Dad's Restaurant

My wife and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary today. Like a lot of people reading this we are on a budget. That doesn't have to prevent you from having a wonderful and fancy meal on special day. My wife wanted Rib-Eye steaks with potatoes for dinner. A nice rib-eye at a good steak house is gonna be out of our price range so we brought the restaurant home. Our night turned out great the "girls" got dressed up and were waited on by dad. I love my family and there faces all night made it special for everyone.

Guys this post isn't meant to brag or make anyone look bad. It's just what our budget allowed and regardless of your budget this would make you wife feel like a very special person. It also demonstrates to your daughters how they should expect to be treated. Which makes things much easier later in life. If you had none of the ingredients at home this meal can still come in under $50. Ours cost nothing close to that since we had a lot of it already. Most of this should be self explanatory, your anniversary is just like your wedding. It's her day, let it be special to her.

Prep Work

1. Make sure the house is clean. It's hard to have a nice meal at a fancy restaurant if its a pig-sty.
2. Set the table with a full set of silverware.
3. Have her favorite drink ready. Kids too, remember that if you make it special to them they help you make it special for mom.
4. Know your customers. Taylor your menu to your wife and kids. Include things in the menu they like such as mushrooms.
5. Have your kids make a "menu". I had our daughter write the menu on construction paper then she decorated it. 
6. Have on music. I realize that the US men's soccer game is on in the background but I promise Swing music was on. It was swing because that's what she likes.
7. Flowers and candles. Seriously if I need to explain this your hopeless.

Meal

1. Our first course was Vanilla Covered Strawberries. They were served by the "waiter" while the girls were getting ready. All you need to make them is Almond Bark and strawberries. Heat the almond bark in a bowl and cover the berries. Let solidify then serve. You may also take there drink orders now.
2. Seat your guests at the table. Make sure you pull out the chair like a gentleman and seat them. 
3. Salad's and bread came next. Serve to them like you are the waiter. Our bread was homemade french bread that my 4 year old made but grocery store bread will  work fine.
4. While there eating there salad's you should be making the rest of the meal. Cooking mushrooms, warming the corn and potatoes and cooking the meat. 
5. Clear the plates then serve dinner. Remember that presentation counts. Also remember to keep there glasses full as they would expect at any restaurant.
6. Join them. Once everything is served and all  are eating "dad" can magically appear and join his family for dinner.

Clean Up and Dessert

1.  Buss the table once the guests are done eating. 
2. Prepare desert and once again know you customers. I had bought my wife's favorite ice cream in advance so I could make sundaes.
3. DO THE DISHES. 

In summary this should just be a reminder to use your imagination.  Don't let life's little things like money get in the way of doing things that make your ladies feel special. My wife and daughters loved our evening and I couldn't have been happier.