Girls Beach Date!

Beach days are an absolute must in the summer time and since we only live about 40 minutes away take advantage of our time to go. We've been a few times this summer and plan to go again before school starts! While Noah was at scout camp we decided to have a girls beach date and we had so much fun. The water was extra warm and we literally didn't want to get out of the water! Chelsea was a true aqua woman and having the best time and even though she missed Noah at times it was nice for her to be able to go deep into the ocean and swim. Normally she'll stay close to Noah and play in the water with him but since he's not a swimmer doesn't like going in too deep. So chelsea went all in and took advantage of the waves! I myself am not a great swimmer and so I too stay close to the shore. Maybe it's cause I'm getting old. LOL! Anyway, we had such a blast just the two of us. We should definitley make this a tradition when dad's at work and Noah is away at scout camp! 

Date Day With Chelsea & Why One On One Time Is Important.

One of the most important things that I have learned as a mother especially now that I'm getting up there in age is how one on one time with each of my daughters is so important. I wish I would have done these dates more often with my oldest, but knowing now why it is so beneficial to their lives that I put some time aside for my girls individually has made them open up to me even more. They are willing to talk to me about any issue, or concern they may be having.

a mommy daughter date: Frozen in 3D!

I have been having a bit of a guilty conscience lately with not having enough mommy/daughter dates with my youngest daughter. See...when you have three daughters it's not always easy to find one on one time with them. Sometimes I end up taking either two or all of them together on an outing. Whether it's going out to dinner, a movie, or even a trip to NYC. Actually...we all go as a family when we venture out there!

So I have made a resolution, and I've started it a few weeks early to take all of my girls on a mother/daughter date. Just us. Individually. Me and Chelsea. Me and Lexie. And me and Sierra. Oh...I can't forget my little man Noah, but our dates are spent all alone together for eight hours every day! Still...one of these days I want to take him out on a date in the evening too! I know Jon will take over in that department as he grows older, and dates with mama and papa will be overloaded with our little guy!

Last night I decided to take Chelsea to see Frozen. I didn't order tickets online, and after a long day of shopping for paper products for our church Christmas party, and other things I didn't make the time to get online to buy tickets for the show. We arrived and saw that the 2D show was sold out, and there was nothing left but 3D. Chelsea didn't want to wait for the 9pm 2D showing, and so we stood there pondering for a minute. Although I'm not too fond of 3D movies or wearing those dumb glasses I bit the bullet, and went ahead and saw it in 3D. Ah...the things we do for our kids!

We love the AMC theatre in Marlton because they have reclining leather seats, and it feels as if you are in the comforts of you own home watching a great movie on a big screen. We were so excited to have watched the show, and the glasses didn't seem to bother me as much. This movie was so cute, funny, some sad scenes, but had a magical happy ending. Don't all Disney movies do?

I'm so glad to make the time, and effort to have individual mother/daughter dates with all my girls. Again...this is something that I didn't have growing up. I mean I remember watching movies with my mom, shopping at Bealls, and eating at Big Cheese pizza in Calallen (are they still even around?), but there is something about having that one on one girl time. Talking about what they want to discuss, and listening to them. Not being short with them, and just listening to them (had to rewrite that so that I can hear myself, and really listen to them!) I know that it's so important to have those special intimate moments with them. Moments that will give us time to talk about anything in their personal life (I sometimes notice they find it easier to tell me something personal if it's between us), to bond, and for them to know that I love them so much. Giving equal time to each child is important to me, and I want this to go on even when they are married, old, and gray!

Looking at my sisters Facebook wall with written statuses of having date nights with our mother gives me hope that it will last a lifetime. Makes me miss them. So happy to see that they take the time to spend time together even though they are clear in their 40's and almost 70!! Oh dear! 70, and still in the best shape ever!

Mommy and daughter dates are truly the best thing ever. We just have to invent it ourselves. And when you go out to share those intimate moments, know that it's also all in the name of fun!

**Have a lovely weekend!