Anniversary Weekend!

FF and I went away for our anniversary, to the same cabin as last year. It was really a fabulous weekend. We're talking log cabin, no cell phone reception or internet, secluded, outdoor hot tub, and within driving distance of lots of vineyards. Last year we also did Luray Caverns. I had never been, and really enjoyed visiting them.

This year we did the Virginia Safari Park. There are two portions. The first part is a drive through portion, where you can feed animals from your car. It was incredibly amusing and a really good, relaxing time. Technically you aren't supposed to pet the animals - but it's obvious some of them are used to it and expect it! Plus, how often can you say you got to pet a zebra?! We had this odd bird who kept sneaking up on us and you'd look to one side and boom, there he was. It was hilarious.

After the drive-through portion, there is a walk through portion. It's not real big, but it was still neat. We even got to walk through the kangaroo exhibit.

Obviously, it started raining pretty good by the time we left. That didn't stop us from hitting a few vineyards on our way back, however. The FF and I neither one like dry wine - if we are going to drink, it's going to be sweet! Here's what we came away with:

So, what do you do when it tries to rain out your hot tub time? You put up a canopy, of course!

I'm glad we did, and enjoyed the hot tub some more that night. When we went to leave Sunday morning, it was SNOWING! The trip was definitely much-needed, however. Happy 3rd anniversary to us!

I'm Late, I'm Late, I'm Late for a Very Important Date!

Bonus points to anyone who knows who said that :-D

So, I'm a smidgeon behind on my posts - today is catch up day!!

Friday's Lent Affirmation:

I try hard to do my best with the lot I'm given. Work has been pretty stressful lately, and instead of losing my temper with an unreasonable external customer, I calmly stated why things were the way I wrote them, and that I would not be changing them since this customer had no technical merit to their requests. I also spent quite the chunk of time explaining to my mom over and over why the doctor was adding meds for her, and what some test results meant. Not once did I lose my patience with her. Go me! I was in a bit of a mood, the morning had started with a seriously bad migraine, and then my firefighter was a grumpalumpagus when he got home. However, I successfully managed to keep most of this to myself, and turn my annoyance and frustration into productivity.

Saturday's Lent Affirmation:

So, this is all about being nicer to myself, right? Saturday night's outfit was a black and green tutu skirt, and a green fitted tee that said Lucky in Love. I looked pretty darn cute. I had on low heels, that have rhinestones across the toes, my fingernails and toenails were a pretty green, and my BFF did my hair and make up. I looked adorable! I felt amazingly confident and sexy, which of course fed the adorableness, which fed the confidence. This is a circle I could get used to!

Sunday's Lent-Break:

Since Sundays don't count as part of the 40 days of Lent, I'm using them to post about how I'm making my marriage better. Today I made a delicious breakfast of strawberry chocolate chip fluffy pancakes, and turkey bacon. Granted we at it closer to dinnertime than breakfast, but hey, I still made it! I typically make his plate and serve him. I enjoy doing little stuff for him. I get happiness from it, and I take pride in what I do for him. Yesterday I got the rare treat of him hopping in the shower with me. (When you are rarely home at the same time, showering together is seriously a rare treat!) I washed him, head to toe. Not because he demands or even asks me too, but because I enjoy it. I love  the intimacy, and sensual-ness, and the service of washing him. It's a big deal to me. 

I'm all-over a better person when our marriage is on track intimacy-wise. No, not just in the bedroom, but the little stuff, like snuggling, holding hands, sitting in his lap, stuff like that. I'm much happier, and it is much easier to repel negativity, when things are happy and balanced.

Sunday #1 During Lent

So apparently, Sunday doesn't count during the weeks of Lent. There is back story there, but simply put, it doesn't count. So today's post will be about the things I do to strengthen my marriage, which by default strengthens me as well.

I love my in-state in-laws. I go to family functions with them, without the FF. They aren't blood, but they are family. I'm comfortable there, they love my son and me, and getting along with the people important to my husband, is important.

I try to do stuff for my FF. This morning I made sure he had breakfast, even though he said he wasn't really hungry. (He ate every bite of it, too!) I do small stuff like making sure he has a uniform ready before his shifts, and I set his alarm. If I see that his shaver isn't plugged in, I plug it in, so it's ready for him.

Communication is a huge thing for us. In the last few years I've grown a lot, and he has too, and keeping open communication has definitely strengthened us. I tell him when I'm mad with him, I tell him when he hurts my feelings, and I try to always tell him when I appreciate something he has done. I strive to balance the negatives with positives as much as possible.