Anniversary #4: iHop and the Death Star

5.19.2015

It probably won't surprise you to hear that we are low-key anniversary people. I decided a long time ago that setting expectations for an Important Day was just going to end up with me feeling let down. Don't get me wrong. I still battle the feeling of wanting every moment of the day to be filled with meaning, but I also realize that that's unrealistic and kind of dumb. So for birthdays and anniversaries, I focus on finding at least one thing to do that will make the day special.
This was our third year in a row going to iHop for breakfast on our anniversary. There's one fairly close to our apartment, so we get up early before work, eat breakfast, and then go our separate ways for the day.
Jordan always gets the same thing: biscuits and gravy with a side of sausage, scrambled eggs (he will only eat scrambled eggs!), and hash browns. I go for the Belgian waffle, because I love waffles and hardly ever get to eat them. I tried to make them myself once and failed so miserably I became enraged and threw out my waffle maker, so now our annual iHop trips are the only time I get to eat them.
We don't do anniversary gifts. Similar to what we do on Valentine's Day, we skip gifts and just get each other a card. However, this year Jordan had flowers delivered to me at work! This is only the second time he's bought me flowers in the six years I've known him. Don't they liven up my desk at work? I've been shamelessly carrying them home and then back again every day so I can get as much joy out of them as possible.

WHY DO FLOWERS HAVE TO DIE? I asked Jordan this, to which he replied, "Everything dies."

Comforting.

When I got the flowers, I called him to say thanks, and he pretended he didn't know what I was talking about. So I said, they were probably from the father of my baby. See how I make jokes? He was not amused.
After work, we made the sweet potato burrito bowl for dinner and officially declared it added to our dinner staples list. Soooo good and healthy! And cheap! And easy to make! Basically my dream meal. Plus I love buying the mini colored peppers! There's a slight chance I'm way too excited about this.
Then, while we ate dinner, we watched Star Wars to conclude the evening. The things I do for him, amIright? Jordan has been having major SW cravings lately, so we're rewatching all the movies before the new one comes out this fall. My nerdy husband is turning me into a nerd, and I don't hate it. Need proof? See below:


Then there was the time I accidentally called Han Solo "Hans." Actually we probably shouldn't talk about it. On to year five!


Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife said...

That biscuits and gravy is looking so good to me right now and I would totally me so excited about surprise flowers!

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th!! The flowers are gorgeous and I would totally do that too! It is said they have to die, but they look so pretty while alive… oh ihop.. I may have to go there soon!

Tracy said...

What a great anniversary celebration! Even if your iHop dates aren't super fancy, it's cute that you've made it into a tradition. Also, from one Belgian waffle lover to another: I feel for you :/

shelleystirs said...

I just read your Star Wars comments to my boys (ages 10 & 7). They both thought your "mistakes" were pretty funny!

p.s. I didn't know the Death Star was a space station. You learn something new every day!

Bethany Carson said...

Haha...you have great/terrible sense of humor. Happy anniversary! Love the flowers, and it looks like it was a delightful day!

Michelle said...

I think we have the same anniversary! Was yours last Thursday?

I love your IHOP tradition. We're super low key too and just went out for pizza. So much easier that way.

Caroline {Virginia Sweet} said...

Love your anniversary! Nothing better than waffles and Star Wars! Cheers to many, many more!

Andrea H. said...

The flowers are beautiful! I love that you are taking them back and forth everyday! Love it! And yes please to waffles! Yum!

sarah e said...

We go super simple on Anniversaries too - it's so nice to let it just be a no-pressure fun day. This year we had a Red Lobster gift card so we majorly scored on free seafood...very fancy for us! Congrats on another year!

Unknown said...

What a perfect way to celebrate. We're also low-key anniversary/birthday people, so this sounds like the perfect day/date. You're lucky about those flowers too. The last time Arnaud bought me flowers was a few months after we met, almost four years ago.

As usual, loving your sense of humour. It's right on point. :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY you guys!

Erin LFF said...

Love it! :) Our anniversary plans change every year- but always end up being a blast! We like to revisit the spot we did our 'first look' and then really just eat whatever sounds good that day! I need to remember to add that burrito bowl to my meal plan soon!

Erin LFF said...

Are you kidding me?! Could you guys get any cooler?! Now you share an anniversary?!!!

Rebecca Jo said...

haha... I'm laughing because Star Wars fans totally don't want you messing up star wars knowledge :)

Those waffles look amazing!

Brittany said...

Happy Anniversary! I love the iHop tradition - something simple, but special. Whenever my fiance buys me flowers, I get so excited and then mourn when I have to throw them away. Ugh. I'm also getting excited about the new Star Wars movie. I think a marathon is in order next time it rains...

Ali said...

So sweet! Your anniversary sounds just perfect. Also, I am putting your sweet potato burrito bowl on my grocery/meal plan list. I promise I'll give it a fair shot!

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

Mmm, that biscuits and gravy meal looks fantastic. Not gonna lie - I thought it was Hans Solo. Oops. Thanks for educating me.

Happy belated anniversary!

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

I have never tried to make waffles, I know it would end badly. I buy frozen (GF) ones or eat when I go somewhere like ihop. we are pretty low key anniversary people as well, and definitely not into gifts. i think for our last anniversary, KC got me money with no strings attached - as in, you can go shopping and i won't say anything. sweetest gift ever ;)

Amy said...

i love. love. love. that this is your anniversary tradition! :)

Rach said...

I love that you have carried the flowers back and forth between work and home! That's adorable! :)

Oh man, I'm pretty sure that I have always called him "HanS Solo". Ooops!

Rach said...

I just read your "cheesy love post" and I LOVE it! You guys are gorgeous together. And I love hearing how you love each other. Christopher and I have seen too many marriages end around us and it is always so encouraging to hear about couples who still love each other, support each other, and are so happy together. :)

Kayla MKOY said...

Happy anniversary girl! I know I'm late but it looks like you two have a blast and I love how he corrected you on Star Wars! ;) hilarious!!

Breenah A said...

I really need a Frozen/Star Wars crossover now with your Hans/Han comment.

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

Happy Anniversary. I love how low key you guys are about celebrating, but it's still really special and meaningful. That is a sacrifice watching those movies! Haha!

Kiki said...

So I normally would never read anniversary blog posts because there's always so much mush and I personally cannot take all of that (at least not right now--watch as I become the biggest hyprocrite later in life!) but I loved this post.

I love that you're low-key and that you celebrate big events in simple ways and in ways that really do celebrate the day, not just with gifts but with each other (which is the point of celebrating an anniversary, right?).

And I totally slip with Hans alllll the time. And I also love that baby daddy joke you made. You guys are the cutest. :)

Kristin said...

LOL at Hans! Happy Anniversary!

Rachel said...

Aww! Sounds like a pretty good way to celebrate an anniversary! The flowers he got you are gorgeous. One of these days I'm going to have to rewatch Star Wars--like 3 weeks after we got married we had a 6 movie Star Wars marathon at our house because it was New Year's Eve....watching those movies once every 5 years is probably a pretty good ratio for a casual fan like myself.

The Lady Okie said...

I know, right????

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

I love that ya'll go to iHop! Breakfast is a nice way to start any special day! Low-key has become our go-to way of celebrating! Happy Anniversary!

Holly said...

I love that you guys are just super low key and enjoy being with each other rather than going crazy over little details :) Gorgeous flowers! And yes, the Death Star is just a space station. Silly boys....

Sarah @ Sometimes Photojenik said...

So I saw the title of your post and thought "Didn't they go to ihop last year on their anniversary?" Then I read your post and realized this is on purpose hahaha. I too love waffles and though I still own my waffle iron it is way too much of an effort to clean so I don't ever make them. Waffles at hotel breakfasts are probably my favorite thing ever. I absolutely LOVE that you carry your flowers back and forth from house to work- so sweet of Jordan. When I read the comment "everything dies" I laughed LOUDLY because it sounds EXACTLY like something Ron from Parks & Rec would say. Hahahahaha. Happy Anniversary!

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

Happy anniversary!!! Yay! How swee that he sent you flowers. Lamar has done that only a couple times since we've been married and it's always such a sweet thing. And I have definitely carried flowers back and forth to work with me so I can be around them. Ha. I love the joke about the father of your baby too. :)

And, I've always said that waffles from restaurants are just better for some reason. I love making them from scratch and they usually turn out, but I think restaurants have a secret ingredient that I'm missing. MM. Now I want waffles.

Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

“Everything dies” made me giggle. I really enjoy the sense of humor you both have! Happy very belated anniversary!...or happy early anniversary for year 5!! That sounds better.

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