Mark and I have been married 14 years and together for 16. In that time I've had a few successful gifts (either Christmas or birthday) but honestly I'm not very good at it. I struggle being creative, I tend to be cheap and practical...and my poor husband endures. I finally gave up and said send me an email with a couple things you'd like for your birthday and I'll pick from that. Fabulous isn't it?
I even try tricking him when I get something. One year I bought him a coat I thought he wanted and I put an old pair of shoes in it to try and throw him off (he's freakishly good at shaking a box and guessing what it is). So I'm thinking I can out smart him. Nope. He picks up the box and says "it sounds like a sweater or a coat and shoes?"
Seriously?
I have to say all of that because it helps set the stage for what happened tonight.
Today is Mark's 40th birthday. Really it couldn't have been more perfect. A Sunday! Church! Surrounded by his favorite people! A milestone birthday! I couldn't pass this up. So I took a chance.
A little over a month ago I approached our good friends, Jerome and Tiffany Bleger, with a plan. Could we use the downtown restaurant (Jean Pierre's) to throw a surprise party for Marks 40th? They thought it was a great idea and helped me brainstorm and plan. They saved me from total brain meltdown several times! Them and Pete - the fabulous man who coordinated everything food wise!
We invited over 100 people (thank you Facebook) and started the process. Keeping this a secret from Mark was the most difficult thing! I hate buying presents early because I hate waiting for them to open it!!
My plan had been to tell him we were meeting the Blegers at the restaurant for dinner except that he told me this week he had a big paper due for school tonight and he didn't want to do anything for his birthday cause he was going to be so busy. Yikes! A tad late for that...
So I had to devise another strategy. I finally settled on using our kids as bait.
First off, I emailed some baby pics of Mark to the guys at church and they graciously helped bring some attention to the congregation about Mark's big day. I was kinda hoping Mark would think that's the "big" surprise of the day. He was surprised and it was funny :)
We took him out for a quick birthday lunch and then had to head back to he church to do some premarital counseling with a couple. After we were done there the kids and I kissed him goodbye to head home and leave him to do his school work.
What we really did was run a couple last minute errands and help set up a few decorations.
Here I am with a few ladies resting before the party began. Most of these pictures were taken by Tiffany before the main event. So thankful other people took pictures!
The kids and I left and went back to the church to pick up dad. When we got there we surprised him and told him we were taking him on a scavenger hunt. He opened his card and the first clue was Jean Pierre's restaurant.
So we piled in the car and drove downtown. We walked up to the building and could see that people were in there but couldn't tell who (thank goodness). When Mark opened the door he was blown away with surprises! It. Was. Awesome!!
A lot of pictures are on a camera but Tiff took pictures of pictures for me to be able to share a couple now. I was dying to see one of his face. These were great!
Mark swears he had no idea it was going on. He was so blessed you guys. It thrilled me to no end to think that I finally got him!!
When we had left to get Mark there were maybe 20 people there? When we came in the door the restaurant was packed. And we loved every minute of it!
More pictures of the evening were taken but they are on cameras. I will post more (because we have to remember all this!) when I get them. Here's what I have now.
Jack and Tim
His amazing cake made by Jean Pierre himself! With all love ;)
My vintage dude!
Josie and Violet.
Bill and Jerome
The kids entertaining themselves before it got started.
And this was my sweet boy after a long and exhausting weekend! We all kind of feel like that but it was oh so worth it!!
40 years old! Can't believe it.
