Last-minute Date Night

Our anniversary is coming up, and we decided to splurge on dinner and a movie. We don't go to the theater very often, and we rarely go out to eat without our toddler in tow. Well, we had hoped to go out on the lake today, but the more we thought about it, the more we decided that would be a bad idea with Bear. I can't see her handling a life jacket very well. So we spent the morning relaxing, and my parents came over this afternoon to babysit. She smiled as they walked up the sidewalk. I love how she recognizes her family members.

So hubby and I went down to a matinee showing of Transformers (loved it- very nostalgic, and well done. I didn't really expect it to have a plot, but it did. Good special effects.... not for young kids, violence justifies the pg-13 rating; they couldn't have done the effects this well back when the cartoons came out), and we even got popcorn and cokes, which almost never happens. After dinner at Red Lobster, we decided to stop by Kohl's, as we knew Baby Bear was in good hands with Granwendy and Grandaddy. I found a beach towel/blanket & flip flops for our upcoming trip- no luck in the swimsuit area. Hubby found some shirts. Why is it that he finds clothes easier than I? Again, it was soooo nice to not have to worry about our little one while we were out.

So, happy early anniversary to us. Of course, you know you are an old married couple when you are home and on the couch by 9 p.m.

DATE NIGHT!!!!!!

I cleaned a bunch today... didn't get all the laundry folded, but the kitchen floor is no longer gross, the guest bath is clean, and the counter top and bar between the kitchen and living room are essentially clear. Baby Bear probably didn't know what to think of her Mommy's cleaning frenzy. It's amazing what happens when people are coming over...

We had our symphony date tonight. The evening began at Uncle Gio's, a local Italian place. The food was yummy, and it was so nice to eat uninterrupted by a fidgety toddler. Bec, Brett, & cousin Juliana came over. Apparently Baby-Bear did pretty well, except for literally pulling her cousin out of the toddler chair. Then, apparently she acted like she wanted to get up, but she didn't want her cousin to have the chair, so she stayed put and pouted. Finally, the tossed the chair around together. Or something like that. Bec might tell the real story on her blog.

Anyway, while Juliana was sharing her Mommy and Daddy with our daughter, we enjoyed our nice, peaceful dinner. Then we headed downtown to hear the symphony
at the new Schermerhorn symphony center. Parking and shuttle were free for symphony patrons.... while the garage was technically within walking distance, the chilly night air made the shuttle even more appealing. We especially enjoyed the first half, which included classics by Beethoven and Haydn. The cellist "rocked it hard core," to quote hubby. The 2nd half was composed by Philip Glass, an American composer. While technically the music was superb, the subject matter was a bit eastern for our tastes. It helped to not read the lyrics in the program and just focus on the music. As we headed down to the complimentary coat room to pick up my coat, a familiar face was coming down the staircase above us... Nashville's mayor. I supposed the woman with him was his wife, but I haven't the slightest clue.
It was a fun, relaxing evening. Hubby did good for Valentine's this year. We were apart for the Holiday last year, so I guess he felt he had to make up for it. No complaints here. The whole experience made me glad that my musical knowledge and appreciation are (hopefully) a little better than many American's. There wasn't a bad place in the hall, and I can say that because we were seated very near the back and the sound was still good. The precision of the orchestra, the animation of the conductor, and the choir's artistry made the show. (I told hubby they had to be good musicians to sing the lyrics of the Glass composition and not laugh... and it was not a comedy. Forgive me, please. ) Oh, and one cannot forget the beauty of the building. I felt rich just being in a place like that. I felt loved by the one God has given me. I observed a very expectant Mom, and remembered how Baby Bear used to dance to the classical music I played in my office when I was pregnant with her. Hubby held the doors for me, helped me with my coat, put his arm around me... I felt cherished. While we love our daughter dearly, it was nice to have an evening for just the two of us. And I hope that in spite of their toddler tiffs, the girls will grow to be great friends.

We might be heading to Indy tomorrow... hubby is off work on Monday, and he thinks he misses the cold. And his brother, crt, and Monarch and purple Princess. (Might is actually probably misleading... we are planning on it. I just haven't started packing yet.)

Good night, Friends!