Taking Back Date Night

We are just going to pretend that I didn't fall off the 

face of Blogger for the last three(ish) months and dive right in

with a super fun post.  Apologies ahead for all the friends

and family that come here for posts about Max.  There are 

exactly zero pictures of Max...but the message here is good. 

So, stay with me. :) 

After Max was born - the general idea of date night around here 

changed quite a bit. Date nights used to be spontaneous (as much

as can be when you're married to me - planner extraordinaire)...and

most importantly the conversations didn't revolve around topics like

Paw Patrol, who's turn it was to make lunch, and 

what we were bringing for letter bag day. 

I've learned that it's incredibly easily to let your marriage

sink down to the bottom of the to-do list in terms of things

needing tending when you are raising a child. 

To be quite frank - year three/four of raising our child was not

altogether easy.  A three year old challenges you - forces you 

to actually decide things like how your parenting this child, 

is preschool really that important (and why does it cost so much),

and how many tantrums till you totally lose your sh*t. 

I was determined to change that for 2018 - for the better of 

our marriage, our parenting, and our individual selves too. 

Because I believe in date nights. 

I believe in setting aside time to focus on each other without

a child in tow. For child free conversations. For dressing up. 

For dinner that is not peanut butter and jelly.

For making room for each other. For laughing, and holding

hands and yeah, making out. 

I want Max to know that before it was #we3Haucks - 

we loved each other first. 

Enter - the year of dates!

(which was actually Rob's Christmas present). 

I made a big old list of things that sounded fun (and that we 

could do together) - arranged them into months -

actually registered and paid for them - and booked

babysitting. 

January was cooking class at Sur la Table at Easton. 

We ditched our Zoo uniforms for aprons and 

got cooking some Chinese take out (Rob's favorite)!

I

By the end of the night - we had worked on our knife 

skills, crushed garlic, sauteed, and served up dumplings, 

chicken lo mien stir fry, and broccolini.  

We got another night out the weekend Max

was with my parents -- so here is another cute 

picture of us! ha!

This time we opted for Vaqueros (and hats, apparently). 

And, we went to our Employee Recognition Dinner

at the Hollywood Casino!  Papa Rob wore 

a suit and I wore a jumpsuit. 

We didn't win at the black jack tables or even

any raffle prizes...but we did hit the photobooth

five times.  So who can really complain? 

February was a hot glass class at Glass Axis. 

Hottie alert below in those safety goggles :)

During this class we were going to be designing glass

flowers - from the color, to the size, molding the shape, 

clipping the petals, and forming it to our liking. 

Rob chose yellow with hints of purple and I chose 

the multi color! Rob went first...taking the hot glass

and swirling it around in the oven(?)

 

 

We couldn't take our finished products home with us because they 

had to go in another hot cooler looking thing....but the class was really fun!

And, because there were only 4 people in the class - it finished early so we 

had time for our favorite lunch at Dibella's subs! 

*also this is only the third time we have left Max with

an actual babysitter (one of his teacher's) and I have to say

a big shout out to all the grandparents out there babysitting

for FREE!  You are the real MVP's to date night. 

After paying $15 an hour (and I'm really not complaining...she was

entirely worth it) - i have come to appreciate all the money

my parents and Auntie Stacy are saving us! 

Speaking of grandparents - they came up for my birthday

so that Rob and I could go out again! Two dates in February say what?! 

We went to Pins Mechanical (super fun....bring lots of quarters!)

and then dinner later at Cap City (triple decker grill cheese for the win

on a Friday in Lent season). 

All this to say - I want Max to see us go on dates.  I want him

to see us leave...hand in hand...smiles on our faces. Putting

our marriage (as tired, hungry, whiny as we feel) FIRST. 

We're taking back date night!