Happy (early) anniversary!

The hubs and I are rapidly approaching our second wedding anniversary. To celebrate 24 months of non-spousal-abusing each other, I wanted to do something special for him.

We have a Sunday ritual that we love. Sunday is family day for us. We rarely schedule anything for Sunday or, if we do, it’s a short commitment. Most Sundays, we sleep in and then spend the entire day in our PJs as a family doing nothing. It’s glorious. We wake up late, make breakfast together and then spend all morning playing on the floor with the Bean. We’ll make a light lunch and eat together, then the Bean goes down for his nap. Jer and I will usually watch a movie on On Demand while he’s sleeping or catch up on non-toddler appropriate DVR’d shows.

After nap time, we spend more time playing. Sometimes we’ll get dressed and go for a walk in the neighborhood. But most Sundays we’re home for the long haul.

As late afternoon rolls around, Jer and I start making dinner while the Bean watches Yo Gabba Gabba (in an ideal world) or tries to help (the reality of the situation). I’ll write more about that later. Cooking with a toddler: total insanity.

The real highlight of family Sunday is the dinner. We make a big, from-scratch meal every Sunday together and enjoy it as a family. Jer and I both have really grown to love the act of cooking and especially of cooking together. I wouldn’t say either of us is an especially well-trained cook but we’ve managed to whip up some pretty delicious meals (we’re big fans of our fellow Okie’s cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl).

We love cooking but cooking doesn’t always love us both. We’ve been talking about taking a cooking class together since the beginning of time. I decided that, as an anniversary present, I wanted to make an investment in our relationship. I wanted to invest in time together, into cementing a tradition in our family that keeps us close, connected, bonded and enjoying each other’s company.

So, here’s what I got the Hubs as an anniversary present:

I got him the Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 6-3/4-Quart Oval French Oven in Caribbean.

Note: I most certainly did not pay the price listed on Amazon – that’s insanity. That’s like 87 boxes of wine! I got mine for a song off of Ebay. Patience is a virtue!

A really good Dutch (or French) oven was sorely lacking from our kitchen. I figure we’re heading into fall, the season of the pot roast, chili, of slow-cooked everything. This would be something that would get a steady amount of use plus would also encourage us to expand our culinary adventures. Plus it’s freaking Le Creuset, which means it will last until the end of time (no joke – I have a friend who got a brand new pot from Le Creuset because her 26-year-old French oven finally chipped. 26 years after buying it people! THAT’S a warranty.) So, I figured in 20 years when we’re making a roast and pull out the ole French-Dutch (Fretch?) oven, we’ll reminisce about our early days as a young, married couple and, after 20 minutes of laughter, stories, kisses and merriment, we’ll exchange one of those knowing smiles. (Unless we’re divorced. Then, when Jer pulls it out to use is in 20 years with his new family, he’ll be reminded of the ginger he lost and how much his life sucks without me. Win win.)

But the Fretch oven wasn’t the only gift. I also enrolled us in monthly cooking classes that we’ll take together. I. CAN’T. WAIT. The first one is in a few weeks and we’re going to make — wait for it — a Halloween cookie bouquet! YES, WAY!

My whole goal with the gift, as I said, was to make this anniversary present an investment in us. By getting him the Fretch oven, it’s an encouragement to continue our family Sunday tradition and to build memories while using it. The cooking class will be a way for us to have some couple time, to better our culinary skills and to again put a few more memories in the Good Time Jar in our hearts (someone stop me).

I’m going to write one more post about our anniversary closer to the big day (Thanksgiving Day). Until then, I will spare you for any more ridiculous sappiness. :)

PS
These gifts aren’t a secret, so don’t worry about ruining the surprise. I gave them to him early because I wanted him to be able to use the pot around Thanksgiving and through the holidays (to cook me a turkey while I yell for drink refills and for him to come change the channel on the TV — using the remote is too much work some days). :)