An Evening Out

When I was little my dad made it a habit to take my sister and I out for "date nights".  At least once I month I would get special one-on-one time with him.  A favorite of ours was to go have breakfast at Denny's.  To this day I can remember ordering the Mickey Mouse pancakes.  One time he took me to an Orioles game.  Other times we would see a movie or go do something fun.  We don't do it often anymore, but every now and then I still get special time with him.  Our most recent "date night" was a midnight outing to Wally World to grab a copy of The Hunger Games.  Yes, I'm a tad obsessed. (But hey - I've never read or watched Harry Potter and I never got into the Twilight series.  So I'm allowed this little obsession.  Or so I tell myself.)  Those date nights were fun when I was little, but now that I have kids of my own I really understand how important and special they were.  I know my dad and I wouldn't be so close today if he hadn't made the effort to spend time with JUST me every now and then.  

So Craig and I are adopting that same tradition.  We haven't yet made it happen every month yet, but we're working on it.

Tonight Craig took Nathan to Chick-Fil-A for their father son football night.  I spent the day prepping Nathan for it and he was SO EXCITED to go to a "football party and eat chicken".  While the guys spent their evening surrounded by football Alex and I went shopping.  I took her to her favorite restaurant - Moes - and then we headed to Target.  Yes.  I'm brainwashing my child.  She WILL know that Target is the best store ever.  She already loves shoes and bags.  Now she needs to love Target.  :)

Yes, she even loves mismatched shoes.  Especially if she can put them on herself!

Guys night was a huge success.  Football, chicken, a play place, a balloon, a giant cow, and a living room fort made a little boy's dream evening.  I walked in the door and he couldn't stop talking about it.  He was going a mile a minute trying to tell me everything he did with his Daddy.  It doesn't get much happier than a three year old boy.  

Alex, on the other hand, did NOT enjoy her evening.  I guess I should have seen it coming.  Since she was born she has had Nathan around for at least 90% of the time.  And she was not happy about the fact that he and Craig went off on their own.  She cried the entire way to the mall.  When we left the mall and headed back to the car, she immediately checked Nathan's seat.  When he wasn't there she started screaming.  She finally settled when we sat down to eat our matching quesadillas.  She listened carefully in Target as I showed her how to shop and let her pick out a hair bow.  But as soon as we got in the car and realized Nathan wasn't there she started screaming again.  

Let me clarify something.  This wasn't some high-pitched squeal.  This was an all-out YELL.  In an attempt to distract her I'd copy her screams.  Syllable for syllable, pitch for pitch. It distracted her, but she didn't like it.  She'd yell.  "GAAAAAAH"  I'd yell.  "GAAAAAAH" Then she'd say "No GAAAAH Mommy.  Stop!"  She definitely inherited my attitude.  I think I should be worried.   

At least we know she loves her brother.