Does no one else celebrate with wedding anniversary getaways?

[jodifla]

We just got back from a weekend at an inn across the state complete with fireplaces and hot tubs. We went to antique stores, fun quirky shops, bars and nice restaurants -- just as a couple (left our 8 year old with a sitter at home - he would have been bored silly with our itinerary).

My DH was surprised that no one else seems do do this sort of thing. We've done it almost every year (I think we've missed 3 years) for our 22-year marriage. We've done big places like New Orleans, Hawaii and New York City, but most trips are small towns around us, like Coral Gables, St. Augustine, Mount Dora.

It seems other people are lucky if they go out to dinner!

What do you do to make your annivesary special/memorable?

 

[Chris2597]

My best friend and her hubby always go on a trip for their anniversary. They havent always done that but for the last several yrs he has planned something for them. The trips go from a nice long vacation to a weekend. This yr they are hoping to go to AK.

 

[SaraJayne]

We just got back from a weekend at an inn across the state complete with fireplaces and hot tubs. We went to antique stores, fun quirky shops, bars and nice restaurants -- just as a couple (left our 8 year old with a sitter at home - he would have been bored silly with our itinerary).

My DH was surprised that no one else seems do do this sort of thing. We've done it almost every year (I think we've missed 3 years) for our 22-year marriage. We've done big places like New Orleans, Hawaii and New York City, but most trips are small towns around us, like Coral Gables, St. Augustine, Mount Dora.

It seems other people are lucky if they go out to dinner!

What do you do to make your annivesary special/memorable?

We always do. At least twice a year, DH and I go away by ourselves, leaving the kids with Grandma.

Sometimes it's for a local weekend to Door County or longer trips, like a week at WDW.

It's something we both look forward to and we love our "alone" time.

 

[MichelleVW]

We try too, but it doesn't always work out. We're looking at things to do this year since it falls on a Saturday. Last year we went to a Rangers baseball game and this year we are thinking of going to Anaheim for the weekend to see the Rangers play again!

 

[shellybaxter]

We celebrate a lot of things with getaways - including anniversaries. Our anniversary isn't always at a time my Dh can get away from work so sometimes we getaway later and sometimes we just getaway for some other reason

 

[HM]

We got married the weekend after Thanksgiving. That long weekend is the traditional get-together for his family. So we are always with the extended family. For years it was in his parent's small hometown (nothing to do there), but we've been sharing the Thanksgiving meal load between families these last few years, so we go to whichever city the host family lives in (this past year it was us). We haven't had the opportunity to do an anniversary trip, the two of us, ever.

Sounds like you guys have a nice tradition!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I wish we would celebrate our anniversary with an alone trip but our anniversary is usually spent flying for our visit to my inlaws. We really haven't celebrated our anniversary with dinner, alone time or anything.

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I almost always go away for a night or two to celebrate our anniversary.

Sometimes it's on our anniversary, if the weather allows, or sometimes it's a couple months or more later if he's too busy farming and can't get away. Last year we spent a couple of nights in Mackinaw City.

The only "big trip" for an anniversary that we've done was a Disney cruise for our 25th.

We even did at least overnighters when the kids were little. We felt it was important for us, as a couple, and it never hurt the kids to spend a little time with their grandparents either.

I've never understood couples who never, ever leave their kids with a sitter for an overnighter, or even dinner and a movie.

 

[sacall]

We go away every five years for a long weekend, as going away for a weekend every year would just not work. But that doesn't mean we don't go out at least once a month on a date night.

With two kids, 13 and 11, one who dances 5 nights a week and only one set of grandparents who can watch them, it just gets too hard. Plus, my parents in are in their early 80's/late 70's, it's almost too hard on them. We just went away this past November for our 15th and I'm not sure what we will do for our 20th! We might have to wait until our 25th to do a big trip.

I forgot to add - another reason we can't go away every year for our Anniversary - our oldest daugther was born on our 2nd Anniversary!! She doesn't like it that we go away every 5 years. I keep telling her its her fault, she came a week early

Stacy

 

[Dancemom03]

We used to go away year for our anniversary weekend until DD9 was born. Not sure why we stopped but remember it was harder to find someone to keep her back then b/c most of our friends had older children and busy schedules. Grandmom's a nervous nellie and won't babysit until they can talk, walk, and preferrably use the potty.

Actually, our 33rd anniversary is tomorrow, think I'll show this thread to DH and pack a bag. Do you think that'd be enough of a hint??

 

[lovesmurfs]

We don't, but had intended to. We got married Memorial Day weekend, and thought we'd always have a 3-day weekend to celebrate. We're away from extended family and have had sitters when I had a business trip cross with my DH's National Guard weekend. I've never used family or sitters for something "fun" for DH and myself.

We're celebrating our 20th this year. The kids are going to camp for several weeks this summer (their request -- but smart Mom arranged it for the same time!), so I'm hoping to get DH away for a few days while they're gone.

 

[focusondisney]

DH & I have been married over 30 years. We decided right away not to do anniversary gifts like many of our friends did but to take a vacation instead. Even when our kids were little, we would plan our family vacations around the week of our anniversary. Maybe not always exactly on the day, but very close to it. We have always gone out for a fancy dinner at home, too. I think that time as a couple is so important when you are raising a family. And it has paid off. After all these years we still love just being together & DH is stll my Prince Charming!!!

 

[mykidsand_i]

WE DO!!!! It's our 10th anniversary on the 15th of this month! My husband has pretty much set up the entire trip...Vegas!!! It's going to be a lot of fun. We're not doing the 'full party-on' Vegas trip, but we're staying at Loews Las Vegas for two nights and then at the Mirage on the strip for 3 nights. My mom is watching the girls...We're very excited!

 

[Took]

We generally do a get-away and, sometimes, do one for Valentine's Day, too (just a quick overnight somewhere). Great way to re-connect with each other.

 

[Dancemom03]

I think that time as a couple is so important when you are raising a family. And it has paid off. After all these years we still love just being together & DH is stll my Prince Charming!!!

ITA

I have to admit though that most of the times we were away, the subject of our conversations still tended to be about the kids. We've been to several different places w/o kids over the years but I always get a kick remembering our weekends in the Poconos. The resort seats you with 3-4 other couples for dinner and there's a rule that you can't talk about kids or jobs until after dessert. It's hilarious b/c everyone at the table is fighting the urge and searching for a subject worth discussing in a group. I've been quite a few times but don't remember the entire table making it past the entree without the subject of kids or work coming up yet...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Would love to--but with kids it is difficult.

My son's Godparents are giving us a tremendous gift. They volunteered to take all three of our kids for a weekend. Insisted upon it. We are flying to NYC for a weekend getaway...though not on our annivesary since I'll have a very very newborn.

Our last getaway sans kids was for our first anniversary pre-kids. Second anniversary, I was 38 weeks pregnant. So we did a little Orlando thing.

We just have relatives that are unwilling to watch our brood and stated as such long before my kids were even old enough for them to decide if they were to be enjoyed or despised based on their personalities.

I'm a bit envious of couples who have relatives who are totally willing to watch the kiddos. That unfortunately is not us.

For our 10th annivesary, we had one dd at a sleepover, one was at camp, so we were down to my son who still needed mommy at age 1. So the best we could do was a weekend at Disny with just him and using the babysitting service so we could have a date. It worked for me.

I plan to be a tad more accomodating when my kids are grown if they desire to do something like that.

Not against the idea in general...it is just impractical at this time when we were told "no" before we ever considered asking by relatives who have "already raised their children."

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

DH & I have been married over 30 years. We decided right away not to do anniversary gifts like many of our friends did but to take a vacation instead. Even when our kids were little, we would plan our family vacations around the week of our anniversary. Maybe not always exactly on the day, but very close to it. We have always gone out for a fancy dinner at home, too. I think that time as a couple is so important when you are raising a family. And it has paid off. After all these years we still love just being together & DH is stll my Prince Charming!!!

We too have always taken our vacations around our Anniversary date. Or if that doesn't work out we go overnight somewhere or at least out to eat. Our Anniversarys are a big deal to us - we are fixing to celebrate 28 years together & we love being married!
Most often though the years we took our 4 kiddos along & this year for our
28th Anniversary week we are traveling to Mt. Rushmore & Yellowstone with 2 of our kids. I love going as a family - the kiddos are just a bonus that adds to our married life. We do have a neat cabin booked for our Anniversary night & dinner at the Lodge.
I do remember once when the kiddos were tots & money was so so tight we packed a picnic lunch & took the kiddos swimming at the Lake. Weird how after all these years that one stands out & we had a blast!
Our most special Anniversary was when our kiddos sent us to Mackinaw Island for our 25th -wow!
We always pass on the gifts & just spend time together & I always look forward to the next one coming up.

 

[eliza61]

LOL. We're pretty flexible. Some years we celebrate with trips and such, other years we don't. One thing I've figured out after 25 years of marriage is that "one day celebration does not a marriage make". We've at some time or another missed Valentines day or an anniversay.

Next year we will have 1 son attending out of state college, another son going to a private college and mom (me) going part time in order to do a volunteer project. I doubt we'll do any thing outside of our normal wdw vacation.

I've never been one to feel that staying home = my anniversary being less special or being depressed because my dh didn't bring me a valentines day gift. Just me. My sister though will go in debt for 7K because they have to "celebrate" their anniversary with a cruise every year? They complain about being broke. go figure?

I'm pretty sure my marriage will survive. One of my best anniversary's was actually spent away from my dh. LOL. I had a string of bad luck one year health wise (broke my leg, needed an appendicitis, gained a bunch of weight) and by the time our anniversary rolled around I was seriously depressed. Dh gave me a 3 day weekend at a spa/health clinic in the Poconoes. heavenly. I got the full pampering treatment, plus classes on how to cook healthier, and beauty products.

 

[Pakey]

We do. This year we are celebrating our 25th by going to Egypt. Vacations are more important to us than gifts so we quit the gift exchange 3 years into our marriage and have been doing wonderful vacations instead.

 

[Minnesota!]

Nope. We did for our first anniversary - was supposed to be in NYC from 9/10 - 9/17/01. But we cancelled and did WDW from 9/20/01 - 9/25/01 (our anni is 9/16). But since then...we do a nice dinner out as a family.

I get plenty of time with DH after the kids go to bed, in bed, etc. I have absolutely no desire to go anywhere without my kids. I really don't. We both work 10 hour days...so I am away from them for 50+ hours a week. I don't need more time away from them. (Can you tell I JUST (like 10 minutes ago) had this conversation with my BFF?).

Maybe when they are older, I will feel different.

Add on to that - we have NO ONE to watch my kids. Trying to get someone for 2 hours so DH and I can go to Let's Dish is hard enough - I would never be able to find someone to take them for a weekend/week so we could vacation.

So, nope - we do a nice FAMILY dinner out and then a FAMILY movie at home. Works for us!