Just like the good old days....kind of.

Tonight was such a wonderful night. Jay and I got the chance to go out on a date night thanks to some friends of ours that took the kids for the evening. It has been quite some time since we have been able to go anywhere alone because of Jay's work schedule and the time that I have been spending with my mom. We always seem to go to the same ole' same ole' when we go out to eat and are stuck in a rut. Since we didn't have the kids, we decided to try somewhere that we would never usually try and decided to go to Asian Grill. It was so good! I am not usually so daring, but what the heck! We ended up ordering tempura vegetables and shared a sushi dish. Jay ate the raw stuff and I ate the California roll which was really delicious. I am more than willing to try a new restaurant, but I refuse to eat raw fish. It's the whole texture thing that really gets to me. Afterwards we made our usual after dinner trip to the grocery store that is a given wether we have the kids with us or not. Then we went on to Panera for some coffee.

It's so funny how much things change from when you start dating someone to what they turn into after you are married and then add children to the mix. When Jay and I first started dating, our dates usually consisted of a 3 course dinner somewhere really nice and at the earliest, around 8:00. Then we would make a trip to Wal-Mart just to walk around and check out things and just buy whatever caught our eye and our hearts desired. Usually, when we were dating, our night would end with a trip to George House and we would take it back to my moms to sit on the porch swing and talk late into the night about our future together. Now a days, our dates consist of a dinner without dessert since we have figures to watch (why can't our metabolisms be the same as they were when we were teenagers) and are nice and early since we are home by 8:00 for bedtime for the kids and are ready to get into our pajamas after a long day. We still include the trip to Wal-Mart but now it is a quick in and out for the needed items, such as a gallon of milk and diapers. And well the coffee...who can justify spending $10.00 on two cups of coffee? Anymore we head to Speedway for a $1.00 cup of coffee. Big spenders, I know, but hey! Tastes pretty good to me! The greatest change that has occurred, however, is the topics of our conversation. We no longer talk about our hopeful dreams of the future, but the realities of them. We still have dreams of the future of course, but all of the things that we were "dreaming" of when we were just a young teenage couple in love, have become our realities. We discuss the adorable faces and noises that Caroline made today, or her latest milestone. Or the funniest thing that Joel has said or done lately that makes us laugh.

When Jay and I started dating almost 7 years ago, I would have never imagined that this is where we would be but I wouldn't change one second of it for anything. I have been so wonderfully blessed by the Lord and I can't help but sing His praises for all that He has done for me. I can honestly say that I fall more in love with my husband every day that we are together and I am so thankful that we have that kind of relationship. Of course we have bad days, but they only make the great days even better! Well that is all the babbling I have time for tonight. I love you Jaybird! I love our time together. Even though dates are hard to come by, it is that more special when they do come around. I am so thankful for you and your love for me and our kids.