Unwind After Kids Go to Bed...

Well, my kids are big now, 12 and 16. There isn't much time between them being in bed and me being in bed, but we are at the stage now where we can relax while the kids are still up, they don't need to be taken care of. I watch tv, read, do newspaper puzzles, catch up on emails, cross stitch, crochet and spend time with the teenager (yes, parenting does reach a stage where hanging out with the kids is relaxing as opposed to exhausing).

Vodka and Hell's Kitchen.

I try and make sure that we have a little time together after the kids go to bed. We watch a movie, play a game or just chit chat for awhile. I try and make sure we talk about stuff that is more than just the day to day running of the household. I consider it marriage maintenance time.

"Master Chef" or "So you think you can dance " about 45 minutes and then 1/2 hour reading in bed! Unfortuntalty sometimes it's replaced with "issues" me and hubby have to work out (who am I kidding, "I" need to work out for the greater good) this is also the time!

S.

As soon as the kids go to bed, I have a glass of wine or a cocktail, cuddle up with my husband on the couch, and watch bad t.v!! :)

I don't get to that till 10:00 usually and my bedtime is about 11:30. I watch tv and work on puzzle books. Sometimes I watch netflix with the husband. I don't like a lot of what he watches.

When we have the time (our baby is still hit or miss on the bedtime thing) my husband and I make a snack (that we don't have to share with short people!) and watch a movie (with violence, foul language *and* sexuality!) and chill on the couch. Sometimes we read, enjoy an adult beverage or one of us takes a bath or shower.

When it's fall and the good shows are back on, I like to watch my fave shows.
Hubby and I have a few we like to watch togther.
Read my book (aw a luxury).
Get on the computer to return emails or a quick look on Mamapedia.
Sometimes shower so I'm ready to go when little one wakes me up.
Last night we watched a movie together from Redbox. Woo hoo. That was fun.

Go to FB and play games, check on my friends (I have some in the same boat and we often talk until midnight on the phone), go to mamapedia, or watch some TV. I especially am glad that companies like USA, A&E, and SciFi know everyone can't watch during Prime Time and replay their prime time shows after 10pm.

Cuddle up with hubby on the couch or in bed, with a glass of wine and a book or magazine. Sometimes we'll make popcorn and watch a movie or Forensic Files. Of course there is making out and fooling around as well... ;)

We like to watch comedy shows (Colin Quinn has a HILARIOUS stand-up act that's been on HBO lately) or The O'Reilly Factor. And even our guilty pleasure--Bravo TV (The Housewives franchise, Millionaire Matchmaker, Flipping Out, Rachel Zoe, Tabitha's Salon Takeover, etc...)

We flirt with each other.

We laugh about our kids and my hubby's colleagues

Sometimes we have wine, but we are both watching our carb intake right now, so not TOO often

We use that time to FINALLY get to talk about various upcoming events

MOST nites it is just me and the kids home until about 9:30/10, so I have to stay up very late if I want some time with my hubby.

Hubby and I are gamers so we usually sit and play our computer/xbox games after we tuck kids into bed. We don't usually play the same game (keeps him from competing with me) so if we do something together its usually watching tv show we both like or a movie. Occasionally I'll read in the bedroom where he plays the xbox until he's done playing.

Read, sleep, sex. Maybe watch T.V.

We do not have a gaming system and do not plan online games or FB. We usually work a little on our business stuff (both self employed)... and then we clean house so it is all clean for the next day. We have a blast cleaning together and seeing who can clean a room faster than the other. Sometimes we use flylady.net as motivation. After that, we have pillow fights, cook gourmet meals together (for our lunches the next day), cuddle, have a glass of wine or margarita... We read romance books to eachother. Anything to where we spend quality time together... and looking at one another and not a "screen". It just doesn't fulfill our needs when we watch TV or play video games. Sometimes we do play bored games.... We usually talk about each of our "highs" and "lows" of the day too. We love spending time together... sometimes we plan out our week as well..

My husband and I usually watch tv at night after the kiddos go to bed. Sometimes we'll play cards. We have our favorite shows that we record and when the kids go to bed, we'll sit together and watch them.
We have to make time to unwind. Our day can get pretty crazy and it really helps that we unwind at night before our bedtime.