SURPRISE!!!

My amazing husband threw me my first ever surprise party to celebrate my 30th birthday on Saturday night. I was definitely surprised and the party was so much fun. Dean did a really incredible job. Who is the event planner in this house?...I always thought it was me, but I now stand corrected! Evidently sneaky Dean has been planning the evening for many months. We were counting the guests last night and determined that there were 40 adults and 21 children (all under the age of 7) in attendance. Thank God the weather was awesome, because I don't think our little house would have held that many guests!

My day started off with Starbucks (yumm) and then my mom treated my sisters and I to lunch and a spa day (facials for Mom and Michelle and manicures and pedicures for Mal and I). We also managed to squeeze in some shopping and my mom and sisters spoiled me...and I spoiled myself too! It was a great day and I was sufficiently exhausted by the time we got back to my parents, where my dad and brother had watched the boys all day since Dean was supposed to be working that night.

Much to my dismay, my dad and brother insisted that we go out to dinner. I pleaded with them to let me take the boys home. I was really annoyed at the prospect of heading out to Outback at 6:00 on a Saturday night with 2 little boys...one of whom goes to bed at 7:00. My dad refused to back down, but was willing to allow me to go home to change my clothes since Joey spit up on me and I had a leaky breast issue that needed resolved!!

Little did I know that my insistence upon returning to my house fit nicely into my husband and parents plan to lure me home for the party. I was loaded down with shopping bags and my mammoth diaper bag when I opened the door into the house and saw tons of people in my kitchen. All that really registered was that there were a lot of cameras in my face. I quickly slammed the door shut and started laughing. My sister suggested I go back inside, which I did and despite the leaky boob, I greeted all the guests. I was still shaking about 20 minutes later from the shock of the surprise.

What in the world?!

It was so great to see so many people I love in my house. There were old friends, new friends, work friends, family friends, neighbors, all kinds of fun people. Dean had tons of food and decorations, including the largest cake I have ever seen that is not of the wedding variety with a picture of me when I was 4 years old on it and an awesome poster featuring a collage of pictures depicting "30 years of Melanie."

My sweet Molly

I miss Craig already...he was home for a week and spent TONS of time playing with the boys and I

Me and my sissy

Dean clearly worked so hard on pulling off the surprise party and I was so touched that so many of our friends and family members had chosen to spend the evening with us. I definitely felt loved and so very grateful to my husband and his many helpers for making me feel so special.

My only regret from the evening is that I took NO pictures. I was having too much fun to stop and grab my camera evidently and I am so ashamed of that as I would love to have gotten pictures of the kids playing in the bounce house in the back yard or the boys playing corn hole. I would really love to have a picture of Dean, the boys, and I from the night. Fortunately my some of my friends shared some of their pics with me so I could share them here.

the troublemaker

It was a great night and, though I am not officially even 30 yet until later this week, I am so excited for what the future holds for me. I am in a great place in my life right now and am so blessed. I hope the next 30 years are filled with as many adventures and good times as the last 30 were. Thank you, mom and dad, for having me! I love you!