Jim and I went shopping last night. Just the two of us.

It was very strange.

And very quiet.

We got to hold hands with each other – instead of chaperoning little hands across the parking lot.

We got to buckle just our own seat belts.

It was very quiet.

We got to look at what we were shopping for instead of constantly turning around to make sure all the children were still present and accounted for.

We got to hold an uninterrupted conversation.

And did I mention it was very quiet? 

Our shopping included Aldi, Lowes, Best Buy, Target, and Sam’s Club. We spent waaaayyyy too much money, but it was all necessities.

Well… ok, I didn’t exactly NEED the GPS system. But it was on sale for $100, and we’ve been traveling to all these craft shows, and I don’t have a clue as to where I’m going half the time, and I’m driving this huge vehicle (more on that later) which makes it difficult to switch lanes quickly if you’re in the wrong lane, and gas prices are going back up so extra driving because I got lost actually costs money, and… OK – I didn’t need the GPS. But Jim said to go ahead and buy it. Maybe that’s because he was in a good mood because it was so quiet? LOL

And then we finished the evening with a wonderful dinner at Red Lobster. Why Red Lobster? Because wonderful friends of ours got us a gift certificate there (and then watched all the children while we did our shopping spree and had dinner).

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I LOVE seafood – and Jim hates it. So I never cook it for our family. But every once in a while, I get to go to Red Lobster – and I pig out. Tonight I had shrimp scampi, and scallops, and flounder, and mashed potatoes with a lobster cream sauce – that was the best. Oh yes, and broccoli – but I ate that first so I could get it out of the way and savor my seafood.

The children and their security guards babysitters had a venison roast and vegetables. Then they topped it off with homemade egg nog (from our goat milk and own eggs).

What did I have for dessert? Nothing. I was too full from all that yummy seafood. And even though it is 6:30 in the morning, my mouth is watering just remembering it.

But I do have to admit that as much as I enjoyed the seafood, the best part of the evening was spending time alone with Jim. He and I very, very rarely get to spend time together – just the two of us. But it makes me so happy that after being together for 19 years (almost 14 of it married), we still enjoy it.