Date Day

This weekend, Shawn and I enjoyed some one on one time with our girls.  It's something
we don't do enough: taking the time to focus all of our attention on one child.  This is part
of a list of things Shawn and I want to change: developing a better balance between
being together as a tribe and also enjoying quality time as individuals.  And so we are
starting now, shooting for once a month one on one dates with our girls.  

For our first date day, Shawn and Isabelle made plans to spend the day at the location of
her choice.  Her dream date with her Daddy: Chuck E. Cheese!!!!  And my sweet,
patient husband happily obliged, walking hand in hand with his little girl into the most
over stimulating environment around.  Belle requested that Brees and I stay for pizza and
a few rides before we left for our own date.  She held her baby sister and they both
giggled wildly, bumping along on the Clifford car, Brees looking around at the millions of
lights and sounds around every corner.  

After winning a few prizes and enjoying a kid friendly lunch, it was time to leave Shawn
and Belle and let them get to the real fun: arcade games, Foosball, and gigantic dancing
mice.  She was in heaven!  

Brees and I headed out for our special date: a shopping trip to purchase her very first pair
of shoes!  We had quite a time trying to find a pair that were appropriate for early
walkers but also came in her size: her feet are so teeny tiny and at nine months old, she
is only a size 1!  But after trying on several dozen pairs, we finally found the perfect
shoes.  Pink, of course.  Brees had more fun trying to eat the shoes on display and
knocking over boxes than shopping, as expected.  It was a special trip, though, and
reminded me of the day I took Isabelle to buy her first pair of shoes.  Another
special memory to add to our family's record book...

We met up at the end of the day, two very sleepy little girls and smiles all around.  We
got home just in time for the LSU game and spent the rest of the evening in our pajamas
with big bowls of popcorn.  It was a very successful date day and we all agreed that this
is a new tradition that definitely deserves a once a month spot on our family calendar!