Monday, August 25, 2008

They Got Me!

Saturday evening started out as planned. We had a Family Game Night up at church, which I knew would be a blast since I love to play games (Scrabble! Boggle! anything with trivia! Backgammon! Phase 10!) and we haven't done it much lately.

The night started off pretty normally, with adults (a group of us played Apples to Apples, which can be pretty hilarious!) and the youngsters both playing games...

But after playing for a while, and eating the potluck supper that everyone had contributed to, I noticed that most everyone had disappeared from the room. I wondered aloud where everyone was, and Gary said we should go check it out. Naive, gullible person that I am, I wandered off down the hall. I didn't expect anything until Gary pointed me toward a dark room and opened the door.

I was sprayed by silly string and greeted with yells of "Surprise!"...

Yep, the official 40th Birthday Week for Cheryl has begun!

I was totally surprised by the party, since it was a full week before my actual birthday (it's actually next Sunday), but who am I to turn down the chance to celebrate for an entire week? I say, Party Early and Party Often!

My great friends Chris and Allison organized it with Gary. He, along with McKenna and Delaney, totally fooled (i.e.: lied to me!) all day Saturday as they convinced me that they were doing anything aside from getting a cake, decorating, etc., etc. Most of my church friends showed up and it was a ton of fun!

A few pictures from the festivities include:

They did a great job with decorating (my fave were the "old people" dice that you can roll and come up with a "decision" for the day. I am all about napping and reclining often)...

This was one heckuva good cake. It was an ice cream cake from DQ and it was DELICIOUS!! (although, with so many people there, it was gone in a flash! I had one piece...and that was NOT enough!!)..

Of course, Scout had to help me blow out the candles...

Allison made me this shirt that says, "40 and Fabulous!"I am SO wearing this next Sunday on my birthday! I will be the most stylish gal at church that day!

My favorite card of the night was from Gary's parents; when you open it up, it plays the song "Tequila." I love it! (It also had money in it; whee! I'm going to buy a brand-new Bama shirt and some perfume with it!)

I also came home with some other great gifts (my favorite had to be the music CDs my friend Ryan made for me; one has songs from 1968, and the other is of cover versions of 80s songs; they are both great!; some truly yummy smelling candles; books; and--get this!-- anti-aging creme and denture cleansers from my lovely daughter and niece!!). I also got four packages of chocolates (I think they all want me to not only be forty and fabulous, but also forty and FAT!), including my favorite Lindors...

I'm already anticipating more celebrations to come later on in the week--a get-together with my parents, an Alabama first game/birthday gathering, the traditional birthday bowling--but this was a great way to start it all off!

By the way, I also have these suckers in my house now as well. They are so cute, but I don't agree with the sentiment. 40 definitely does not suck so far. Although I'm not officially 40 for five more days, I am liking how it's treating me right now!...

18 comments:

Adrienne said...

LOL!!!!!! How did you let them get you!?!?! LOL Looks like you had a good weekend!

Travis Erwin said...

What a bash.

Anonymous said...

What fun!

Lynilu said...

Wow, that is wonderful. And there is more to come!! YAAY! We like birthday weeks!!!

Nina Diane said...

Awww.....I love surprises! Hope you enjoy your pre-birthday!

Cheryl Wray said...

Adrienne--I don't know how they fooled me. I'm just gullible!

Travis--It was fun!

Anon--Yep, it was!

Lynilu--Yep, more to come. I love it! (That's how we usually celebrate around here... on and on and on).

Nina--Oh, I will. I'm going to celebrate everyday! lol

hippo chick said...

What a wonderful way to start your birthday week. Like you, I'm all about celebrating as long and as much as you can. Every decade holds joy and promise and I know you will live this one to the fullest.

Happy! Happy! I'll be checking in all week to see what else happens in the exciting Life of Cheryl Wray.

~huge hippo hugs~
Pam

Anonymous said...

Much more fun than my 40th birthday, spent at the hospital with Capra, who had the croup bad, and putting my 14-year-old cat to sleep. One I'll certainly never forget!

Andy said...

happy bday. or i guess prebday. looks like fun. i love apples to apples and cake and chocolate.

Nnairda's said...

Happy Birthday! Looks like a most memorable one.

Adriann

Mississippi Songbird said...

AWWW! How fun! Happy 40th birthday week! Bunches of hugs.. and cheers to many many many many many more....

Anonymous said...

I dreaded turning 40, but then, once I'd turned 40 I thought, what's the big deal? It's just another number...but, it was a great excuse for a huge party, and I mean huge. We rented a hall, a DJ, a caterer and the whole bit ... ah, memories!

If I don't get back to you prior ... Happy Birthday my online friend!

Jacquie

Dawn Bibbs said...

Awww, how special! Don'tcha just love being loved and thought about? That's very cool...you deserve it!

Unknown said...

HOW FUN! I think all birthdays should have a week long celebration!

Kimberly said...

What fun!!Happy early birthday! That is so sweet of your family and friends. Hope you have a wonderful birthday week!

Monogram Queen said...

Happy Early Birthday Cheryl!

What a wonderful start and what fun fabulous pressies! I love it!

Anonymous said...

They DID get you didn't they?! Too cute. Happy Early Birthday.

Josie said...

How fun is that!!! What a great surprise and they pulled it off. Happy Birthday Week!!