I think it's called a date?

You know, when two people go out and do something together, remembering why they love each other and enjoying one another's company. That is a date, right?

It had been far too long since Jeremy and I had some alone time - out of the house. Babysitters don't exactly grow on trees in our neck of the woods, and paying them once we find them is another hurdle. There are lots of great people willing to come watch our kids and we are so grateful, but it still would be nice to just hire a teenage girl who isn't juggling her own work, family, date night, etc. ya know?

Well a week ago some friends of ours insisted on coming over and putting our kids to bed. Cue Hallelujah chorus. It was glorious. Just Jeremy and I, walking through our neighborhood that we love so much, eating dinner and walking home. Peace. Quiet. No stroller. Wonderful.

...And then a bird pooped on me... but we needed to head home to feed Luke, anyway.  Still a great night :)

p.s. sorry to be so mia this week. Lots of great things happening here! Painting furniture, sewing curtains, etc. OUR LIVING ROOM WILL SOON BE A BARREN BEIGE WILDERNESS NO MORE! 

a little piece of heaven

 ^^smelling the flowers :)

About a week ago we loaded up our picnic basket Trader Joe's bag and headed out to meet some friends at a garden we had recently been told about (Sherwood Gardens if you want to know more. Thanks Ann for the sweet tip!) It was more than I ever could have imagined. Thousands of tulips bloom each year creating an almost sanctuary. There were lots of families sharing dinner and children running around, but it maintained a wonderful peace at the same time. I couldn't believe how many tulips we saw. Madeline loved sniffing the flowers and touching them too.... luckily the couple she destroyed had already been picked by another child.  The sun was setting leaving us in that not-quite-chilly spring evening air. Absolutely beautiful. A little piece of heaven right here in Baltimore. I've decided that whenever we get some family members to come visit us we'll have to ensure that it's in the spring because so far Baltimore can't be topped this time of year.

p.s. Sorry for so many flower pictures lately. They are just so beautiful! If you missed the others and care to see them you can look here and here.

family outing to IKEA

Last night we took a family outing to a place we've been saying we'd go since we moved to Utah two years ago. It was so refreshing to get out of our teeny tiny apartment, be together, and talk about life past school and work and money (which is life right now...).  But last night as we strolled through the miles and miles of IKEA, we talked about our future.  Our kitchen, our bedroom, the kids rooms, the living room and family room.  The hubby's office, my craft room. Our mudroom/laundry room.  We dreamed. And I loved every minute of it.  We don't go on family outings enough.  

Madeline: OH MY GOODNESS I'M SO EXCITED! MOM NEVER LETS ME SIT AT THE TABLE!!!!! AND I HAVE MY OWN CHAIR AND MY OWN DISHES! AHHHH!

She knows she's cute

Madeline and Mommy

oooooh.... look at that light! And this little recliner that's just my size is so cool, too!

Do you ever look at a picture of your baby, and your heart starts beating a little faster because this beautiful little person that you created is so cute, and so perfect, and so yours that you just don't even know what to do with all those feelings?  Well, I love our baby. That's all.

Weirdest recliner/desk chair ever.

M: I don't like it....

Second weirdest chair ever

baby baby

M: Ooooh... daddy your wallet is gonna be hurting after mom gets this HUGE closet someday!

M: I sit in egg chairs and put my feet together because I'm that flexible.

M: Also, I'm really cute.

(this was a kids chair and the white part at the top totally folded all the way down so you were completely hidden in the chair.  I don't know how I felt about it...)

Best $1 low-fat soft serve yogurt cone I've had in a while.  Thank you IKEA.

And surprisingly we made it out before closing.  Half an hour before closing.  Jeremy announced that we're going to have to build a house someday because we both want such specific things.  I didn't argue.  

camping

We love camping.  But you can't really go camping 

in the dead of winter in Utah with a baby...

So I took Jeremy on a top secret surprise date

and we went CAMPING! 

{bedroom style}

Took me just under forever to get this tent up.

We also had a campfire (candles), 

slept under the stars (glow n' the dark stars),

and listened to 11 minutes of free outdoor noises .

What campout would be complete without games! 

We played card games and the hershey bar game!

{i love chocolate}

Oh and of course we had s'mores!

ssshhhhh.... don't tell anybody we lit candles!

{also, you should know, if you use scented candles

you may end up with flavored s'mores...}

I sure love date night with this handsome hubby!

Oh - and I love chocolate... did I mention that?

p.s. we still have the glow stars on our ceiling.  

And I think they'll stay there for a while.