7 out of 10

We are halfway through 2010. Can you believe it? I started the year with a list of ten goals for 2010, which you can see here. I, happily, have completed, or adopted, I suppose, 6 out of the 10. And have put some plans into work for three of the others.

One of my goals was to find time to go out with my hubs more often. Living away from family and being on a budget, we just don't get out as often as we would like to.

Enter...amazing friends. We have a family with whom we spend lots of time at the park, having dinner, watching the kids run around the backyard. And, twice a month, we take turns dropping our kid(s) off at the other family's home and one couple goes out to dinner. And although our interrupting children are darn cute...see gratuitous cute photo...it is very nice to go out sans kiddos.

Our kids love each other. We all get along and trust one another. When we go out, I know implicitly that the kids are fine. What is so wonderful is that everyone benefits. The couple gets some time alone. The kids think it is the greatest thing in the world to have friends over to play, eat dinner, and read in their pajamas together.

Here is the key: We do this from about 5 to 7 p.m. By doing this early, no one has to worry about bedtime, kids go home tired and ready for bed. And, although this is going to make me sound a bit old, it is sort of nice to go out early. You won't have to wait for a table and you can be settled in at home by 8:00. Spoken like a true homebody.

And we are lucky enough to have friends that don't mind the uneven trade of 2 kids for their 1. Thanks, K and N.