Date night

For almost a year now we have been taking turns watching kids with two other families that live near us. Most weekends on either friday or saturday night, one family "hosts" the kids for dinner and usually some playing and maybe a movie and the other 2 couples get to have some time to go out or just sit at home and enjoy some peace. Since Zora was born, she hasn't been included in date night so we haven't really been kid free, but it still is a nice break even having Zora with us (of course recently it has been much less of a break as Zora is such a handful all by herself - hopefully we will start leaving her as well soon). So tonight was supposed to be a date night, but the host family had to cancel. Ken had to work at REI so I had been planning to put Zora to bed early and have a little alone time - maybe read a book or something crazy like that. Owen was disappointed (he looks forward to going to the other houses and playing with the kids and usually staying up a little late). So I suggested that I put Zora to bed early and Owen and I could watch a movie and stay up a little late. Zora was asleep by 7 pm (never mind that she woke up just as the movie ended and again an hour later) and Owen selected the movie (Planet Earth: Ocean Deep despite my initial suggestions of Cars or Toy Story). We fixed a snack of Kettle Corn and Owen asked me to turn out all the lights and close the shades and "make it really, really dark" and we settled in. We've watched this movie many times before, of course - those creatures that live in "the depths" are straight out of a science fiction movie - but Owen's comments always add to the enjoyment. It was really so nice to spend some time with Owen when I'm not rushing him anywhere, not nagging him to get dressed, or undressed and not trying to pay attention to him and Zora at the same time. To just sit down and relax and enjoy each other. I imagine it might be pretty nice to be able to do that with Ken sometime too. Oh well, maybe next weekend.