Paul + Jenn

I am going to post about Paul's surprise birthday. I was worried there for a few days.

So. I had the idea to surprise Paul for his brithday several months ago. I figured that it was his 25th birthday. And we have no kids now. And we have friends now. So, why not?

My first concern was: How? I mean, I can decide colors as late as the day of. I can decide food as late as the week of. I can order a cake the day before. And invitations don't need to be sent until a month before.

But I couldn't do any of that if I didn't have a plan for how to surprise him.

Right?

So, first, I thought "I'll be the diversion." I planned to have my sister-in-law and/or mother-in-law go to the house after we left and set things up/let people in. I could blindfold Paul and drive him around our town aimlessly for 1-2 hours. Then I could try to convince him to get out of the car and walk to the house....all without removing his blindfold. All the while making him think that I was just taking him to some awesome place for his birthday that I wanted to be a surprise.

But. Aside from the fool-proof plan of convincing my husband to wear a blindfold (not), I really wanted the whole thing to be a complete surprise. I didn't want him to have an inkling. And even if I told him he was getting a different surprise, he would still know he was being surprised.

So I threw that idea out. Next, and only other, idea was to let Paul's dad take him out for Guy Time. Paul had actually been talking about not getting to hang out with his dad as much as he wanted. Mark readily agreed when I asked him. The goal was to have Paul out of the house for about 4-5 hours, having him arrive around 5:30...about 30 minutes after everyone else.

Done.

Theme? So easy. Mario! Last year just happened to be Mario's 25th birthday (that's right, I'm older than Mario. Just file that under "Say whaaaaaaa?!") Plus, my hubby is so so fun when it comes to his entertainment. Yes, we have a Wii. Yes, we each have Nintendo DSiXLs. Yes, we have almost every Mario game made for Wii. Yes, we ordered and received our free Mario characters figurine from Club Nintendo (yes, we are part of Club Nintendo). And yes, yes, yes, we are huge nerds...and proud. : )

So, I designed and printed this little number (on our new Epson, no less. I hoped upon hope that it wouldn't make a huge dent in the ink...which had never been used. Because Paul, of all people, would notice something like that):

Oh yes, I am going to be that mom. But for now, I'm just that wife. Paul's so lucky. : )

Getting responses is kind of key for a surprise party. If people don't show up, it can just be embarrassing and disheartening. More for the guest of honor than the host(ess). Trust me; I have soooooo been there (as the hostess). So, about a week before the big day...I had Paul's family and one other couple agreeing to come (that's 6 people not counting Paul and me). Maybe that's not so bad...but it would have been like a family party...and I'm sure that couple would have felt a little out of place.

I shared my concerns with that little guy who's all grown up now, and he suggested that I begin a Facebook Event. Go figure.

I thought it couldn't hurt, so I created a private event and invited everyone I had sent invitations to. Guys. Oh my gosh. Within two days, TWELVE more people were coming! ...that may be the last time I waste money on stamps for a party.

People. Done.

That just left shopping and cleaning! So, I took Friday off (Paul just thought I was working from home). Trekked over to Bruster's to order a cake and drop off the figurine (which I hoped Paul wouldn't notice was missing from our tv stand that night when he had friends over...he didn't. I love the selectively detail-oriented, don't you?). I cleaned. And I did all my shopping on Saturday morning after Paul left with his dad...didn't want to have to explain random party supplies sitting around for a day.

Here's how the diverting went down. There were a few hiccups:

10:00-10:15> Paul's dad arrives to pick up a dresser and drop off another. Paul helps.

10:30> Paul and dad leave for dad's house about 45-60 minutes away.

11:30-11:45> Paul and dad decide on a 1:30 showing of Tron and head out for lunch.

12:40> Paul and dad FINISH lunch. No joke. This would not have been a problem with two women.

1:00> Paul and dad arrive at theatre...which is not yet open and head to get hot chocolate in the interim.

1:30> Movie that was assumed to last 3 hours begins.

3:30> Movie that only lasted 2 hours ends. (Let me remind you here that NO ONE has arrived for a party...and won't be for another hour and a half.)

3:31> Paul's dad calls his wife (who is with me at the house as this point) asking what he should do.

3:32> Paul and dad head off on random unnecessary errands proposed by Julie.

4:??> Paul and dad get stuck in traffic (and this, my friends, is how I know God wanted me to have this party).

5:10> People start arriving to party (don't think I wasn't concerned at 5:01; I was a nervous wreck).

5:25> Pizza arrives not 30 minutes after I order it (right?!).

5:45> Guest of honor arrives!!

It all worked out. I ordered MarioKart (for $40!) and the new Wii Party as party games. People who didn't want to play sat in our adjacent (rearranged) dining room and chatted. People passed Wii remotes and took turns. It was beautiful sight.

So, here are the few pictures we captured of the day. Sorry there aren't any of the cake or decor...

[The Diverter.]

[Fuzzy Baby Picture!!]