We did it!

Minute Maid Park

In our 3 years and 2 months of being parents, we have had approximately 3 dates, give or take 1. How sad, right?

As a young girl I did not enjoy babysitting. I dreaded it. I wasn't the kind of Beehive who wanted to hold other people's babies (now it depends on the baby!). For this reason and a couple of others, I have been very hesitant to ask people to watch my kids. We have mostly stuck to the Grandma's because we are sure that they will still love us even if our children are obnoxious.

But 3 dates in 3 years just wasn't cutting it. We have been saying for months now, let's just get a babysitter and GO! And we knew once we had one good experience with it, we could probably keep it up. But we let the weekends pass, not knowing who to call and not wanting to inflict the same dread I felt on some poor Young Woman.

Then last week Dan and I got invited to his work's box suite for a Houston Astros Game. When he called me from work asking if he should accept, I said yes, knowing it would force us to get out and get a babysitter.
And there is one girl I know who LOVES to babysit. Remember Sarah?

Prom hair-do

Or rather, remember the back of her head?

She has been telling me for a long time, "Just go, don't worry, things will be fine!" Much to my relief she was available and we went to the game last night.

Photo snapped as we hurried from our car, late.

And on all accounts the night was a success!

It wasn't really a "relaxing" time because Dan's big boss was there and some other people he doesn't know that well. So we felt like we had to be on our best behavior.

The food in the box was delicious! Fajitas, rice, beans, and tamales. The only tamales I've ever had were from a can. Needless to say these were much better.

As we were driving down, Dan asked me nonchalantly, "So are you going to get in there and take all kinds of pictures for your blog?" It was posed as a question but I heard the message loud and clear "Don't take a lot of pictures of the food and embarrass me."

So no pictures of the tamales.

We also got ice cream sundaes with all the fixins'. Again no pictures.

I did come to a conclusion about baseball though. If you want to go to a game to watch, sit in the stands. And if you want to eat really good food and not watch the game (which is A-OK fine with me) sit in a box. You know, if you have the choice.

Our view from the box

There is just much more atmosphere in the stands, which I need, to keep me focused on the game. Once I'm in the box with the food and the couches and the TV's I don't really have much desire to pay attention anymore.

But isn't the stadium amazing. I've never been to an indoor MLB game before. It was spectacular to see.

Just inside the stadium

And that big roof is retractable. I couldn't believe it.


We took off early and were like two teenagers out on a Friday night, wondering what to do and not wanting to go home before their curfew.

So for old time's sake, we found ourselves sitting on the floor at Barnes and Noble perusing books. Dan even bought me one.

We got home to find our children sleeping peacefully and the babysitter not full of dread or woe. She said that Ava was even nice to her. Hallelujah!

The only disappointing thing of the night is the fact that Sarah leaves for college in 3 weeks. So I guess we're back to square one.