Surprise!!

Well Dad really out did himself this time. He organized and successfully pulled off a huge surprise 30th birthday party for Mom! She didn't know what hit her. It was all arranged weeks ahead of time with him sending out emails to all her friends, arranging a catered Mexican dinner, and scheduling a margherita machine for delivery to our house. The hard part was keeping it a surprise from the ultimate party planner. Here's how he did it: After taking her to the enjoyable Van Cliburn piano competition in Fort Worth (Mom loves piano), he told mom he had received a call during the competition and her "2nd surprise" was not going to be able to happen due to the weather--it was a hot air balloon ride. Due to the direction of the prevailing winds, the balloon would head the wrong direction and not be able to land. He told Mom they'd have to move on to Plan B, but in order to do so, would need to stop by the house for the confirmation number and directions, etc. Mom had about 100 questions, and Dad answered every one with ease. When asked later how he had "all the answers" he said he had known Mom for 10 years now and knew she would be asking the who what when and how in detail! Lies, lies, lies . . . when Mom walked in the back door, everyone jumped up from the kitchen and yelled "Surprise!" There were about 40 people here, including Grandmother and Grand Dad, Aunt Laura and Uncle Reeve, all the MOMS Club folk, and even Mom's old college roommate and her 2 best friends from high school. After Mom stopped crying, we all ate fajitas and drank margheritas and talked about how she had been duped. That night, Mom and all her girlfriends got ready to go out on the town. All the ladies went out to karaoke and to an 80's dance club while the guys watched the kids. Oh what a night! I don't think Mom will ever forget it.