Best Birthday Ever!

Saturday afternoon, I got an inkling that something was up.  My mom had invited Camille and me to a matinee play in Orem. Before we left, there was a suspiciousness in the air.  Mike had told me that he was having some guys over to watch a football game that night, so, if I wanted the house clean to my standards, I was warned.  (Mike and the kids made up an inside joke that the football game was between the Heat and the Dolphins.  They told me that and it meant nothing to me. I mean, when I think about it, I know that the Heat is a basketball team. I didn't realize they were an NBA team and an NFL team in the same city.  Very funny.)

So, that afternoon as we left for the play, Mike and the kids were cleaning up, Mike had run a few errands, and I caught a few glances and whispers between them all.  I assumed he had planned for my family to come over for a nice dinner or something.

When we got to the house, I noticed Brittany's car and Sean's car. Mike was in the front yard. I went to open the front door and he told me that he had something to show me in the back yard.  I walked around and saw my four babies lined up, dressed as servers.

Bev played photographer for the evening.

Mike enlisted the help of Brittany in the party planning. She designed a cute e-vite and did the decorations. They asked people to bring a picture of us together.  People brought pics from high school or college. Alison brought one of us in the same class in first grade.

The decorations were darling and the theme was perfect for me.

Christian set up the "VIP lounge" on the side of the house.  It was where he and the other "help" hung out.  He roped it off with a red rope and the soccer goal.

Here I am telling everyone about my mom's awkward invite to the play.

Cute pics of Camille and Randy.

Mike had it catered with food from Cafe Rio--one of my favorites. Julie and Courtney made cupcakes from my Pinterest board.  Camille made my favorite dessert--lunch lady peanut butter bars.  He got some fun drinks and set up a smores station by the fire pit.

My dad.

Andrew checking out the dessert table.

It was a "This Is Your Life" sort of night.  I got the nicest notes from these people who mean the world to me.  Every few minutes someone new showed up and I was surprised all over again.

Bev got pics of most of the people who came, but we missed a few.

It was one of the best days of my life--seeing all of those people I love, people who have made my life so great.  I feel like the luckiest, most blessed 40 year-old woman in the world.

We realized at the play that we matched each other. We told Mom to walk in between us.