As I mentioned a few days ago, we had our Valentine’s dinner out earlier last week. Saturday night ended up being family night.

Chris was at a theater workshop for much of the afternoon (for Bye Bye Birdie), and Mike and I worked on cleaning our room (a la One Year to an Organized Life). That evening we went to a new performance space on East Burnside in Portland called the Airplay Cafe. They had an 80s night family dance from 5 to 6:30. It’s an interesting space and they have good (although not cheap) food, wine, and beer (and even pear cider!). It was packed, and we were just barely able to scrounge up a table and chairs. What surprised us, though, was how old and untrendy we felt! It seems to attract young trendy east side parents…which perhaps we were 10 years ago? Now we’re old west side parents of three! 🙂 Seriously, though, I think that some of the people there were probably born in 1980!!!

But it was fun to dance to some 80s music (although the DJ didn’t have “Don’t You Want Me Baby?”–one of my favorite 80s songs!). And amazingly, no ABBA!

Here are Chris and I hitting the dance floor

He turned out to be the best dance partner of my boys!

Poor little Nicholas had a cold (which, alas, I have now caught!), and he fell asleep in Mike’s arms as we were dancing with him! (And it was a fast dance!) So Mike sat out the rest of the dances with a sleeping Nick.

Kieran, for his part, was being typically contrary. He announced that he did NOT want to go to the dance, and he would NOT dance. No matter how hard we tried to drag him on the dance floor! But finally, at last toward the end, he caved.

And here he is break dancing!

After the dance we went home and watched “Mamma Mia!” (which was my Valentine’s gift to Mike). I know many of my blog readers do not think much of that movie (one friend reportedly called it “DREK”–you know who you are!) But as ABBA lovers, we really enjoy it. It’s PG-13, but a very tame PG-13, mostly for the sexual references and plot. There are a couple of questionable words, crap and damn, I think. But fairly harmful overall, and all the kids loved it. We had taken Chris to see the play years ago, and all the sexual innuendo went over his head. Kieran is a bit more curious…so after the movie I had the birds and the bees discussion with him! He was nonplussed.

In closing, I thought I’d post the “Couples Q&A” I responded to on Facebook…in honor of my very wonderful valentine and sweetheart!

♥ What are your middle names? Denise, Edward

♥ How long have you been together? 22 years; married for 19 in June

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? 3 months

♥ Who asked who out? He came to a party at my apartment, and the rest is history.

♥ How old are each of you? 44 and almost-46

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine–because they live in the U.S.

♥ Do you have any children together? Yes

♥ What about pets? Names? A cat for several years, Chai

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? fitting romance into her lives

♥ Did you go to the same school? No

♥ Are you from the same home town? No

♥ Who is the smartest? Definitely Mike!

♥ Who is the most sensitive? We are pretty equal.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? We both love Asian food (actually, the whole family does)! Local favorites are Mother’s Bistro, Capitol Coffeehouse, Marco’s, Sungari, Thai Herbs.

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? India

♥ Who has the craziest exes? No crazy exes in our lives; thank Goddess!

♥ Who has the worst temper? He’s more patient day to day, but when he gets mad, watch out!

♥ Who does the cooking? Him during the week and me on the weekends

♥ Who is more social? Depends on the situation–I’m more social with strangers

♥ Who is the neat-freak? Neither!

♥ Who is the more stubborn? Equal

♥ Who hogs the bed? Neither

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Him

♥ Where was your first date? See above…but first real date was a wine bar in Osaka

♥ Who has the bigger family? Me

♥ Do you get flowers often? Yes

♥ How do you spend the holidays? With our families

♥ Who is more jealous? Neither of us are jealous types

♥ How long did it take to get serious? Not long

♥ Who does/did the laundry? Both of us

♥ Who’s better with the computer? Me

♥ Who drives when you are together? Usually he does. He says he likes the control, whereas I’d prefer to read!

And a historical photo of us, not too long after we got together–on a beach near Wakayama, Japan!

And just to prove my point about getting flowers (Mike didn’t see it because he’s resisting the lure of Facebook), this was Mike’s Valentine’s gift to me:

Isn’t he a sweetheart? I am SO very lucky. Every day is Valentine’s Day with my wonderful partner in life!