READ THIS.........

I had heard this book was good from a few people over the last few years, but I never really had the desire to read it until my sister and her husband told me it was really good and so TRUE.  Then I kind of forgot about it for a few months, but now another one of my sisters was talking about it.  I picked it up at the library last week and devoured it!  It really opened my eyes and helped me to understand MEN.  You might not want to read it because of the title......I know I used to laugh at the title when I saw it at Reed's parent's house.  But I seriously think that EVERY wife NEEDS to read this book.  I consider myself to be very happily married, but even in the last few days, I have seen a huge improvement!  READ IT, READ IT, READ IT......you will be so glad you did!

I also wanted to write about something else that has really helped me the last couple of weeks.  Reed and I decided not to have "T.V." at our house a few years ago because when we do, it seems like we spend too much time in front of it instead of doing better things.  I would try to let Macie only watch one movie a day, but ever since Branson was born, I used it as a scape rout.  When I got busy I would always find my self asking Macie if she wanted to watch a movie.  I'm not saying that's really bad or anything, but lately, that's ALL she wanted to do!  As soon as one movie was over, she'd want another....all day long!  Around Christmas time I usually gave in so I could get stuff done, but I felt guilty about it all the time.  The reason we don't have T.V. hooked up is so we won't watch it all day long!  So I was pretty nervous about cutting her back.  I thought I was in for a week of tantrums about wanting to watch movies, but I was totally wrong!  I told her the new rule: Only one movie a day, and then worked on distracting her with books, toys, play dough, coloring, ect.  She was so much happier, and it wasn't a hard transition at all!  It was a little more work for me, but she loved the extra attention from me.  We both seem so much happier.......she gets more Mommy time, and I don't have the guilt!  President Uchtdorf said in his October Conference address that "In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time."  SO TRUE!  I am so glad I decided to enforce the rule.  I have to throw in my disclaimer though.......when she is sick, I let her watch more movies:)  All she wants to do is lay down, so I put a movie on for her.  Just thought I'd add that in......I'm not perfect...not even close:)

Branson is ALL OVER the place!  He has really taken off, and spends most of the day EXPLORING the house.  Last night he learned how to stand up in his crib!  He can pop the tray off of his bumbo and get out, which makes dinner time extremely messy.  I wish he'd slow down, but it's fun to see him learn and grow too.