Steve's Make-Up Valentine's Day Surprise

So, Steve decided to Surprise Taylor with a late Valentine's Day Dinner on the weekend after Valentine's day and do something really nice for her.  I (Steve) did not want Taylor to know what was going on, so I had told Taylor to dress up as if we were going out to do something and that I'd pick her up at 4:30.  In the meantime, I prepared a nice meal which consisted up heart shaped ravioli with some smoked salmon, a salad, and prepared an apple pie (which was made all from scratch).  Prior to leaving to pick Taylor up from her house, I had laid out my clothes I was going to dress up in because I had planned to bring her back home to eat and have everything prepared to do so.  A few minutes after I left to pick Taylor up from her house, I gave her a call and told her I was a few minutes out and that I was on my way.  I rarely call her to let her know I'm coming to pick her up and I usually text her to let her know I'm leaving my place, that way she knows that she has about 20 minutes before I get to her place.  I wanted Taylor to think I was actually out and about doing something, other than home making something.  When I called Taylor, I informed her, I still needed to change and was running a little behind, even though I was getting to her place a few minutes ahead of the 4:30 timeline I had previously set.  So, I was able to pick Taylor up and bring her home, where I was able to quickly change and put the ravioli in the oven to heat, at a very low temp. while we went out.  I had to take her out again so our food could heat up, and prior to getting on the freeway, I pretended that I forgot my wallet at home and needed to go back.  Once we got back, I pretended to look around for a little bit while Taylor waited in the car, at which point I asked her to come in and help out to find my wallet.  At that point I decided to go ahead and surprise Taylor with bringing the food out of the oven, along with the salad and salmon from the fridge.  It was a nice surprise, especially since Taylor thought we were going out to do something.  We also watched a really nice movie that night called Courageous, we both enjoyed it and had a wonderful Valentine's Day that we were able to make up.  Taylor also had a wonderful Valentine's Day gift of a cook book holder and a mouse-pad with a lot of our pictures on it, which was very thoughtful and kind.  I did not expect anything from her and it was wonderful to receive those gifts.

Taylors perspective:
I had known for several weeks that Steve was planning on something for me for Valentines day for that weekend after, we had discussed we would actually do our valentines day the weekend after, because the weekend before he was going hunting and whatnot, then we did get together on that Tuesday, but Steve wanted to do something special for me.
So over the course of about a week, he initially told me to dress up.. something nicer.. one of my nice dresses then a few days later he said, well no, not one of the nice dresses, but a casual dress, he told me "like the yellow dress you wore when we had sushi that first time.."--( i was shocked that he remembered what i wore... but was so nice... anyways--) I told him that was a summer dress, but i'd wear something nice. :) -- So the days went by... he told me he "had to get things set up" and told me that he would be at my house at 4:30 to pick me up...
Friday afternoon I was at work, I looked at our calendar (we share a calendar on Google Plus...) and I Gasped and said out loud (i was at work) "OH NO!!!"...
There it was... plain as day--- on the calendar for 7pm, at the American airlines center.. "Lady Antebellum Concert"-- I couldnt believe that I saw it... I couldnt believe that he put it on the wrong calendar...--- really not like him to put something on the wrong calendar... (he also has a calendar thats just his calendar... ) anyways... so I didnt k now what to do, I  told the girls at work what was going on... I was debating in my head, whether to either tell him that he put my surprise on the shared calendar, or if I should just pretend that I didnt see anything, the more I thought about it, the more I truly thought that it was just a ploy...
the one thing that really kept me from believing that it was the concert, was the fact that I knew Steve had to "set stuff up" all day saturday... and I knew he was up to something on saturday, because I know he enjoys our time together, and he wouldnt give up that time together if he didnt have to.. If it was the concert then he would still spend that time with me, and then we'd go to the concert...
So, I decided not to mention that I saw it on the calendar...
BUT... Friday evening I did casually try to get a feel for if he would react when I would mention the concert... after work, Steve came to pick me up, and as we were driving, the station was playing a Lady Antebellum song, and I casually said "man, the stations are playing alot of Lady Antebellum songs, probably to get ready for the concert sometime this weekend..."... he agreed... in my head I was  just thinking "its not phasing him, so thats either not it, or hes just doing really good acting..."
we went about our evening.
Saturday, I just hung out at my house all day, still no idea what he had up his sleeve, i knew he was busy all day, but  no idea what he was up to. he made sure I knew hed be at my house to pick me up at 4:30, so I assured him i'd be ready to go that way we could go on our way...
He called me to tell me that he was on his way... (normally he texts me to tell me that he's leaving his house) he calleed at 4pm, saying that he would be at my house in 15 minutes, he was running ahead, but running behind.. ( i didnt know what the heck he meant..) then he said "I've got to go home and change clothes, I didnt have time to go home and do that..." Ok, so in my head : hes been elsewhere setting stuff up and getting things ready...
so sure enough he showed up like hes been out and about all day, busy busy... kinda out of breath.. -- so i was all ready to go, my dad teased Steve a little, since we all had no idea what hes been up to, and just saying that it seems like its a "big surprise..."--- anyways, finally we were able to leave, we headed out, and we headed to his house, he told me "ok, Im going to run inside and change, I'll be back in 3 minutes or less..." so he ran in, changed clothes, came back out, gift in tote... so i KNEW we were going some place... Then we were off, we headed out, we started going, and then he realized he forgot his wallet.. so we circled the neighborhood, and then got back to the house, he ran inside, to get the wallet, after about a minute, came back out, and said, "hey, will you come in and help me find it..."  So got out of the car, and kinda looking around, he was focused in the kitchen area .... he said something like "hey look..." --- and he pulled out a plate of food from the oven, I thought it was appetizers or something (i very much had it in my mind we were going someplace..) -- so then i realized that it was real food (pasta) -- so he put it on the table, pulled out salad, and salmon and then he pulled out a handmade apple pie. (something that he and I have been working on together... but he did this one all on his own, it was so wonderful... (gonna admit it all brought tears to my eyes, it was the sweetest thing anyone could have surprised me with... already made dinner, and just have me think that we were doing something else.... after a few minutes and realizing we were in fact staying at his house and eating, I took off my coat and then we werent hungry yet...
So he had bought a movie (I'd heard some great things about ) "Courageous"-- we sat and watched it for awhile, then we had our wonderful meal, then afterwards we continuted the movie..
The food was delicious. :) I really did enjoy it and was completely surprised, He did an absolutely wonderful job.
As far as his gift goes, I was extremely excited to give him the gifts i got for him, I got him 2 items, one was a cookbook stand.. (something he definitely could use..) i know when we're cooking together, its hard to keep that book open to the right page, so this will be so much easier. :)
Then I "made" him a computer mouse pad... one with our pictures on it and such, I really did like the way it turned out, so i was very excited about giving it to him, I figured he'd be able to use it at work :) (Sure enough he is, and got lots of good comments on it.)
Steve's gift, well he had me a little worried that I wouldnt like it,  apparently some people informed him that it was a bad idea, and it was like giving a woman a vacuum cleaner or blender or something.
It was work out clothes, but i LOVE them, its shorts and a shirt, the shirt is a really pretty turquise-y color, and the shorts are black with that same turquise color stripe down the leg, anyways, they fit and  i love them. :) he did a wonderful job. I even wore them the next day when we worked out. :)
It was such a wonderful valentines day. :)

Valentine's Day Photo Album