My Three Day Date

Kev and I are in the season of marriage and parenting where there isn't a lot of time left for just the two of us. We have 3 children under the age of 5 who need us constantly. 

Kev has a demanding job. The days are long, cold, and dark early which exhaust my inner most creative stay at home mom-ing by 4:30. 

The stresses of the rest of the day often lead us to sitting down for the first time around 9pm and choosing a glass of wine and TV over lengthy conversation. 

And there is nothing wrong with that right now, especially when we are keenly aware that we are making that choice to zone out and enjoy a little quiet time on both sides.

 But, is doesn't mean that I miss it.

 I miss talking to my husband without holding a baby or someone interrupting our conversation to ask a pressing question (most likely: Where is my Crustation Monster Truck? -Or- Can you find my football?). 

So when Kev and I booked a trip, our first for more than one night away in 3 years (!) and booked it only a week in advance, I was excited. 

Excited to reconnect with my husband, to leave behind my (blessed) 24 hours a day responsibilities, to get some sun and some (also blessed) sleep. 

So on Thursday morning, at 4am, we kissed our sleeping babes, passed the torch of duty to the ever vigilant Marme and Papa and headed to the airport. 

A few hours later, we landed in a slightly rainy, but warm Ft Lauderdale and we on vacation. After a celebratory Bloody Mary, we were able to get an early check in at the Crowne Plaza in Hollywood Beach. 

I showered for as long as I wanted to without anyone bothering me. 

Kev took a nap. 

We watch a terrible movie on HBO. 

We went for a walk. 

Later, we got caught in the rain looking for a nice dinner and ended up at a Taco Bar drinking $1 Draft Beers out of plastic cups. 

Friday, the sun peered its lovely head and we split our time between the beach and the pool, checking in with the boys periodically (they didn't miss us), but mainly enjoying each other's company. 

***

When we were first married, Kev was deployed and we spent well over a year writing letters, emails and talking on the phone. 

During those times of long conversation, we often imagined our future: 

It included lots of children, and a home, family, friends, food, (maybe) the Army, sun, sleep, wine. 

And then, over the past few days, we were able to talk about 'the future' that was now, and were happy that involved:

 lots of children, four homes (over the past 7 years), family, friends, food, (now, definitely) the Army, sun, (no) sleep and (lots of) wine.

There is something special about spending time with my husband, especially in this admitted season of parenting where 'we' just do not come first. 

I was able to hold his hand, 

And ask him questions.

I read next to him, 

I told our bartender friend Manny, 'of course we'll have another'. 

My shoulders ached of sunburn, my heart soared with love, my soul relaxed to ease back into the winter months of small child parenting (with a snow storm on the way, yay!). 

*****

And at the end of our vacation, which was at 11pm Saturday night, we decided last minute to drive the 2 and a half hours to my parents' farm to be there when the boys woke up. 

As much as we missed each other before we left, 

we missed our boys upon landing: 

the craziness that makes us-

the life that we dreamed of.

January 26 2006/ January 31 2014 

And with that, we celebrated 8 years in love, 2.5 hours of sleep and 3 happy boys first thing in the morning.

A three day date success.