5th anniversary gift ideas?
 

I'm in need of some assistance picking one.

Just for some background:

I married this girl when I was in basic training (Christmas break) and we have two daughters together. She's amazing and takes care of everything while I'm gone. I've already gotten her plenty of jewelry, so none of that. I don't want it to be anything cheesy, either, and I won't be there to give her whatever I get for her in person. Ideally, I can get my sister to give it to her in my place.

I'm thinking a wooden (since wood is the "traditional" 5-year gift) jewelry box with an engraving on the top. Can't find one I like anywhere though, seems all the online shops want you to commit to their "name of husband" & "name of wife" format.

So assuming I can't find one I like, what other ideas do y'all have?

I know you said she has plenty of jewelry, but increasing the carats on the ring finger is always a safe gift.
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Jewelry. Don't get too clever. Jewelry.

For our 5th wedding anniversary, I got my wife a 3 diamond stick necklace, like this:

http://images04.olx.com/ui/1/78/10/11357810_1.jpg

[Terrible pic, but the only found I found on google that looked like what I got]

Take her on a child free holiday (if that's possible). A week on the beach in Mexico is a great way to celebrate.

Wow...we ended our lives/got married at the same time.

In for suggestions as well...our 5th is next month and I need to make it special. She's been awesome this year, and we've worked to turn a near divorce into a real marriage we both enjoy.

My wife's friend is married to a man in the service. When he goes away for long periods of time she just wishes he would come back and spend time with her and the two kids, away from the base.
Why not arrange for a Disney (kids) vacation when you get back? She loves you and you both love the kids. She may get more joy out of a week away with you and the kids than she ever will from a piece of jewlery. Does not have to be Disney, but I think family time would mean more than jewlery or jewlery box.
In the end, they all (wife and kids) want you home safe and for you to be theirs (no work related interruptions) for a little bit.

People remember events more then they remember gifts. No one in hospice care ever says anything about the rock they got on their wedding, but they can always remember his/her significant others smile that day.

Just food for thought.

I got my (then gf) one of this type from appalachian spring (there's stores near me) and she loves it.

http://www.appalachianspring.com/cat...-jewelry-boxes

http://www.appalachianspring.com/pro...-DEFAULT-l.jpg

http://www.appalachianspring.com/pro...w%20opened.JPG

Just estimate how much space you think she needs and add 50%.

oh, also, Things Remembered (in every mall probably) does custom engraving. Not sure if they can do it on wood, but it's worth a call.

Or this ...

http://hardwooddildos.com/

Traditional is wood, "modern" is silverware. You could combine the two and get her a wooden silverware chest. Then tell her you plan to fill it on your 25th anniversary with a pattern that matches the china you'll buy her for the 20th anniversary. - Shows a long term commitment. Girls like that.

Or instead of a jewlery box, buy her a wooden music box w/ a tune relevant to the two of you.

- L

Thanks for the ideas guys. Keep 'em coming! I'm reconsidering jewelry but y8s' idea is good too.

I can't do anything face-to-face, dudes, or anything that involves visiting a brick-and-mortar shop. I won't see her again until next fall, see my location (that's how our eldest daughter pronounces it).

dick in a box.

step1: get a box
step2: cut a hole in a box
step3: put your junk in the box
step4: ?????
step5: profit

So I actually asked my wife today what she wanted for our 5th...

"A divorce."

LOL

I think I like l_bader's idea too... we don't necessarily have "a song", but I'll think of one.

I can slip over and give her some wood for you...

Sorry, that is all I have to offer. You guys know I don't buy gifts. Actually, and this is a true story, I stopped off at the grocery store the other day and bought my wife some flowers, a can of small slim jims, and a bag of skittles. It wasn't a special day or anything. I've heard her tell the story to several people so far and I bet she remembers that (and the other times I have done something slightly off kilter like that out of the blue) more than she would some Xmas or BDay present.

Slimjims may be pushing the limits of good taste but in the spirit of Robert's limited giving philosophy, I got my wife a $20 dvd for her birthday.

I bought her flowers, a bottle of 7-UP and a coloring book one time. Don't laugh, we are coming up on our 20th anniversary soon. Of course, there won't be any presents involved.

Update:

Well, today (yesterday, in this hemisphere) went great. I went with the music box idea and found a decent one. It plays "Somewhere Out There". The plaque is engraved with the phrase my wife had engraved inside my wedding band. Thanks to my sister, it was presented to her at a family lunch at the restaurant where we first met.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7711375_n.jpg

Nice...straight up baller.