One of the sweetest anniversaries we ever had was when my daughter Madeleine was a toddler and no babysitter was available so we could have a night out.  My husband took the initiative to make it an amazing evening, but it would have been just as sweet if I had been the one to come up with the idea first.  Here's what Dave did to make our night extra special.  You can do the same thing, too!

• Keep it a surprise.  My husband didn't say anything about his plans, and I just assumed that going out for a nice dinner was out of the question because of our babysitting situation.  When he came in the door completely ready to celebrate after work, I was that much more delighted and surprised.
• Order takeout.  Since we couldn't get out to our favorite restaurant, Dave decided to just order in.  Imagine my delight when the best food in town was being gently placed on our wedding china.   Somehow eating at home seemed that much more special.
  
• Involve the kids.  Instead of trying to push Madeleine aside or work around her, Dave included her in the preparations.  I can still remember her standing on a chair "helping" him get the food and flowers ready in hushed tones--a sweet attempt to let her in on the surprise.  Kids can set the table, arrange flowers or decorate special chairs for the guests of honor.
  
• Set the mood.  Dave put a nice bouquet of flowers on the table with Madeleine's help, and then carefully lit the candles and dimmed the lights.  It wasn't the Russian Tea Room, but in my heart at that moment, it came pretty close.
• Eat together as a family.  By this time, Madeleine--even as a toddler/pre-schooler--understood that Mom and Dad were celebrating a big day.  I was deeply touched that my husband was teaching my daughter that our marriage was an important part of her life, too.
• Make a toast.  This was Madeleine's first experience with making a toast, and to this day, she loves the whole concept.  We took turns toasting to our marriage with Madeleine clinking the apple juice in her little glass.  Dave and I bonded over including her in our sweet sentiments.
• Turn in early.  Getting everyone down early in the evening helps you be rested for any impromptu midnight rendevous later on in the night.  With this much kindness flying around in the air--believe me--you'll find the time for a sweet honeymoon reunion.

This amazing night stayed with me many years later when celebrating our anniversary felt more like a chore than a delight, and knowing we were capable of this kind of connection and kindness was an important part of making our partnership strong again. 

Here's wishing each one of you the best of luck as you try to make time and space to celebrate your own special days!