Because We Are Romantic

Earlier this week my husband & I were discussing the fact that our commitment to weekly date nights had fallen off dramatically in the last few months. We hoped to schedule something this week to get back on track. Alas, he was working Monday night, my bi-weekly Summer group (No Other Gods, by Kelly Minter) was meeting Tuesday night and my regular school year group was meeting Wednesday night. Because we had family activities planned for tomorrow night and a group date Saturday, I just assumed we would try again next week. My precious man did not. He came home this evening expecting a date-ready wife and a sitter. Instead he found a tired, greasy, pool garb-clad Mama and three hungry young'uns.

I decided to make the best of it by throwing on a Summer dress and sassy flip flops and suggesting we load everyone up for dinner out. We chose a restaurant that's food is so greasy the outdoor air vent from the kitchen has a bucket hanging from it to catch the grease droplets in the air. (Seriously!) Clearly, I was really trying to speak his love language.

After dinner we decided to make a 'quick' run to Kroger. On the night before a holiday. At bedtime. With 3 wildcats who were exhausted from 3 hours at the pool and no nap. Who says we aren't adventurous?

Two grocery carts, no list, a Daddy helping shop, hyper children, a crowded store, potty breaks for all three...despite it all, we made it out in just under an hour. I was packing some serious couponage and managed to save $62 on my $200 bill. That is definitely my man's love language!

So, while it may not have been the romantic, quiet, candlelit dinner the word 'date' would have connotated for me four years ago, it was a nice snapshot of the way children change everything. And the truth is, this was romantic in its own random way.