As we welcomed a new year with our arms stretched out wide, I thought it would be good for us to have some focus for the upcoming year. Don't misread this because I am not talking about New Year's Resolutions. Although the ideas are similar, it helps me to think of them more positively if I think of them more as goals or hopes.
One of the hopes we have for 2014 that is at the top of our list is having monthly date nights. We also decided that we would switch off the planning duties each month so that we are both taking part in keeping the love alive!
One of the hopes we have for 2014 that is at the top of our list is having monthly date nights. We also decided that we would switch off the planning duties each month so that we are both taking part in keeping the love alive!
Our first go at this was a couple weeks ago and our original plan included a babysitter, an outing to the art museum, and dinner plans. Sounds fun, right?! We were so excited! As it got closer though, we started adding the cost for this in our head and it seemed to us that we could still do something together to gain the quality time we needed, but in a way that was easier on our pocketbook.
Hence, our first date night was a stay-at-home date! I wish I would have gotten some pictures, but we were having too much fun!
Calvin makes it easy for this type of date to happen because he goes to bed so early (6:30pm). Once he went to bed, we put on our PJ's, poured some wine, and began preparations for dinner. The wine wasn't just any wine. Andy had found a chardonnay that we tasted on our trip to Napa. I don't typically drink chardonnays, but this one is extremely yummy...check it out for yourself, Frank Family. Not only is the wine delicious, but reminiscing on our experience at the winery was a great way to kick off our special evening, especially since we haven't and won't travel anywhere new any time soon.
Our dinner was also out of this world including goat cheese with crackers for an appetizer, and lobster with au gratin potatoes for our meal. We had homemade caramel fondue ready for dessert, but we were just too stuffed, so we saved it for another day.
The rest of the evening consisted of cuddling on the couch watching Netflix. We are seriously addicted to all of the TV shows, currently Orange is the New Black, but that is for another post. Then, to finish off the evening was an early bed time (my favorite).
Our night was so simple, yet just what we needed to get reconnected. I am looking forward to what each month's date has in store for us and I love that we can still achieve the goal without digging into our pockets too deep. After children enter your lives, it is easy to forget where you started. Monthly date nights are just a little thing we can commit to in order to keep our love alive and remember that it all started with just the two of us.
Hence, our first date night was a stay-at-home date! I wish I would have gotten some pictures, but we were having too much fun!
Calvin makes it easy for this type of date to happen because he goes to bed so early (6:30pm). Once he went to bed, we put on our PJ's, poured some wine, and began preparations for dinner. The wine wasn't just any wine. Andy had found a chardonnay that we tasted on our trip to Napa. I don't typically drink chardonnays, but this one is extremely yummy...check it out for yourself, Frank Family. Not only is the wine delicious, but reminiscing on our experience at the winery was a great way to kick off our special evening, especially since we haven't and won't travel anywhere new any time soon.
Our dinner was also out of this world including goat cheese with crackers for an appetizer, and lobster with au gratin potatoes for our meal. We had homemade caramel fondue ready for dessert, but we were just too stuffed, so we saved it for another day.
The rest of the evening consisted of cuddling on the couch watching Netflix. We are seriously addicted to all of the TV shows, currently Orange is the New Black, but that is for another post. Then, to finish off the evening was an early bed time (my favorite).
Our night was so simple, yet just what we needed to get reconnected. I am looking forward to what each month's date has in store for us and I love that we can still achieve the goal without digging into our pockets too deep. After children enter your lives, it is easy to forget where you started. Monthly date nights are just a little thing we can commit to in order to keep our love alive and remember that it all started with just the two of us.
