Jan 06 2007
Living Happily
The first time we talked was on a school bus. We had first seen each other earlier in the day in U.S. History class. My first day at my new high school after moving to Maryland - the school counselor escorted me to class, and the teacher told me to sit in the front row, where no one else was sitting. I could feel the eyes of my new classmates on my back.
My sister and I were the new girls at a big school. We quickly found out that classes would be harder and more competitive than the small school we went to in New Mexico. We hashed over all of this on our ride home. My parents had just purchased our house, and we were going to meet them at the new house after our first day. The counselor told us which bus to ride to get home.
Mimi and I stepped onto the bus and found a seat near the front together. We weren't sure where to get off, so when I recognized one of the riders as the cute boy from my History class earlier, I decided to ask him. Guess who the cute boy was?
The thing is, Mimi and I got on the wrong bus altogether. Kris did his best to help us get to neighborhood that we lived in - he knew it well since he often played street hockey at the park near it - and we got off the bus at the next stop, deciding to brave our way through the new suburbs on foot. We didn't have cell phones at the time, and didn't have much sense of direction either. Luckily, we happened upon our new street pretty easily after a 30-minute walk through random neighborhoods.
I saw a lot more of "that cute boy" in the weeks that followed. As the term went on, one of Kris's friends asked me if I would like to join their study group for the advanced placement exam. I needed the help, as the move across the country had unsettled my progress in the class, so I took him up on it. The study group included five guys - of them was Kris - and me.
Weeks of studying, and we all passed the exams successfully. All six of us in the study group decided to celebrate our success by a night at the movies. Kris and I sat next to each other, and we nuzzled up to each other all evening at the theater. We officially started dating in May, right after the movies. We had a great summer ahead, as well as our senior year of high school.
My family loved him, and I quickly fell in love with him too. We were a great match from the beginning. We did the homecoming dance, the prom, the dinner with the parents, the late night phone calls, and holidays-together thing. My family teases me now that we were completely "joined at the hip" at the time. There's no denying it!
We got engaged in August 1999. We went to college together, and fell even more in love. We began to plan our lives together. Kris finished college in record time, got a great job, and then the big day arrived: January 5, 2002.
Kris and I celebrated our five-year anniversary yesterday. We scheduled dinner at a nice restaurant in town, dressed up for the occasion, and enjoyed a beautiful evening together. We talked about our future and about our past.
We usually do not do an exchange of gifts for anniversary; right after the holidays and Kris's birthday we tend to have a low-key anniversary, usually dinner out and a nice bottle of wine. Kris decided to step it up this year with some other gifts, and I was completely surprised.
The traditional gift for the 5th wedding anniversary is wood, and Kris got creative in his gift-giving (with excellent tips from Jenna - thanks girlfriend!) He bought some beautiful rosewood needles for me! (Size 4.00mm/US6 circulars and 2.25mm/US 1 double pointed needles) I love his special crafty "take" on the traditional gift!
The modern 5th anniversary gift is "silverware", and we have plenty of that, so Kris got creative again and found some adorable sterling silver earrings - they are shaped like little balls of yarn!
And see what I gave him? (Okay, yeah, I just so happened to finish the sweater on our anniversary… but it counts, right?)
Pattern: Men's Bulky V-Neck Sweater
Pattern Source: Knitting to Go Deck: 25 Chic and Easy Patterns
Yarn: Reynolds Lopi Icelandic Wool in Charcoal
Yarn Source: Inherited from a coworker
Needles: Size US 11 and US 10
Started: December 15th / Finished: January 5th
*More pictures and details on Flickr*
The non-traditional anniversary gift?
Definitely wool.







Awwwwww
Happy anniversary! You guys seem to have a really sweet relationship–it’s easy to see the love!
Congratulations on anniversary #5. What a cute couple.
Happy Anniversary Lolly and Kris!
And I never knew you lived in NM Lolly, where did you live here before you moved to MD?
Happy Anniversary!
That sweater turned out great - it seems that the knitting to go deck has lots of good patterns in it!
Happy Anniversary! You guys are too cute. The sweater is great!
Happy Anniversary! The sweater looks so nice, and you got some great gifts too. All the best to both of you!
Happy fifth anniversary! (and many mooore….)
Kris’s sweater turned out great, and he gave you really thoughtful presents, too. Sounds like a wonderful celebration all around.
Happy Anniversary Lolly and Kris! (from one who just celebrated 25 yrs with her hubby! - it’s a great ride, enjoy it!!)
Happy anniversary! I love the photos of you two in high school. Kris’ sweater looks great, too!
Happy Anniversary! Great pictures and that sweater came out fabulous:)
OHHHH happy anniversary (it’s also my husband’s birthday, heh heh heh - so I guess we were all celebrating!!)
To many years to come!!!!!
So SO cute! Congrats on #5!
Happy 5th Anniversary!
Could that be any sweeter? I think not!
I knew you two started young, but High School sweethearts? That’s the AWWWW of the day. Happy Anniversary. What a thoughtful guy Kris is.
The sweater is the perfect anniversary gift! Happy Anniversary!!
What a sweet story! Sounds like you two are a perfect match. Happy 5th Anniversary!
What a sweet story and thanks for sharing how you and Kris met. Happy Anniversary. How lucky you two to have found each other. His sweater looks great and fits him to a “T”.
Aww! What wonderful gifts! I’m going to have to nudge Jason to think crteatively (read - think about my addictions to yarn!) for our next anniversary.
Congratulations to you and your love, and may you have many times many more wonderful years together!
What a sweet story! Thanks so much for sharing it! Such fantastic gifts as well!!
Happy Anniversary!!
Happy anniversary, you two! What an absolutely wonderful story-it gave me goose bumps-the good kind, of course.
Happy anniversary! And that sweater turned out really well.
How sweet — Happy Anniversary!
This post is just sooo sweet! Happy Anniversary, Lolly and Kris!
awww! how sweet! Happy 5th anniversary!
What a lovely couple you are! Happy Anniversary!!!
Happy Anniversary!! You and Kris sound a lot like my husband and I- we met in the hallway in high school- 17 years ago.
Happy Anniversary! Great job on Kris’s sweater and he did awesome on your gifts! So sweet how you two met!
What a sweet post! Happy anniversary to you and Kris! =)
The sweater looks awesome.
Happy Anniversary! Best wishes for many, many more.
Awww, Happy Anniversary! What a sweet love story the two of you share
Yay, Happy Anniversary you two! Lolly, that sweater looks great, and I love this post!
Fibery presents — he’s definitely a keeper!!!! And, his sweater looks great on him. Congrats to both of you!!
Happy Anniversary! What great thoughtful gifts you gave each other!
Congrats! What a sweet story!!! [great sweater, too!]
Happy Anniversary to you both!!
Congratulations on a very happy 5 years. What a thoughtful husband you have to indulge your love of knitting too. The earrings are so cute, and the needles look very swish. Kris looks great in his jumper, what good timing you had.
Happy anniversary! What a sweet love story. Some of my favorite moments of being married to my hubby are when we talk about our dreams and hopes and plan on how to make it happen. Planning our future together and then living it… it’s the best. Congrats and many more wonderful years to come.
Happy Anniversary! It is so refreshing to hear a sweet story of a couple falling in love and making it work. You two are so wonderful to one another!
Kris’ sweater is very handsome!
What a heart-warming story and great commemorative gifts, The best kind always take into consideration the giftee! Fab job both of you.
Happy Anniversary!!
Happy anniversary! My goodness this guy is a keeper! Anyone who is such creative in gift giving is sure to be kept!
Best wishes for many more years together for the two of you.
Petra
Beautiful sweater!!! And happy anniversary! Leslie in SF
Happy 5th Anniversary to a beautiful couple! He’s definitely a great gift giver with those gorgeous needles! The sweater is just as gorgeous Lolly, great job on it. Now you can start to make a list for your 7th anniversary where the traditional gift is wool!!
Happy anniversary! You are so adorable together. Thanks for sharing the story of your romance. I hope you have many, many wonderful years to come.
Happy Anniversary!
Hap Happ Happy Anniversary to you both!
Great sweater.
Happy Anniversary Lolly and Kris. x
Happy anniversary! Great sweater, and sounds like the guy’s a keeper too.
Awwwww…………
Happy anniversary!
That’s the sweetest story ever! When I moved to a new school, all I got were kids making fun of the way I dressed. How lucky for you to find your sweetie! Happy Anniversary.
awww, you guys were high school sweethearts! how cute! happy anniversary! the gifts and the sweater all look fantastic. what a great way to celebrate
Happy Anniversary!!! I met my hubby in highschool, too. We’ll be celebrating out 22nd anniversary this May.
I love Kris’ smiley-squinty eyes; he just gives off the vibe of happy youth!
I have a feeling he’ll have those same eyes when you are celebrating your 55th anniversary! Congratulations!
Happy anniversary, Lolly & Kris! Excellent gifts, all around. And I think Kris enjoys modeling his new sweater.
Wow! Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful love story! Great gifts all round! Blessings for many more great years to come!
how cute you two must have been …. happy anniversary kids. and many more happy years together.
Congrats Lolly! Love comes in so many different ways and at different times of life. How lucky you and Kris are to have met your soul mates at such a young age. Here’s to a beautiful and long life together.
How adorable! Happy Anniversary!
Wool is close to wood. Just add the c shape to the front of the l: d!
Happy Anniversary! Great gifts, and Kris’ sweater turned out fabulous!
What a great story! Happy anniversary!
I loved reading your story of how you met and fell in love. Happy Anniversary!
Aw, high school sweethearts, what a happy story! Wishing you guys all the best.
The sweater came out great and the fit looks perfect. I think it’s so cute that he got the wooden needles and silver earrings to go with the anniversary gift list. Maybe when you get to the Golden anniversary, you can knit a metallic jumpsuit
Happy Anniversary!
Omigosh - that story is too cute! You just made me tear up a little bit.
Happy anniversary!!
Happy Anniversary! What a sweet story, I’m so happy for you both.
Happy Anniversary!
that was fast! where wool is cool! you guys are adorable!
Happy Anniversary to you both and many more to come! I love the “traditional” gift he gave you!
awww! lovely story! happy anniversary and brilliant gifts and fab sweater!
I love this story and both of you!!!
happy anniversary pally mine!
Great story! Happy anniversary to you both!
what a wonderful story. i loved reading it. happy anniversary to you both!
Happy fifth anniversary! You two are such a cute couple. May you have many more years of happiness and wedded bliss!
(the sweater looks great!)
Happy Anniversary. What a great couple you are:)
Beautiful story! Happy Anniversary!
Awwww….cute story. And he’s just as cute now as he was then. (Nice sweater, by the way.)
You two (and your story) is overwhelmingly cute! Congratulations on your anniversary and on finding the love of your life!
Great story, great sweater, great couple! Happy anniversary and best wishes for many more
Congratulations - you both are so happy with each other
I love to see that!
Congratulations! Happy anniversary and happy needles!
Awwww. : )
Happy Anniversary!
And nice job on the sweater. Looks like Kris likes it, too.
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! Y’all are so cute together!!
Aww! Happy anniversary!
I just totally cried! I shit you not! Since I met you I have thought he was lucky to have you, and now that I see what thought he put into your anniversary presents, I think you’re lucky to have him as well! Happy Anniversary!
That is such a wonderful story. I also have a husband who indulges my knitting addiction so i know how good it feels to have him think outside the box. And the sweater is wonderful!
Happy Anniversary to you both. We will be celebrating 22 years living together and 15 years of marriage on May. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately my first love didn’t lasts. Only good thing to come out of that was my son, who turns 41 in January. Good luck, I’m sure yours will last.:-)
Gosh, what a great anniversary tribute! Great pics and the gifts look amazing too (good job, Kris). Oh, I am all weepy and lovey now…
**runs off to snuggle the boy**
What a great story - just shows that you two were meant for each other. And what wonderful gifts for the 5th anniversary.
Here’s to many more! ::raises glass in toast::
that is such a sweet story
congrats to you both! here’s to many, many more happy years together!!!!
Happy, happy anniversary, Lolly and Chris! M & I met in high school, when I was the *new girl*, too.
Happy Anniversary! I didn’t realize you knew each other for so long!
Happy Anniversary L!! I love everything you gave each other. The sweater is fantastic.
Did you know I’ve known T. since I was 6?
happy anniversary! i sure like a good love story
Happy Anniversary!
awww Happy Anniversary! You guys are just too cute!
Chris’s sweater turned out soooo well, it looks smashing on! Well done chris on the fine purchases!
What a lovely post about you two Lolly! Happy anniversary to you & many more years of happiness!
The sweater looks great & his anniversary gifts are too much - they speak volumes about you both!
Happy Anniversary! Loved Kris’ presents to you. You have one of the good ones, girl! (I got mine 17 years ago.)
The sweater came out great! You do good work.
Sweet story! Happy anniversary to you both! Loving the sterling silver earring, needles and you did a beautiful FAST job knitting his sweater.
Congrats, Lolly! We just celebrated our fifth as well! And I know someone probably already mentioned this, but I think the 7th is wool.
Maybe you two could do an exchange- you make a sweater for him and get a sweater’s worth of yarn in return.
Happy Anniversary Lolly! That boy is a keeper!!
And that sweater is great!
What a thoughtful guy! You guys sure are wise for your years–embracing a good thing when you find it and nurturing your love. It’s really heart warming to witness–thanks for sharing it with us.
Happy Anniversary! What a great couple you make!
What a nice love story, Lolly! So wonderful that you both grew in the same direction at such a young age and are still together! And you two are soooo cute together! Happy Anniversary! Love the sweater, too…
Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness to come….
What a sweet story! Many more happy years to you two!!
A beautiful story Lolly. You guys look so great together–love all around you. Congratulations!!
I have a great big smile on my face!! I have been dating my boyfriend for 3 years and we’re getting ready to go off to college. Your story really touched me, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read about you and Kris, it’s the perfect love story. Congratulations on your anniversary!
What a lovely story! Happy anniversary Lolly and Kris!
You guys are CUTE! Best wishes on your anniversary. And the sweater looks great too.
Happy anniversary you two! We’ll be celebrating our 5th this year too.
Awwww you two are so cute together and I loved reading your story. Happy Anniversary and many more happy years together.
x
Awwwwwwwwwwwww….congrats and Happy Anniversary!
AWWW, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! I’m a total sucker for “how-we-met” stories like this. so sweet! and you guys were high-school sweethearts, double awwwwww!
and what really thoughtful and lovely gifts you guys got for each other.
Especially the needles, they are too lovely. 
So sweet Lolly! Happy anniversary! Beautiful job on the sweater!
Congratulations, sounds like a lovely anniversary celebration.
AW! Big Congrats!
May you have many more!!!!!
What a sweet entry! It seems like you two have been married forever,…and I was there from the beginning! Happy Anniversary to the Best!!!!!
Congratulations. The sweater and the needles go well together!
Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful tale of your life together.
Seriously: Awwww!
How cute and sweet are you guys! Congratulations and happy anniversary you two!
Happy Anniversary! Lovely post, and what a great sweater!!
happy anniversary!!! i adore you both! what great presents
Awww… y’all are adorable! Happy Anniversary and many more to come!
A very happy anniversary to you and Kris. I loved reading your story. Great job on the sweater too!
Happy anniversary! That is such a great story.
Aaaaaawwww
Happy anniversary, happy people !!
Happy Happy Anniversary Lolly & Kris. So sweet, and the gifts, my goodness girl, please tell Kris to start his own blog to help our poor clueless hubbies out! Most men just don’t get our fiber obsession.
Happy #5 lady! Kris didn’t tell me what he ended up getting you, so I was interested to see what he chose from the two pages of suggestions I gave him. He was so cute to seek me out and ask - what a great hubby
The sweater looks great, too bad he probably won’t get to wear it until next winter.
Awww, happy belated anniversary! He’s definitely a keeper.
Awww!!! Happy anniversary to you and your sweetie. Sounds like it was fated to be.
you look so happy together! congratulations!
Happy Anniversary! That sweater looks great and I love the wooden knitting needles.
P.S. You guys look great together. And not just in these photos, but in pretty much every darn photo I see of you two. It’s nearly sickening.
I love hearing stories like that! I didn’t know you guys were together since high school…you both still look so young!
Good looking man you got there, Lolly. You’re a lucky lady, and he’s a lucky guy. Y’all make such a cute couple! Happy anniversary to you both!
Awww…so so so sweet! Happy Anniversary, L&K!
Congrats! I’ve only made it three years so far. You two are adorable.
Those earrings are sweet too.
Awww… yall are so darn cute!!
Happy Anniversary! You share the date with my beloved Granny Kate’s birthday. She would have been in her 90’s. It’s a magical day, so I’m glad to see it marked with more love and happiness from the two of you!
its such a lovely love story, and the thing is in all these years since you first met you both look just the same as you did in the prom photo! Happy Anniversary!
Lolly!
*sniff* what a sweet story! and what wonderful gifts! Happy Anniversary to the both of you!
Congratulations on five years! Good thing you didn’t get married a month later, my husband and I got married Feb 2, 2002 (02-02-02) and had twins. I hope that my husband is as creative when our 5 year comes around. WE usually just have KFC and hang with the kids.
high school sweethearts! how amazing and wonderfully old-fashioned! around the time you were getting engaged, i was wondering what the hell was wrong with me and men
Happy Anniversary! The sweater turned out very nice.
You guys are just too cute together! Happy Anniversary!
what a lovely story…and i am so happy for you both- especially you, a man who gives a woman rosewood needles, what a keeper!
happy anniversary! such a cute story. i love seeing pics of lolly in high school!
What a great story - movies are made of stories like these!
What a great story! You guys were obviously meant to be from the start. Happy Anniversary!
Happy anniversary! You two make a lovely couple and it’s obvious that you’re very much in love. Here’s to many more years of happiness! *raises glass*
Damn Lolly, you almost made me cry, not quite but close! That was a great story. Congrats!
Happy Anniversary! Many blessing for the future!
I love Kris’s take on the anniversary gift. So sweet. I’ll have to pass a few hints to the Mr. for our fifth in August.
Aww! That’s a sweet story. Gives me hope for myself. ^_^ Happy anniversary, Lolly (and Kris). Too cute! Squee!
Happy Anniversary, many more!
happy anniversary, lolly! what a sweet story you two have ~ and wow, a high school romance that lasted? hooray! go you
Happy number 5! What a sweet sweet story. I wish you many more Cheery Anniversaries! =)*)
It must be true love. You got him to wear wool when it is 70 degrees outside. Wishing you many more years together.
I love this story! Thanks for sharing.
Happy Anniversary!!!!!
And his sweater looks great.
Happy Anniversary, Lolly and Kris!! My parents were high school sweethearts (though they went to different high schools), and as they get older, it seems even more amazing that they have known each other for most of their lives — it’s special, unique thing, and I hope that you enjoy each other for a long, long time to come!
Congratulations!!! Happy anniversary
awww - happy anniversary! I love marking every year - looking back, looking ahead….all the memories! He looks great in the sweater - the yarn looks nice in that simple pattern!
Aww what a special story! Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations! What a beautiful story you two have. (This post actually brought a tear to my eye. I’m such a sappy sucker.) Happy happy anniversary! And may you have many more.
All right, I know 165 people ahead of me have said this already, but - awwwww. Very cute story. Congratulations on 5 years - and your sweater for him turned out beautifully.
It’s a very beautiful story, and I hope you guys will have tons more happy anniversaries. Cute sweater!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!!! And it is nice that the weather cooperated for you. And I am sure that Chris is happier with the sweater than he would be with any other gift. You made it out of love for him. And that matters more than anything.
Congratulations! You two were meant for each other and will have many more happy years to come. And many more sweaters!
what a wonderful story! you two are adorable, and this story makes me all teary…
I will be married 4 years in May, the time flies, but the love grows stronger- isn’t it grand?
congrats you two!
Happy Anniversary! (I almost cried! - hehehe)
OMG you both are so cute! Happy Anniversary to both of you!
awe! happy anniversary! what a great take on “wood”!
aww. happy anniversary! thanks for sharing a little of your history, it’s a really sweet story.
oh.. and those earrings are awesome!
What a great story, thanks for sharing! And happy anniversary!
Awwww… such a romantic story. Happy 5th Anniversary!!
You two are so adorable! Happy anniversary!
Bless you both! You’re such cuties. Happy anniversary!
You know, the level of cuteness of you two should really be illegal.
(Just kidding!)
Your story made me all sniffly and happy that such true love exists in the world.
Happy 5th anniversary!
PS - Kris did an awesome job on the presents! Holy cow!
PPS - You did a fantastic job on the sweater, too!
Happy Anniversary 5th Anniversary, Lolly & Kris!
(His sweater turned out great and he looks delighted with it!)
Happy anniversary! What a great story you two share!
Happy Anniversary, Lolly and Chris! Hope you have many, many more!
The earrings are smashing, as is the sweater!
Happy anniversary! I love hearing the story
My husband and I are high school sweethearts too, isn’t it so fun? When everyone else is just meeting, we’ve known each other for so much time already. It is sweet, sweet time together.
Happy belated anniversary! Wishing you both nothing but the best in the years ahead!
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Lolly! It’s so sweet. Hope that you guys enjoyed your anniversary, and that you will enjoy many years to come.
Thanks for allowing me to post this on Yarnival!
[...] of their importance. History was (one of) my favorite subjects in school [and no, not just because I met Kris in grade 11 history class…] and has continued to play a large role in my life. While working [...]
[...] new things to get used to… like this cute boy in my American History class… and well, you may remember that story. The summer of ‘98 was low-key. I got a summer job doing HTML at a tech company, and we [...]