This summer Portman and I have made an effort to take Harper and Roman on special “dates.” While they love to be together, we also think it is important for them to get alone time with Mommy and Daddy. They both think it is so special to get to have a “date” with us, and it is something they will talk about for weeks and weeks afterwards.
Harper and I have had a couple of dates. In early July I took her to see Charlotte’s Web at the Adventure Theater at Glen Echo. When I told her we were going to see a play, she immediately asked “am I gonna watch it, or do I get to be in it?” It was really neat for her to see a real play, especially since she had just been in one at theater camp. We got there early and checked out the playground, then enjoyed the show. It was excellent, and we are already looking forward to seeing Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse in the fall!
Harper and I have also had several swimming dates. She has made such progress in the pool this summer that I’m trying to take her swimming by herself so we can do “big kid stuff.” We have been playing all the games that I remember playing as a kid, like the color game, underwater tea parties, touching the bottom of the deep end together, etc. Seeing her swimming so well has really encouraged me to get back in the water, and I’ve even swum a few laps this summer during “break” while she sits on the edge and cheers me on! Here’s a recent video of Harper swimming freestyle with her swim teacher, Katie:
This week Roman got to go on a big, special date with Daddy to see the Nat’s game. I let him take a super long nap so that he could stay up for the game. He woke up at 5:30pm ready to go! Although they could have driven, they decided to take Metro since Roman loves trains. He was so proud of his Metro card and insisted on using it all by himself. He sat through almost the entire game and even caught a foul ball! Well, okay, an official tossed it to him after it was hit, but he still got his first MLB souvenir!
Roman and I went on a biking date last weekend. Harper didn’t want to go, so Roman sat in Ada’s bike seat and we rode around Lake Braddock. He gave me a running commentary the entire time, dictated which playgrounds we could stop at, and “took a picture of me” while he was on the swing. Click!
Last, but certainly not least, Portman and I actually got a date this summer! We went to Bethany Beach for 2 nights and stayed in a B&B, while Yaya camped out with the kiddos. It is so rare that we get away from the kids together (actually, we think this trip was the first time since before Roman was born), and while we missed them, we really enjoyed our break. We look forward to the day when it is easier to vacation!
