Surprise parties aren't as bad as I thought they would be.

About a month ago, my good friend Adrianne asked me if Aaron and I would want to go out for supper with her and her husband sometime in July. I said sure, and we decided on the date of July 9. I put it on my calendar, and didn't think much about it. Adrianne and I talked last week about who would drive and what time they would pick us up, and still, I didn't think much about it.

Let's back up to the last 10 or 15 years of my life. My family can attest to the fact that numerous times over the past years, I have said things like, "Whatever you do for my birthday this year, do NOT have a surprise party for me," or, "I will be SO MAD if you have a surprise party for me." I had never had a surprise party...I just thought for sure I would hate it....a bunch of people jumping out and scaring me when I least expected it...just didn't sound like my idea of a fun evening. But, I guess I was wrong. :)

So on July 9 at about 4:50 pm (10 minutes before Braden and Adrianne were supposed to arrive to pick us up for our "double date"), Aaron was outside working on his car in an old cut-off shirt and shorts. I said, "Honey! They are going to be here in 10 minutes! Don't you want to be ready when they come?" He reluctantly said, "Oh...yeah...I better go change..." Of course, I didn't know that he knew that he wasn't really going anywhere. But he went upstairs and changed into nice clothes just for me :)

So when the doorbell rang at 5:00, I still didn't think anything. I opened the door, and there was Adrianne. Just like we planned. Nothing unusual about her standing there. But then my other friends, who were hiding around the porch jumped out, yelling, "Surprise!"

I was so confused. I thought, "What are they doing here?" and "Who in the world are they saying 'surprise!' to?" and "Why are they all looking at me?" 

It took a few moments before I realized they were here to surprise me for an early birthday party. It still took a few minutes before it all totally sunk in. I was just so confused!

So they all kidnapped me for the night to celebrate my birthday. 

And my amazing husband stayed home with Ivy.

 We headed up to Fort Wayne,

and they made me pick where to eat, so I chose Flanagan's,

where we ate outside on their patio,

and had their amazing salad and bread,

and my favorite there--lobster ravoioli.

Then we headed to the mall to walk around for awhile. One sort of funny thing that happened there (although it might be one of those "you had to be there" moments), was when a few of us walked into the bathroom in JCPenney...the motion-censored soap machine was just constantly going, all by itself, with no one standing there.

 

When we left the bathroom, Amy told one of the employees about it. The employee started marching toward the bathroom angrily, saying, "I've had it with that soap dispenser!!" :) It struck us very funny.

Then we headed to Cheddar's for their famous cookie monster dessert (which I learned is actually "monster cookie," not "cookie monster" like everyone always says).

 One with nuts,

and one without.

 

 Overall, it was the most fun night I have had in a long time! And having everyone surprise me wasn't as bad as I thought it would be ;)

Thanks Adrianne, Beth, Janelle, Amy, and Amber. I am so blessed by my friendship with all of you!!