Meals prep should take at least an hour, if you don’t live on take-out (or pick-ups from mom / mom-in-law).
Did you get the Salad Time cookbook as a gift? If not, that’s a must. From checking the lettuce to making the dressing (from scratch, not from a bottle) should take up a good portion of your evening.
Another good way to spend from 8-9 is visiting an aunt or uncle or mother’s cousin and letting them see your album.
Also, be sure you don’t lose touch with your single friends! They may be reluctant to call you for fear of “bothering” you and spouse, and will be thrilled to spend an evening with you.
Spouse is of course # 1, but you still need time to be yourself. Not every waking moment needs to be spent in lockstep. You need some occasional space, as does hubby. Believe me, he’ll be more than happy to give you a night away with your friends, so he can spend some time on his own as well.
And like SJS said, enjoy it while it lasts.. the mess and fingerprints on the wall is going to be here before you know it!