Ideas please for spending couple time together

[SilkyDemon]

Dp and I seem to have fallen into a bit of a 'him on the computer, me watching tv' sort of rut and I'm looking for ideas as to how we can break out of this. I'm preg with dc3 (dd age 10, ds age 16months)am a SAHM, while dp works quite long hours so we're both quite tired, and it's the easy option just to flop in front of rubbish tv once dc's are in bed. I'd like to nip this in the bud before it becomes a problem iykwim. Money's quite tight and we've no family living locally to babysit, so we don't get the opportunity to go out much. I know it sounds really naff, but I was thinking along the lines of maybe taking up a hobby that we can do together - any ideas very gratefully considered!
Thanks in advance x

Oh yes
You need to buy or rent a boxed set of dvds - say 24 or lost or something and watch 2 episodes a session. Bottle of wine and have a theme night. dh and i used to do htis wiht sopranos - pizza and chianti.
Or start cards/games evenings with mates.

could either of you persuaded into the occasional jigsaw?

I was bored of the usual rut a while back and thought I'd do a jigsaw we'd been given some christmas and had remained unopened. Although he was quite sceptical and scathing of the idea of a jigsaw (that sounds awful, I only mean in a nice, jokey way) he couldn't resist dropping by the table to see how i was getting on, adding a bit, sat down, eventually we were doing it together, it took several days to do and we were each doing a few peices when we had a moment. It became a real shared enterprise and a joint feeling of acheivement at the end.

Sounds a bit sad actually doesn't it?

Dvd box set with wine etc is a good plan (we're starting The Wire) but don't do it every night.

One night a week or thereabouts, eat something nice (simple & quick, don't add to your workload), sit at the table and have tv and pc off. Just chat.

Do you like the same sort of music? Sometimes one of us buys a new CD (or get one out of the library) and we'll listen to it together and "review" it - sounds wanky but it's just a chance to connect a bit.

Board games can be quite good - especially if they're silly like Operation or Kerplunk
We sometines listen to music with a glass of wine - I'll play something he's not heard and vice versa

I would have a go at a jigsaw. I am sad and proud, I embrace my inner saddo-ness.

Quick crossword?
Sudoku?

Seriously! We do the odd crossword together.

Buy a good cook book....I recommend Nigella's domestic goddess. Do some cooking/baking together when the kids are in bed! You can bake kids some fairy cake treats. Doesn't sound much fun does it.....but it gets messy and mucky if you catch my drift!! Gets you spending time together at same time as talking to each other and making lunch to put in fridge for next day which frees you up to spend time with the little ones!!!

Further to the above you don't even need the book. Log on to Nigellas website on your computer (if it's a laptop that is).

we have air hockey/pass the pigs tournaments every now and again.

we also compete against each other on university challenge (we don't get many tho'.....must pick a different quiz) or those make as many words as you can from these 9 letters games from the paper

What brilliant suggestions! I'm loving the cooking / baking ideas. In fact, dp mentioned last year he'd like to try Chinese cooking so I bought him a cookbook/apron/chopsticks for his birthday - they're gathering dust having never been touched since. It never even occurred to me that we could try it together!

Whatsthebloodypoint - I really got into jigsaws a couple of years ago when pg with ds and couldn't believe how addictive it was! I do remember dp scoffing in a "how sad are you" sort of way, but I did catch him one night filling in a section I was stuck on (Bloody furious I was!! I get territorial with my jigsaw!). It's something I'd love to do together, so thanks for that!

we play cards.

sometimes while naked.

How about salsa/ballroom (not while naked)

naked card games, I love it.

Silkydemon, don't cook naked if using hot fat!!

Naked? Maybe ten years ago!

Not so silky...or in any way demonic for that matter

Get some nice stuff in for dinner (eg M&S Dine in for £10), get the kids off to bed so you can eat together in peace....

We cook together and DH finds it really relaxing.

agree jigsaw, board or card games. Adult dinner once a week once DC are in bed - either a takeaway or something simple but nice. if you bother to set the table and open a bottle of wine can feel like a date.

Also - try doing a babysitting swap with another couple - once a month you sit for them, and once a month they sit for you, even if you only go for a drink or a walk together is good to spend the time.

bath together. we do this a lot, often in a not particularly sexy way, just glass of wine and chat kind of way.

We sometimes race each other on MarioKart, or get a DVD in. Also depending on what your kids are like, it might be worth trying a family walk, and/or a trip to a child-friendly coffee shop or restaurant at the weekend or before bedtime. We quite often do this with our 14mo, and he is usually fairly chilled out so we can manage a bit of a chat even with him there. Though I do realise it could be a lot harder with two kids plus bump!