Valentine's Date

Ray and I rarely (if ever) get out for dinner alone. We do have babysitters with our older boys and they are wonderful. In our small town, though, there are not a lot choices! We did go out last year for my birthday to a tiny classy gem of a restaurant nearby. It is very expensive so we have only been a couple times.

This year, Ray suggested we go out for dinner, and I explained we had no money. We agreed to keep it very low price. I bought Ray some nice chocolates and a card, and he bought me some beautiful flowers and a nice card with some very sweet words.


Then I had the idea of Ray going out to get some Chinese just for the two of us, and I would rent a couples movie. While Ray was out getting the food, the kids were rushing around getting their chores done. I had a chat with the little boys, the ones that would be the hardest to corral. I explained that mummy and daddy were going to have a date. Would they be good little boys and help us out?

Briton said, "Deao!" (deal)

The agreement was that the little boys would play in their room, the girls would be in theirs, and the big boys would be out in the garage recroom playing Playstation. At 8:00 pm they agreed to come into the house and very quietly put the little ones to bed for us.

A date!

I found a Christian radio station on the internet, set the music and then headed upstairs to freshen up. Ray popped into the bedroom and then out again with a nice shirt on. It was so cute because he came down with this shirt that I don't like. It was some kind of white with black plaid. He never usually wears it, because he looks so good in navy or black, and white is so not his colour.

Well, Ray is such a sweet, accommodating guy that he gave me this look, "Is this the right shirt?" And I gave him a look right back that said, "eehh weell..." and he made a funny-faced sheepish exit. I knew he was going to find one of his black shirts. lol

When he came back he had a grin on, knowing he was set in the right shirt. lol! Hey when you know what looks good on your date, you know it!

He lit the candle on the table and put out the delicious smelling food.


We sat down at our little end school table, amidst the shelves of schoolbooks and games.

It was very strange at first, having just the two of us. I finally told Ray if he didn't start chatting I would have to bring down some children! lol Eventually, he got used to the quiet of no little voices and filled in the silence with some chat. It is odd when you have no time for dates without little people. We are so used to talking with interruptions and chitter-chatter around us all the time!

The house was quiet and the children were as good as gold! Not a peep. Finally, at one time we heard two little bodies tiptoeing through the upstairs, just within our view. I looked up at them and they peeped around our bedroom door frame. "We're just going to the bathroom," they said. Then curiosity got the better of them, "What are you eating? Are you having a party?"

Then they quietly went away. Ever so good and sweet!

At 8:00 PM Dane, Austin, and Cassidy came in and without a word to us (sitting there in the candlelight with the music playing in the background) crept up to the children upstairs, brushed their teeth, pottied them, and tucked them into bed, and then they slipped back past us again and went back outside.

If you know our big boys, it is impossible for them to put the children to bed without someone yelling. They just don't know how to do things like little mothers; they must romp and then the children get out of hand. Well, not tonight. How considerate of them all.

After our delicious dinner we adjourned to the TV room and watched The Time Travellers Wife.

It was a wonderful Valentines Day date and we will most certainly be doing more dates like that! I can't believe we never did it before.

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