Went Fishin'

Honey had the day off and invited ME to go fishing!  Not a son, not his dad, but ME.  So how could I refuse?  It's been a looooooong time since we spent the whole day alone together.  I spent all week looking forward to it.  And last night I spent some time packing our snacks while he and CT went to Academy for some last minute "essentials". 

We got up early.  WHY???  I don't know.  I told him we should let the fish sleep.  But he didn't see it my way. 

We started hooking the boat to the van but it wasn't working.  The metal piece didn't fit.  I had to hold the flash light....remember it was early.  And Honey hammered on it and cussed at it (not really, but I know he wanted to.)  Finally there was nothing to do but take the piece to Walmart and get another one. 

Finally on the road but not going where we originally intended b/c of the delay.   We went to a little lake on Chaffee that was just right.   Putting the boat into the water was a huge hassle and we broke a piece off the trailer. 

The water was beautiful but the place was not very hospitable.  Hard to find with no signs and me reading the map.  :-)  It was hard getting the boat in partly b/c the boat-putter-in place was all rocky and messed up.  There were no trash cans.  And the port-a potty was not meant for girls. 

But once on the water, floating in the boat, all was nice.  I felt like a queen in my brand new lawn chair with the fancy umbrella attachment and the potty that Honey rigged up for me.  For a lot of the day we were the only ones there. 

Did I mention I'm not really a fisher person?   I caught a fish though!  Kinda by accident, but still. 
So what did I do? 
~I sat.
~Talked.
~Ate most the food I brought for both of us.
~Read my book aloud to Honey.
~Pushed the button to put water into the live well.
~Ducked when he casted.... let's just say they didn't all end up in the water the first time.
~Untangled his back lashes.
~And cheered him on when he reeled another one in. 

Then it was time to go.  

 I was stationed at the boat while Honey got the van.  And GASP!!  Right before my eyes my lawn chair and umbrella blew off the boat and into the water!!  My new one!  And where's my man???  Who knows.
There was nothing to do but go after it.  In the water. In my socks.  And jeans.

It also knocked my book bag into the floor.  Which also held his wallet and both our phones.  Did I mention that the boat was holding quite a bit of water (for no reason) AND it was a borrowed book??

Finally he brings the van around and has the nerve to ask, "Why are you wet?"  
Oh laugh it up Honey.

As hard as it was to get the boat into the water, it was nothing compared to loading it up. The rope broke. The wind was blowing. And we couldn't back the trailer into the same place we put in.

Then it was MY turn to be in the van and HIS turn to be in the water.  But it didn't matter.  Too much wind, too hard.  I had to drive to the other side of the lake while he met me with the boat.  That place was easier but still not great.  I finally retrieved my book bag which was all wet....but dry inside b/c it was a canvas water proof one.   Phones and books were saved!

Finally we were back on the road.  Sigh of relief!  Until he handed me the map.  Oh please. 

We made it home and then had to back the boat back into the driveway.  I'm guessing marital counseling offices are full of couples backing boats in together.  

Anybody need a boat?

23 Years!

I'm a blessed girl!

Thank you Honey for being the most amazing husband ever. And for being MINE.

I love you.

Date Nights

Honey and I are frequently asked about our date nights and how we do it with so many little ones. I was going to do a re-post on it but when I did a query on my blog nothing showed up. Weird, I'm sure I've talked about this before....haven't I? Oh well, here it goes for the first time I guess.

When Meg and Lane were little and I was pregnant with our son, I heard Pam McDonald speak to our homeschool group. How the Lord has used that talk over the years! One of things she touched on was the way they do their date nights. At the time, she and her husband had 8 children. I ran with the idea and we've enjoyed it ever since.

Meg and Lane were 4 and 2yo at the time. We told them they were going to play in their room VERY quietly at 7pm and put themselves to bed at 8pm. This does take training in the beginning, but it is worth it in the end! As our family has grown, we've had many a nursling included on date night. But as soon as they are big enough to not need Momma, they learn the whole date night routine with the big kids. We feed them early, clean up, then off to their rooms not to be seen for the rest of the night.

It wasn't always Sunday nights. It started out being whatever night was 1/2 price night at the movie store and B1G1 night at Sonic. Honey would slip out to buy burgers while I got the girls settled. We would eat and watch the movie and talk and catch up.

Somewhere along the way it got moved to Sundays and that's where it's stayed for years. We hardly ever go out to eat but it is an option now and then. I will usually use the opportunity to fix something that I wouldn't make for the whole family. Sometimes I will pick up something from Sams during the week to save for date night. And once in a while we'll get take out. I usually set the table pretty with candles but sometimes we sit at the coffee table and watch tv. If the weather is nice we might take a walk or get a snow cone. There's no rule. Just whatever we feel like.

The point is to be alone together reconnecting and catching up. We guard this date night time and if for some reason the Sunday time slot must include something else, we'll reschedule our time. It is the perfect way to end the week and gear up for the next!

Happy Birthday To My Favoritest Guy In The World!

There are a jillion things I love about him. His quirky sense of humor, his dashing good looks, his love for the Lord, the way he loves us all, his chivalrous sense of protection and provision, and his lack of fear of man.

Thank you God for preparing this guy especially for ME!!

Happy Birthday Honey! I love you so much!

Date Night

So I'm looking through pages and pages of pix to find just the right one...or any one really...of my Honey and me to put at the top of this post. This is it. Pathetic huh? We take lots of pictures of the kids but not so many of us. Honey we gotta do something about that!! (Guess which one is me)

On to my blabbings...

Last night was one of my favorite date nights.

~We had a B1G1 coupon to Chipotles and actually went *out*. We almost always spend date night at home..which is very cozy I think...but this time we went somewhere.

~After dinner we drove home, sat in the driveway (pretended that we were still gone) and talked and talked and talked. Ok well I talked and Honey listened. He's a good listener. We talked about church, the neighbors, our future re-model, and our friends at home.

~We spied on the kids b/c the blinds were cracked and watched them be silly. They finally saw the car and waved.

~We watched the moon rise. I've seen a sunrise but I don't think I've ever seen a moonrise until last night. It was full and bright and beautiful.

Sunday night has been date night for as long as I remember...even when we only had little kids. I look forward to it all week. It's a nice ending to a week full of busyness.