Dunkie Dates

With Kyle being in school, and both of us working full time, and having Abby to fill up all the space in between, sometimes it's hard to make time for dates.  Y'know dates? Those things where you put on real clothes and leave the house without a stroller or diaper bag?

One of the hardest things about living so far from all of our family is that we don't have that support where we can just drop off Abby for a night at Grandma's house or for a weekend with an aunt.  For us to leave the house, even for just a few hours on our own, means we have to either enlist the help of a kind and willing friend or pay a babysitter to come.

Since money is always tight, paying a babysitter to come is reserved for more "must-do" activities and our list of available and willing friends isn't long.  So, we don't like to draw from that pool too often.

Point being.  It's not easy for us to find time to go out.  It's rare for us to have that luxury.  And, that's mostly fine because we really do enjoy our time together as a family.

Now, that doesn't mean we don't make time to talk and spend time together.  We talk about our days every day and we discuss things every day.  We communicate.  I get hugs several times a day.  We email and text and stay in touch throughout the day. After Abs goes to sleep, we relax and watch TV together and that's our little way of making sure we have at least a little bit of time to chill.  And sometimes? Those nights where we order chinese food and rent a movie are so much better than putting on heels and walking the city (sometimes. ;)  But, it's nice to go out together too.

So, one thing we've done is, on the rare occasions where I can go into work a little bit late - I give Kyle a ride to work.  On the way, we stop at Dunkin' Donuts and have a quick breakfast together.  Sometimes, we just order a coffee and muffin and eat it in the car on the way - but sometimes, like today, we actually take the time to sit down and eat and talk.

The whole "date" takes about 15 mins.  But, it's more of the concept.  Just the two of us, out together, treating ourselves to a little treat.  In these instances, it's less about the time it takes to do it and more about the thought behind it.  And it's nice.

We both like our dunkie dates.

And I just wanted to document them.  And to say thanks to Kyle for always finding time for "us" even when there is very little time for anything else.