June Date - Waitakere Bush Walk

When I took the kids to the Arataki Bushwalk tracks a few weeks ago I decided that I'd like to do a walk like that with my hubby one day when we happened to be childless, which is pretty few and far between these days. Whenever we have time like that we usually end up having a nice lunch, maybe watching a movie or DVD, and I really wanted to do something different.

I intended on knowing beforehand and planning to take a backpack with drinks and snacks to make it a little more special.

But things worked out for us to go a few days ago at a minutes notice, so we went without the special treats afterall. We just walked for a about 45 minutes before turning around and going back out. Simple as that. My date kept laughing that we walked through nowhere, to nowhere and back again, but I maintain that it was fun cause it was out of the ordinary.....we got to enjoy the fresh air, do a bit of exercise and enjoy good company!

And of course we had to finish off with a quick trip to McDs

March Date Night - Burger 'n Shake

Last tuesday it was the last day of the month, so despite being a random, midweek night and Joe having a church meeting, I was determined to have some kind of 'date'. So 5 or so days beforehand, I whipped up this invitation.

It worked out well that he was at a meeting cause I could put the kids down and 7 and get all the food prepped so it was just being set down on the table when he walked in the door.

No pics of the delish burgers, but here's some silly mugs instead

And what goes with a burger 'n shake date you might ask? 

A battle of boggle....best of 3 to see who had to make the shakes. We both knew I'd win, which was cool cause he'd definitely make the better shake!

 I have a feeling we'll be making this a regular date cause a bit of healthy boggle competition is good (and free) for a marriage!

 And just for the record, I did do a feb date night, but it was just a movie at home. Can't even remember the name, something with George Clooney in it. I even ditched the date before it officially ended cause it was soooo boring!

January Date Night - Date in a Box

Our January Date night was a fun, inexpensive one....and didn't involve fancy clothes or a babysitter!

I sent this to my hubby on Monday and thankfully he RSVP'd Yes so I got a few things ready for our date in a box....easy peasy.

(In the box was sparkling grape juice, candles, chocolate milk, picnic blanket, tomato sauce, tartare sauce, DVD, chocolate, 2 peaches)

The idea was that we'd have a candle lit picnic of fish n chips after the kids went to bed, and watch a DVD. But I got on a roll with book covering (flippn' duraseal!), and kept saying 'hold on, I'm nearly done'. By the time I was finished, the fish 'n chip shop had closed, so that meant my super hubby shot down to McDs instead. Anyone who knows me will know that there were no complaints on my part. 

A Big Mac is good any night of the week!

So while he was out getting that, I set up the candles....how romantic!

And we didn't end up watching a DVD afterall. We both love our Friday nights of The Graham Norton Show and Live at the Apollo so that was fine for us. A pretty cheap date considering it wasn't a restaurant dinner and we didn't need to fork out for a babysitter

I'm already trying to think of what to do for Feb. Another idea for home, lounge, kids in bed. Going out is good but staying home might be just as good I reckon...or maybe even better!

(Will try and get more pics next time)

The most eagerly anticipated movie date in history

For the last month, Faith has wanted to go to the movies. Actually, that's not exactly true. She always wants to go to the movies, but for the past month, she's wanted to go and see Monster's University. She said she'd go to that one at the movies and see Despicable Me 2 on DVD. I thought that was a great plan until last week when her bedtime behaviour deteriorated to a point where she was told she couldn't go to see Monster's University at the movies anymore.

I thought that would tip her over the edge (actually that had probably happened long before when she'd been screaming on the doorstep and throwing shoes at it in the dark!). But surprisingly she took it quite well. When I finally put her in bed I asked how she felt about losing the privilege to go to the movies. She said it was ok, cause she'd lost that one, but now she'd change to seeing Despicable Me 2 at the movies instead. Fairplay I thought. Good idea......until about 3 nights later when she lost that as well.

She cried and cried about it like I've never seen her cry before. It was like she was really disappointed with herself, not hysterical, but really sad. I was so pleased that she knew why it had come to that and she accepted that it was over for that movie too. I told her that within the next week we'd try one more time to work towards a movie date.

And Tuesday was that night night.....Me, Faith and Ella left the boys at home and went out on a movie date! We were supposed to be going to 'Epic' because they've lost the other 2, but I pulled some strings and let us go to Despicable Me 2 afterall cause that's the one I want to see!!!

Faith had been insisting that I buy her a special Michael Jackson costume to wear to the movie. I'm not sure why she thinks she has to wear a costume, and I'm not sure why she chose Michael Jackson?!?!?! In the end we didn't go with the costume idea, just plain old jeans and tops and massive smiles!!!!

These lasted up until about the last 5 mins of the movie

Ella had 3 little rolls of mentos in about 3 minutes and then kept asking for more!

The movie was due to start at 6:40 and we ran into the foyer at 6:49 to see this line. I didn't know what to do. If we waited in line we'd probably be 1/2 an hour late into the theatre, if I walked straight up to the counter I'd look like a real diva thinking I'm so important that I can push in front of everyone.....what did I do?    Diva, and it worked a treat, except that once I turned around from the counter and walked back past everyone I couldn't make contact with anyone in case they were hating my guts!

Doing a little jig through the closing credits. She LOVED it. And watching the trailer on the internet so many times meant she could tell me what was coming up in the movie before it happened. A little bit annoying, but it did prove to me that she is able to follow a storyline on her own

Straight back down to Timezone

Good old Selfie cause the girls were too busy pretending to ride motorbike game things

Why do they still ask me for money on these rides? Haven't they learnt yet that Mummy ALWAYS says 'No'

One last fun little thing for the night, play around on the security guys golf buggy thing

Such a fun night! I think it was Ella's first movie and she did great. Maybe it's cause she thinks minions are really funny (and they are).

Impromptu Date

Last Saturday I took the kids to Mission Bay to play with the Leone's and Stones. We had a nice afternoon get together....the kiddies played and the sissies talked. Mean!

Just as I was packing up the car and about to head off Rochelle and Pete said they'd go out for dinner and then come over to babysit the kids so Daddy Joe and I could go out on a date. It was an 'out of the blue' offer so I hesitated. They insisted, so I drove away with a big smile on my face knowing that I could get the kids, fed, bathed and then head out for a bit of time with my boyf!!!!

We ended up walking down and then back up Queen Street....people watching costs nothing and it's fun!
I wasn't hungry so I was after a juice bar and my hungry husband tried Carl's Jnr for the first time.

Was so fun to be childless and just hang out.

This is Seth and his Dad before we went to the park and he went to Conference. A mountain of noodles for lunch