being spontaneous

Over the years I have heard again and again that you should continue to date your spouse throughout your marriage. Ya know, keep the relationship fresh and healthy. Doug and I are not the most spontaneous people, but we do make a point to do things together. I think we're realizing that our days of "spontaneous, child-free" dating are numbered, so we might take advantage of out-of-the-blue date night opportunities a little more. After all, it will get harder to be spontaneous when there's a third [very tiny and needy] human thrown in the mix.

So when Doug randomly suggested that we go up to Salt Lake City on Saturday afternoon, I readily agreed and we hopped in the car. Temple square, the mall, too much ice cream, playing with kittens at an adoption shelter (one climbed onto my lap to take a nap and I just wanted to keep her!!!) and totally getting our butts kicked on a mini golf course = just what the doctor ordered. Not to mention that chicken pesto panini from Kneaders, yum!

And once I had snapped a couple Temple Square pics I figured: what the heck, forget the camera. Except for those kittens. I had to get a couple pictures of them. So cute.

And in the words of my little sister when she texted Doug and he told her that we were on a date:

"How romantic!"

Ikea. Enough said.

Sometimes you just have to go on dates to Ikea.

Yay for smartphone photos and really awful warehouse lighting! If only there were an Ikea closer to Provo. It would be a hot-spot for college date nights... it's just so fun to sit in the display areas, and the food court is dirt cheap. It's definitely an "experience-in-person" type of place though, pictures make it look gross.

It was a rather impromptu trip - we stopped there on the way to the SLC airport on Saturday to pick up Doug's dad, who is in town visiting for the week. The evening culminated in a trip to The Old Spaghetti Factory (at my suggestion) and I swear I haven't been there in forever! It brings back memories of the times I've eaten there for family gatherings.

And I'll say it now... I'm obsessed with maxi skirts and maxi dresses. I'm jumping on the bandwagon very late, I know, but they're just so comfortable with my constantly changing and growing belly.