Shawn and I have been going on Date Night religiously, nearly every Friday night since we got married. It seems that we always live for Friday and the dedicated time we know we'll get to spend together. Our kids know it's just as a solid commitment as attending church on Sunday and plan their own activities accordingly.
Our Date Night activities vary depending on whether or not I am pregnant or nursing. With nine kids over the past 17 years, it's easy to see that being pregnant or nursing has been a constant. Partially due to those date nights, I'm sure! :) We've enjoyed many years of temple trips, movies, plays, hiking, eating out, double dating with friends, camping, staying overnight at a hotel, going for drives, parking, rock climbing, performances in the various arts, taking walks, planning or starting a business, visioning a project or goal, sitting in the hot tub at the gym, jogging, shopping, whatever. Last night was something new, and it was good!
We were on our way to the movie theater, when in conversation, we both agreed that there was really nothing worth seeing. So, we were without a plan. We decided to take a drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon to see how steep and far it is to get to Alta because Shawn has a goal of cycling to it this summer. He just summited Suncrest a couple of days ago and was looking for a new challenge. Baby Matthew was also with us, as he is nursing and would have been nursing happily at the theater. We drove to the top, talking, laughing, and having a great time, all except for Matthew who wasn't so much enjoying himself. Since there was really no place to park, and Matthew was getting increasingly displeased, we half-heartedly began the drive home. We were both sad that Date Night was ending because it really was still too early to end our date and go home. We usually stay out til midnight and often, later.
Shawn had another idea. He proposed that I just hurry and nurse Matthew and leave him with Aura at home so we could go out again. Sounded good. It was almost 11:00 PM before we were again in the car and backing out of the driveway. As we reversed, Shawn said "So, where we goin?" "I dunno," I said. No sooner had I said it, that he changed directions. Literally. He stopped the car, and put it in drive, rather than reverse. He drove straight into the backyard. We were laughing our heads off as he drove across the acre lawn and parked inconspicuously under a tree in the far corner of the back yard. He rolled down the windows, turned off the headlights and the engine and slid his seat back. We kept laughing for another ten minutes it seemed, as we had finally found a good place to park, right in our own back yard. We were completely undetected by our children who were all inside the house, expecting that we'd left again. There was something so satisfying, dangerous, and funny about that situation.
After talking for twenty minutes or so, still laughing at our stealthiness, we were eyeing the backseat. Full of stuff. Too bad. "Hey, what about the RV?" I said. In a flash, Shawn was out of the car and opening my door. We walked hand in hand back across the acre of grass, back to the driveway. We quietly opened the RV door, and slipped inside, completely under the radar.
With a cloud cover that hid the moonlight for the most part, it was very dark. Perfect for hiding out. Now that our date night was literally in our own driveway, it was extra exciting, lots of fun, and totally free! We didn't spend a dime on Date Night and had the best time ever. It topped off the night that we got to listen to the rain on the roof of the RV. It felt just like camping. At midnight, we quietly made our way back across the grass, again hand in hand, feeling the cool mist of the new fallen rain on our faces. Shawn opened the car door for me and we drove back across the lawn to park the car in the driveway. We were home. We giggled on the porch until we could keep a straight enough face to open the door.
The kids who were still awake rushed to greet us when we entered the house. They asked "Where did you go?" "Nowhere really," we said, and we meant it. :)
Amy Kenney
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