J-Man doesn't believe me when I say this, and I think it's because I do love gifts. I mean, giving and receiving Christmas gifts is a thrill. I'm careful not to open trunks or closets or his email account starting at Thanksgiving just to be sure any sweet purchase he's planning isn't ruined before the big day.
Gifts are great.
It's the pre-announced, suspense-addled surprises that do me in. If we're going somewhere, I want to know where, when, for how long, what to pack etc. Will it be just us? Who already knows what I don't know? Do they think I'll like the surprise? Am I expected to have a specific reaction? Are the kids involved? If not, who's going to take care of them?
Even when it was our honeymoon, a portion of wedding-planning I was fully willing to pass along to J-Man, I set some non-surprise parameters. I didn't need the resort name, but I did need the general location and departure/arrival dates and times. Once it was clear - Punta Cana/7days/fly out morning after wedding - I could continue in blissful ignorance. And I didn't even need to make the decisions for the big part. The DR was J-Man's choice, he just told me what it would be. And like any sun-loving fiancee, I was happy to indulge his Caribbean island goals.
So when I found out a few weeks ago that J-Man was planning something for Valentine's day, I got nervous. To his credit, he did offer to tell me what our activity would be at various points, but I kept feeling like that would somehow spoil his fun. He wanted to surprise me, was sure I would like it, and wanted me to trust his gift-giving success rate.
I tried to imagine what it could be. The last big surprise like this was when he and his friend O planned a trip for KB and me to go to Annapolis. It ended up a lovely weekend, but we were not into the anticipation leading up to the departure.
I figured this time it wouldn't be a trip. Maybe a show? Something kid-firendly? Especially since it didn't sound like he'd asked my family to babysit, and we'd been away from the kids all week. Perhaps we'd go to an indoor water park? After all, Great Wolf Lodge was a blast over the summer.
A few days prior to the big reveal, it did come out that it was a two-day activity. I almost told him to just tell me, but I didn't want to give in. Yes, my stubbornness shares some of the blame for this frustration, I know. Nobody's perfect.
Anyway, Saturday came and after five quiet mornings in a kid-free home, we awoke to coos and giggles and "I don't wanna get dressed. I don't wanna go potty. I want jelly beans" and so forth. J-Man left to gather the H Family and I dealt with a seemingly sick MDG and an off-his-routine PDG and headed to brunch. It was a nice brunch with Mama and Papa H, Big Sis and Uncle J, KB and her family and us G's. Well, except for MDG being so sick and clingy that he didn't eat a bite and clutched on to me the entire time.
When we left the restaurant we headed home to pack (turns out we were going out of town) and I finally broke down and demanded to know the plan. I wish I could say I was sweet and immediately appreciative. I wasn't. I was frustrated and my arms ached from MDG, and my head ached from worrying about him, and I just wanted to know what shows J-Man had in store for us for the weekend.
No shows.
We were heading back to.... Annnnn-apolis.
And, because I demanded no more surprises, I was told that once again O and KB would be there too.
Like last time, it was super cold, only this time both MDG and J-Man were sick, so it was J-Man with the naps in the hotel, me watching MDG run around destroying the hotel room, and sweet KB who offered to take PDG to play with Lil O by seeing boats, eating ice cream, and running laps in the lobby.
We went to Annapolis Smokehouse for a meat-lover's dream of a barbecue dinner, then both families put on pajama's at seven, watched some Nat Geo tuna-fishing til 8, and then all curled up for hotel snuggles like the family folks we are now.
Times have changed, especially bedtimes, but it was a perfect getaway. I don't think we'll double in size again over the next four years, but I do think we should do this again sometime. And maybe not as a surprise. Probably not in February either. But it's fun to realize what a gift your family is, big or small, when you're cuddled in comfy hotel beds you don't have to make or wash or fold.
Happy Valentine's Day J-Man. Thanks for helping me with these guys. Who knew a heart could love so much?
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