The Weekend is Family Time

I've always been pretty good about making sure that on the weekends, I spend it with family... specifically, Mikey.  But it's rare that we actually go out and do something.  This weekend it has been all about us. 
We had a romantic "just the two of us" night Friday night, after the girls went to bed.  Spending personal, quality time together with your significant other is so important.  Usually we chill in front of the TV and watch something to pass the time, which is fine.  But I think it's important to turn the TV off from time to time.... and just spend some alone time together.  Are you uncomfortable in the silence that ensues?  If you are, that should tell you something.  Time to get to know each other again.  If you're not uncomfortable, great!  Tell each other about yourselves again.  Even though you're together, living under the same roof, you still lead two different lives. 

I guess one thing that may be different for us than it is with some (and I'm assuming this, but don't know...)  is that Mikey and I don't really go into detail into our daily lives when we get done with our day.  Some important stuff filters through, but mostly we leave "work at work".  So I tell him stuff that the girls did, etc, but when it comes to the "crap" of the day, things that he doesn't necessarily have to know... why complain?  He taught me that.  I rarely EVER hear him complain about work.  I know he has bad days, but his philosophy has always been that once he gets home, it's no longer a concern.  I'm not so good at doing that, but I try.  I think it makes for a much less stressful home situation. 

On the other hand, that means that we don't hear about that whole segment of each other's lives; and they're big segments.  So, every once in a while, we take the time to simply talk and ask each other how things are going.  Are we still happy doing what we're doing?  Is it time for a change?  Is there anything we can do to make each other feel better, more comfortable, or less stressed?  It has always been something we do, and I think it avoids so many possible problems between us.  It's just a periodic re-evaluation.  Plus, it's just respectful to acknowledge your life partner, and show them you care about their wants and needs.  

Anyway, that was a tangent I didn't really expect to happen....

Back to the weekend.  Our Friday night was spent re-connecting, and it was wonderful.  That, in and of itself, made the weekend great.  Saturday we left the house at 12:30 to go up to the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Mikey's company had gotten a whole section of seats for the All-Star Race and they were having an all-day cookout/family fun day.  So, we spent about 12 hours of fun.  I had never been to a NASCAR race.  I think that if you live in or around Charlotte, it's something everyone should do at least once.  It's part of the culture of the area.  I had fun!  And it was good to get out of the house for the day and just be a couple again.  (Thank you PAM for watching the girls for us!)

Just a side note about Mikey's company:  The major thing I love about Guardian is that they REALLY take care of their workers.  They make their employees (and family) feel important.  They pamper us with parties and dinners (fun ones too... not the "oh my god, I have to go to this again" type).  There's the annual "guys camping trip" to Pennsylvania.  There's the Christmas dinner and after party.  There's the yearly race day fun.  They want you and your family to feel special.  The other thing is that guardian feels that family comes first.  If Mikey ever needs to do ANYTHING important to help his family, they don't even question it.  Family has to come first.  So many places these days don't have good principles.  I'm so happy that this does. 

Today is "relax and spend time with the kids" day.  We're going to go buy some corrals for Mikey's fish tank.  I've told him he can get a little bit with each paycheck.  (Yes, I'm the general in charge of the money).  Maybe, if the weather holds out, we can go to the playground for a while.  We'll see.