Date night

Over a year ago, while we were sitting around at Thom’s house during his wedding weekend, Kari told me she thought it would be fun to have date nights with Dean.  I immediately offered to babysit any time.  Well, only fourteen months later, they finally asked us to babysit the boys.  Beam was hosting a company dinner, and Kari and Dean wanted to attend the event.  Ted and I assumed we would babysit at Kari and Dean’s house; Kari and Dean assumed we would babysit at our house.  At least the location issue came up in conversation so we could clarify that before zero hour.

We picked the boys up and gave them the option of choosing where they wanted to eat dinner.  Guess what they picked.

Teddy marks the spot.

Teddy marks the spot.

Of course, everyone ordered a shake and the boys ordered their regular menu item:  chicken fingers.  Yummy!  It’s questionable whether Sky and Dylan had more chicken or more ketchup on the chicken.  Whatever.  They definitely enjoyed the meal.  (And ours was not the table that spilled a liquid beverage over three people and a large floor area, requiring a major clean-up by the SnS crew.)

All the tables were full, so we crowded into a booth.

All the tables were full, so we crowded into a booth.  Teddy got all the SnS hats.

After we finished eating, we came home, Ted lit a fire in the fireplace, and we watched Home Alone and The Polar Express–both perennial favorites for all of us.  Of course, movies require popcorn, and salty popcorn likes to be followed with cold and creamy ice cream, so we broke out the food between movies.

Watching "Home Alone." Note that Ted and Sky like to sit with an arm behind their heads.

Watching “Home Alone.”  Note that Ted and Sky like to sit with their arms behind their heads.  Each of them also has a foot pillow.

With dinner and a double feature, it got to be a late night.  Shortly after 10:00, Kari and Dean arrived to pick up the boys.  The Polar Express still had 30-40 minutes to go so I offered to send the DVD home with the kids, but the majority vote was to finish the movie and sleep later in the morning.

What an enjoyable night!  I hope Kari and Dean want more date nights soon.