Dating my kids

Its about to get all “NPR-fundraising-day” around here.  This week I’m hoping to post a lot of fun pictures and stories, some serious thoughts and some old birthday letters long neglected.  But to get to those fun posts, I hope you’ll allow me a little room to remind you that we are in the thick of things with our fundraising related to the 6th annual Teen Lifeline 5K.  Be sure to check out the post I wrote about why I believe this race is so necessary.  The short version, though, is that our family is participating in the race and would love for your to partner with us and this awesome organization, bringing hope and help to teenagers in our area.  THANK YOU!  Here is a link to make a donation. 

NOW ON WITH THE PROGRAM 

I love time alone with RRL.  He’s just plain FUN, tolerates my hare-brained date ideas, and we always have 12934762 conversations waiting to be completed until we snatch a few uninterrupted minutes together.

But I also have some other guys (and gal) I love to date.  At RRL’s leading, we’ve been trying to intentionally plan some one-on-one time with each of our 4 during our season of bonus kiddos.  And I have LOVED this.

I love that we do things we wouldn’t normally do.  I love that we talk about things that we wouldn’t normally talk about.  I love seeing how what they want to do helps me better understand who they are.  Here’s a glimpse of my first round…

I told KJ that he could plan the date.  And he came up with a whole theme.  Watch out, Ladies, with a hear that loves to plan a theme date he’s gonna be a CATCH…pun definitely intended.  His theme was “FISH”.  So- we went to the park to look for fish in the creek, stopped by the pet store to see how much a fish and fish bowl would cost (he’s saving) and then went out for a Sushi snack.  I love that he loves sushi.  I kinda hate how big he looks while ordering and eating it.

Cbug’s “date” revolved around one word- CRACKERBARRELPLEASE.  He knows the way to his Momma’s heart.  That or the combination of pancakes and checkers was calling his name.  Whatever.  Funny thing about his date, though, was that he asked me what he needed to wear.  I told him he could choose, but that he should consider whether how much thought and attention he put into how he dressed would make me feel special.  So he came out wearing his orange jersey.  MY color of orange.  Not his (he prefers another UT).  We did have to work a little, though, on the heart of generosity.  Every time someone would comment on his awesome shirt, he would say “I like the longhorns.  I’m just wearing this cuz I’m on a date with my mom”.  I guess its the thought (cough cough) that counts ?!

Lou and I, shockingly, went to get our nails painted.  She is so IN for anything that involves pampering.  I had a giftcard and I can’t think of a better way to use it than watching her light up at the sight of SO.MANY.COLORS to choose from, a bubbly bath for her toes, and S-P-A-R-K-L-E-S all around.  We had a great time together.  When we finished, I was running in to our house to grab something and tripped a little.  She yelled from the car, “MOM, DID YOU MESS UP YOUR TOES?”  I find it incredibly ironic that I would have a daughter who would even THINK to ask that question.

Tito just loves to go.  Anywhere.  So he and I had an awesome time at Target.  He loved getting to ride in the cart, look at all of the toys and just people watch. (Of course we also spent a little quality time in a potty stall.  hooray for that.)  We stood FOREVER in the train and trucks section of the toys and just rolled them around the cart.  Then we bought a treat, sat on a bench outside the store and counted trucks that went by.  BOY.LOVES.TRUCKS!  I loved just listening to his little voice, uninterrupted, for awhile.

One bonus thought on this: I kinda love that my kids are at the age where going to the park to watch for fish, playing checkers at CrackerBarrel, getting their nails painted and strolling through Target are SUCH.A.BIG.DEAL.  Hope we can hang on to that for a while.  Such special memories.

ABL