Notebuilder: July 2013

Everyone (well, almost everyone) likes surprises. I love them! It's wonderful when someone plans gifts or events to make you feel special and loved.

My husband is the master of surprises.

Little Surprises
Before we were married, Don would often surprise me by taking me to dinner and not telling me where, or he'd show up with a little gift now and then or flowers or chocolates (only once, because I accidentally let slip a few months later that I really didn't care for chocolates - oops!). I've been thinking about the surprises that were the most memorable for me. I will share a few.

A Welcomed Night Out
When we had three pre-schoolers, Don called me one Friday afternoon, suggesting I dress up nicely for an evening out. Such dates were rare for us, living on an acreage and being mostly short of funds. On this particular occasion, he had arranged for child care, then took me out dining and dancing at a lovely venue in the city. It was just what I needed to feel special and connected to the world again! Definitely a deposit our emotional bank account!

A Tropical Vacation
My sister and her husband always spent two months of the year - November and February - in Hawaii. I remember sitting with them at the airport for coffee before seeing them off one evening in November. Wistfully, I remarked how wonderful it would be to go with them since we had never been. My sister simply smiled and said, "I'm sure you'll get there one day."

"Hmmmph," I thought. "Easy for her to say."

We saw them off and went home to bed. When I got out of the shower next morning, expecting to go to work as usual, there were two suitcases on the bed. Don informed me that we were going on a vacation. I balked. "We can't go away! I have meetings scheduled today, and lots to do. I just can't go!" Apparently he had spoken with my manager who had approved my time away. Don told me we were going to L.A. where he would teach at the technical college, while I'd sit poolside. From the time we got to the airport until we got on the plane, I was on my phone making last minute changes to my work schedule. I had paid little attention to any of the goings-on around me as we checked in and boarded the plane.

As we taxied down the runway, I heard a male voice. "Good morning, passengers. This is your captain. Welcome aboard our flight to Honolulu."

I turned to Don and asked, "Did he just say 'Honolulu'?"

"I think so," he replied.

"Oh, well then we must be stopping in L.A. on the way," I reasoned.

"Maybe," he said, unable to keep a straight face.

My eyes became saucers as the truth dawned on me. We were going to Hawaii...Wow! It actually took me a bit to come to terms with being airborne for 6 hours rather than 90 minutes. Once I adjusted, the excitement built. I was impressed with Don's ability to manage this surprise so well. What a memorable vacation!

Tropical Wonder

Off Oahu's West Coast

A Bavarian Village in Winter
Ten days after we arrived home from the above-mention Hawaii vacation, again on a Friday morning, I got out of the shower to find two suitcases on the bed again. This time, he told me to pack for a cold climate.

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

"You can't keep doing this...your taking over my life."

He just smiled. I phoned my work 'buddy' who had already arranged (Don's influence once again) to take over my duties for the two work days I'd be away.

This time, Don and my best friend had planned to surprise their spouses with a trip to Leavenworth, Washington just before Christmas - lights and carolers everywhere, snow, decorated shops and the delicious aroma of roasted nuts in the hotel lobby. It was magical weekend!

A Special Car
A few years later, shortly after I had been promoted at work, I received a call at my desk. Don explained that our daughter Kelly, was missing her much-needed sunglasses. She was quite sure she had left them in my car. They were a few minutes away. Could I come down with the car keys?

When I walked into the parking lot, my car wasn't where I thought it might be; I started second-guessing myself about where I'd parked it that morning. We looked around for a bit, then Don said, "There it is!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I don't see it."

"That's your car!" he said. After a few moments of 'deer-in-the-headlights' look, I finally clued in. He had replaced my 'old' car with a partially restored burgundy 1980 BMW 5S, with standard transmission, sunroof, lovely chrome detail and low profile tires. What a fun car to drive!

I welcome surprises; when I'm going about the mundane (and even not-so-mundane) tasks of life, they inject excitement and joy into my being. The greatest surprise is that someone cares enough to surprise me.

“There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved.”
― Charles Morgan

I've been waiting YEARS to surprise my husband, Don. I will post stories later about some of the things he's surprised me with. I finally got him, as you'll see in some of the pictures below. (His mouth actually hangs open:-)

I invite you to read our daughter Kelly's original post below and enjoy the photos she took (Kelly's a photographer as well - bluemelonphotography.com -) of Don's 60th UNbirthday last week. Since his 60th year began the day after his 59th birthday, I concluded it would be very appropriate to celebrate his birthday smack-dab in the middle of his 60th year.

It was also our son-in-law, Alf's birthday. He graciously allowed Don the limelight, though. I have one correction to Kelly's comment about Don never having a party. He's had birthday parties, but usually by the time December 27 rolls around, everyone is so satiated with Christmas parties and dinners in the weeks previous, that they're not really 'into it'. Besides, both our birthdays are in winter, so having a summer birthday party is, for us, a novelty.

Here's Kelly's post:

My most wonderful, amazing husband celebrated his 36th birthday last Thursday, June 27th. He was not the celebrated guest of honor, but it was a good evening. We celebrated as a family on Saturday after his birthday, which I will write about in another post. But the reason his birthday was overshadowed...

My dad's birthday is December 27th (also our anniversary...we got married on his 50th birthday) and because of that, he has never had a birthday party (he claims). I can't speak for his childhood but growing up and in my adult years, I can say that he's never had a celebration that's just about him and his birthday. He has pulled off many surprises for my mom and she has never been able to really get him good. This was her opportunity.

She decided to throw him an UNbirthday for his 60th birthday. Exactly 6 months early, which is Alf's actual birthday. So we have been planning for months on this. We set the menu, made the guest list, I created a slide show, and tried to formulate a plan to get him out of the house for the afternoon while I set up for the surprise. After Tara & Dave's wedding, my parents went on an Alaskan cruise with my Uncle Dave & Auntie Irene, and some relatives from Australia, Jim and Benita. They came back on Wednesday, party on Thursday. When I asked my mom about cutting the lawn, she assured me Dad would cut it as soon as they returned; we wouldn't have to ask him to, let alone worry about it.

So on Wednesday, I oven-cooked five pork shoulder blade roasts for eight hours. Normally, Alf does them on the barbeque or the oven...not me! This was my first shot at it and while I was a bit nervous Alf assured me it was just a matter of putting them in and taking them out after eight hours. He was right. The bone slide out of each roast, perfectly clean. So yummy!

I also made our baked beans (I will do that recipe sometime this summer to photograph and share), plus I did coleslaw with homemade dressing. From Costco I picked up a veggie tray, fruit tray, potato salad, Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, those delicious hexagon chips by Food Should Taste Good, mango salsa and rice crackers. We also ordered a party sushi tray as part of the appies, and our favorite fruit and whipped cream cake from Richlea Bakery (where I worked, waaaaay back when).

{The cake with Dad's UofA Engineering grad picture}

{The only picture of the food in its ready-to-be-eaten state, my dad's plate. We pan-toasted the buns, which makes a world of difference}

Alf had to work all day, so the kids and I got our things together that morning and set out early afternoon to bring our overnight things to my in-laws and then head over to my parents. Well, with some very secretive phone calls, Mom let me know they were not home yet and needed to stay out for a bit yet. Jeff had caught a morning bus down from Pemby to help out, so the kids and I picked him up and went into town and found some last minute decor items.

{Whipped together a last-minute 'checkered flag' balloon banner. Taeya first noted it was the colors of a skunk, which she had seen at Tara's bridal shower}

{Having fun waiting for the party to start}

Finally, Dad left on a business call into West Vancouver (how awesome!), that was created by someone he works with on a somewhat regular basis. He was kept out and about until about 6:30pm. So in the meantime, Mom, Auntie Irene (my dad's sister), Jeff, Tara and I prepped our last minute things, decorated, set up and started welcoming guests. The kids were so eager to help with the surprise, so as we waited in the backyard, Taeya and Ezra ran to the front of the house and excitedly told Grandpa they had to show him something in the backyard. He said he just had to put some things inside, but Taeya wonderfully insisted he had to come with her first. He said he wanted a hug from them but again, she stuck to our 'no excuses' guidelines and told him she'd hug him after he came to the backyard. They came through the breezeway and we sang Happy Birthday as Dad stood very surprised and stunned.

{Waiting...this is what Dad saw when he came through the breezeway}

{Uncle Dave had done with Dad and the other gentleman on the business call...I'm sure he was 'defending' himself here}

{Trying to figure out what clues his missed during the day}

{Trying to compose himself}

{"59.5"}

{Ezra was so excited to show him all the features on his new walker}

{Dad went around and greeted all his guests...still very shocked}

{I know he hugged someone twice...so overwhelmed he was just hugging and thanking, etc.}

I brought the kids to my inlaws around bedtime; Alf was there showering, and we went back to my parents, where my dad got everyone singing Happy Birthday to Alf. And we ate, had fun and stayed up late. We walked back to my inlaws around 11:30 and almost got sprayed by a skunk and also passed between a couple of racoons.

{Such a great yard for a party! And the rain stopped so we could be outside :) The grass was verrry wet, so after we surprised him, we basically stayed to the patio areas}

{Darrell was very excited to use Dad's wine-bottle opener. As he was telling me that Dad never lets him use it, Dad walked in and tried to take over!}

{This lovely couple on the left are my parents' neighbors that moved in a few years ago. Such a sweet couple and so much fun!}

{I guess we let Dad get changed out of his work clothes}

{Kids corner}

{Blurry, but I love it}

{Siblings. Nina was nearly there. She worked until 5:30 and then immediately jumped in the truck (work clothes and all) and drove straight down. She's awesome}