Ingrid's Surprise Party

For the last week and half I've been lying to my wife. After all, you can't plan a surprise for your spouse without fibbing a bit. It was even more of a surprise because her birthday is in December. We call these "half birthdays", because she and I both have birthdays within days of Christmas and everyone is usually pooped out from holiday parties to celebrate our birthdays. So, we decided to make our own tradition of celebrating our half birthdays, in the summer, when people like to party. Ingrid did this for me first (last year) and I was totally surprised. So I returned the favor this year for her. We believe that anything is possible, and if you don't like something in your life, change it. For goodness sake, life is short, celebrate often with those you love and shower them with delightful surprises:)

Before the surprise at the restaurant with 12 friends.

At Gordon James, one of favorite restaurants

Ingrid and Jan (Jan is like a mom to Ingrid)

2nd surprise at the house:)

Mikayla was such a huge help to me to pull this off. Thanks love:)

Comments

[ScotWharton]

What a GREAT tradition!

[Ingrid Paulicivic]

I’m not at all upset that you lied to me. The way Friday night turned out I encourage the behavior. I had so much fun! I was totally surprised, as a matter of fact I’ve never been more surprised. You really, really got me!

It was the next morning however when you told me the balloon story that I knew it was love. I mean no man buys his wife 24 oversized balloons for her 441/2 year birthday. I’ve been buying balloons for children’s parties for years and in my limited experience I’ve never seen a man in the shop.

I’m not sure this story will translate, but when you were explaining to me over coffee how the balloon lady put twisty ties around each bunch of 12 to hold them together it appeared you were letting me in on one of the 10 best kept secrets. With out a word I smiled and thought to myself of course she uses twisty ties. What else would she use?

Then you moved into the part of the story where you had to put all 24 into the trunk with all the other stuff you collected for the party. The fist 12 fit in no problem, but the other 12 would not fit all tied together. So in the great outdoors you released the second twisty with the trunk wide open and the cool Southern California breezes blowing. I laughed so hard with your audio/visual explination of balloons shooting out in every direction while trying to secure then in the trunk. You said “Money just kept shooting out under my arms into the sky and there was nothing I could do about it.”

I adore that story and I adore you even more. I love that you are a man that continues to take risks by stepping out of your comfort zone. From the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you for that you do and for all that you are. You are my hero!

[Jason]

Way to go Joe, and happy 1/2 birthday Ingrid!

[Jason]

Way to go Joe, and happy 1/2 birthday Ingrid!