Thursday, September 20, 2012

September Date Night

We opened our two year anniversary gifts early this year. (I was otherwise detained on the actual day) As always, we went for simple in terms of cost - which means I went overboard in terms of effort.

Of the 12 gifts I got him (this looks like overkill but most were oh so insignificant)...




One particular mason jar was my favorite. It had a special gift that was to last all year long.

It held 12 envelops, with each month of the year on the outside. On the inside of each envelop is a specific date night for us. On the first day of each month this year he gets to open a new envelop and we go forth with our date!

Making this gift was tricky because I had to predict how I might feel in February and July. I had to hope I could be in public at a certain point, and expect I could handle large amounts of fun around, well, who knows when?

Making this gift was a blessing because I could say to Neil just before having surgery, not only do I have no doubt I'll live through this (otherwise, crappy gift right?) but I'll also choose to believe I get better and better and we'll have a wonderful year together.

SEPTEMBER 

For our kick off month I did have to set the bar rather low. I knew we would be inside not just one weekend but ALL the weekends (and ALL the weeknights). I wanted to do something not too straining but somewhat unique...

Thus - Movie Nights - we stay in, we make popcorn, we snuggle under covers, and we turn off phones. But these aren't typical movies. Our theme is to go through all of our parents' and step-parents' favorite films. We are still collecting some data, and gathering DVDs, but so far its been a blast! Can you believe we never asked them what they love most?

And so now we have a way to separate special nights from just every other night. We also have a new (and renewed) appreciation for:

thanks to John

thanks to Dave

(on deck is)
thanks to Donna

thanks to Paul
(which happens to mine AND Neil's favorite as well. triple whammy!)

and guess who picked

*if you said Joe T, you win!


So far we've lucked out - everyone has impeccable taste, in our opinion - and our September date nights have been delightful! We can't wait to get everyone's final vote and then we might even cycle through some of the second place movies we were given (Ten Commandments, Seabiscuit, Young Frankenstein, The Dream Team, Back to School and Gone With the Wind)

Do you have a favorite movie we could watch? Have you asked any parents or family members what they love the most? I can't believe I waited so long to ask - now that I watch them knowing how beloved they are, they're even better than I remember!

6 comments:

  1. Do you remember how much we loved Foul Play with Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn?

    xoxo

    Caty

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  2. Oh Em,

    I just love reading your blog and giving thanks for your continued healing.. Slow but sure! Love all the films your loved ones love! What a great idea. I, too will ask my family their favorites.

    Mine ~ 1. Braveheart! A true story filled with passion about a warrior! Somehow I am able to get by the blood and battles.

    Also LOVE your anniversary gifts! what an amazing and creative way to celebrate you love of the man God sent you!

    Love you and Neil, praying today is a good day beautiful!!

    Aunt Stacy :)
    XOXOXO

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  3. Fried Green Tomatoes..the best. Best family movies: Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Uncle Bob and Mary Jo used to watch Monty Python in French and laugh just as hard as watching it in English!

    Your love for each other is so refreshing!

    Aunt Sue

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  4. Ahh, I love reading everyone's favorite movies! Mine are, in no particular order: Waking Ned Devine, Cindarella Man, Soapdish, and Seabiscuit. Can you believe I've never seen the Shawshank Redemption? I'll have to put it on Netflix.

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  5. I love your anniversary gift idea and think it's priceless.

    I might "borrow" this and tweak as we are approaching a significant one next month. I have to think about this.

    One of the first movies we ever watched together when newly dating was a Fish Called Wanda. Hilarious.

    Hugs, Gabby

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  6. Notting Hill, Best in Show, Raising Arizona, The Town.

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