Summer of Fun: City Creek Trail

I like doing Summer of Fun with David.  I got the idea a couple of years ago when we lived in Alamosa.  My friend Ashley does great summer activities with her boys (who I will probably copy next summer) and since Matthew is older this year David and I had a plan.

I made a calendar which includes our special Book Wagon/School Lunch Programs in the park and it has a day each week in which we do a special activity (usually at our house) and invite David's friends.  I got the calendar ready for the entire summer - June, July and August.  We made lots of copies and sent them out ti a few if David's friends and saved some to give to our near by friends - new friends in our new ward, neighbors, etc.  We don't expect all our friends to join us every week although that would be really cool but it is fun to have activities with our friends.  We only had a couple of activities before we left for a few weeks and so here you go.

Our special activity day is Thursday; June 2 was our first activity day.  Summer of Fun Activity #1 was to go hiking on the City Creek Trails.  We met with Mason and Sharla over at Centennial Park and just walked up the trail.  I chose a trail that was close to the little creek so the boys could play in the water.  This hike was not about distance or speed.  We just walked at a good pace for the boys and gave them plenty of opportunities to explore the little creek.  We had lots of little bridges to cross and shade to stay cool in.

*Please note that my sweater pockets are stuffed with Kleenexs, my phone, crackers and most of the time my camera.

We had a great time and I'm so glad the Pettingill's could join us for a fun morning hike and quick lunch in the park.

Date Night: Shop 'Til You Drop

Our 33rd Date

June 25, 2011

Dustin was in charge

Dustin and I both had gift cards.  I had a couple cards to H&M from my birthday and our anniversary.  Dustin had a card to REI from his birthday.  We decided to take time to be together and to do some shopping for ourselves without the kids.  Our plan was to hit up the mall and then head on over to REI.  We spent a little longer at the mall than expected but we were both able to get some new clothes.  When we headed over to REI it had already closed - apparently an entire hour earlier than when we got there.

It was nice to be able to spend some time together and pick up new clothes for eachother.  It's not often that Dustin and I are able to be without the kids in a retail store.  It was nice to not feel rushed or to chase kids around the store while we take turns trying on clothes.  We were only gone a couple of hours but it was nice.

Date Night: Anniversary Part II

Our thirty-second date

June 18, 2011

Dustin was in charge

After our sealing in the Denver Temple we had lunch with our family and friends at a lovely restaurant called Maggiano's Little Italy.  We decided to go back to the restaurant for the first time since we were married.  We were so pleased with our food and the service.  It was really nice to be able to eat there together.

Dustin and I were also able to go to a movie yesterday.  We went to go see Midnight in Paris.  It was a really nice movie to go see.  It wasn't what we expected it to be but we really liked it!  If you want to go see a good movie - see Midnight in Paris!

It was a very nice anniversary part II date.  Seven years of marriage has done us good and we took extra time to celebrate.  Here's to many more years of marriage!

Date Night: Run For Your Wife

Our thirty-first date

June 17, 2011

Dustin was in charge

Today is our anniversary.  We have been married for seven years.  That's a long time.  So far there has been no need for that "seventh year stretch" so we are good to go.   It's hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly.  I must admit that looking back over our wedding pictures (the very few I actually liked) we looked so young back then.  It's amazing what time and children can do to you.

In honor of seven years of marriage we thought we would have a lesson about marriage and honesty.  Dustin's parents have season tickets to the Civic Theater here in Renton, WA and offered the tickets for tonight's play to us.  We were very excited to be able to attend this play since we enjoy doing these types of things.

This play is a comedy.  It's about a London cab driver that leads two lives.  He has two wives in different areas and does all he can to keep them secret from each other.  We enjoyed watching the show and on the drive home Dustin told me it was full of life lessons.
#1:  Don't be a cab driver
#2:  Don't have friends named "Stanley"
#3:  Don't have more than 1 wife (he also admitted that this was the most important lesson)

We were also able to go out to dinner.  Since our nice anniversary dinner is tomorrow night we went to Red Robin tonight.  Since we don't go to dinner just the two of us very often we forget how quickly we can actually be seated and eat a meal.  We left for dinner at about 6pm and by 7:30pm we had eaten, payed, shopped and were headed to the theater for the show.  We love our children dearly but dinner in a restaurant is much smoother without them.

Dating is difficult when apart for extended periods of time.  We will be doubling up on dates for the next couple of weeks to make up for the date nights we missed.  There's only so much you can do over the phone or skype before it gets old.  Tomorrow night's date will be our anniversary dinner and movie.  There once was a time that our anniversary celebration was usually a weekend away - that is no more, at least until Dustin is all done with school and working somewhere more permanently.  Until then I am okay doing multiple dates in one weekend.

Also, just so you know....One of our rules for our date nights was that our dates needed to be $30 or less (mostly less or free) for us to be able to afford life.  We are still on track.  We have never spent more than $30 on a date.  Most of our dates have been done at home so there has been no need for a babysitter.  When a babysitter has been needed there have been family members available to watch the kids or friends that owe us a babysitting night so that has also been free.  Most of the tickets we have gotten for movies, plays, concerts, etc. have been either free, super cheap or purchased with gift cards.  I think we have done pretty well with our date night budget.