Hello! My name is Camille, my husband Mykel and I will celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss (and a few blips) this year. We have five beautiful children, 3 boys ages 16, 14, 13 and two girls ages 8 and 5. Our children are all adopted but are biologically related as they all have the same birthmother. (My previous guest posts: Open Adoption and Nights With Your Kids.) I have a daycare in my home five days a week and my favorite vice is watching reruns of Law and Order SVU on my iPhone while I fold laundry.
Forever My Valentine ~ A Glimpse Into My Love Life (she: Camille)
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How did you meet?
The first time I saw my husband I was sitting on the steps of the Jr. High School. He was sitting in the back seat of the high school bus and he waved to me. I had to turn my head and make sure he was waving at me! I would try to see him at the high school when I went there for track practice. My older sister’s friend was dating him and had dance pictures of them hanging on her ceiling. I loved to just lie on her bed and stare at him! He finally asked me out a few years later…
What did you do on your first date?
He offered me a ride home from work and he took me to this sort of water pipe/bridge that spanned the highway. He conveniently had a blanket in his trunk and we spent several hours talking about our families, what accidents we had been in, what our scars were from, etc. I was thrilled to say the least, I mean, I was barely 16 and he was 19 (so gorgeous and even a gentleman! He didn’t even try any moves on me!)
What’s the best romantic getaway you’ve been on?
My husband booked a three day/two night getaway to Park City, Utah. The most romantic part about it was that HE planned it without my knowledge. The getaway package included mountain bike rentals and a mapped bike tour around the city and mountains. We went to the chocolate factory and got our favorite white chocolate covered caramel apples, had a picnic lunch, played golf and went hiking. The best part was having a kitchenette in our room so we didn’t have to leave if we didn’t want to!
What would the ultimate romantic getaway be??
I picture a nice (private) little cottage near the beach stocked with plentiful towels, a hot tub or large jacuzzi bath, giant king size bed with down comforters and soft pillows, a warm breeze blowing through the windows, a stocked pantry/fridge and no distractions….
What are your songs?
OUR song is, “If we hold on together” by Diana Ross. We used to dedicate it to each other on the radio when we first got married. The words have special meaning to us.
My song for him is “Green Eyes” by Coldplay. (I love my husband’s green eyes!)
He dedicated “Lucky” to me by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillet.
If you were to make a special dinner for him, what would you make?
My man loves Thai food. I would make spring rolls with a special peanut sauce and then shrimp pad Thai for the main course and mango sticky rice for dessert.Here’s my favorite recipe for Shrimp Pad Thai. And, this is my own recipe for Mango Sticky Rice…
Mango Sticky Rice
2 C sweet rice (you can buy sticky rice at the Asian market or just use regular white/uncooked rice)
water
Rice seasoning:
2/3 C coconut milk
1/3 C sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Coconut Sauce:
1/2 C Coconut milk (coconut cream from the can of coconut milk)
1/4 C Brown Sugar
1 ripe mango peeled and diced.
1. Cook rice according to package directions.
2. When the rice is almost finished, combine the coconut milk, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
3. Combine the coconut cream/milk and brown sugar in a seperate sauce pan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and set aside.
4. When the rice is done, let it set for about ten minutes. Then pour the rice seasoning over the rice and combine.
You can serve in a small ramekin or mold the rice in a small dish and then tip over on a plate. Pour the coconut sauce over the top and spoon some of the diced mango on top. Enjoy!
What was the coolest gift you ever bought him?
He used to have a limited edition Yamaha dirt bike in the original Yamaha yellow. I bought him a huge gear bag, matching hat and motorcycle boots (he looked extra hot on that bike!)
What is your favorite gift that he bought for you?
My favorite gift he “bought” for me was a TTR125 dirt bike (only because he and I could go riding together and that was the BEST). But truly my favorite gifts are the ones he made for me. He is a machinist so he made me some metal bracelets and he inscribed a special love note on the inside. I think the best part was that he gave them to me for no special reason.
The most memorable gift was when we were really poor and I was just dying to have some new bath towels. On his way home from work (on a motorcycle no less), he stopped and bought me some new towels. It meant so much that he thought about what I REALLY wanted, took the time to get them, and got them even though it was a huge inconvenience! I still have those towels 12 years later!
Finish this sentence, “It makes me laugh when my husband…
….laughs (I love hearing him laugh!); makes up different lyrics to songs; tickles me with his beard; dances with our girls.
What are some every day ways that you show love for each other?
I love to text my husband early in the morning when he is at work and tell him how grateful I am for his hard work for our family. We text each other periodically throughout the day and send squishy love notes. He comes home for lunch almost every day and I cook for him and serve him lunch (he is on his feet for 10-12 hours a day so I like to give him a chance to sit down and relax for a few minutes). Before he sits down to eat he gives me a hug and twirls me around the kitchen (he also likes to try and bite my neck because he knows it tickles me like crazy!) He will fix or repair anything for me, (love that!) I also love that he will gas up my car, check the oil, fill my tires, etc.
What are some things you like to do together?
We love to try new places to eat. Sometimes we will just pick a street, park and start walking until we find something interesting. We love to go boating together without the children; we get up REALLY early on Saturday mornings and go to the lake together. Then we can lay out on the deck, read the paper and just chat without interruption…
If you could give your husband anything, what would it be?
A brand new SBACH remote controlled airplane and unlimited credit at the hobby store (and a happy wife).
What cologne do you love your husband to wear?
I absolutely love Axe Kilo. My old favorites were Hugo Boss and Colors by Benetton.
Finish this sentence, “My husband is especially attractive when…
…he is playing with our children, reading them books, helping with their homework, tucking them in bed, teaching them something, working with his hands fixing something, cleaning my stove or fridge, opening the door for me… I love to see my man work. When he does something that helps me, no matter how small, it makes him so attractive!
I love my marriage because…
I love my marriage because I almost didn’t have a marriage. My hubby and I got separated and divorced after four years of marriage. He didn’t want to get divorced, I did. Luckily, we were able to reconcile and he remarried me (I had to ask him!) J. But through all of that, I realized that I would do whatever I needed to do to make our marriage work. It was so hard for me to understand how much I had hurt him and how selfish I had been. Through the years I have learned how important it is to put the other person first. It is so simple, but I try to treat him how I want to be treated. When I do things for him because I want to, not because I am forced, or because I expect something in return, he is more willing to reciprocate. It has been a hard journey sometimes, but as the years go by I understand how much more I have to learn about my husband and how I can’t wait to get to know him better every day.
~ Camille