Honey came up with this great idea.  I went along with it because he proposed to start.  This year he would plan our anniversary and next year it would be my turn.  We had a $25 dollar gift limit and a house full of kids.  It was our 3rd year together and we’d never had enough time to actually celebrate before.  It was just part of parenting, we told ourselves. One day we’d do something big, but for now we were going to do everything we could to enjoy each other.  So, at midnight, after the kids had all been in bed, he gave me my roses and we exchanged our gifts.  We stayed up late, laughing and talking, watching old videos we’d made, remembering our honeymoon.  We were going to sleep in the next day, the kids promised they’d take care of everything.  What more could we ask for? Ha ha, we forgot how early two 7 year olds could wake up and how hungry they could get.  Sunday morning started with breakfast for 7, followed by lunch for 7 and dinner, (which I prepped during lunch) so we could both take a little two hour nap.  I was feeling under the weather; what started off as an upset stomach later revealed itself to be more than just that.  As I got ready for our romantic outing I was already feeling nausea, a headache and dizziness.  Stomach flu.  Then we got to the restaurant.

Champagne to start

Tiramisu for dessert

Mondavi to end a beautiful evening

When Honey he said he’d be in charge of all the plans this year, I assumed we’d get away for dinner and just have some quiet time.  I completely underestimated him.  We were greeted at the lobby by our waiter and escorted to a private gazebo, where champagne awaited us; the beginning of an amazing evening.

I sat there stunned, listening to how much thought he put into our night.  I felt guilty for feeling sick, I can’t believe I actually considered asking him to stay home.  He would have though, for me. He would have foregone the entire dinner just to make me feel comfortable, and even though he was the one who put the whole thing together, he thanked me for “toughing it out” so I wouldn’t disappoint him.  He listens to me.  Everything about our celebration reflected what I’d said in passing conversations, things I didn’t know he caught.  Like how he ordered my favorite dessert instead of a cake, and how he knew I wouldn’t want to be surrounded by people after a long week at work. He picked our menu based on what we both liked.  He personally saw to it that our surroundings reminded us of Bali, where we exchanged our vows.  Sunset, palm trees, the clear calm water flowing from a stream.  Just the two of us, for a little while at least.  It was perfect.