Thursdays are the designated date nights around here, thanks to some positive peer pressure from a couple of my husband's married siblings who set the standard high. It's not that we didn't want to have a regular date night, but unless you carve out a specific time in your week (or a specific
amount of time if flexibility is more necessary) it just doesn't happen by itself. It never seems
that important. I think we are in a nice rythym now and most of the time we have In-House Dates. I try to have the house clean (so I can actually enjoy hanging out around here without a project in my hands...hard for me!) and we feed the kids early and let them watch a movie. One day we have visions of them watching a 30-60 minute movie without coming out to see what we're doing 150 times, but that's where we are for now. I usually make a nicer (or more fun) dinner and we eat by ourselves (mostly). Sometimes we watch a movie, sometimes we play a game, sometimes we sit out on the porch and watch the sunset just quietly...until our kids can't find us and start crying. It's a nice little ritual and I'm really grateful we can have one night a week where we aren't working on anything or going anywhere, and we can just catch up.
Tonight's menu: Jalepeno Poppers (thank you Pioneer Woman), some leftover beef WH grilled a few days ago, risotto, artesan bread, and some garden veggies. I think we look forward to the food as much as we do the quiet!
So I'm curious...what do you do to spend time with your spouse? Morning coffee? Monthly night out? I know that various seasons require creativity--sometimes going to the grocery store w/out kids qualifies as a "date." Is that how you get your quality time in?
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7 comments:
Love date night! :) Just blogged on that also...must be something in the autumn air!
Last night, Nat and I talked on the couch for 2 hours straight. It was not planned, but it was totally awesome. We do try to go OUT once or twice a month, and thankfully, we have babysitters here! I was just thinking today about how awesome he is about keeping us close. I get so busy and crazy...he's great about just sitting us down to talk. I love it! I love him!!!
well, tomorrow my parents are watching the boys overnight so we can have an extra long date night! we are super excited about it ;) i like your idea of date nights at home...even with the kids around. it sounds do-able, and no cost for babysitters!
Hi Brite! My name is Kristin, and we've only met once I think (at Amanda and Greg's wedding). I saw your website when I was on Mandi's the other day, and thought I'd stop in and see what you guys were up to! I'm an old friend (from highschool days) of your husband's family.- What a fun site you have! Your kiddos are adorable :-). It was interesting to read all your green and natural finds as we're in that boat striving to turn that leaf over in our lives as well. I'm a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator on the side, so I enjoyed your stamped creations too. Anyway, to your posed question- date night is big at our house too! Some weeks I'm counting down the hours it seems. My husband is a guardian of our sacred date time, and I am so thankful. Many times we go out to eat (Diner Club Membership where you can BIGIF is a life saver!) to give me a break from cooking, but sometimes we do enjoy at home dates too (movie, gormet popcorn, a walk in the neighborhood...). Ours are much more peaceful since we don't have kids (although my sister was living with us for awhile). - Well, this is getting way too long for a "comment". Just wanted to say hello and that I enjoyed checking out your blog! ~Kristin
1sitter + 2 sonic cherry limeades+ watching the light fade beside the TN river= favorite date tradition
Realizing my minority status, I still can't help but put in a couple of husbandly comments. As a weekly date nighter for six years now I can't say enough good things about it. Neither can I say enough good things about my wife, and all of you wives who carve out the time and cook the food for these occasions. Whether you are arranging the babysitting, the house, or the menu your willingness to take the time to carve out a few hours for us means just as much to us as it does to you. So thanks and don't ever be tempted to let it slide.
Hi Brite,
In our earlier years, we were not very good at squeezing in a date night, especially since my husband worked late a lot of evenings and we didn't have family close or a babysitter. I love your idea of just trying to create a Date Night right in your own home.
Now, we have our own home-grown babysitters, so it is much easier to go out to dinner or sneak away for time together. However, with our BUSY schedules, it can still be a challenge to find time together. One of our favorite activities is going out for coffee at a nearby coffee shop. We can get a couple luxurious Lattes for under $10, and most importantly, we can talk WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS and compare calendars! Yes, it may not be romantic, but a "planner date" is one of our regulars! :)
I wanted to let you know that I posted a pic of you on my blog yesterday! You might want to check it out!
http://yes-theyre-all-ours.blogspot.com/2009/09/labor-day-revisited.html
Blessings,
Elizabeth
busymomof10@gmail.com
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