that is a good idea too! thanks!

since you have a 3 year old may I suggest sleep?

he actually just turned one, and he slept 12 hours straight last night!

For days like Valentine's Day or our anniversary, we tend to do inexpensive, cheesy, goofy gifts that have meaning to us. For example, for Valentine's this year, I put together 5 items in a bag and each item represented our 5 senses. I wrote "Life With You Makes Perfect Sense" on the outside of the bag that the items were in. Here's what I got: Smell - Air Freshener for his truck that looks like a shotgun shell, Taste - Beef Jerky, Sight - Movie Theater gift card so we can see a movie together, Touch - Massage Oil to get rid of the tension because he just started teaching full time, and Sound - A premium membership for Spotify. Super cheesy, but he totally loved it and really appreciated the time and effort I put into coming up with things that he would enjoy. He was really excited about the Spotify membership!

One year on our anniversary, I got beverages he likes and made silly sayings out of each type of drink. I can't remember what they were off the top of my head, but it made him laugh and again, he appreciated the time that I'd put into it.

He put together a gift for me one year where he came up with an at home game night and put different board games together that we didn't have. We enjoy spending time in the winter when we can't be outside playing cards or other games, so it was meaningful to me and I loved that he thought of it.

If you know your spouse's love language, maybe do something that speaks to that.

Those are super cute ideas Busy!!

He's a craftsman, right? If he enjoys the some of the artistry in crafting you might consider getting him a pyrography pen (wood-burning). If you're in the mountains, natural wood should be easy to come by. Poplar, white pine, and cedar, just to name a few, make excellent pieces for wood burning projects. Of course, if he already has a pyrography pen, then I'm no help! Hahaha.

Man Crate

Those are super cute ideas, unfortunately he isn't really into that kind of stuff. I did that for his birthday one year and he said thanks but that about it :p The wood burning is a good idea too, he works where he has access to scrap wood all of the time! I'll look into that one as well. I'm loving all of your ideas by the way, thank you guys. and cheekEE what is a man crate??

You. The gift of you. A new marriage with a young child makes for difficulties in connecting as a couple. Get a sitter (for the whole night), and give him your undivided attention. What did you enjoy doing when you were dating? Go do it again. Have a drink, an adult dinner somewhere without a kid menu, and connect with just him. Get yourself some lingerie, and lavish him with the time and attention only you can give.

That is a good idea too! Things have definitely changed since our son was born. I think we are going to plan a date night instead of exchanging gifts. I'm excited to see what we end up doing

I'm excited to see what we end up doing.

Talking about son and discussing how strange it is that he is not around

and calling to check on him

haha that sounds about right!!

How about a compliance cruise!

hmm yeah maybe not his idea of fun

WINNER!

Or give him lots of bacon!

I love my smokers. Nothing like pork belly burnt ends on a calm summer's weekend at the lake.

I asked my husband about the meat smoker and he says he doesn't want one! is he broken?

No, not necessarily. I didn't know I wanted one until I had a couple friends who had them. Then I got an electric to start out and am now hooked.

I am also staring down 50 and never had a smoker until in my mid-40s so he has time to come around.

yes, he is. for your anniversary, set up an appointment with a divorce attorney, cite irreconcilable differences. once you mention he didn't want a smoker, the judge will award you everything in the world...

yes

mwhahaha thanks for the laugh! You're right, he (we) probably just don't know what we're missing! we do have to get supplies for our shop roof, so that might be what we "get" for our anniversary, he can do all the work so we save on labor costs

Lets see you have him rebuilding the house, work at his job and now you expect him to cook as well?

edAudit, you are a true romantic! [sic]

what can I say I'm very demanding