Happy 25th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Here is the letter I wrote for my parents to read upon their arrival at the Mayflower while I got them checked in for their two nights there:

Welcome to your 25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend!

You all have been through so much to get to this point and have been such a wonderful example of working together (even when its tough), compromising, and having fun together. That is what this weekend is all about.

Mom has always said that after putting Ryan and I up in the Roach Motel in NYC we owed her a night at a five star (The Mayflower mentioned specifically) so we hope that you enjoy two nights of living in luxury in the nations capital with The Mayflower staff there to spoil you.

We love our dates at the Verizon Center watching the Capitals play so tonight you all are going to get to experience the top ranking hockey team for yourself. You can take the metro to the Verizon Center and enjoy a dinner at your favorite Chinese place before heading to the game. You should start making your way to the game by 6:30.

We know you both work so hard so enjoy yourselves and sleep in tomorrow. Order breakfast from the room service menu and eat breakfast in bed or eat at one of the local diners and take in the sound of the city in the morning. The Cherry Blossom Festival is going on and enclosed is a packet of information on the activities you may want to partake in. We hope you have nice weather for a walk along the water to take in the beauty of the blossoms.

Make your way back to the hotel to get your swim bags and comfy clothes on because you have a 2:00 reservation for a massage at the Splash Spa at the local Sports Club. You will each have an 80 minute massage tailored to your needs and having these massage appointments gives you access to their pool and facility the entire day. All you have to do is check in and enjoy. You can go there early, stay after, or come back later in the day to swim if you want.

Relax the rest of the night tomorrow. Order room service, a movie, or relax and read your fun books. There are plays at the Arena Stage and Shakespeare theater. They didn't look great but if you are up for the adventure, the box office numbers and addresses are included so you can check to see if tickets are still available if you want.

Go ahead and sleep in on Sunday. You may want to try a church service at one of the local churches or you can enjoy breakfast off the room service menu or at the restaurant in the hotel. Don't eat too much because check out is at noon and you'll be picked up to join Diana and Jason and I for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.

Then its back to reality, but I can't do anything to change that and the truth is, your reality is pretty sweet:)

Be sure to take some pictures and to enjoy every moment of your romantic getaway in DC.

Love,
Erika and Ryan

They were so excited and stunned when we pulled up to the hotel and they found out about their other weekend plans. It is a moment I hope I don't forget too soon. I wish Ryan was hear to celebrate with us on Sunday but he is safe in Missouri and April 20th can't come too soon to see him again.