Marriage and Family Archives | Trevor and Lexi Baker

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Three Date Night Ideas for After the Kids Go to Bed

January 15, 2020 Trevor and Lexi Baker Marriage and Family

Finding creative ways to date after embarking on parenthood can be tough. Although little ones require a lot of time, energy and attention, it’s important to still make your spouse feel special. One way to keep the fire alive is to try stay-at-home date nights. Here are three date ideas for after the kids go to bed.

1. Food and Drink Tasting

A food and drink tasting at home is simple but entertaining. All you need is a few unique (and familiar) foods/drinks and a blindfold. The objective is to have your partner guess what they’re tasting. You may want to stick to one particular item (ex: jellybeans) so your spouse doesn’t end up with a stomach ache from mixing too many different foods, but the choice is yours. You even have the choice to make the night into a competition to see who guesses the most items correctly. The champion can win a night off from chores or something else relaxing. This activity is perfect for couples who consider themselves to be foodies or expert taste testers.

2. Theme Night

Pick a theme, any theme, and center your date around it. You can randomize your date by throwing possibilities into a hat, or deliberately pick a theme for each week and write in on your monthly calendar. As a couple, you can: dress up, play music, dance, cook, decorate the house, play games, watch movies, etc. to match the theme of the night. This option is perfect for a variety of couples because of its flexibility; you have the freedom to make the night as simple or elaborate as you’d like.

3. Stargazing

There are few things as romantic as gazing up at the night sky with the one you love most. Fortunately, the sky is massive enough to be (quite literally) right in front of your nose for the ideal stay-at-home date night. Take the baby monitor in the backyard with you to quiet any fears, then turn your attention upward. You can try your luck at spotting the constellations yourself or download an app to make it easier.

Remember, dates don’t have to be fancy, expensive, or extravagant to be memorable. As long as you’re spending quality time together, you’re bound to have fun (even at home). Any one of these three date night ideas will be a guaranteed hit, so pick your favorite and let the good times roll.

Four Daily Reminders To Help You Stay Happily Married

May 15, 2019 Trevor and Lexi Baker Marriage and Family

History reveals that a marriage does not always guarantee a happily ever after. In fact, many people who lovingly and willingly said “I do” in front of their loved ones end up filing for divorce later on. They say marriage is a decision to stay together no matter what; but it is not advisable to stay married for the wrong reasons. If you decide to hold on to your relationship, you should also aim for a long-lasting marriage that is happy and fulfilling. With the ups and downs that come with married life, staying true to your vows will not always be easy. A little reminder, though, can keep you hanging on to your relationship even during the worst of times. For a stronger and happier relationship that will withstand time, remind yourself of the following every day:

Remember your spouse’s wonderful traits.

Familiarity breeds contempt. There may be days when your partner’s quirky ways or annoying habits can get under your skin. During these days, it will be helpful if you remind yourself of the reasons you fell in love with your spouse in the first place. Always remember that marriage is a promise to be patient and understanding with one other. You may not have married a perfect individual but there are surely wonderful traits that you like about your spouse. You will be a kinder and more loving spouse if you focus on the good traits of your partner. If you regularly tell your spouse about the things you love instead of hate about him or her, you can even encourage positive behavior.

Remember to stop making a mountain out of a molehill.

You may encounter a lot of problems in your relationship, but not all of them will be worth mulling over. To make your relationship less stressful and happier, learn to let go of the small stuff. Make it a habit to forgive each other for small mistakes and stop over-analyzing things. If you are upset over something about your marriage, take a minute to reflect if it is something that will matter several years from now. If it is not, it’s likely not worth losing sleep over. The saying, “choose your battles” is something you can definitely apply to your relationship.

Remember to take care of yourself.

Taking care of others does not mean neglecting or sacrificing your own needs. Don’t feel guilty if you need to take some time off for yourself. Even when you are in a relationship, you should continue letting yourself grow as an individual. By taking good care of yourself, you will be in a better position to care for others. But as you take care of your own needs and interests, don’t forget that you should also allow your partner to do the same.

Remember that a happy marriage is a conscious effort.

Couples who choose to separate have their reasons and no one can judge them for their decision. Still, no one can deny that It is still sad to see a relationship come to an end. Especially because there are things that couples could have done to prevent their relationship from breaking apart. You may have to talk about your problems, implement changes in your routines or even attend counselling. Just keep in mind that whatever trials you and your spouse may face, always believe and remember that you can work it out together. With conscious effort, two people in a relationship can ultimately strengthen their bond.

A wedding is a joyous and beautiful event because you get to witness two individuals profess unconditional love for each other for the rest of their lives. People who enter this lifelong commitment, though, cannot just give up on each other so easily. From the day they utter their vows, their daily actions and thoughts should help make their union happier and stronger.

3 Things You Should Know About Establishing Family Values

October 5, 2017 Trevor and Lexi Baker Marriage and Family

Family values are a must in order to raise children who understand the meaning, importance, and purpose of living a moral life. These values you establish for your family help influence decisions and behavior for a lifetime, and they also can provide your family with a source of identity and a foundation to build and develop character. In fact, family values might just be the most important thing to remember when raising a family and interacting with others. Read these 3 things you should know about establishing family values.

There are different kinds of family values

Values look different to every family. That’s what creates diversity and teaches other people to learn about and interact with people who are different from them. So family values are by no means a one size fits all kind of deal. What works for one family might not work for the next. That’s why it’s so important carefully consider what is important to you and your family when establishing your family’s core values.

Family values can change relationships

There are some people in life you will meet for a reason, some you will know for a certain season in your life, and some people you will know and love for a lifetime. Family values become especially important in relationships with others because they can provide the foundation as to how these relationships grow and develop over time or how they eventually disappear. Teach your family members how to recognize others’ values and to understand that values for different people can change over time.

Family values should be applied daily

Whether you’re at work or your kids are at school, the family values you have established should be applied relentlessly day in and day out. Be sure to communicate to your children that family values are not just a requirement at home. The home is where morals are grounded, but they should be applied in school, work, with friends, with strangers, during extra-curricular activities, and the list goes on.

Make a point to sit down with your family and discuss the importance of establishing and maintaining values and what your values mean to your family. Taking the effort to be sure everyone has a solid understanding of what’s important to your family is one of the best things you can do to raise children with integrity and character.

The 4 Best Ways to Live Out a Mindful Marriage

July 24, 2017 Trevor and Lexi Baker Marriage and Family

It’s no secret. Mindful relationships are the most fulfilling relationships, and this is no exception when it comes to marriage. It’s so easy to get distracted by work, paying bills, and dropping kids off at soccer practices and baseball games. Somewhere along the way your relationship with each other somehow takes a backseat. But this doesn’t mean you don’t still love each other. All it means is you have to pay a bit more attention to making sure you stay aware of what is happening between the two of you.

By remaining mindful of what is happening in your relationship on a daily basis, you’ll know what needs work and what is already working. At its heart, a mindful marriage is one that is lived out with intention every single day––no ifs, ands, or buts about it. So try out these suggestions to live out your most mindful marriage.

Continually learn about each other

Embrace the fact that everyone changes over time including the two of you. Make sure to ask questions and be interested in actually learning about your spouse––even if you’ve been married for decades. Ask about their day. Learn something you didn’t already know. Continue the fascination.

Do something new together

Sharing experiences together is hands down the best way to continue improving and building upon your existing bond with each other. Take a cooking class. Learn a new language together. Go dancing. Just go out and do something for the two of you to broaden your shared experiences and make new memories.

Compliment each other

Never underestimate the power of a genuine compliment. Express appreciation for your partner and a very visible and bold way. Tell them what you love about them in public and private. While complimenting their looks is never a bad thing, try complimenting them on things you can’t see. Tell them how you love the way they interact with your kids. Or how you love how they always make time for family dinner even on their busiest work days. Let them know you appreciate their daily efforts to make your family what it is.

Plan something together

It can be anything from a date night next weekend or a family vacation to how to achieve your life goals together. Recognize the importance of pressing pause to figure out what your relationship needs and plan how to achieve it together.

We know life can get crazy sometimes, but making sure your marriage is filled with intention should always be a top priority. Follow these tips to make sure you’re living out your most mindful marriage.

3 Small Changes That Can Have a Huge Impact on Your Marriage

February 7, 2017 Trevor and Lexi Baker Marriage and Family

Marriage isn’t always a picnic; it certainly isn’t always a walk in the park, either. When the honeymoon has come to an end, both literally and metaphorically, it can be difficult to bounce back and remember what made you commit your life to that person in the first place.

Luckily, there are some small, easy changes that you can make that can have a huge impact on your marriage.

Plan At Least One Date Night Per Week

Speaking of picnics and walks in the park, there’s no better way to regain that honeymoon feeling than by planning at least one date night per week.

The dates don’t have to be extravagant. Five-star restaurants don’t have to be a part of the plan every week. You just have to set aside a night or an afternoon for you and your spouse to have alone time to reconnect. This may be difficult, especially if you have kids. But, it’s worth every penny you’ll spend on babysitters to be able to save the most precious asset of all: your relationship with your husband or wife.

Get Rid of Distractions During Alone Time

On the topic of alone time, it’s important to note that distractions should play no part in your date nights. As much as possible, try to unplug from your phone, computer, or tablet and enjoy being present in the moment.

Because modern life is so hectic, and technology makes everyone feel as though they must be connected at all times, it can understandably be a challenge to follow this rule. You don’t have to unplug all the time—just be conscious of the amount of screen time you’re indulging in around your spouse. Your husband or wife is the most important person in your life; treat them as such by turning off the TV and putting your phone away for at least an hour a day.

Remember That Your Spouse is On Your Team

Again, your husband or wife is the most important person in your life. You should treat them as though this were the truest statement you’ve ever heard. As the saying goes, “Happy wife, happy life.”

All too often, people take their husband or wife for granted. They forget that a spouse should be a best friend, and most people treat their best friend better than anyone else they know. Your spouse is on your team; you should always try to be on theirs.