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Being a couple is a wonderful experience. You go out, watch television or basically do whatever you want, and it’s usually together. However, once children come into the mix then everything seems to change. Now you may be lucky if you even speak to each other alone before you fall asleep at night.

It may be difficult to find the time to be alone together, but it is important for the relationship and for the family that you make the time. Call up a friend to sit with your children (or that will let your children come stay with them) and offer to switch up the services on a regular basis. You can also seek the services of grandparents where it is available. By avoiding a sitter you will be able to take time together without having to break the bank. Here are five suggestions for things to do together - without the kids.

1. Take a day trip together. Check with your church or local clubs to see if they have any tours or events scheduled that the two of you might enjoy together. Be sure that you will have plenty of time to talk and enjoy each other’s company. Try to stay away from talk about kids, finances or home repairs.

2. Have a romantic dinner. Go to one of those places that will turn down the lights and that has candles on the table (and doesn’t even HAVE a kids’ menu). Take your time and enjoy each other’s company. Take the time to share a little dessert at the end of the meal.

3. Have a couple’s night out. You’ve heard of mom’s night or girl’s night or boy’s night. This is the same thing only with several couples instead. You can go to one couple’s house and play cards or just hang out, or you can go to a local restaurant and let someone wait on you for a change.

4. Go to a dance or take a dance lesson together. Ballroom (or couple) dancing is becoming more popular every year. Many dance studios host free (or inexpensive) dance parties during the week to try and encourage people to take their classes. You may also be able to find great dances listed in the “things to do” section of your local paper. If you prefer to take classes then you might want to look at your local community college or community center for inexpensive classes.

5. Get a room. It can be nice to rent a room (even if it is in the same town) at a Bed & Breakfast or nice hotel – with lots of in-room amenities. Just get away from the normal routine to a place where the two of you can truly be alone.

Making time for each other without the kids doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. It only takes a little creativity to bring back the feelings and emotions you both had when you first started dating.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions:

Place both flours into a large mixing bowl. Fold together. Add the flax seed and baking powder and blend. Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the sugar and mix well. Be sure all the ingredients are incorporated together. In a separate bowl place the 4 eggs and slightly beat with a whisk. Add the vanilla and milk and stir. Pour in the melted butter. Add the applesauce and mix well. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Blend well so everything is moistened. Heat waffle iron. Pour the batter on the waffle iron and top with the nuts. Cook until brown.

Kids have a way of using their imaginations to turn everyday objects into something extraordinary. A large cardboard box can be a house, car or spaceship, a rock can be their dog or a walkie-talkie, and a hairbrush can be a microphone used in their on-stage singing debut. With an empty glass jar and some craft supplies, they can use all of that imagination to create some wonderful crafts. Here are ten ideas you can use to help them along.

1. Beach in a jar - This is a fun project for kids who have been to the beach recently and gathered seashells. Simply put some sand in the bottom of the jar, and add lots of shells and some driftwood. A larger shell can be glued to the lid for a finishing touch.

2. Lantern or candle holder - This is a good project for a glass jar of any size. The kids can use glass liner and paint to create a stained glass look, or they can add semi-transparent material such as tissue paper to the outside of the jar with Mod Podge. For a lantern, a handle can be made with string or wire.

3. Christmas lights in a jar - This can actually be used for a variety of occasions, or year round with the right kinds of potpourri. Simply place a layer of lights on the bottom (clear works best if it’s not for Christmas), put some potpourri on top, and repeat until you’ve used all of the lights, leaving the cord on the outside. Cover the top with a doily, secure with a rubber band, and tie some pretty ribbon around it.

4. Flower vase - Glass jars make charming vases. All that’s needed to spruce them up is some glass paint, and maybe some stick-on jewels. Dried flowers or pieces of fabric could also be added with Mod Podge. If the opening seems too large, and adult can cut a large hole in the lid and let the child cover it with ribbon.

5. Cake in a jar - Find a good cake recipe, and measure out the dry, non-perishable ingredients. Then add one ingredient to the jar at a time, and do not mix. This creates a nice layered look and gives the recipient most of the ingredients to make a delicious homemade cake. Write the recipe on a tag and attach it with ribbon.

6. Jar lamp - You can find jar lamp kits online that include the electrical parts. All your child has to do is put some paper shred in the bottom, add any items that he wants to the jar, and add a lampshade. You can find a decorative shade at a local discount store, or your child can use markers or fabric paint to decorate a plain one.

7. Bank - Jars make great banks. Simply cut a slot in the lid to put change in, and let your child decorate the outside as he chooses.

8. Jack-o-lantern jar - This is a great Halloween project. Cut shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth out of masking tape, and place them on the jar. Paint with orange paint, and remove tape when dry. Add a candle or small light to make it glow.

9. Candy jar - This can be decorated any way your child likes. Fill it with candy and give it as a gift, or keep it on the coffee table for guests to enjoy.

10. Planter - Put pebbles in the bottom of a small canning jar, then fill with potting soil. Plant herb or flower seeds, and put in the windowsill.