"A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" President Hinckley

About a week and a half ago...Mark and I had an Ah...Ha moment. We have been living two seperate lives. It was a scary and humbling realization. We have not been having any problems, fights, etc. but we just realized that we really have lost touch with each other. Again...SCARY! We both knew that with Mark's business and Tyce coming into our family (all within a couple months of each other) that we would have to pay attention and actually make an effort to stay connected within our marriage. A new business and baby is a lot all at once. Eventually, we just went day to day with the occasional outing, camping trip, etc. But for the most part...Mark went to work and ran the business and I began raising our son. So, on my way to work last Wednesday, I decided that it was high time Mark and I got away!! In 7 1/2 years of marriage (not including our wedding night and stops in Boise on the way to WA) we have never gone away to a bed and breakfast or some fun vacation together. And even moreso...we have NEVER left Tyce overnight to go somewhere just the two of us. Tyce is now 20 months old...this getaway is LONG overdue!!

So, I called Mark while I was at work and said..."Can I have your undivided attention from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon?" He says..."Sure...will this be the three of us?" I say "Nope...just you and me. I promise to make it worth your while"!! So, he is now totally on board!! LOL!! So, Friday afternoon, Mark and I dropped Tyce off with Grama and Papa for a sleepover!!! I took Mark up Ogden Canyon to the Oaks. This is an enchanting resturaunt with outdoor wood picnic tables and benches under canopys of fabric and trees...right on the Ogden River. Humming birds were flying around getting their treats out of the hummingbird feeders and the food was yummy!!

After dinner...we went down the canyon just a tad and checked into the Alaskan Inn...a cute and cozy bed and breakfast with wonderfully huge breakfast options!! The room was themed as a mine with real wood beams and a large two person jetted tub...complete with sparkling cider and cookies. We had a wonderful evening "reconnecting"! LOL!! I will spare the details!

The next morning, we checked out and spent the day "dating"! We went to the new Solomon Center in Ogden and spent the afternoon wasting money at the Arcade and playing miniature golf...Galactic!! My toe nails even had blacklight polish on! LOL!! That was fun! We played skeeball and deal or no deal and when all was said and done...we had lots of new little treasures from the prize counter to take home to Tyce!!

We then went out to lunch because Tyce had already gone down for his nap. So, Mark and I took advantage of just a little more time to "date". We went to Bajio (Yum)!! When we finally got to Mark's parents to pick up Tyce...we were exhausted. Tyce was still sleeping so we curled up on the couch and took a nap too! When Tyce woke up we were back to the real world...a place that we love more than life itself! We missed our little boy horribly but have decided that he needs a "connected" mommy and daddy more than anything in his life and so...Tyce will be having sleepovers with Grama and Papa a few times a year so mommy and daddy can "date" and strengthen their marriage!! That is the foundation of a strong family! I love the quote from President Hinckley that is in my home..."A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" and I truly take that to heart!

So, this weekend...I spent an amazing weekend with the love of my life. Words cannot describe how much I love my husband...but I can say with certainty that I love him much, much, much, much more today than the day I married him. That is a very good thing!! I cherish my family and I pray for more to be added to it in the coming months/years!

Hug your families and remember the importance of a STRONG marriage! Take time for yourselves...your kids will survive the temporary neglect and won't even notice if they are being neglected to gramma and papa's house!

Which Villan Are You?

This is fun...post me a comment and let me know which villan you are!!

Your results:
You are Catwoman

Catwoman 50% Riddler 48% Apocalypse 47% Mystique 44% Lex Luthor 40% The Joker 39% Magneto 39% Poison Ivy 39% Dark Phoenix 34% Juggernaut 32% Dr. Doom 32% Kingpin 27% Venom 24% Mr. Freeze 22% Green Goblin 16% Two-Face 12%

With a troubled past and an upbringing on the streets you have learned how to fend for yourself through crime.

Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test

The potty is a scary thing!!

So…I think potty training is not too far off in the future!! I can’t believe it. I am NOT ready. I know Tyce is getting bigger and he is getting de-babytized but Potty Training? Emotionally, I am just not ready to accept that he is not my “baby” anymore.

He has been interested for quite some time about OUR happenings in the bathroom but lately he has been telling us when he is “pee pee” or “poopy”. But at church on Sunday…he patted his bum and said “poo poo”, so we checked him and nothing…not FIVE minutes later, he was poopy. I couldn’t believe it…he actually told us when he needed to go. He is understanding the sensations. Last week we put him on the toilet and he freaked. It is a big hole to a little bum after all, so I guess we will be getting a toddler toilet seat VERY soon. He was just so lazy with sitting up, crawling, walking, etc. that I really didn’t expect him to be interested in this yet. Such a smart boy!

We are having so much fun lately. Tyce is such a good boy. He expresses himself, acts like a child (gets dirty, makes messes)…all the things that I have looked forward to but at the same time, he is so obedient. I never expected a child of his age to be this obedient. He responds so well to time-outs and only receives a few a week. He stays in the chair the whole time out…even if I leave the room (can you believe it?)

Last night was another first…an amazing first. The only thing is that I regret that Mark wasn’t there. He was at Elder’s Quorum (good reason I guess). Until it hit me last night, I didn’t think Tyce was old enough to help or understand a prayer. So we knelt at his bed and clasped our hands together. I started saying a couple words at a time and he repeated (more the sound than the actual word) but I just know that that short little prayer meant more to our Heavenly Father than any heartfelt prayer I have ever uttered. It was an amazing experience between my little miracle and myself.

This will now be an every night occurrence in our home. Tyce is old enough now (excuse me while I wipe my tears) that he can now learn how to pray. It is precious to actually have him take part in it. There have been many prayers said “around” him in his little life…but not with him being an active prayer in our home. Oh, it was a proud moment for me!

I have more to say but I will save it for another time. We are having some challenges but I would much rather focus on the positive right now. That is what will get me through the day!

Love you all!! Please post comments of any kind…let me know you are there. And any potty training advice would be great!