Romantic Ideas...

I sent a note in a bottle to my boyfiend. It was his birthday and I knew he wanted a wooden forever box. So I went to Ross and bought those matching leather boxes that stack inside each other. I handed it to him and every box he opened he got a bigger smile seeing another box. But when he opened the smallest box it had a bottle with a message in it that I made. He was blown away! The message was affermation of how I felt about him and how he makes me feel. He loved it!!!!
The bottle was so easy....are you crafty? You do not need to be. I emptied a pretty bottle ... it had martinie mix in it... I soaked the lable off and dried it off. At the craft store you can buy something called microbeads (they are small beads in any color). They also have red line tape (very sticky stuff!!!) wrap the bottle however you want with the tape and pour the beads over (make sure to have a big pan under the bottle to collect all falling beads). I chose to wrap only the bottom of my bottle so he could see the note inside. Then I took some wire and wrapped it around the cork and the top of the bottle (a few times) and placed some larger beads on the wires and swirled the ends of the wires. Ok Ok is this sounding hard ... it was much easier to make than to type :) If you need any help just let me know:) I have many more ideas also:) Good luck
R.

Wow, you sound like one amazing couple....
Here are some of my little surprises....
I plan themed dinners....plan the menu then set the table to match, asian dinners with bamboo style placemats, floating flower in glass bowl; or American picnic with baked chicken, salad and we sit on the living room floor with a red & white checked tablecloth, listening to 70's music. You get the idea...this is endless, especially with children to help you imagine.
Also, I love buying roses, on sale, remove the petals then place them into the shape of a heart on your bed. The kids can help with that, then later (when they are not around of course) the rose petals are wonderful to make love on...very sweet smelling and soft to the skin. I think I do this more for me sometimes, but hubby enjoys it too.

Good luck and I'm looking forward to other ideas that come your way.

My parents are the most romantic couple and I just love one of their regular once a year date nights....they go to a store together (like Nordstroms or Ross or whatever is in your budget) and then they get to dress each other from head to toe and then they go out on the town. So fun!

You could come up w/a little riddle/clue to lead him through the house for several clues. Then have the last one have a surprise...like one last clue that will take him to a restaurant that he loves, tix to a ball game, or maybe a concert he's been talking about.
Have fun with the clues...and the kids can help him figure them out too!!
Good Luck!!

This may not work with his schedule or yours, but here is something that I did when I was dating in Wyoming:
In the middle of the night I went to his house and stuck little star stickers all over his car windows (make sure they are removable first!) And I included a note that we would have an unpredictable evening under the stars. I had scoped out a place for a little picnic at night where we would be safe and comfortable. We watched the Perseid meteor shower while eating "star fruit" salad and sipping sparkling cider. (we were in high school). I had chosen a place where we may get a surprise or two: the airport, right below the runway. We had a couple of big firefighting planes taking off right overhead.
August 12th is this year's Perseid meteor shower, best viewed after 2am when the moon sets, but it is only a quarter moon so it should not be too bad if you want to go earlier.
Good luck!