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IntenseMagic

IntenseMagic

Some grannies cuss a lot. I'm some grannies.
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I am headed to a surprise 50th birthday party for one of my best friends this afternoon.

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Her daughter-in-law planned it and I know she will be so thrilled and has no idea!!

We did a surprise party for my oldest son last year and it was so fun. We had it in the party room of a bowling alley, and told him that he needed to come meet my daughter there because she was meeting up with her ex and we didn't want her to be alone. He was all like "Should I bring my pistol?" and "Am I going to get beat up?". It might not have been the best plan but it was pretty funny and he was totally surprised!

Do you do surprise parties? Any good stories of successes or failures?
 
I have not pulled off a surprise party myself, but helped my older daughter, Rhiannon, surprise my younger daughter, Caroline, for her birthday a few years ago. I felt so clever. LOL Caroline thought her entire birthday celebration was taking her friend to Funland. While we were there, riding the rides and playing the games. Rhiannon set up for the party back at the house and more friends arrived. So people jumped up and shouted "Surprise!" when we arrived, and Caroline was truly surprised! :wub

I was also witness to a surprise party for my mom, pulled off my my older sister when I was a teen. So long I ago I really don't remember, but it went well enough.

And my mom worked with my boyfriend in college to surprise me for my 21st birthday. She asked him to pretend he was just taking me to eat at a particular restaurant and when we arrived my whole family and friends were there. That was fun!

My favorite real surprise that I've ever orchestrated, was when I made my husband a chocolate cake one April Fools Day in the 90's. Only the cake was styrofoam, covered with chocolate frosting. Oh, I felt mean! But it was hilarious watching him try to cut it. :rofl
 
michelepixels said:
I have not pulled off a surprise party myself, but helped my older daughter, Rhiannon, surprise my younger daughter, Caroline, for her birthday a few years ago. I felt so clever. LOL Caroline thought her entire birthday celebration was taking her friend to Funland. While we were there, riding the rides and playing the games. Rhiannon set up for the party back at the house and more friends arrived. So people jumped up and shouted "Surprise!" when we arrived, and Caroline was truly surprised! :wub

I was also witness to a surprise party for my mom, pulled off my my older sister when I was a teen. So long I ago I really don't remember, but it went well enough.

And my mom worked with my boyfriend in college to surprise me for my 21st birthday. She asked him to pretend he was just taking me to eat at a particular restaurant and when we arrived my whole family and friends were there. That was fun!

My favorite real surprise that I've ever orchestrated, was when I made my husband a chocolate cake one April Fools Day in the 90's. Only the cake was styrofoam, covered with chocolate frosting. Oh, I felt mean! But it was hilarious watching him try to cut it. :rofl
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That's so cool that Rhiannon set all that up...how fun :)
Hahhaha styrofoam cake! That's awesome! I need to remember that one. Reminds me of this past April Fools when my son's gf brought us the chocolate "cake balls" that were actually chocolate covered Brussels sprouts lol
 
I've only been surprised once and it wasn't a party. I flew up to Ohio from Florida to visit my DD and (then) 2 grandsons. When I got there, my parents and my sister walked out and said "Surprise!" - She had them drive from Indiana to be there when I got there. I had NO idea they would all be waiting for me.

I have helped pull off some great surprises, but every surprise party that was ever planned for me, I found out somehow. I always went along with it and acted surprised anyway. :byay
 
I don't do too well with surprises. I think everyone around me knows not to go that route.

I'm good at pulling off surprises for other people. I think because I'm quiet anyway, so there aren't a lot of chances for me to spill the beans.

Having said that, I did spill the beans a few months ago. 3 girls at work were pregnant at the same time. It was known from the start that there would be three separate baby showers. The 1st was not a surprise, the 3rd was not a surprise. No one told me the 2nd one was a surprise. I had to class & would miss the shower. Right before I left for school, I went to apologize to the mom-to-be for missing her party. Afterwards, my friend told me the girl hadn't been told about her shower. I felt so bad for like 2 weeks. Everyone said she already knew something was up, like a Nurse had posted it on their daily schedule that morning. But still, I was sad.
 
How fun! I've had exactly 3 birthday parties in my life... at 5, 16 and 40. And the one at 40 was a surprise. I was completely surprised. I thought I was going to take photos for something or another (and was dreading it). It was the only way to make sure I was dressed and wearing make-up :rofl because when I'm not working, I'm not purty, LOL.

I was really blessed and overwhelmed.
 
I was just at a friend's party last night!! It was fun. It's the husband of the couple and the wife did a great job. The only hiccup was when my husband was supposed to bring him through the front door and they came through the garage instead. Lol. But it was still a surprise!!
IntenseMagic said:
I am headed to a surprise 50th birthday party for one of my best friends this afternoon.

giphy.gif


Her daughter-in-law planned it and I know she will be so thrilled and has no idea!!

We did a surprise party for my oldest son last year and it was so fun. We had it in the party room of a bowling alley, and told him that he needed to come meet my daughter there because she was meeting up with her ex and we didn't want her to be alone. He was all like "Should I bring my pistol?" and "Am I going to get beat up?". It might not have been the best plan but it was pretty funny and he was totally surprised!

Do you do surprise parties? Any good stories of successes or failures?
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Cherylndesigns said:
I've only been surprised once and it wasn't a party. I flew up to Ohio from Florida to visit my DD and (then) 2 grandsons. When I got there, my parents and my sister walked out and said "Surprise!" - She had them drive from Indiana to be there when I got there. I had NO idea they would all be waiting for me.

I have helped pull off some great surprises, but every surprise party that was ever planned for me, I found out somehow. I always went along with it and acted surprised anyway. :byay
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My co-workers have tried to pull off a few surprise parties for me, but somehow I always figured it out, too lol But yeah, I put on quite a surprised act!

jesskab said:
I don't do too well with surprises. I think everyone around me knows not to go that route.

I'm good at pulling off surprises for other people. I think because I'm quiet anyway, so there aren't a lot of chances for me to spill the beans.

Having said that, I did spill the beans a few months ago. 3 girls at work were pregnant at the same time. It was known from the start that there would be three separate baby showers. The 1st was not a surprise, the 3rd was not a surprise. No one told me the 2nd one was a surprise. I had to class & would miss the shower. Right before I left for school, I went to apologize to the mom-to-be for missing her party. Afterwards, my friend told me the girl hadn't been told about her shower. I felt so bad for like 2 weeks. Everyone said she already knew something was up, like a Nurse had posted it on their daily schedule that morning. But still, I was sad.
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I don't do real well with surprises either. Mostly just co-workers have tried it, family knows better :)
And I have so totally done that...telling someone, not realizing it was a surprise. I was so afraid I was going to spill the beans with the party I went to today, even though I knew this one was a surprise. I had to be very conscious of what I was saying all the time.

jenevang said:
How fun! I've had exactly 3 birthday parties in my life... at 5, 16 and 40. And the one at 40 was a surprise. I was completely surprised. I thought I was going to take photos for something or another (and was dreading it). It was the only way to make sure I was dressed and wearing make-up :rofl because when I'm not working, I'm not purty, LOL.

I was really blessed and overwhelmed.
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Haha The first thing my friend said when she walked in was "I wish I'd fixed myself up!!"
 
I'm not a fan of surprises. Or rather, if someone says "OMG, I have a surprise for you but I'm not saying what it is!" ... Well, it's no longer a surprise! Sigh.

DH knows me well: he has told me whenever people have tried to plan a "surprise" visit. Living out of state, if someone surprises us it's not just for a dinner or even for a few hours: it's at least a 3 day vist or up to a week in my home. It's not like someone can just be driving by and stops by our house: they need a plane ticket and a rental car and vacation days. If they need to have all of that, then how does someone think that, without any type of notice, I have a full week free for them??? Yes I'm a SAHM but I don't sit on the couch all day. I actually do things lol!

Once my brother talked with DH to arrange a surprise visit to see me. On the phone, DH was like, "Yeah, I'll check our calendar and I won't tell Sara." But as soon as he got off the phone he told me the dates and asked if that worked. He's a smart man, lol!
 
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Oh my goodness Jan ... that is such a funny story (about your son's surprise party)! We don't do surprises much ... I can't even think of a recent time. My mom did plan a big "sort of" surprise for my Dad's upcoking 70th this year. She is renting a lake cabin for a week for all of us ... we planned it all and then told him. But he still works, so he needed to put in some vacation time - it couldn't be a full surprise.

We are a lot like @Tree City - the family is scattered all over so a "visit" is more than an afternoon for any of us too! :)
 
My oldest daughter has always wanted a surprise party, but we've never been able to pull it off because either there's a school dance on her birthday or she messes it up by constantly asking for a surprise party so I can't make them a surprise. Never fails that someone spills the beans and she finds out ahead of time.
 
Oh Jan.. .that is so funny! "Should I bring my pistol?" :giggle

Well... I'm getting older... so I honestly don't remember exactly, but I think it was in 2003, my 29th birthday? (I feel old now and hate that I have admit I do math to figure out my agef, lol!). DH and I were meeting close friends to go out to eat... nothing unusual, and no mention of my birthday. I think it was like a week or two before or after, so I was oblivious. We went to their house, and then into the backyard - they had to show us something? a grill or a new chiminea, perhaps - young, no kids yet, money to burn, etc...) Lo and behold, friends and more friends were there for my birthday! Low key, and fun... but man, I was a bit awkward being the center of attention. I was shocked at some who showed and those that were invited and didn't.

My best memory of a surprise party is also the worst surprise memory - though NOW funnier than way back then. :P:eek::mad::-) My Dad. I think he was turning 40... so I was... (ugh, more math) ... I think 12. My mom planned it, and I was to walk him in and help surprise him. Oh man... I got the short end of that stick! He walked in, and a crowd of people yelled SURPRISE, and he cursed, turned around, and walked out. My mom giggled, I heard people laughing, and they knew he would be back... but I was young, and so worried about my Dad. I gave my Mom the Evil Eye of a 12 year old, and ran after him. We started walking home, and I begged him to come back, and eventually he turned around and we walked back, but it still in a way bothers me to this day. He was so mad, and told my Mom not to do a surprise, but she didn't listen to him (now as an adult, not surprising, lol - pun intended) and he was cursing about the situation. I think we went back about 45 minutes after it started. He calmed down, was mad at my Mom, but enjoyed himself. I was mad at my mom for longer than he was. :giggle
 
Having been so far away from family most of my adult life and after coming back to the US, my children are scattered about as are my dh's children and grandchildren, surprises aren't part of our life.

However one surprise I do recall was when we came back on home leave from somewhere and my then husband decided to surprise his parents rather than let them know. I was totally against this mostly because I knew part of what they enjoyed was looking forward to our arrival. However he got his way and we arrived at their house one evening around 8 or 9 pm. I was afraid one of both of them would have a heart attack when he rang the door bell and his mother just gasped in shock. He never tried that stunt again.

Me? My mother and my boyfriend (that husband from the prior story) had a surprise party for my 18th birthday and I WAS surprised. You can surprise me any time!
 
We threw a surprise party for my brother's 40th. Unfortunately we were so bad at it, that we didn't even think to hide our cars outside that were lining his street (a lot of interstate car plates) - so not so much of a surprise but fun anyway!

My sister in law wanted a party for her 50th but didn't want to organise it so dropped major hints to her husband (ie "I love surprise parties- that would be so much fun" type of hints!) He didn't get the hint and man, she was grumpy for a loong time. Very funny really...
 
Lol that's funny! He was being such a good brother & all protective! :D

I have never had a surprise party- I'm too much of a planner! ;) I did help throw a surprise party for my mom. She thought it was just a few of us going to dinner & then she realized the entire place was all for her! That was fun!
 
IntenseMagic said:
He was all like "Should I bring my pistol?" and "Am I going to get beat up?". It might not have been the best plan but it was pretty funny and he was totally surprised!
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bwahaha! well that added an interesting twist to the party i'm sure! we've had the same issue with cars before and well, just the 'surprisee' not being surprised!
 
I just recently pulled off a surprise party for my mom's 60th birthday. It was a success.

My parents tried to surprise my brother and I for our 16th birthday but it failed miserably when my dad brought us there 15 minutes early! My mom was desperately trying to hint to them that we needed to stall. It was still fun, and we still joke about it 20 years later.
 
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