Hahahaha....actually, haven't dated much. First person I dated I married and then just a little sporadic stuff after divorce until the most recent ex-gf.

Yes, ok, makes sense. Do it without a word and it gets noticed. The essence of do something different and do a 180.

Now, maybe I'm thinking in a 360 here, but since what I want is for her and the kids to come back and make it OUR home...do I put out suff of theirs since I don't want to pack it up and give the "get out" impression? Photos of them on the wall, flowers I know she likes on the table, make the place inviting unlike I did before?

Wait wait, doing that is going to be viewed as going over the top and coming off as fake. It's going to be viewed as needy/clingy/pursing behavior. "Look what I did for you, put out all of your stuff to make you feel comfortable because I want you to come home because I'm so lonely without you."

Hmmmm, maybe I'm starting to get this idea of asking myself if what I'm about to do will take me closer to my goal or further away.

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln