Project 52: Date Nights - THE FIRST DATE

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to discover Project 52: Date Nights over at Simply Modern Mom.  Right away I knew it was just what Billy and I needed to purposefully make time for each other each week.  The keys are intentionality and simplicity.  You can check out more details here, but the gist is that you dedicate a regular time each week to spend on a "date" and take turns planning a month's worth of dates.  For us, the majority of these dates will be at home - we hate asking people to watch our kids because, well, we have 500 of them and anyone who babysits Baby A. has to have a clear background check on file.  (So, that pretty much eliminates all of our friends and family... ha ha just kidding!)  Anyway, on to the date!

I wanted to keep things exceptionally simple for our first date so that the bar wouldn't be set too high.  We chose Friday nights from 9:00-10:00 or whenever Baby A. falls asleep. We drank flavored coffee and ate chocolate chip pumpkin muffins while we discussed our Goals for 2010 using these questions.  (I know, I know, we were supposed to set these goals in January, but we're always, like, a month behind around here.)  We discussed our goals for our marriage, family, finances, and health.  Having the questions kept us focused.  That is, until I fell asleep.  Oops.  (But Billy's used to that because I used to fall asleep at the movies all the time when we were dating.)

Overall it was an undeniable success.  Taking the time for simple details (candlelight, music, the "no frumpy clothes" rule) set it apart as a date and not just another Friday night of watching TV by default. I can't wait to start planning Date #2!