Favorite Moments from the First Five

Some men out there get a lot of crap for not remembering key dates along their relationship, but I guess I’m one of the weird ones that actually remembers them … like today, which just so happens to be the 5th anniversary of the very first date that my wife and I shared together back in 2006. Over the years, I’ve tried to make a habit of writing something special to commemorate this day, so this year I thought it might be fun to take a look back at a few of my favorite moments with my love over the last five years…

A Golden Dolphin at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Our 6-month dating anniversary that we spent over at Disney World had a lot of cool memories – our hotel room boasted views of animals out on the Savannah 24 hours a day, we enjoyed a great teppan meal at the Japanese Pavilion at Epcot, and also, it represented the first time that I ever bought real jewelry for a girlfriend … I think I was more nervous picking out this little golden charm than I was when I bought her engagement ring a few months later!

Swimming with Akai
It’s hard to top the evening when you propose to your bride to be, but we still managed to go even a notch higher when we spent the next day swimming with dolphins, among other sea creatures over at Discovery Cove. Getting to experience one of Sara’s life-long dreams with her was something unlike any other. Also, dolphins are really heavy…

Meatballs and Spanakopita
Next up was the food tasting for our wedding, as enjoyed at Spinners at the top of the Grand Plaza Hotel over on St. Pete Beach where we would eventually have our wedding ceremony about a year later. Little did I know that I wouldn’t actually get the opportunity to enjoy any of those Swedish meatballs on my own day, so it was at least nice to try them here! It’s still a nice restaurant that we like to wander back to from time to time, with a rotating floor that offers panoramic views of both the coast and the mainland.

An Anniversary Fit for a Pirate!
Last fall my wife surprised me for our anniversary with a trip to Disneyland, which in itself was pretty sweet, but what truly knocked it out of the park was the dinner she planned for the actual night of our anniversary. Super fancy with coat and tie? Crappy food served in miniscule portions?? Nope – pirate dinner, complete with romantic mood lighting, crab cakes, and pumpkin mousse for dessert! In a single word – awesome.

Bubbling Under the Stars
And my last memorable moment actually just happened a couple of days ago, however it’s mentionable more because a lot of it was spent looking forward into the future – our future together, growing our family, pursuing dreams, and generally just enjoying each other’s company along the way. It was a true calm and serene moment with the water bubbling around us and the stars twinkling above, and it just made me feel happy about all of the things next to come.

Here’s to the next five years and all of the new memories that we share together along the way!