Yesterday we had a wonderful Family Date Night!
I love how dinner and a movie has turned into something so different than what it once meant to me…
When I was a teenager, it usually meant a first date and it was exciting. I remember being so nervous and wondering if my date would try to hold my hand or even kiss me in the theater. The sheer excitement and flow of hormones made it hard to really pay attention to the big screen. I remember sweaty nervous palms and the awkwardness of trying to rest my head on their shoulder. Now I fondly look back on the newness of dating as part of the growing up milestone.
One of my favorite memories is when Brandon and I (one of my first boyfriends) went to see Wayne’s World on Valentine’s Day. I know, you may think, “how romantic,” but for me it was perfect. I love being silly and we had fun together. It was really a great memory and I fondly look back on now and again. God I was like 15 or something like that…so young. Now, I can’t even fathom Brook being 15 and dating…AHHHH the horror of that thought! I felt so grown up then, but really I was still just a kid.
I have another dinner and movie memory with Travis. We once broke up for a month and one day he called me to go out as “friends”. At first I said no, but I really missed him in my life and later called him back to say yes. We met at Islands and almost missed each other. I was waiting for him outside, he was inside, we both almost left because we both thought we got stood up. Finally, we saw one another. The dinner was so awkward…we were feeling each other out…trying to see if it was worth another shot. That night we saw Little Nicky, which will go down in history as the stupidest movie I’ve ever seen. But, for the last time, I got nervous butterflies during that movie. I was hoping that he would hold my hand and that our relationship would start again…He did and it did and the rest is my past, present and future.
Now dinner and a movie consists of G rated features with Brook sitting between Travis and I. One of us feeds Blake Cheerios to keep him occupied while he sits in his stroller watching the movie in awe. I love it so much more than any of my past “date” nights. I love cuddling with the kids and stealing a small peck kiss from Travis if I’m lucky. Plus, I get to see cartoons…I mean that is AWESOME!
We dined at Outback afterwards and the kids were amazing during the whole night. It was one of those times when everything goes right, we all have fun and we all swell with love for one another. I know, super cheesy, but hey it’s true.
I highly suggest seeing Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, it’s one of the better cartoons that I have seen in quite some time.
I can’t wait until our next Family Date Night!