It's December 5, 2010... Our Anniversary! Today We Celebrate 12!

Dang, 12 years married? That makes us sound so old! Let's not forget we got married young!!! OK? I don't want anyone thinking I'm old here!

The last few years we've been lucky 'cause the 5th falls on a weekend. Of course this year it's on a Sunday so we decided to celebrate on Saturday the 4th instead. We like to head out of Dayton for our anniversary each year; this year Chris drove us to downtown Cincy for shopping (um, my favorite thing ever!) and dinner at the original Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse.

So... I always do the "traditional" thing for our anniversary; whatever the very wise internet tells me the yearly gift was traditionally, I buy. The 12th anniversary is silk or linen. Seriously. I was at a loss. I wasn't going to buy a stupid silk tie or something lame! I wanted something unique and meaningful!! Every year I come up with something... this year I cried at the mall (yes, really) because I couldn't think of ANYTHING! So I made Chris agree, no gifts this year... but then I felt bad because it would the first without gifts, plus knowing Chris, he'd get me something anyway. So I racked my brain for thoughtful/heartfelt gift ideas in silk or linen. Then I had a great idea! Photographs are a big part of our lives! Am I ever without a camera? So I decided to take abstract pictures of things around our world and spell out "LOVE", change the photos to black and white, have them matted in linen (YAY!) and get them framed. I did it all in one afternoon... it was a bit overwhelming, I won't lie. I will spare you the details of me running all over town and just show you the result... can you see "LOVE"? L= a tree on 741 between Springboro and Mason, O= Chris's beloved tractor wheel, V= the frame from the first big piece of artwork we bought for our home and E= a metal fence (random but it works).

Chris of course came up with a crafty idea as well; the last several years he typically buys a charm to add to my Tiffany charm bracelet each anniversary. This year before dinner, we went into Tiffany's, up to customer service, and the lady handed him a bag. I opened the charm, a sweet little snowman with a Tiffany blue scarf; Chris was quick to point out he was wearing a silk scarf! Of course he is!!!!!!! I love it! It's currently being put on my bracelet and will be shipped back to me in 2 weeks...

We had a great time and an awesome dinner! I could have skipped the whole meal portion and just eaten the dessert... hot chocolate lava cake and homemade peanut butter cup ice cream. We devoured it. Fountain Square was all lit up for Christmas too and it was snowing! So pretty. I only got one picture of our night though... this very lovely self-portrait of the two of us! Beautiful? haha.

Happy 12 years to us!!!