Oakland Temple

B+C

Date #8

Oakland Temple

We just got back from a trip to California, to visit B's family.  One night, we left the kids with grandma and grandpa, and headed to the Oakland Temple, just a few minutes from his house.  

In all the years we've been married (9), I had never been in that temple before!  We might have to make it a tradition to go every time we visit now.  We loved it!  We just felt so close and so happy afterwards.  It was an awesome date night.

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!

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. 

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. 

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!

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. 

Blind Dating

D&T

Date # 38

So this weeks date was a set up for a two people a friend and I have been trying to set up for 2 years.  Timing finally worked out (they live it totally different states) so we had a late night game night and ice cream at a friends house (we were setting up her brother with my cousin).  No sparks flew for the blind daters and I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.  D & I got last and second to last place in the game of QUIRKLE.  But that ice cream was DELISH and that set up is off the list - and so is the date for the week!  :)  Oh - and I did not break out the camera cause I did not want to cause any futher awkwardness to the already sort of awkward date.

Building Bunk Beds

D&T

Date 34

We were doing some organization this last week so for date night we sent the kids away so we could have some uninterrupted time building the girls' new bunk beds.  In my mind, I thought we would work together and laugh and feel so accomplished in a couple hours and go pick up the kids.  ha.  After the two hours - here is what we had done:

Between the prep work (cleaning up and getting out and sorting all the boards) and the frustrating use of the allen wrench - we not exactly laughing and having a great time.  It took about 25 min. to put one of those end boards together.  Then D got smart and borrowed a drill, ground down the wrench and suddenly the world of building changed.  We put the second end board together in 5 min.  The it was time to get the kids.  :)  But we put them to bed and finished the job together.  Its fun to do projects with the hubby, although as far as date nights go - for us anyway - its a once in a while thing. :)

We love the finished product and love the reminder of our time spent together building it!!



TV SHOW & TELL

J+D

Date #30

Trying to catch up......

July was a nutso month but we're back into making sure we're focused on each other.

This date, after we put the kids down, we turned off our phones and I pulled out my clippers.

I usually cut D's hair while the kids are up, but we made it part of our date tonight. :)

Then, after D was all cleaned up, we snuggled up to each other and played TV SHOW & TELL. I chose my favorite show to watch and he chose his and, even though they were TEVOed, we took turns flipping back and forth between the two each commercial break.

While we fastforwarded through the commercials, we snacked on jelly beans and sour candies and giggled about how silly each of our shows were.

We love to snuggle. We love to watch shows together.

We love home dates!

Reading

M&R
Date #29
Reading Together

For our date this week, we intended on getting a babysitter, but it just didn't happen. We had too many other errands to run and things to take care of.

We put the kids to bed and pulled out a magazine to read together. We both picked a couple of articles and took turns reading out loud.

I like reading with my hubby. It's a good way to start a discussion about something that maybe wouldn't have come up in our everyday conversation.

Plus, it was just good to be together. Things have been stressful the past week or so. We both needed that quality one-on-one time. Even though we haven't been awesome with date nights lately, I'm glad that it's still something we are being mindful of and trying for.

A Concert in the Park

B+C

Date #20

Thai Food, Market, Concert, People Watching, Frozen Yogurt

It's never ideal to bring baby along, but in order to stay out as long as we wanted, we thought it would be easier to take her, and she was a good sport at the concert, dancing and giggling the whole time, and getting us a lot of compliments. ; )

This week, I took B to the Twilight Market and Concert, in Salt Lake. Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros were playing! I was so excited about this. (Home is probably their most well-known song, but my favorite is 40 Day Dream, which I put in the video. Scroll down).

We were both starving when we arrived, so we got some [REALLY GOOD] Thai food from one of the vendors.

Then we sat on our blanket and did a whole lot of people-watching, while The Entrance Band played.

There was quite the colorful crowd there. Very entertaining. B's favorite guy was wearing skinny jeans, loafers, and had a mustache. We decided next time we go, we'll dress up. B will grow out his mustache and I'll wear something crazy (edit: crazy, for ME. so probably NOT that crazy).

We DID spend money on food and parking, but the concert was FREE! And, before the main event, there was also a Twilight Market, with jewelry, clothes, and other handmade things.

The best part was when the main band started playing. The excitement level shot up, everyone ran to the front, the music got louder. I love the energy at a good concert.

This was a great date night. We want to go to more of these in the future. Hopefully without baby next time?

Afterwards, we got some frozen yogurt. We both got Thin Mint with graham cracker crumbs and cheesecake bites. Definitely not on my diet but SO worth it. It was so so good!

Temple Night

D&T

Date #31

We had a short a sweet date night this week.  A quick trip to the temple for a session of sealings.  We had never done them before and it was awesome!  Totally recommend it for a date night to the temple.  Quiet and rejuvinating and getting to sit by each other and hold hands for most of the time was a nice treat for a temple trip. Just what we needed this week.  Happy Dating!

Upstairs, Downstairs, and InBetween

J+D

Date #27

July has been a hard month to fit in date nights. Between both of our crazy work schedules taking up babysitters and evenings, we just couldn't find moments to run away together.

But finally, last night we put the kids down and went upstairs (monitors in hand) and had a rip-roaring good time playing ACES & FACES. We laughed and laughed and had a great evening.

Game nights with friends are the BEST--especially when the kids are safely and soundly asleep close by.

The end of our little get-away game date was where the sadness came in. D and I curled up in bed together and reminisced about all the many game nights we'd had with T+D when they lived downstairs from us. Those were the best of days...

WE MISS THOSE DAYS!

But for now, we are just grateful that our upstairs neighbors are cool enough to play late night games with, that T+D aren't too far away to play games with on other nights, and that we have so many other great friends who play games with us when we get together on other occasions. Games are the best.

And making a date of it is even better!

Snoozing Hubby

M&R
Date #26 and #27
Tired Hubby+Movie in bed=Snoozing Hubby

For our dates these, weeks, we totally dropped the ball. I'm a little dissapointed in how we've been doing the past month actually.

Hubby has been working 12 hour days, 6 days a week. He comes home basically dead and not in the mood to do anything but lay down and get some shut-eye. Not fun for him and not fun for us either. We look forward to the hubs coming home and it's sad when he comes home so exhausted. Obviously he doesn't like it either.

We tried to work out a date, turning on a movie on a weekend night. But it turned into a snoozing hubby both times. Sigh....what can you do? You win some, you lose some.

Today hubby called me from work saying that we are going to have to double up the next couple of weeks and make up for our low quality date nights. That made me happy. He cares just as much as I do! Hopefully we're back!

Game Nights Galore!!!

D&T

Date #27

I think game night was the theme of the date night blog this week - and we totally did steal the M&R idea!  A couple years ago a game night with friends could not be considered a date night cause it happened so frequently, but sadly, not so much anymore.  We invited our neighbors over after kids bedtime so play my favorite two games and eat some DELICOUS homemade ice cream D and I created a few days earlier.  Much to D's dismay - I won BOTH games.  That has never happened before and may never happen again, but it won't be forgotten cause now its in the blog.  :)  No pictures of the game playing couples cause my neighbor friend and I (the women of course) were both having allergy issues and I totally looked like quasimodo with one eye swollen shut. 

But I still won the games. :)