Reinstating Date Night

Back in January, I decided it was time to reinstate date night. There's so much that we haven't done around Chapel Hill, and it was a beautiful Saturday. One of those 70 degree days in the middle of winter. Apparently going to a public park is all the rage when it's so nice out in January, so we went to walk around the botanical gardens.

These flowers were one of the only things blooming!

Next we were off to walk up and down Franklin St. One of our missions was to find somewhere new to eat, but Pita Pit suckered us in since it had been such a long time since we had eaten there. We enjoyed Cold Stone for dessert and called it a night.

Since then we've been on some other fun dates! The idea is for us to take turns planning them. Here are some of our other dates from the past couple months:

• One weekend Joshua took me to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It was a Friday night, and we waited an hour to be seated!! Good thing we already know their food is so delicious and was well worth the wait. Our rock-paper-scissors time passing also humored some of the other people waiting. The next night we used our Christmas present from Melissa's family and went to see Les Miserables in the theater.
• Ordering Papa John's and making it our mission to find a new $5 movie to buy and watch that night.
• Running errands, picking up dinner from Panera Bread, and going home to rent a movie.

Other weekends we've been sick and stayed home snuggled up, but we've already got some great dates planned for the coming months! And you've already read about Joshua's birthday weekend and our spring break kick-off! Good thing the kick-off was good, since Joshua spent most of the week sick. We're hoping he feels better in the morning, so he can go to school!

Raccoons & Tag-Teaming

Yesterday I stopped in the middle of busy Franklin St. on my way home to let a raccoon finish safely crossing the road. There wasn't even a raccoon crossing sign. Also, I'm not sure if I'd actually ever seen a raccoon before. Random little thing. Wonder if anyone's missing a pet raccoon. ;)

Joshua and I have got a "tag-team" (his words) going on. It's not a good one either. I'm on my fourth yucky cold this winter, but this time I shared! I was sick, and as I was getting better about a week later, he started getting it. Then I got it again a week later. Then I got the plague (a.k.a. pink eye). Now it's his turn again (minus the pink eye...somewhat lucky guy). I think we're ready for some spring cleaning!! If only either of us had the energy for it. Any takers?

On the up side, we've spent lots of time snuggled in bed and watching movies the past month! I even took a day off of work to sleep once! (You know I felt horribly rotten if I actually took a sick day. I half-remember calling in and saying something about being really tired.) Susan told me I should get an award for lasting so long without getting sick. I reassured her I have been sick this year; it just typically catches up to me and I end up sleeping the whole weekend. It means I get to save my days for fun things this summer! For now, I'm excited about spring and warm weather!

Celebrating Spring Break!

We kicked off Joshua's spring break with a fun-filled Saturday! After some sleeping in, we headed to a wooded area on campus to explore the trails. We enjoyed the warmer weather, trickling streams, and serenading whistler.



The lone green tree that's ready for spring!

Along the trail we occassionally saw a wooden bench. At one point we saw a sign pointing to "Sister's Corner" and mused about what may be there. I suggested that Sister's Corner must have two benches. Guess who was right?!

We spent part of the afternoon wandering through Carr Mill Mall and finally checking out Weaver Street Market. I'd heard soo many good things about the local co-op. We both loved the small town feel of it! Maple View Farm ice cream and chocolate milk, fresh sourdough bread, and an amazing looking steak from a local farm were our happy treasures from the trip.

We tried out the famous Alfredo's Pizza for dinner and were satisfied. Good pizza but nothing too famous about it. Papa John's spinach alfredo pizza with chicken and bacon (and olives on my half) is still our current favorite pizza.

We ended the night as true adults. Sam's Club has two new members!
In Joshua's words, "That moment when having your own Sam's Club membership makes you feel adult." 
In my words, "I feel like a kid in a candy store."

Unmentionable Number

My Joshua had a birthday!! (For some reason, he doesn't like it when I say how old he turned. Like he thinks he's getting old or something.)

Friday's are a short school day for him, so he was home while I was on my break at work. I pretended to be his paparazzi. I called and asked him to check the front porch for a package...and I sneak attacked him! Somebody [amazing and wonderful] had delivered a delicious looking ice cream cake!

Friday night we celebrated at IHOP with some free birthday dinner for Joshua! (Plus a non-birthday-related brief exploration of a nearby slighty ghetto mall.) Back at home Joshua opened presents, and we had some yummy cake while watching some Boy Meets World. Then went to sleep super early like an old couple.

Birthday boy eating his scrumptious food. Also notice his

strawberry-topped pancakes and my red velvet ones. Heavenly!

Birthday wish with our lone nickel.

"How'd you know I wanted this?" 

I think that means I'm good at surprises.

Happy with his new book!
The only one he'd name as a birthday wish.

Joshua looked...funny but thinks I look cute. :)

"Happy Birthday" - not Harry Baker in case you were wondering.

The festivities continued as we used a birthday present and went to Texas Roadhouse for a lunner. It was certainly memorable since our waitress quit in the middle of her shift. We didn't know that at first...we just thought we were receiving possibly the worst service ever. We'd been seated for at least 5-10 minutes before she showed up to ask us about drinks and take our order. And we never saw her again. We'd received our food, and I was nearly done when I finally (out of desperation/maybe just thirst) went to ask another waitress for a refill. It was after that another waitress showed up and made it up to us with her amazing service. So birthday lunner ended up being a success, full of incredible, edible food and extraordinarly long straws.

 

Happy ##!!!