12 years

This anniversary is supposed to be linen or silk depending on whether you follow the traditional or modern gifting route.  My hubby and I have never followed either route. We usually don't even give each other gifts. Sometimes we buy a joint gift or go out for a date night. Before kids we used to spend every Memorial day weekend camping in a different area of California. We attempted to do the same thing when we moved to Wisconsin, but the rain (thunderstorms!) and usually lousy weather kept it from becoming a tradition. Well, our daughter also came around not that long after and adding a baby to the equation was not an option!
This year we had an awesome weekend just hanging out at home. It probably helped that we had been missing each other due to Steve's Cedar Rapids work-week traveling, a normal and weekly routine until fall. We went to the Farmer's Market and bought some amazing polish sausage and meatballs from a favorite meat farm. As a treat for our anniversary we came home with a gorgeous mixed-flower hanging arrangement; it is hanging off the deck where we can see it from the kitchen window and the back room. I made a joke about ignoring any metaphorical symbolism at the end of the summer when the flowers die.
On Sunday it was roasting hot outside so we had an afternoon matinee showing of The Muppet Movie (the newly released one) while eating popcorn and oatmeal (chocolate chip, cranberry, cherry) cookies.  It was delightful! And Emma seemed to enjoy herself, too.
On Monday we went to the Memorial Day parade in Monona for the very first time. It was also Emma's first ever parade. We parked at the nature center and walked up and over the hill, through a wooded city park, with our lawn chairs down to the end of the parade route. We had a grand time and came home with a sack for candy and gum. It turns out that I should avoid the Quench gun even though I really like it; it has aspartame, an ingredient suspect for pregnant women.  Steve grilled the polish sausage that evening and made a simple yummy pasta dish to go with it. It stormed while we ate, which was another highlight.
It was just an awesome weekend! We looked through our wedding album and reminisced about the day. One dozen years is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. A couple at our church just celebrated their 50th anniversary. But it feels like a milestone. Maybe that is just the pregnancy hormones talking this year I don't know.  But the important thing is that we are still celebrating us and looking into our future. Steve is the best husband and an awesome person and I am grateful every day that we have each other. To the happy couple!