Double Date Day!!!

Yesterday was a double date for me.  Not the kind you typically think of, though.  We didn't go out with another couple.  Instead *I* had a double date... as 2 dates in one day!!!  I'm turning into a girl that gets around, I tell ya! ;)

My first date of the day was with a dreamy guy.  He has these gorgeous brown eyes, big full lips, beautiful smile.  He's sweet, kind, and keeps me laughing all the time.  He's my son, Justus.  :) 

Justus enjoying his cheese dip

I sent him an invite, hinting at the things I had planned.  He figured about half of it out.  We started out by making a pitt stop at Walmart to pick up something for my SECOND date for that day (good thing he's not the jealous sort!).  Made a swing through Goodwill so he could see if anything caught his eye... nothing really did.  Then we headed on over to Santo Coyote.  This is Justus's favorite restaurant.  Mine too, if we're eating Mexican.  If you haven't... you should seriously check it out.  YUM!   They truly have the best cheese dip ever.

Checking out the mosquito net

So after we left the restaurant, Justus was chomping at the bit to know where we were going next.  He figured it was a museum, but couldn't figure out where.  In his invitation it mentioned a Heifer..  Which is how he figured out the museum.  When I scratched my head a bit at that he simply explained that a heifer is a cow, and cows go moo, therefore we must be going to a MOOseum!  Well duh... how could I miss that???  What he didn't realize was the MOOseum we were going to was all about cows!  LOL  It was the Heifer Village, actually.  Heifer Int'l is all about helping poverty stricken areas.  They gift a cow - or goat, or chickens, camels, whatever is needed in an area to a family.  This gives the family milk, cheese, etc to eat.. plus extra to either trade or sale for other things they need.  They also teach the people of the area about agriculture and ways to improve and work their land, etc.  Their goal is to give them something that can sustain them for a lifetime, not just handouts to help them today.  It's such a wonderful organization.  Justus and I both really enjoyed the tour of the green building, along with looking around the village.

Once we left the Heifer village, we (ok *I*) decided to head down to the River Market area.  He's been wanting to walk across the Junction Bridge for quite some time, so that's the first thing we did.  We didn't walk the whole way across the river.  Just over the Little Rock side. ;)  I made him pose for a bunch of pictures while up there tho.  Poor boy. ;)    I kind of wish I had taken him all the way across, but oh well.  Maybe next time. :)  It was interesting to see just how many people ride their bikes across tho!!!

 Afterwards, we walked down and looked at the sculptures in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden.  Now I'll be honest.  I had no idea this was there.  When I saw it online, I was excited to go.  Once I got there,I must say, I was a bit disappointed in the size of the sculptures.  They are all quite small, with the exception of one.  But we still enjoyed looking at them all, and found them quite interesting.  Justus even got to pick the nose of the resident Indian chief on the walk over to it. 

About the only thing we didn't do that I *tentatively* had planned, was the Nature Center.  I promised him we'd hit that on another day.  I did buy him a strawberry shake on the way home to make up for it. ;)

Once I got home, and the kids went to bed, I broke out my purchases from earlier that day.  I decided that I'd have a "no no" date... one that I don't plan on doing often.  But it wasn't our typical date night, so this was a bonus date anyway (well, and we never had a TRUE date night last week, tho we spent several nights playing games together).  Anyway I bought the movie Courageous for us to watch.  We had never seen it, but had been looking forward to it for quite some time.  I must say this is a terrific movie, and all we had expected it to be!  I love it, and encourage everyone to watch it.  But even better than the movie, was snuggling on the couch with my baby... We enjoyed it so much, when Courageous was over, we put on another movie and just continued to snuggle.  <3  Tonight, my kids are reaping the benifits of date nights.  2 kids are watching Courageous (one on dvd and one on blueray), 1 is watching Fireproof, and 1 is watching Facing the Giants.  I love their taste in movies! :)

Another great week for date nights!!  I hope you are all dating up a storm too.  Trust me... it's so worth it!

A Date for MILLIONAIRES... with my Boo Bear


So Thursday I had the pleasure of going on ANOTHER date.  I'm starting to feel like such a floozy. ;)  This time I got to date a gorgeous girl!  My daughter and I had a date fit for millionaires. 

On the way, Sky decided that a true millionaire likes to ride in style.   All kicked back and comfortable!  But first she had taken a ton of pictures of clouds, etc.  She did a fabulous job, and it makes this photographer momma's heart proud.  (Please don't base the quality of my skillz based on these date snapshots!  LOL) While kicked back, she decided we needed a bit more entertainment, where she decided to read to me from the Bible.  I love that this is one of her "go to" things to do. 

We started out by going out to eat.  Sky was able to get as much food, and as many desserts as she wanted.  With just a look, she had people running to make sure her drink wasn't empty, to make sure there were no dirty dishes to mar her view.  She seemed to enjoy it well...

Afterward we went to get fancy and have hair cuts.  Unfortunately, unlike our true millionaire status, we had to wait for 3 hours.  Had we known to begin with.... but oh well.  I guess that's just the price of beauty.  The whole time we were there, Sky said she was having a great time.  She read her Bible to other customers, took pictures, etc.  She definitely made the best of her time. LOL

Finally we were beautified, and it was time to do some shopping.  I'm planning an angel series of portraits starring Sky, and so we went looking for outfits to wear for these shots.  We didn't find a whole lot... 1 shirt (that will work as a dress for her), and one shawl type thing.  But we had a ton of fun in the process.  Acting like millionaires, talking like millionaires.  Lots of air kisses, Dahhhlings, and simply FABULOUSes.  Oh and the talk of jewels, gold, etc.  Simply MAVEHLOUS, Dahling.

Trying out the beds in the store

We were even "blessed" by seeing a train on the way home.

Gettin' Ready to Date


Yesterday I was able to pick up my first of MANY gift cards, etc to give as dates.  I've talked to you some about my plans to enroll my husband in a dating club for Christmas.  Well, I'm planning to do SORT of the same for the kids.  Only Larry and I will be sharing the dating duties with them.  We have 4 kids.. So we'll each date 2 kids per month, and switch each month.  So for Christmas they will get 6 preplanned (and prepaid) gifts from me, and 6 (maybe not AS planned ones) from Larry.

Yesterday while Larry and I were out and about, we went to lunch at Taco Bell.  Seems if you buy a gift card for $20, you get a free value meal.  Well, since I had to buy a card before Christmas anyway... how could I turn down a free meal?? :D  AND I got another brochure in the mail today.  Pretty soon I'll be buying some supplies to put all the brochures, gift cards, etc in and get everything all organized.  I can't wait!

Getting Started

So I've been debating this idea of starting a personal blog back up.  I always seem to do so well for a little while, then fail.  As you can see by my previous TWO posts on this blog, I don't even always do so well for a little while.  But I'm determined to change that.  I have a driving need to share what I'm thinking, what I'm planning, what I'm doing.  I want people to hear.  I want feedback.  I want to connect to others that understand.  I have several things I'm planning.  Mainly things to make me a better wife.  A better mother.  A better woman of God.

Things I have up my sleeve... 

*Putting my husband first.  Just making sure he knows how important he is in my life.  So I'll bring him something to drink when I'm up.  I'll let him watch the game in peace.  I'll do everything I can for 30 days (to start with) to make sure I put him BEFORE myself.

*Planning a year of dates to give the Larry for Christmas.  One a week, for 52 weeks.  Only one do we leave the house, but plenty of thought and excitement should go into each date.  I am really excited about this and can't wait to share!  

*Dating my children.  I have 4... and they all really need that one on one time with yours truly.  So once a month they get a date out.. with either me or their daddy.  (we'll tag team so we each only have to take 2 a month).  The dates are the important things.. its the time we spend together.  

*Refocusing on losing weight, being healthy. Not just for my looks, but because I'm a much happier person while I'm losing.  And dang it... if you look above, you'll see I'm gonna be doing a LOT of dating in 2012.  I have to look good for that! ;)

*Making time for God.  It seems like a no brainer, but it never is.  I find myself so busy... with kids, with life.. with the computer, and just with being lazy at times, that I don't make time for God.  It's time to change that.  

Those are just  a few things.  I'll begin by posting with my Putting him First experiment.  Can I overcome my selfish wants and desires and just ALWAYS put him first?  Can you?  Feel free to join me!