Date Night(s) Plural

This is the look that naturally occurs when you turn around after casually looking at golf equipment and see your wife wearing...

This lovely little number.

Our Friday Date Night began with a trip to Dick's Sporting Goods to find a bucket of softballs to hit with the recent addition to our family, a softball bat (Welcome, Cyclone Weir...23 ounces, 32 inches long!). After gasping at the prices of the desired bucket of balls, we went to Wal-Mart and bought a dozen balls for a fraction of the price. Before leaving Dick's, I found a great new pair of tennis shoes on clearance. They were much-needed, since my old shoes are falling apart and have given their all these past four years. To find my size on clearance was a real treat! (Update: I wore them today for the first time at the gym and was blinded every time I looked down on the elliptical machine. I guess I am not used to having new shoes in well-lit places!). After our trip to Wal-Mart, we decided to break in our new addition to the family, Cyclone, by heading to a local batting cage. We had a blast for half an hour, taking turns hitting 20 balls towards targets on the far wall. (Update: I still can't move, laugh, breathe, or wink without my abs reminding me of our activities in the batting cage...I must have forgotten those four-hundred muscles existed! They are still there, as they remind me even as this innocent-enough typing takes place. Ouch!). It was such a fun evening, and it felt great to get in some good exercise. I love hitting. I played softball all my life and love getting back into the swing of things, so to speak.

Usually when the words, "We could go to The Cheesecake Factory tonight," are heard in our home, they are coming from my mouth. And we both ignore the statement and go on with our evening, pretending I didn't yet again accidentally suggest my favorite restaurant for Date Night. After a wonderful Friday Date Night, which is our usual night to enjoy each other's company out on the town, John said he wanted to treat me again on Saturday. And where did my husband want to go? I know it's impossible to believe that anyone else could suggest The Cheesecake Factory, but I swear those hallowed words came from HIM this time! Who am I to ignore it when it comes from the leader of our family? I mean, come on, he definitely knows what's best for us. I shall never question or doubt his requests. Just happily oblige! So we got all fancied up and headed to Superstition Springs Mall for some dinner, a piece of See's candy for dessert, and then some wandering around some furniture stores for fun. It was so nice being with my honey, and when See's chocolate is added to the equation, it really equals the perfect evening. For dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, John ate his beloved Factory Grande Burrito. When it was placed in front of him (taking up 3/4 of the table, thank you very much), I joked with the waitress that he could easily eat the entire monstrosity. She chuckled, saying she had only seen that happen two times before. Not only did he eat the whole thing, but I am pretty sure the other two eaters were John on our previous visits! The man is a giant-burrito-eating machine! And I couldn't be more proud. They finally added something to their menu under 600 calories that isn't a $15 salad, so I enjoyed one-third of my grilled chicken, asparagus, tomato/arugula salad, and mashed potatoes for dinner. (Update: I had some for lunch today and still have enough to eat it for dinner tonight while John and his visiting brother eat some not-so-low-calorie chicken enchiladas that I made. Talk about value!). It's such a great place to eat and always a treat. I love that we had two great nights out together. Have I mentioned I am looking forward to post-graduate life? Only eight more weeks until he is mine, all MINE! Bwaahhaaaaaa!

Ah-hem. Sorry about that. I just like my husband. A lot. And not just because he let's me get a See's candy to top off the perfect evening. Though that certainly doesn't hurt my opinion of him in any way.