Tonight, Amy and I are going out to dinner to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday.
Without the kids. Granny and Grumpy are coming to watch the boys while we go and cavort with other grown ups. Legal adults at any rate.
This is very cool since it's only the second time in about a year that my wife and I have taken the opportunity to go away from home and engage in adult interaction without the terrible, horrible, burdensome burden of our boys to weigh us down and cause us to regret ever becoming parents. The first was at a friend's wedding last month where Amy and I had such a good time that we had to take cabs home.
There have been a few occasions where we've each had opportunities for an evening or an afternoon away from home, but they've always come with the other parent staying behind. We've taken it in turns for sanity breaks. These joint deals, now that Tavish is nearly six months, should come more frequently.
Since we first got the email invitation to dinner, we've been talking about this all week.
"Do you think your mom will come watch the boys on Friday?"
"As long as they don't already have plans, probably. I'll call her."
"What if she can't? I really want to get out."
"So do I. Don't worry. I'm sure they'd love to come over for the night. You know how well Dex and Grumpy get along."
"Is it Friday yet?"
"No, it's only Wednesday."
"Shoot, I really want it to be Friday."
"Me too. Don't worry, it'll be here soon enough."
"No it won't."
"Yeah, that's true, but it'll still get here. Eventually."
"Your folks can still come over, right? To watch the boys? They haven't changed their minds?"
"Yup. It's still all good."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Maybe you should call, just to be sure."
"I'm sure."
"Maybe I should call."
"Amy...."
"Well, okay. Is it Friday yet?"
"Tomorrow."
*****************
Anyway. We're looking forward to dinner tonight.
Oooh, la-la! Grown-ups!!! Don't talk with your mouth full, your napkin goes on your lap and not tucked in your collar and for gadsakes, don't cut up your neighbor's food. And have a really, REALLY good time for us.
Posted by: Linda | Friday, 25 August 2006 at 09:55 AM
The upside to having grandparents in the same town as you is that once a month you can ceremoniously dump the bundle of joy on them and go out on a date. Preferably with your spouse.
Posted by: fv | Friday, 25 August 2006 at 11:26 AM
You took cabs home? Cabs, plural?
Posted by: rick | Friday, 25 August 2006 at 05:40 PM
This is good news, but a little not good, because you guys must avail yourselves of the grand-familial services more often. That is one of the major reasons we moved to Texas (because, why the heck else would somebody do that). Okay, how come when I try to use an apostrophe, I am automatically kicked into a Find box in Firefox? I am a little miffed here, and I am starting to sound strange, for the sake of Pete.
Posted by: Mark | Saturday, 26 August 2006 at 12:52 AM
Rick,
Yes, cabs. Amy started to miss the boys sooner than I did so she went home at about 11. I wanted to stay later, being in the wedding party and all. Plus, it was an open bar, man! (Then there was the third cab ride the next morning to retrieve the truck from where'd we perforce abandoned it.) So, in essence, I guess we did pay for the booze after all.
Posted by: Simon | Saturday, 26 August 2006 at 05:25 AM
Ah. Now I understand.
Posted by: rick | Saturday, 26 August 2006 at 09:28 AM
Granted it's not been long, but what I already miss the most is Friday night dinner and a movie. Now Fridays are mostly spent in the living room with a DVD - baby Xavier in arms or on a cushion, preferably asleep - trying to see how long we can watch without using the pause button.
I hope you two had a good time!
Posted by: Émilie B. | Sunday, 27 August 2006 at 08:39 AM
Is it sad that I have not been on a date, without the kids, for over a year. We still have noone to watch the kids. I need to work on this ASAP!
Posted by: TerriTorial | Monday, 28 August 2006 at 04:37 PM