You Shouldn’t Have!

One of the best parts of our one-year reverse anniversary, aside from the perfect 80 degree weather – an anomaly in April in Chicago – was the surprise waiting at my house for Gavin and I that afternoon.

We had gone to the Arboretum to scope out the flowers in full bloom in hopes that our wedding day might look something like this year’s April 14 and have similar weather leading up to the date. The daffodil field and Magnolia trees were in full bloom, and the tulips were at that perfect point before the slow decline over the coming weeks.

In good spirits already (me because of the flowers and weather, Gavin because we were going to Sox game that night), we arrived at my house to a surprise from my parents. They had searched high and low for a couple of Easter/reverse anniversary gifts for us that they knew we would hold on to forever. Accompanying a holiday-appropriate engagement card with bunnies on it, we opened the following:

• The cake knives for our wedding. Pretty Lenox pieces with a classic heart design at the bottom. They match the toasting flutes my Aunt Mary bought us immediately following the announcement of our engagement. We’re set for dessert on our wedding day!
• A frame engraved with our engagement date – February 14, 2006. It’s adorable – two interlocked hearts with one opening for a picture. Very fitting for a Valentine’s Day engagement!
• A photo display box from Hallmark that I saw months ago when shopping for my cousin Melissa’s wedding. Very classic and simple, it has slots for pictures on the outside, and hanging albums inside marked for the dates that lead up to a wedding – showers, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, etc.

Who knew you get gifts for your reverse anniversary? My parents are so great.

Our high was dampened that night at the Sox game when they were creamed 13-5. Ouch. It was a great day telling of great things to come in the future nonetheless!