First Date - AK Version

 Last night, Hubby and I had our first date night in Alaska.

The four big kids attended a "kid's night out" art event at a local art studio, and I was able to find a new baby-sitter for the two little guys.

Hubby and I found a lovely steak and seafood restaurant with several stuffed grizzlies, moose, caribou, and salmon decorating the lobby.

We enjoyed a dinner on the porch overlooking the Alaskan mountains (I'm not sure what range), and had plenty of time to pick up the big kids and then get home to the little boys.

Lee Lee told us this was her favorite night so far in Alaska.  It might have been mine too.  Hubby and I needed the time to connect for a minute amidst all the change, commotion, and little ones who need us.

Crab Crack

 Hubby and I went to the Crab Crack in Rangely, which was Mardi Gras themed last week.

I didn't get many pictures, but I did manage a few from our fun date.

And, like so many dates nights, it ended in bed... with a little one.

Eighth Anniversary

For our eighth anniversary this year, Hubby and I had some fun.

I bought him a big map of the United States with picture frames for every state, which we get to fill with family pictures.  I have been to all 50 states, and Hubby has been to 49... and he and I have been to quite a few together (I should count).  But we really want to fill this map with pictures of our children in many states.  I think it also helps our little ones understand where we have gone when we tell them, "We're in Montana."

He loved it and printed pictures from our trip West within days of opening it.

Hubby surprised me by planning a date night where we took we got to throw pottery together... is that the correct term?  Throw pottery?  Well, we had a class together and got to make pottery.  Hubby said he looked it up, and the eighth anniversary is either brass or pottery... so he was so inspired.  :-D

Re-Charging

As I am taking on more and more jobs, projects, and responsibilities outside of all my responsibilities at home, I am learning how to recharge when needed.  I don't have it down to a perfect system by any means, but I am learning the value of prioritizing an evening every now and then alone with my husband.

He and I had a date night planned two weeks ago... and then our children got sick so we had to cancel it.

On Saturday, Hubby had something planned for the day, but it got canceled and so I looked at him about 10am and asked if he thought we could get last minute baby-sitters to make up for our missed date night a few weeks ago.  Amazingly, two of our favorite sitters were available. 

Hubby asked me what I wanted to, and I was very clear what I was wanting from a date night -- I wanted to sit and eat a relaxing dinner with absolutely no rush at all.  I feel as though I live my life rushed.  Even if I am allowing plenty of time for something, I am responsibly for four little people and myself and I always feel rushed.

He and decided that our date would be dinner and a movie, but we were able to go to dinner so early that we never had to look at the clock to make sure we were on time for the movie.

We sat in the bar and ordered an appetizer while we discussed some plans for the spring... then we ordered dinner after we had finished the appetizer and then we played a dice game while we were waiting on dinner.

It was raining and snowing outside the entire time and we were seated right by a window and it was such an enjoyable relaxing night.

It was so great that it will probably tide me over for another two months until we arrange another date night.

Daddy Daughter Princess Ball 2019

Last night was our town's second annual Daddy Daughter Princess Ball, and it was so much fun.  Our girls when with Hubby last year, and they have been crossing off days on the calendar since Near Year's eagerly anticipating this date night with their daddy.  Here was the picture of them leaving last year...

As a mom, there are so many things I enjoy about an event like this, but one is, just like their Daddy is teaching them how a gentleman should treat them, and how they should behave on a special date, I get to teach my girls how to get ready for a special date.  Our activities for the entire day revolved around getting ready for this special date, and it was so much fun.

The girls had to take a nap yesterday afternoon (which they never do anymore) because they were going to be up so late that night for such a special event.  As soon as they woke up from their naps, we began getting ready for the dance.

They tried on their dresses just to make sure that everything was ready to go, and decided how they wanted their hair fixed.  Then, they took off their dresses and put on bathrobes while we painted their nails, did their hair and had dinner.  That way nothing would happen to their fancy dresses during those messy activities.

 Lee Lee saw that the big girls were wearing jewelry and took it upon herself to outfit herself with two necklaces and a bracelet while Tracey and Caroline were having their nails painted.

Dinner was frozen pizza and fruit snacks, which was such a treat for them.  We didn't feel the need for Hubby and the girls to eat a restaurant this year when they were really just excited about the dance, and by eating at home, they got to arrive at the dance as soon as it started before it was really crowded.

Also, Hubby had been gone for a few days at a work conference, so when he came to the door, he had flowers for all of his dates for the weekend -- a yellow rose for Tracey, a pink rose for Caroline, and a bouquet of red roses for me.  The girls (and Howard) had fun arranging their special flowers in vases during dinner.

After dinner, the girls got in their dresses and got to accessorize their outfits with shoes, purses, and necklaces, and we took all kinds of pictures as they got ready to leave.  The purses the girls chose to use were from their dress-up clothes, and Tracey choose a purse that belonged to my grandmother, and Caroline happened to choose a purse that belonged to Hubby's mom... so that's kind of cool.

Hubby thinks the dance was a little smaller than last year, but the girls (and he) had a ball.  They got sparkly crowns, they danced with their daddy, they had their pictures taken, they saw lots of friends, and they met some princesses -- one of whom is their dance teacher, so that was really special for them.

Howard and I had a "date" at home.  He helped me put Lee Lee to bed, and held her hand while she got eye drops in her eyes.  Then, he got to put the soap in the dishwasher and push all the buttons himself (a treat that doesn't happen when his sisters are around).  Then, he helped me feed Lexie.  The final big treat of the evening was that he got to eat two cookies for dessert and play on the iPad while he and I cuddled just the two of us.

That might not seem like a big deal, but for this little boy with sisters older, younger, and the same age, that was a pretty special night for the two of us.

 

What a fun night!

 

Family Valentine's Day

 

We're still finding our Valentine's Day traditions, and I'm sure things will change in years to come... but yesterday was a very fun Valentine's Day.  To compare our kids from past years (just because its fun...)

This was Tracey 3 years ago:

The twins last year:

Addallee this year:

The kids and I painted some Valentines a few days ago, so the day at home went pretty normal.  But, all the kids wore red or pink and were excited to wear their "Valentine's outfits".  Also, all day, I told them when Daddy came home, we would be taking a Valentine's Adventure, and they were very excited with anticipation about that all day.

I was very excited to get three of the four of them smiling (and sitting still) for this picture!

Both my mom and my mother-in-law sent each of the kids Valentine cards (such wonderful grandmothers), and so we opened those after naps.  These grandmas are such a perfect match for each other because Hubby's mother sent the kids little candies in their cards, and my mom sent the kids stickers in their cards.  What perfect Valentine gifts -- they don't need double candy or double stickers... but candy and stickers were perfect.

The kids were so excited for the Valentine's adventure that they got dressed in their shoes and coats and watched for Daddy to arrive home.

 

When Hubby got home, the kids were SO excited to give him their Valentine cards, and I had a present for him that they were excited to watch him open.  Then he gave me a little gift, and we had cards for the kids and a new book for them.

Then, we all drove to Glenwood Springs to have a family date dinner at Qdoba, which was having a deal where you buy one entree get one free if you kiss the person you're there with.  So, Hubby got dinner, and he kissed me so mine was free.  And we paid for two kids meals, and our kiddos kissed on the cheek, so we got one kid's meal free.  The restaurant had some traffic come and go while we were eating, but it was overall pretty empty, which allowed us to have a relaxed dinner with our kids.

So... just a funny memory I want to record.  There is a little boy in Tracey's class at school and she and the little boy are good friends.  According to both Tracey and the little boy, the two of them will be getting married some day.  Well, Tracey asked me several times throughout the day if this little boy would be at our Valentine's dinner.  I told her over and over that I didn't think so because it was a family dinner.  At one point, Tracey whispered in my ear asking if he would be there... then Howard leaned down and whispered the boy's name in Tracey's ear -- it was so funny because he knew what his sister was saying, and I'm pretty sure it was the first (of many times) he has officially teased his sister about a boy.  All of that to say, we were standing in line to order our dinner... and who walks into the restaurant but this boy and his family.  They were just taking dinner home, but it was fun to see them, and we knew Tracey would be excited that he was there.  Or at least, we thought she would be excited to see him.  After talking about this boy all day... she never actually said a word to him when we saw him at the restaurant.  Oh, four-year-olds.

I"m learning that I am getting better at fitting our family in selfies... but I blink when I take the picture.  Bummer. 

 Here we are eating, with Hubby in the background finishing up our order.

 

All in all, I really liked the way we celebrated our Family Valentine's Day, and had a Family Date.  It was fun to have something fun and different without the pressure of arranging baby-sitters for Hubby and me to try to make reservations for a romantic dinner.  We had a very romantic dinner... with each other, and our four junior valentines.

What a tiring day.

My forever Valentine!