~The Quinn Family~: Surprise 30th Birthday Party

I have to admit, Benjamin got me. He had asked me what I would like to do for my birthday and selfishly I thought, 'it's MY birthday, I don't want to plan out what we do, I want it to be a surprise for me.'

But of course I just said that we could go out on a date on the day before my birthday and then have some friends over for dessert and coffee for the night of my actually birthday. So he sent out an email to all our friends inviting them over and one by one people had things to do and the dessert night was getting smaller.

Little did I know it was a FAKE email. He actually turned around and sent another email to everyone, but me, telling them that the dessert and coffee night was going to be the night before.

On Saturday, before my actual birthday Benjamin made reservations for us at the Angus Barn in Raleigh. This place is right up my ally. It's a higher end restaurant but it's not too fancy. I can't stand going to places that I feel out of place and uptight the entire time I'm eating. Not to mention they don't even give you a good portion of food. Anywho, I'll get off my soap box about that. : )

Benjamin went on and on about how he was sacrificing going out to dinner because it was at the exact time that Alabama was playing football on ESPN. But don't let him fool you. While we waited to be seated we drank water and ate the appetizer cheese in the lounge and the game just happened to be on the big screen.

Notice the picture below? Every time someone yelled he jumped out of his seat and ran to see what the action was. At least during dinner we were seated away from a TV. ; )

This was just my plate. YUM! And yes, I ate ALL of it. It was my birthday, and not just any birthday, I was turning 30! ; 0

When you celebrate your birthday at Angus Barn they give you a complementary pound cake with strawberries. We were so full we couldn't eat any of it but we did take it home to eat later.

On the way home we were rushing because I thought we had to get home to relieve the sitter. I knew she said she had to leave so we were getting back as quickly as we could. However, when we came around the corner I saw LOTS of cars parked on the street in front of our house. I immediately said, 'Benjamin, why are all those cars at our house?' His reply, 'There not at our house, their at the neighbors.' I said, 'NO, they are not, they are at our house and WHO is that man walking in our front door? I don't know him!'

Benjamin never said another word. I had no clue what was going on and why there were people at my house that I didn't know. I knew it had to be something for my birthday but I was so confused.

When I walked in the door I got the best surprise ever! All of our friends were there, 80's music was playing, and they were all dressed like they were from the 80's. How fun!

And they all brought desserts!!

Oh, and the man I didn't know, it was our sweet friends the Eccher's (pictured below) parents. I had met them before but just didn't recognize him. Sweet, sweet family.

And....guess who else jumped from around the corner?! It was mom and dad! They had flown up and surprised me for my birthday. She was a total Jane Fonda!

It was such a sweet surprise. I was so sad that I hadn't received her birthday card yet and she acted like it was no big deal. Totally not like her. Little did I know she was delivering it herself. : )

P.S. So thankful that I cleaned my house that day. Benjamin would have been in SO much trouble if all these people had come over to my house and it was a complete mess!