My afternoon date

Over the fall, Elijah and I started getting into the habit of going on a post-nap date on the days Marc worked. After he had gotten up we would head outside and go to our favorite coffee shop. Usually Elijah will accompany Marc there in the early morning when he gets a latte (and I'm sleeping in!). However, on the afternoons we have our little dates there it becomes a bit more than a quick run in for a "to go" cup of coffee.

When we went together, back in the fall, I ordered us a hot chai (our favorite!) and a blueberry muffin to split. My plan had been to grab both and enjoy them back at the house so as not to disturb the other patrons who were all busy doing work at their laptops or reading the New York Times. Elijah, however, had a different plan. As we stepped outside the coffee shop to begin our walk home, Elijah sat down in one of the outside chairs. 

"Stay, Ima. Eat here." and so we did.

This became our routine for the next couple of months. We would go and get either an iced or hot chai, depending on the weather, and a baked treat to accompany it. We would sit and watch the cars go buy, sometimes commenting on them or not even talking at all. Then, the days grew shorter and colder and the outside tables and chairs were no longer. Winter meandered by and I had almost forgotten all about our special dates. However, today Elijah reminded me as we once again found ourselves at the coffee shop after an impromptu walk. We weren't very hungry, but ended up getting an iced chai from our favorite barista. Elijah again requested to slow down and relax at the coffee shop and I obliged, enjoying the nice respite myself. With the weather warming up, and the outside tables and chairs making a reappearance, I am eager to restart up our dates again, and I think Elijah is as well. 

I didn't take any pictures, since my camera was left at home, but here are a couple of pictures of me and Elijah that Marc took the other day.

The spirit of how we feel during these little dates definitely shines through in these pictures!