Birthday, Father's Day, Anniversary, Oh My!

June is always crazy. ALWAYS.

Usually it's Rich's birthday that kicks it all off on the 15th. Then, my dad and step-mom's wedding anniversary (which I always forget about until it's too late), then Father's Day, then our Anniversary. Closely following in the first two weeks of July we have Rich's mom, sister, and Aunt's birthdays. Plus, the fourth of July which (in years past) has included a cookout at our house.

I get dizzy just thinking about June!

But, it's been a fun one so far - that's for sure!

I didn't get much for Rich for his birthday. He's very hard to shop for because he usually gets what he wants when he wants it. That is to say, he usually doesn't want much - but when he finds something - some one thing - that he wants? He'll just go get it. So this year, I made him *not* get the wii game that he wanted so badly. I insisted that I get that for his birthday present, and then I made him wait until his birthday before he could actually have it. Bwahaha, I'm so mean. He liked it and it was a nice gift and all - but the guy is just so hard to surprise, so hard to shop for thoughtfully ya know?

He also hinted (or so I thought it was a hint) that he wanted a new watch. I figured that'd be a nice gift from the girls for Father's Day. So again - I told him forget about the watch, just let us get it for you for father's day. But then - no.... it had to be just the right watch. And of course? He found a great deal on the very one he wanted at Amazon. So, he got his watch - but when it came in the mail? I snatched it and hid it and vowed to keep it from him until Father's Day. Bwahahaha - seriously - at least he's getting what he wanted, so what if he had to pick it out himself? and pay for it himself? and have it sent to our house himself? If he wants it so bad, he can wait until a holiday to get it.

Yes, I'm an evil nazi wife that way. The guy is hard to shop for. I have to steal his things and give them back to him at the right time so that I feel like I'm thoughtfully gift-giving. Nice, right?

There's only been a few things I've wanted recently. I followed husby's lead and just got myself one of them - a new patio umbrella. We needed it anyway and it's going to be very nice to have for our big June bbq party in a week from now. I figured, if I want it? I should totally just buy it. After all - that's what he does.



The other night, I went downstairs to get something and saw a big box wrapped in pretty paper. Sheepishly, I asked Rich what it was - knowing full well it was a blender. And it was to be mine. Because I wanted it and because our anniversary was coming in just a couple of days. And I have been shopping for a good deal on a glass jar blender. And this box in his office? That was wrapped in gold/silver wrapping? All but had BLENDER written all over it.
So he gave it to me that night and said "Happy Anniversary."

I was very happy. I wanted it. I got it. I loved it. I immediately opened it and started reading the direction book thingy to find some new/different recipes. Then, I tossed it in the dishwasher and we went about our evening. I was happy - I was not expecting a gift at all since WE'D JUST BOUGHT A NEW GRILL FOR EACH OTHER FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY. I was thankful that I'd stopped at Target the other day to pick up a cheap/stupid gift for him. The guy is very hard to shop for (did I mention that yet?) so at least this cheap/stupid gift would be something I could give him on our Anniversary... it wasn't as good as my new glass jar blender, but it was something. After all, anything small should be a nice surprise and a token of thoughtfulness since we didn't plan to get each other anniversary gifts at all. Well, except for the NEW BBQ GRILL WE'D GOTTEN EACH OTHER AS AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT.

For Father's Day, we had the family over for smoked turkey. Rich wanted to try out the new charcoal BBQ GRILL THAT WE'D GOTTEN EACHOTHER AS AN ANNIVERSARY GIFT. I was more than happy to let him take the reins on feeding the whole family - and smoked turkey? That is a pathway right to my heart. YUM. The smoked turkey was awesome - the whole family raved about it. I was very impressed with my honey's skills - he was in the kitchen all morning with fresh lemons, garlic, onions and lots of spices. He was rinsing the bird and preparing the grill and he smoked that baby to perfection. Did I mention that it was succulent? Delish!! The BBQ GRILL THAT WAS OUR ANNIVERSARY GIFT to each other was a big hit.




After dinner, I spent the evening chatting it up with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law while the boys were playing the wii down in the living room. I told them about my new blender and how excited I was about it. And they ooh'd and ahh'd about it and it was fun. And then the company left, and I cleaned up after them, and went for a little bike ride to counteract the oversized servings of turkey and ice cream sundaes that I ate... and then I came home and poured myself a glass of wine and told hubby to join me on the deck for chit chat.

And he said no way, it was too hot out there, and I said whatever, and I went on the deck with my glass of wine and he followed close behind and then

And then?

I saw it! It was beautiful!!!



In the yard, in my very own backyard, was a self-standing hammock! All assembled and ready for my company. He surprised me and got the hammock a few weeks ago (despite the fact that we weren't supposed to exchange gifts since we got each other the NEW BBQ GRILL FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY.

But, there it was. And it was mine. It is mine. People like me don't own hammocks, ya know. We just dream about having one. But, I have one. Cuz my husby knew I wanted one and he shopped around for one and got one and had it delivered to his parents house so I wouldn't know about it and then his dad brought it over to our house while we were having our family bbq dinner and he assembled it in MY backyard while I was on my bikeride and it was there, for me!

Ahhh - my husby is the best y'all. Not just because of the hammock or the blender or the succulent turkey or all of that. But, because he loves me and he likes to surprise me and he pays attention to me, and he runs with me and he's funny and charming and quite dashing if I might say so myself. And we've been married for eight fabulous years. And I'm the luckiest girl in the world. And I'm gonna relish in my lucky'ness on my new hammock tonight after the sun goes down. And I hope my hubby is right next to me on that thing. Seriously. Cuz I need help getting in and out of it.

I guess I need a plan now. There are still 11 hours left of our Anniversary. I should plan some kind of great get-a-way. Find a babysitter. Plan a picnic or dinner and a movie or something. The pressure is on. I must find something special to do with my husby on this day. Not just because he surprised me with a hammock, but because he's mine of eight years now. And he made me feel really special and loved by surprising me so. And, heck - eight years? That's something, ya know. That's really something!