It Snowed!

Yes, it snowed in April. The Little Man has been off school (and I've been off work) since Monday. While its been a fun, unintentional vacation, I'm ready to get back to normal. The Big Man and I have been together for over 20 years now, and after all that time, things can be taken for granted. With cabin fever, homemaking and home ownership duties, parenting and more, the last thing on either of our minds is date night.

That's what makes it so important.

I found a great idea on Pinterest (I spend way too much time there, but my family does benefit!)for a snow date. I pinned it to use next winter, since I didn't plan on the icepocalypse happening this week. It's pretty simple-play in the snow and have some hot cocoa! It's a great chance to reconnect, be silly and just have fun.

I love the hot cocoa recipe from Hershey's. it's super simple and super delish!

Ingredients


1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa Dash salt 1/3 cup hot water 4 cups (1 qt.) milk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Miniature marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream (optional)
Directions

1 Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.

2 Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy. Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired. Five 8-oz. servings.

Video Games

I went on the most amazing date last night. My son and I went to the movies and saw Wreck It Ralph. Believe it or not, we had never been to the movies together-other than the Cine Dome-before. I know, hard to believe right? He had gone from camp, but there's something to be said about bonding over popcorn and candy.
My son loves video games. Loves, loves LOVES them. This movie is all about video games-at least on the surface. Wreck it Ralph is the bad guy in Fix it Felix Jr, a video game that is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Ralph is tired of being the bad guy and wants respect.
So he goes turbo and invades another video game in search of it.
He winds up in a Call of Duty type game, and by plot twists and turns, winds up in the game Sugar Rush. It's in this game, Ralph learns important life lessons. He meets the Glitch, who threatens to bring down the game. However, the Glitch teaches Ralph what it means to be a hero.
My son told me that it was the best movie he's ever seen. Better than Toy Story or Rio, which he loved beyond belief. I liked that there was a strong, positive message that we can all be good, and do good things.
Most of all, I loved spending time with my favorite date!

La Bamba

Little Man and I had the opportunity to attend the Fiesta Fantastico tonight, sponsored by Complete Media. They are a local advertising, marketing and design firm (lots of hats, all worn well) that has a very hip, funky urban vibe. How can you not like having video games, pool table and fooseball in the office?
They put on a cinco de mayo celebration each year, and we had a blast! From the awesome food (hello build your own burrito bar? Love it!) to yummy brownie bites, all was well on the foodie front.
Little Man made a few new friends, too. He played fooseball and shot pool. And then went back and played some more.
We got our glow sticks glowing.
We had a sword fight too.
My kiddo had *gasp* mountain dew. He's a happy little boy.
The highlight for me was getting-wait for it-a butterfly tattoo on my leg. (no worries its airbrush!)
Love my date nights with my kiddo!

I Am a Ninja

Yesterday, my son decided to be a ninja.
He had a shirt with a hood that he could pull up to make look like a ninja. We went to the Washington Pavillion (www.washingtonpavillion.org) last night and it was the perfect training ground for a ninja.
He showed his ninja skills with racing marbles.
We built a ninja get away car.
We showed off our ninja ball throwing skills.
We then became stealthy ninja, demonstrating our rock climbing skills.
Then we showed off our speedy ninja skills on the race track.
Our ninja soccer skills were tested against other ninjas too.
After we had our ninja fun, we took our ninja skills to watch a movie: hurricane on the bayou (http://www.hurricaneonthebayou.com/)a fascinating look at how decreased wetlands contributed to the destruction of hurricane Katrina. Featuring musician Tab Benoit (who is coming in concert this spring), it showed the importance of the wetlands on the Louisiana delta, and how the lack of them contributed to the destruction of Katrina.
Son: "mom, we dont get hurricanes in South Dakota, do we?"
"no honey, we don't"
"good, because hurricanes are deadly"
The movie did prompt a history lesson, because he was just a toddler when Katrina happened.

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMKXr-SLwyg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Little Man had his art class today, and the Big Man and I planned some time to visit Artists Against Hunger, and wherever else the few childfree hours we had took us.
As we got downtown, a few flakes began to fall. So far this fall, it's been unseasonably warm, which has been wonderful. However, now that it's December, we need a little bit of snow on the ground to get into the holiday spirit.
Little Man was too excited to Draw Paint Create! I don't know what hes making the next few weeks because they are surprise presents for us. I do know he has a great time.
Meanwhile, the Big Man & I had an opportunity to support Feeding South Dakota (http://www.feedingsouthdakota.org/) and help lessen hunger in our area. I am more of an art lover than my husband is, but I think he enjoyed it. I do know that he thought the custom bikes were pretty cool. We both liked one painting of happy bunny as a skeleton (I know creepy and morbid but you have to believe me when I say it was well done).
By the time we left there to check out Simply Perfect's holiday open house (http://www.simplyperfectstore.com/) the snow was starting to stick and visions of sugar plums started to dance in my head (or was it the yummy warm apple cider and cookies?)
From there we went on a date. We started at the Phillips Ave Diner, but there was a huge line and we just wanted coffee. So we went across the street to Kaladis (http://kaladisbistro.com/index.html) which is always a great choice. It was so great to just spend some quiet, alone time with my beloved. We sat and talked; we sat in silence. After all these years sometimes it's ok to not speak.
After that, we dashed through the snow flakes and wandered around downtown Sioux Falls. If you were a casual observer, you would have thought we were either newly in love or filming a chick flick.
There are horse drawn wagon rides down Phillips Avenue and it was so romantic to watch them go by with a gentle snow falling.
As busy, working parents we have a hard time connecting. There are already far too many things on our to do lists; scheduling date night would make it another chore. I love the impromptu ones when they just happen organically & evolve.
We had a couple of hours to just hang out and be, no agenda, no set of errands or chores. Complete zen moment. Just us, the snow and some Christmas magic. Even though it was blustery outside, I had my love to keep me warm.