Date Night

We didn't bring our camera so we wouldn't have to worry about it, but here are a couple pictures from when we visited them in St. George.

Maria (brunette for a minute) and Lisa

Greg and Lisa (picture by Dylan)

Friday Marcos and I went to Frightmares with my BFF, Lisa, and her husband, Greg.  Okay, so it was more money than we ever spend on "dates" but it was so much fun.  I guess we don't go enough places without the kids and when we do, we're not very creative like we used to be when we were dating.  Seriously, it was a blast!  Marcos' mom stayed with the boys so we didn't have to worry about them getting to bed or anything.  They were excited and well taken care of (of course).  We got there around 7 and after paying freaking $8 for parking (what a rip off), we skipped all the way to the ticket counter to meet up with Greg and Lisa (I know, it sounds lame, but it was really fun.  It made us feel like kids again.  Marcos has a much bigger stride than I do so I felt like he was dragging me along with him, which I'm sure is why he did it.  He likes to see if I can keep up with him). So the whole thing was so cool.  The entrance has all these carved pumpkins on display, and tombstones with clever sayings on them and stuff, which helped give Lagoon the Frightmares feel.  Anyway, we started off with Dracula's Castle and then rode on ride after ride.  It was so much fun.  Greg gets sick on some of the rides so a few of them he just sat out, but he was content eating a churro and watching us be crazy.  I seriously could not stop smiling.  The wind was so cold on the rides and I'm laughing and smiling and holding on for dear life and my teeth got sensitive from the cold air, but I could not stop smiling no matter what I did.  Marcos and I went on colossus ourselves and the whole ride he's yelling, "Oh man, this is so sweet."  Did I mention we've never been to Lagoon without kids?  And he's never been before that so he really hasn't ridden many of the rides.  We went on Wicked with Lisa and then she got the commentary herself.  Marcos is mid-ride saying, "This is the coolest ride ever. Whoever invented this ride is awesome.  I'm going to go to his grave and thank him..." (No, he didn't make any sense, but that's what he was saying).  I have no idea what else he said, but he's just crazy. Lisa was laughing so hard, mainly at Marcos, but rides give both of us that giddy school-girl laugh.  Funny.  The coolest part was just how much like old times it felt.  It's amazing how we can pick up where we left off no matter how long it's been since we've hung out.  Lisa and I can talk about anything and Marcos and Greg get along so well.  They're so funny.  They both LOVE churros!  I won't go into detail about the "boy" conversation that took place after a few of the rides.  Marcos and his comments about the effects of the rides on the male anatomy were cracking the girls up until Greg chirped in and agreed with him.  Oh my heck, we were busting up.  At the end of the night, Lisa and I wanted to go on The Rocket, but neither guy was too excited about that one so we decided to go by ourselves.  The guys went over to Jet Star, which they both love.  Lisa and I were talking and laughing as our teeth chattered partly from the cold and partly due to nerves as the crazy ride hoisted us higher and higher.  Lisa, my brave counterpart, was issuing me the Dave (her brother-in-law) challenge of not hanging on during the ride.  I got to the top and told her I was out - there's no way.  We dropped and sure enough, my hands were in the air.  I couldn't seem to hold onto anything.  So by default I was brave, but in spirit I was a total wimp.  It was the end of the night and no one was in line so we went again on the other ride "Blast Off" or whatever it's called.  It was so awesome too.  It honestly felt like we were teenagers again (with really cute boyfriends watching us be brave on a ride all by ourselves).  Good times!  

Thank you guys for the invite.  It was the funnest date we have had in years.  It's so hard to have a good idea for a date, spend money, get a babysitter, actually follow through, etc. but it was so worth it.  I loved riding, eating, reminiscing, drinking hot chocolate, warming ourselves in Arby's, laughing, skipping, linking arms, and just acting like kids again.  

Okay, I have to mention one thing that I forgot.  Towards the end of the night, we were walking past all the lines to the haunted houses over to a ride.  One of those chainsaw guys was walking towards the line trying to decide who to scare.  Some punk teenager went up behind him and hit him in the back of the head.  Oh my heck, Marcos and I could not believe it.  We ran up to the scary chainsaw guy and asked him if he was okay.  He's not supposed to talk so he just looked at us and nodded, but his eyes said so much more.  Through his crazy mask, his eyes showed his true appreciation for our concern and compassion.  We were just shocked and trying to figure out what to do to help.  So not cool!  By then we didn't even know who the jerk was that had done it, but I felt so bad.  Stuff like that bugs me (and Marcos) so much.  I have to say it's one of the things I love about Marcos.  We are both sensitive, caring, compassionate types that tear-up way too easily (me more so than him, but still).  I appreciate that side of him so much.  It always brings us closer together.  We are also the type that feels we have to stand up for what's right so we were both ready to get on our soap box like the "old folks" that we are and use the whole situation as a teaching experience for kids who clearly have no self-esteem and are looking for a lame way to impress their "friends".  If only teenagers could see how little all that facade really matters.  They think they need to fit in with people who don't care about them anyway.  I remember high school pressure, but I can't really relate.  I was never mean to gain someone's approval and neither was Marcos.  It usually only takes one person saying something is not cool and then most people will speak up.  It takes a brave person to be the one though. Anyway, in the end, we just made sure the kid was okay and went on our way disillusioned with "kids these days".  The youth can sure be awesome and make me feel secure in our future with them as leaders or they can scare me to death and make me feel like they weren't taught enough and are not ready to enter the real world.  Oh, that parents would understand the importance of teaching these kids true values.  Anyway, sorry about the afterthought, but it hit us hard so I wanted to mention it.