Surprise golden birthday party
Since Christina’s golden birthday last year, I had been thinking to myself, “I should throw myself a golden birthday party [when I turn 31 on the 31st]! I didn’t do anything for my 30th! That sounds fun – we can dress in gold and eat gold food, and my birthday is on a Friday and that’s a good day to party…”
Yeah… my fantasy never progressed past that. I decided my July was too busy and that the last thing I’d want to do at the end of the month was plan and throw myself a party (or have one thrown for me) – I tend to want quiet time after bouts of busyness and July was VERY busy – out of town three of the four weekends, with some weeknight engagements thrown in there, too. And, oh yeah, work’s kicking my butt. I just knew I would want a more low-key day on my actual birthday.
When I told this to my snister, she asked if I wanted her to throw together something for when we were in Iowa for RAGBRAI and the shower. I told her sure, if it wasn’t too much work! She asked if I wanted it to be a surprise, and I said yes (I love surprises).
Then I promptly forgot about that conversation, until last Friday, when we were out shopping for the baby shower and I saw a happy birthday banner. I said to Christina, “Ooo, if you still throw me a party while we’re here, will you get me one of these banners?”
She responded, “I didn’t have time to plan you a party. I was too busy planning the baby shower stuff. Sorry!”
I told her that was okay and I wasn’t upset. Because I really wasn’t. Like I mentioned yesterday, Christina did the majority of the work for the baby shower and had a July busier than mine! How could she have found time to plan another party?
So we went about the rest of our day, shopping, then taking Amber out to lunch. Christina kept getting all these phone calls from our mom. I assumed Mom was calling her to ask about shower stuff, and I was surprised she wasn’t asking me – I was in charge of food, after all (and Mom was spending the morning making a few dishes). But I didn’t mind that she was bothering Christina! I laughed at lunch when Mom called and Christina had to be all quiet with her answers in front of Amber – we were trying to keep all the shower details a secret!
After all our shower errands Friday morning, Christina and I had a few free hours in the afternoon. We were going to get pedicures, but didn’t make the appointments in advance, so I decided to take a nap instead. I felt bad, napping, when I could have been hanging out with my family, but, hey! I biked a ton of miles the previous two days (and had run 11 miles that morning) – give me a break!
When I woke up I felt really bad though – Christina had finished up party prep stuff while I was sleeping! “I thought we’d do that at Grandma’s tonight?” I asked her. Eh, she was up and wanted to get it done and didn’t seem upset I slept through it. Phew.
So I asked what our plans for the night where. The family all typically converges at my dad’s mom’s house when we’re in town, and I figured that’s what was up. I was right. Christina told me we were supposed to pick up Amber at 6:00, because Anthony wasn’t home yet and they didn’t want to have two cars at Grandma’s. On the way to Grandma’s, we were going to stop by a hotel where Amber’s friend was staying (she was in town for the shower) and pick something up. Sounds good to me!
I decided to go through some photos from RAGBRAI while we waited to go pick up Amber. Christina let me know Amber needed ten more minutes to get ready. Sure, whatever. Ha ha ha… all these little details, I was just very “go with the flow.” It’s hard to coordinate with fourteen family members when we’re in town, so I try to be cool with whatever. I didn’t think anything… of anything!
I got a bit lost in looking at photos and all of a sudden Christina was telling me it was time to go, so I packed up my computer to bring with me and go through photos with family, later. We picked Amber up, and drove to the hotel. In the car, Amber said “I don’t like going in places by myself, will you guys come in with me?” Again, I thought nothing of this. NOTHING! I was just all “Sure, derpitty do, whatever you say.”
We walked in to the hotel and Amber told us we were meeting her friend in the pool area. Right away I said, “Aww man, they should invite us over to swim!” Ha ha. Then we walked in with Amber’s friend and I noticed a group of people toward the back… wait a minute! That’s my dad and Will! And all of my family!
Ha ha ha. They TOTALLY got me. I was not expecting to see them there, at all. I was not expecting a party!!!
So I went back there and mom handed me a golden birthday crown and some golden oreos.
I was really excited they were having a party for me, but felt bummed I didn’t have my swimming suit. “It’s here!” Christina told me. Um, how? “I went through all your stuff* this morning while you were out for a run.” Ha ha ha. Sneaky!
And it all started coming together. Christina and I had previously talked about going swimming after the shower and she had asked earlier that week if I remembered my swimsuit (yep). The calls throughout the day were my mom trying to figure out some stuff with the hotel room (Christina initially set it up, and Amber’s friends did use it) and the party, in general (the calls were not about the shower, so the joke was on me!). We had to pick up Amber a bit later because they didn’t have the party set up quite yet. Tricksters!
And better yet, when I had talked to my older brother earlier that week, he said he didn’t know if I’d get to see his kids (it wasn’t his week with them) but they were at the party! Yay! Great surprises all around!
Me, Christina, Alyssa, Nick and his sons
And… there was a birthday banner!!!
It made me feel so loved that my family went out of their way to celebrate my birthday, when we already had so much going on during the visit.
And they seriously tricked me – which surprises me! Christina said she was a bit worried about getting me to the hotel, without being suspicious, but really, when you’re with my family, and have a party the next day to boot, you’re running all sorts of errands, so I didn’t think anything of it!
I know this post is pretty long and drawn out with a lot of detail, but I wanted to remember how they made me feel when they surprised me (and how they tricked me)! Just writing this, and proof-reading it, brought a smile to my face.
*When Christina was digging around in my stuff she found the MBP bracelet. And was still surprised when I snuck it in her suitcase. Ha! But then she got me. AGAIN! She accidentally took the USB receiver for my mouse, and mailed it to my house. When I got the envelope on Wednesday and saw how big it was for a USB receiver, I said to Steven “That f*cking penis bracelet better not be in here!” Heh. You know it was. With a box of DOTS, nom!
Themocracy
I seriously could not love this post more. I was feeling a little bad today, that I didn’t have a chance to get everyone together for your birthday – I am SO glad your family made you feel so special, because you deserve that. Muah!
Aww, I am happy you enjoyed it! And don’t feel bad! You know I prefer one-on-one and small group stuff, anyway! 🙂
Awh, this is just so sweet. Happiest of birthdays to you, Kim!
Thank you! 🙂
Thats so much fun. I missed my golden birthday but in fairness I was 20 so it wouldn’t occur to me to throw a party. You are younger than me by almost a year..jealous lol. Happy belated birthday!!
I am lucky that I had time to figure out what golden birthday was before mine came around! 🙂 I don’t think I knew what they were until I was 18! 🙂
LOL, SO much younger 😛
Thank you! (and it’s not belated, it’s today! 🙂 )
Well then happy birthday birthday girl!!
Oh my gosh, I love this story so much. Your family is the best. I’m SO impressed by your sister’s party planning abilities. Between this and the baby shower, she’s a rockstar! And it’s so great that you got to be celebrated – you waited awfully long for your golden birthday, after all! Happy, happy, happy birthday to you! Hope your day is wonderful 🙂
Aww, I’m happy you like the story! My snister really has her sh*t together, doesn’t she?!?!? Watch out, world! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I love this story so much! And lol forever at the penis bracelet. But seriously, best golden birthday party story ever!!
Hee hee, happy you like it. And the bracelet is going to my mom next!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!! You’ve got the most wonderful (and SNEAKY, in a good way!) family. What an amazing surprise!!! They pulled out all the stops and covered ALL the details!!! I hope you have the most fantabulous birthday, ever!!!
Thank you!!!!!! 🙂
Such a great story!! I love it. The MBP bracelet part was a bonus!! Great job, Christina and the rest of your family. I bet you’re not really that easy to trick!
Yeah, usually, I am not! I was REALLY surprised! It probably helps that we were already planning a party for the next day! 🙂
Love it when a surprise works! Happy Birthday!!!
I do, too! 😉 We got both our parents good for their 50ths, ha! Thank you! 🙂
Happy Birthday!
Thank you, Pete! 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday! What a fun way to celebrate! My golden birthday is this year- thanks for the reminder!
Aww, how fun!!! I’ve thrown one surprise party in my life, a joint party for Robert and my sis-in-law (their birthdays are a week apart) and the hardest part was making sure they both showed up together. But we pulled it off.
First of all, happy birthday! And what a great surprise – that is awesome! Also, nice banner!
I had a surprise going-away party in May, and it’s kind of an amazing experience, especially when you think about the time and planning that people put into it.
Thanks! And I love that your friends threw you a surprise going away party! Fantastic!
Good luck tomorrow! Have fun!
I love this!!! Happy belated birthday!!! <3
I love that your sister even told you (albeit, a while back) she was planning you a party that would be a surprise, and still managed to pull off an awesome surprise!
I wish I had known about the golden birthday thing when I had mine. It was my 21st, which would have been pretty cool!
I’ve thrown a few surprise parties, all of which were actually surprises. But as of yet, no one has been able to successfully surprise me. I guess I’m too detail-oriented for that 😉
What a great day for you! I love how you were so casual about it and going with the flow. I would have thrown a fit since sometimes I get impatient. 🙂
Yay! So glad you were celebrated!
I’ve never heard of a golden birthday, and I think I’ve missed all of mine, nooooz!
It’s funny how much they were able to surprise you! I guess it’s because you’re pretty laid back and let people do their thing! I’d probably be freaking out about not being in control of the situation, haha.
Are the golden oreos sprayed with some kind of edible dust, or they the vanilla kind?
LOL! I was trying to be so chill during that whole trip and just go with the flow and it worked to my advantage!
They sprayed the black oreos with some edible dust!
How awesome of them to go through all of that for your birthday. What a nice surprise.
And now I know what a golden birthday is (I didn’t know before)
It really was!
I didn’t learn what a golden birthday was until I was 18! Good thing I wasn’t born on a date earlier than that. Since it’s so important… not. LOL!
He he… yeah, I missed mine (my birthday is Aug 6th) and my wife really missed hers (Aug 3rd).