I know that it may sound invasive to actually have pictures and details from your children's dates.But...not at this house!
It started with a discussion about what our expectations were on "how" to ask the girl out on a date.
In this day and age, we are very aware that texting is the communication tool of choice, but we talked about the importance of having a "real" relationship that would actually require picking up a phone and dialing a number.
Yes, calling her at her home and asking her if she would like to go on a date with you.
Fortunately for A.J....
PARIS said YES!
Enough with the dating etiquette, (we will talk more about that later,) but for now let's skip to the fun part.
The exciting part was watching A.J. be, busy as a beaver building his house for winter.
He was hauling things in and out of the house.
I told him that we could drive them wherever he wanted to take her, but he informed us that he had a GREAT idea right here at home!
He continued most of the evening working on the setup, even illiciting some help from a very excited sister, Miss Brooke. (The girls love Paris!)
So here were the plans:
7:00 Star as a wiseman in the Ward Christmas party Nativity Story
8:00 Pick up Paris at her place (ok, her parent's place)
8:15 Stop by the local 7-11 for the largest Slurpee money could buy (all $1.79)
8:30 Surprise Paris with a movie outside in a tent (yes, you read that right! A tent! It was approximately 10 degrees outside)(As a sidetone: When A.J. told his dad and I what he was doing our first response was, "You CAN NOT be in a tent alone with a girl!" and A.J. responded with, "I KNOW that. I planned on inviting both our siblings." between the two of them, they have 10 siblings, so that sounded great to us.)
8:45 Pictures by mom (Madie warned me not to do this, because it would embarrass A.J., but much to my chagrin, he and Paris humored me and allowed a few pics.)
8:50 Start the movie, Elf to celebrate the season.
8:50-10:00 Many visits from Easton, the girls sneaking out, and a several checkins from mom and dad.
(they ended up putting the movie on the firepit and sitting in the opening of the tent for full disclosure, freezing without a blanket. Eventually, Easton disregarded our "no blanket" policy, and brought them one for their legs and the girls brought down an electric blanket for them to sit on)
Overall...a success!
They had fun, enjoyed the season and entertained our little ones for almost two hours.
I am sure A.J. will opt for the group date next time, maybe somewhere other than home. But if he doesn't...we'd love to host anything he can come up with!
