Today is our 14th wedding anniversary, not really a “monumental” anniversary but any anniversary you can celebrate is monumental and I think now more than ever, we realize this.
We have been together almost 18 years this October but dating is always the easier part of the relationship, so those years almost don’t count, do they?
Mike has to work today, so I plan on going for a walk with the dog, doing homeschool, maybe a couple of loads of laundry, might get takeout for dinner because it is a special day even though it just feels like another day.
But on Sunday and Tuesday (his days off), we celebrated in our own way.
We went for a walk along Lake Michigan.
We took down the trampoline that had been in this exact spot for almost six years and gave it to our neighbors who have smaller kids. We decided that since this summer meant more time at home, that we would create a social distancing style fire pit.
See that fence? It might become a drop-down bar with our neighbors. Of course, I can’t drink right now, so that should be FUN. Stay tuned.
We had a date night picnic in one of our favorite little towns. Curbside pickup pizza from a favorite restaurant followed by a picnic in a local park. We listened to our favorite music on my phone, the sounds of laughter from the tennis courts adjacent and people watched other people walking, picnicking, being outside, enjoying the delicious simple things.
We walked around the neighborhoods in our favorite little town, all very expensive homes that we would never be able to afford, but we dreamt out loud about how fun it would be to live here and walk to so many of the places we love to visit.
The only thing that was different visiting our favorite little town were the masks, the lack of people out and about but we made a comment about how nice it was to have the town to ourselves. It made for a lovely date night. Coronavirus-edition.
I found a box of our wedding things in the basement when trying to look for a picnic blanket and went through it for the first time in years. It was so much fun to look through the things I planned for our big day, magazine articles, an extra boutonniere, response cards of who came and who didn’t.
Ellie tried on the wedding shoes that I bought from Target. I was SO excited to find wedding shoes that were comfortable at a low price because let’s be honest, they were off my feet by the first dance.
She also tried on my wedding dress, bought at a local dress shop for under $200.
I was so happy to marry this man that I didn’t care how much the dress or the shoes were. That dress was in the basement and I never got it cleaned. So when I took it out of the garment bag, it had remnants of lipstick, cake, and beer spilled on me from hugs and kisses of my friends and family.
Sigh, hugs and kisses.
We went for a long walk near the Chicago River yesterday. He always jokes that he is being dragged on these soul-saving walks but he secretly loves them. I mean, he gets to spend time with me! What’s not to love?
As the kids get older, we are spending more of our free time together alone and I am realizing how much I love this man and how much he loves me. It used to scare the shit out of me, thinking about life without the kids being by our sides as much. They have become so much a part of our relationship that I worried at one time about how we would be as a couple once they got older and grew away from us more.
I am learning that I really like him and he really likes me. There is honestly no one in the world I would rather spend the rest of my life with.
I am so glad he is on my side, for better or worse, sweaty walks and all.
What a lovely tribute to your time together! Happy Anniversary to one of our favorite couples! xoxo
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Aww, I’m so glad we have you guys in our lives. ❤️
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Happy anniversary! We celebrated 19 years this week but it might be a bit awful to admit we didn’t do anything to celebrate. We figure we’ll do it up big next year when we can (hopefully!) travel somewhere… I’m thinking Florida keys or the Virgin Islands…
Love that fire pit area; it’s awesome!
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Just being together is celebration enough! ❤️
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This is so sweet. Happy anniversary.
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Thank you ❤️
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Happy anniversary to you both! I love how you’ve spent your time together; just perfect. That fire pit looks so pretty and your family is going to have so much fun and make even more memories there; bravo!!
Laughing at him shooting you a bird; true love baby!
Also, even though we’ve not met, I love you and your family. XO
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I feel exactly the same way about you and yours. ❤️
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Happy Anniversary! Coach cannot do my usual walking path. He bales halfway.
Cute pics. Love looking at dreamy houses and I’ve been thinking of driving to a different, swankier neighborhood to just to change it up and admire other houses. Your fire pit area turned out great.
So happy for you that you have a great guy to spend time with. I remember feeling similarly, what will we do when the kids are grown? Nowadays I feel like we make a good team – whether kids are underfoot or not.
Enjoy!
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I love that! Especially because you guys have six kids and it would be easy to get so caught up in that. So it makes me happy you feel the same way. ❤️
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What a great and REAL post! I love the relationship you two have. Happy Anniversary to you both!
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Thank you! 😘
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I love everything about this post. Love you guys!!
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We love you guys too!!
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Happy anniversary!! And I see we have the same taste in houses…Craftsman! Oh, if only I had the money…
Y’all are a cute couple and sound perfect for each other.
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We also have the same taste in turquoise chairs too!
Thank you! ❤️
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Happy anniversary, you two love birds! Even though you didn’t get to celebrate by going out to a nice dinner, at least you did something fun together. I actually think that getting take out and going to a park sounds more fun (and romantic)! May you be blessed with many more years together. xoxo
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We both said it was much better to have the picnic! I don’t honestly miss eating in restaurants. Outdoor seating has always been my favorite. ❤️
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Happy Anniversary. This is beautiful.
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Thank you! 🙂
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What a sweet post to commemorate your day! It looks like you had a great time in a way that was meaningful for you. All anniversaries should be celebrated with ice cream sundaes. New rule.
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Yes! I love that rule.
And birthdays.
And major holidays.
And Tuesday’s.
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Hey, we’re anniversary twins! My husband and I also got married on May 27, 2006. We didn’t plan anything special (as much as one can plan for COVIDversaries). We talked about music we connected to during dating and discussed getting take-out before ultimately deciding on frozen pizza. Fun times.
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I love that we share an anniversary!
LOL well, Mike worked all day until after 8, so I made turkey burgers and tater tots and we watched reality television. GOOD TIMES.
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A belated happy anniversary! We also love to walk around towns and look at houses. Many of the most beautiful ones (that we’ll never afford, either) are fun to look at–but now when I look at them I also see all the upkeep. I love being able to enjoy them the way we do, then go home to my own little house that’s so much easier (and less expensive) to care for!
And I’m going to second that bit about life after kids. Got a little taste of it this spring, and…it was really nice. Both our girls were supposed to be in different cities this summer and now they are both here, so that’s come to an end. But it’s something to look forward to. Best friends are the best, aren’t they?
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They really are. ❤️
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