iDate #3

After two not-so-great dates, we opted for something much less organized.  This time, we took our list of questions and headed to McAlister's.  We love McAlister's because it isn't loud and chaotic.  It is a great place to have a conversation. And of course, they have fantastic tea and cookies!  It didn't hurt that we had a coupon for free food!  :)  We also caught a movie at the $2 theater and then warmed up with some hot chocolate.  Perfect!

Unfortunately, I threw away my date cards before doing this blog post, so I don't have the questions to post.  The questions this time were all about the future.  It was nice to talk about the things that we would like to do as a couple and as a family.

Jon and I, both, thoroughly enjoyed the iDate challenge!  It was fun to have Jon plan dates, be able to talk and spend time out without the kids.  We really make an effort to get out and go on dates fairly regularly.  It is so much easier since Ben and Abby are old enough to stay home with Luke!  At one time in our lives we rarely ever got out by ourselves.  Ugh...those were some rough times!  Thankfully it was only for a season and we are where we are now!

Now we just have to cross our fingers and hope we won the big grand prize!  We will find out soon!

iDate #1

Right now, at church, we are going through a series on community (relationships).  As part of the series, there is a date night challenge going on.  It's called "iDate.  The Date Night Challenge.  3 Dates in 3 Months".  I can handle that!  Jon and I already try to plan one date per month anyway.  This just makes it a little bit easier to plan.  Plus, there is a prize!  Not only do I get to spend time with my man, if we go on our date, take a picture of us on our date and post it on the church's Facebook page, we get entered into a drawing for the grand prize.  As if going on a date wasn't prize enough!  The grand prize is:  dinner at Frank & Lola's (our favorite!), two movie tickets and an overnight stay at the Inn at Price Tower.  Yes, please!

I have been very anxious leading up to surgery and wanted to make sure that Jon and I went on a date before surgery and make sure we didn't miss out on our date one.  We had a good time on our date, however, it didn't go quite like we thought it would.  We went out late 8:00pm)  due to kids schedules and other things that were going on.  By the time we got to Frank & Lola's (around 8:10pm) we were told that we couldn't be seated because the kitchen was closed.  What?!  Seriously?!  Thankfully, we are regulars at F&L's and one of the regular waitresses saw what was going on, she told the girls behind the counter to go ahead seat us.  Finally!  We weren't off to a great start, but dinner was great!

As part of the date challenge, we were given a packet of cards with instructions for each date and questions for us to answer together.

Date one questions:

When you were growing up...

What was the best vacation you took with your family?

What was the worst storm you were ever in?

What did you accomplish as a child that gave you the most satisfaction?

Who was your best friend?  Why did you connect so well with that person?


(I am including these questions so that maybe you can use them on one of your dates.  They make for great conversation!)

It was fun to discuss our answers to each question.  It seems like we have known each other forever, but were still able to learn something that we didn't know before.

After dinner at F&L's, we opted for dessert at Jared's.  Of course, in keeping with the "not going so well" start of our date, things didn't go so well here either.  We ended up not getting dessert.  Actually, we ended up just going home.  It was fine. We figured we could just make up for it on our next date.

Jon and I both love the idea of this date challenge.  We are both looking forward to date two!  (Hopefully I will be able to go out soon, after having surgery and all...)