Last year was my grandma's 95th birthday the week before my mom's 65th. With all the activity and buzz surrounding my grandma's party, my mom's birthday got lost and I have to admit *ashamedly* we didn't do anything for her big milestone birthday. Not even a family dinner. Sometimes we're not so good kids, I guess. Mom lamented to me and my sister one day that she was a little disappointed that nothing really happened for her birthday, so Heidi and I decided to throw her a surprise 66th birthday this year.
My brother and his family from Idaho were coming up in March for a med school interview and visit so we decided we'd have a really early surprise party! She'd never expect that! Even better was our cover. If you are ever throwing a surprise party for someone, tell them you are throwing a surprise party for someone else! It just happened to be my other brother and his wife's 30th birthdays the following week. She had no clue. Remarks were made the week coming up to the party that she felt like she didn't know anything about the party and felt so out of the loop. Meanwhile, we are all laughing and feeling smug inside. Seriously. Best. Cover. Ever.
Day of the party comes and we get Phil and Lisa to take Mom for the day so she has no reason to be suspicious when we won't let her help decorate. Since it was her 66th birthday, we went with a Route 66 theme and had roads on the wall with streamers and maps and cars for centrepieces and different road signs along the walls. Everything came together well and we were ready to go. We'd even heard back from quite a few of the guests and if you know many LDS people, that's quite remarkable. We're not known for being the best at RSVPing... |
| Notice the Christmas garland in the background AND the Easter wreath! |
Food was prepped, tables up and decorated, grandkids were practicing their song (some for the first time), kids were practicing their song, guests were arriving. Meanwhile, my dear Sister-in-law is texting me that they got a flat tire and will be a little late and various other updates. Then, my phone rings and it's my mother. "Sorry honey! We're trying to get there before Greg and Ashley. Where are we supposed to meet?" "Oh, in the gym. By the way, where are you?" "Just crossing the tracks into town." (That meant they were about 10 blocks away) So I hurriedly replied, "Ok, bye!" and hung up on her, raced into the gym and told everyone to get into place. A friend of Mom's suggested (since they were all in on the ruse) that those not connected to the family or the branch should hide out of the way so they wouldn't give it away right away. Great idea, Thelma! In walks my mom and we immediately yell SURPRISE and start singing Happy Birthday while her friends moved into view. It was amazing! We're all still kicking ourselves that no one recorded it. She was laughing it off to begin with, thinking we were joking around but then we kept singing. When her friends came out, you could see confusion on her face. It took a little while more and then the tears started. It was heartwarming and exhilarating knowing we had wholly surprised her.
She felt so special and it made my heart happy that we were able to help her know how loved she is by so many people. There was visiting and snacking before we got into a short program. The grandchildren sang, the children sang, my wonderful sister-in-law made a beautiful slideshow, my eldest brother gave a speech and my sister and I presented her with a book of memories of my dad - something that we've been working on for a long time. I think we made her cry for every part of the program which isn't that hard to do, but for some reason it makes me feel smug. :)
Love you Mama!
