Shortly after Ryan’s 30th birthday I decided that for his 40th birthday I was going to do a surprise party for him. He struggles with turning a new decade so I thought it would be a fun way to help him welcome in his 40’s and be something different.
As it got closer I decided that instead of a surprise party I would just do a party for him so I talked to him about it and he kind of poo-hooed the idea because he isn’t excited about turning 40 like I figured. So I let it go and tried to come up with other ideas. He didn’t really have any suggestions of what to do either. I came up with having one of his best friends from his mission come for the weekend. I thought that would be a fun surprise for him, and it was, but I also had lots of people asking me when his party was or what the plan for his birthday was. A few weeks before his birthday I decided that I was going to do the surprise party anyway. So I rented our neighborhood clubhouse, invited about 100 of his closest friends, got a giant cake, balloons, and some yummy BBQ and we had a party! I had about 150 pictures of Ryan displayed as part of the decorations from when he was a baby up to now.
His buddy Mike Johnson flew in from Arizona and got to our house about 3:15 on Friday, the day of the party. I had told Ryan he had an appointment to get his car detailed (that was something he wanted for his birthday) at 4pm so he would be home. Johnson decided he wanted to hide somewhere and jump out and scare him. I ended up telling Ryan that I needed the A/C filter changed and when he went to change it Johnson jumped out. I was a little worried Ryan might take a swing at him when he got startled but he didn’t and he was very excited to see his buddy and find out they had the weekend to hang out.
As soon as Mike surprised Ryan, I took the kids to sleepover at their cousins house and then I was going to meet Ryan for dinner a little later. What actually happened is the kids and I all went to the clubhouse to wait for Ryan. A few minutes before they were supposed to leave I called Ryan and told him that Emilee had left her mermaid toy at the pool so I needed him to go to the clubhouse and check the lost and found on his way to dinner. He came to check but instead of finding a lost and found when he arrived, he found a surprise party! He had no idea. I thought he might have been a little suspicious but he said he didn’t really have any idea.
We had Joe’s KC BBQ for dinner and the adults visited, Ryan made the rounds to everyone to talk for a bit. The kids swam in the pool and drank way to much soda and blew the noise makers that I made the mistake of providing. We of course sang happy birthday and blew out candles. I think everyone had a fun time. It was a good night.
After the party Ryan and Mike spent the rest of the weekend golfing, eating out at their favorite places, getting massages, shopping, watching golf, enjoying having no responsibilities. They are quite the pair.
Sunday morning was Father’s Day. Johnson headed home to spend it with his family and we celebrated Ryan. We had Ross and Lauren over for dinner to help us eat some of our BBQ leftovers. Then Lauren and I played a game with Ross and Ryan because it was Father’s Day and they said we had too. Playing a game with Ross and Ryan is a 2-3 hour commitment so we often opt to do something else and let them play themselves. On Father’s Day and birthdays they say we have to play though.
It was a nice weekend. I am very grateful for the great dad’s we have in our lives. Ryan and I were both raised by great dads. Ryan is an amazing dad. I took a mental picture today of him skipping across the parking lot to the car after church with a daughter on each arm because they thought it would be fun and silly. I am grateful for all the friends and Uncle’s and other family members that are good examples of dads to my kids too. It takes a village.
Just realized he was at his own surprise party. 
Hanging out with Mike Johnson. 
