple Night

D&T

Date # 40

This weeks date was Ward Temple Night!  We had lots of stuff come up that almost got in the way - but we were determined!  It was a great, calming date.  Although we don't actually spend much time TOGETHER :), it was fun to get dressed up for each other.

Wedding Dinner Dating

D & T

Date # 39

D's cousin is getting married this week so we were able to attend the wedding dinner up at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  Food was GREAT - the company was AWESOME - and the mood was so romantic in celebration of the upcoming wedding.  We LOVED it!  It ended up being WAY longer than planned so BIG thanks to our great friends and babysitters . . .

I am having serious issues with uploading pictures from phones to just about anywhere - but here is the best I could do for now. 

J+D

Dates 35, 36, & 37

I'm going to count our little weekend adventures as three dates since we had a little patch during the summer when we couldn't get out together.

I hope that's okay...

Our trip was a busy trip, to say the least--but so super fun!

Thursday evening we flew to LA where my brother picked us up and took us to his lovely family (and abode). After staying up a bit too late laughing, munching, and playing with Ike and Toe, we hit the sac (aka air mattress) and planned to get up around 5:30 to hit the road in the BUG---the car we were to bring home to Utah for mi madre.

Friday morning, as planned, we were on the road super early to drive up north to San Francisco.

We got there around lunch time, so we had some of the Wharf's famous Clam Chowder in sour dough bread bowls as we walked around the pier....

...before hopping on a ferry and taking a site seeing cruise around the bay (this is Alcatraz and my hot hubby)

And this is the Golden Gate Bridge--you can see my tour headphones

(we got to see some dolphins, too!!!)

and

then we watched some hilarious street performers and visited the sea lions

And then we ate some ice cream and chocolate at Guiradelli Square before taking a trolley

up to China Town

before we drove down Lumbard Street.........

And by that time we were thinking we'd better get to our hotel so that we could get the kids down.....

But wait, we didn't have any kids with us....

So we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito and had a fabulous dinner together.

And then we were pooped so we (I) zonked on the bed only to wake up at 3 am and find that I hadn't changed into my jammies. We were just that tired.

But we slept in and headed up to the Muir Woods in Marin County and

spent the morning hiking in the gorgeous Redwoods

and when we were finished there, we drove into Sausalito and walked all around the docks looking, admiring over, and wishing we had a sailboat of our own until it was time to go meet up with....

....some of our dear friends who have recently moved to the Bay Area, The Corotans!

We had a lovely lunch/dinner with them, had a quick photoshoot, and then off we went....

...back in the car on another road trip up to Reno where we had a super late meal and a very fast snooze before we got up early again to drive back home to Utah.

Phewwwwwwwwww.

It was incredibly FAST and incredibly FUN

(Dustin and I are great road trippers together...we love the same music, we laugh a ton, have a ton to talk about, can joke around and be dorks in the privacy of our own little space, and just have a great time driving)

And not too surprisingly, we missed our kiddos a TON.

We were so glad we went, so glad we have a great relationship to make it a fabulous weekend without any blips, and a whole gaggle of family members to take great care of our babies at home while we were away!!!

Yay for love!

Yay for a lovely trip!