Birthday party adventures

Alright, so some of you may recall the time I decided it was a reasonable idea to plan my wedding and a surprise birthday party for Chris on the same day.  There's a reason I plan things for a living ;).  But this weekend, I might be surpassing that one.

To follow this you need a little bit of background.   C participates in the SCA, where this year has taken on a leadership role.  As a result, he will be busy most weekends.  This weekend in particular was an event that was very important to him, but...  out in Bellville (approx 3h from home).   So, he is couch surfing at a friend's place this wknd.  All good.

More details - C's 40th birthday is next week, as is our anniversary.   The weekend after is one of the few C has free and we have anniversary plans (also, it's Valentines, which we usually avoid w a passion, but this time we have to suck it up, so reservations were made ridiculously early).

So effectively we decided we wouldn't be doing anything for C's bday.  We're doing an expensive trip later this year that all our discretionary income is going toward, and a good part of that is specifically his bday present so, fair enough.

However, unlike me, C is an extrovert, and I knew he would like a party - esp for the milestone bday.  However, it's February and we live far away from everything, and...  basically every weekend for the next few months is already booked.  

So new plan - I'd plan a surprise party out near the event for after it was over.   A significant number of his friends would be at the event, so not a huge extrapolation to carry that over for a bday esp nearby.   But since I would not be attending the event, I need an accomplice on the inside.  

Tagged someone I knew would be there and also trusted might be able to help accomplish inside details, however - turns out there's a twist.  Another person in the friend group has a birthday that day, which they had been planning to celebrate afterwards at the friend's house where C was going to crash.  Suggested that instead of finding a restaurant or something (my plan) that we do it at her house and combine.  

Ummm cool - except, I don't know her?   lol so he put us in touch and she was super willing to go along with it - to the point of allowing me to show up and set stuff up at her house with nobody home?!?!   Amazing people still exist.  And her place is about an hour closer to me.  Win.

So awesome.  Okay next step - tag some of C's friends who I knew wouldn't be at the event either because they no longer play that game or they never did.  Those that had a history with it, I told about what was going on cause they'd get the significance so in case they wanted to go, and also about the bday party after.  The ones who don't play that game I just told about the party.   A few had other immovable plans (remember how close to Valentine's) but several were in.  Sweet.   Also - had to be a little sneaky about this because if C saw any of those names pop up on my phone or laptop he'd know something was up 😂 

So at this point I'm planning for a double bday party - half of which is a surprise and half of it for a human I've met many times but don't really know.  

So found somebody who told me what the 2nd birthday person likes and make plans to bake two cakes - except that I can't buy any ingredients till C is gone, much less actually make it early.   And for reasons...  decided I'd be making two cakes I've never made before.  Great time to experiment.  Definitely not stressful at all ;-P

Spent one of my lunch breaks hitting up a party store nearby for balloons and decorations - but of course I couldn't bring them home until C was gone (no way to hide helium balloons in our house!) so arranged to pick them up on Sat am.

Also, randomly, had committed that I was going to make freezer meals this weekend...  Which now got brought forward to Friday night - in with the cakes.   Cause, you know, why not.  Good thing I'm a night person since I worked all day Friday.

So groceries acquired, flowers for woman letting me invade her home, extra purchased desserts - partially just in case and partially cause I had no idea at this point how many people would be there.  Range is 20-40?!?  

Okay so planning to go out, set things up, and bring a book to wait while people show up.   Being me, I'll leave extra early and have time to kill.   So instead, I think better plan is to go *extra* early and then meet up with a friend who's birthday is ALSO that day during the day.   So now I 'm up to three bdays in one day.  No cake required for that one though ;)   Just timing.

Ready to go....

So now it's Friday night, and the rest of the updates will be real-time-ish ;).  There's a storm threatening for tomorrow -- C got out before it, but I may well be driving through it.  This may also impact the number of people able to attend, esp those who weren't originally going to make the event.  I'm mentally shifting my Saturday planning and going to leave ridiculously early and take my time.

Just starting cake baking when I got a message asking if I could make a stop on my way on Sat to pick up an ice cream cake for the other birthday celebrant - the shop had closed early on Fri because of said storm.  Yikes!   But yes, of course, it's basically on the way.  So we'll add that into tomorrow's list, but plus side, cuts down the number of experimental cakes on tonight's list ;) 

Also - my amazon package supposed to contain the compostable cutlery that feels like plastic instead of wood has been delayed :(.   Big booo!   Here's hoping it arrives tomorrow am, but not holding my breath.

Late Friday or very early Saturday:  cake roll experiment complete.   It is really tasty, but the structural integrity is questionable ;-P.    "Bridge is out" degree of questionable.  I'm deeming this mostly a non-issue. 

Balloons needed to come rest in the house for a bit

Sat am - balloons acquired!   Win!   Except...   They barely fit in my car, and as I'm picking them up they tell me they can't be in the cold or the transit bag more than an hour...  Ummm - it's more than a 2h drive.  And not time to go yet.  So when I got home I pulled them into the house and let them breathe.   Mori's terrified of them, Nola thinks they might be worth hunting lol.   A couple of them I love, a couple of them I'm disappointed in -- one is *tiny* compared to all the others, which I didn't realize when I bought them.  Oh, and we have a dinosaur.  It seemed important, although I'm not bringing Winston to the party (those who know...)

The not-plastic cutlery has yet to arrive.  I have acquired atrocious wooden variation.   Boooo.  

Snow has started but not yet covering the driveway.   Going to feed cats, pack up vehicle (things that need to stay cold - trunk, things that can't be cold - battle it out w the balloons for space in the car!)

Sat 12:30 pm - Car is packed, balloons are all fit in the backseat, and I am off to the first stop which is to pick up the extra cake which is approximately two hours away.   Mission has started...   

Ready to go :)

Voice to text driving update -- It's been a very long time since I've driven with my rear-view mirror blocked!  lol.  Possibly since I was hauling a horse trailer?

2:50:  Shockingly Marble Slab (ice cream store) was not busy given -12 with -28 windchill.  The woman seemed very confused but showing her the order confirmation on my phone cleared it up and I was good to go.   There has been no drive-impacting weather.

4:00 Made my way to the house, where I def rang the doorbell in case I was in the wrong place!  Seemed all good and when I got in there were clear signs that it was, in fact, the right place.  Or would be an insane coincidence if I weren't ;)

My favourite balloons

So I set up balloons, figured out how and where it might be safe to string a banner (not sure that’ll hold) and fortunately there was enough space in the fridge for the variety of need-to-be-refrigerated cakes.   Not enough in the freezer though so the ice cream one is in my trunk for now ;).  Canadian winter win.   Later I’ll put it on the back porch.

6:30 Okay back now from visit w Em (and Rosie!) which was lovely and has been way too long.  Banner mostly held - just needed minor repairs.  Cake is now on back porch - classic ;).  And my car is hidden around a cul de sac.  Was a cold walk back for sure!

7:30 I've had updates that they're on their way.   Looks like unfortunately the “extras” (non event people) I was hoping would be here unfortunately couldn’t make it in the end, so instead of hosting I’m really just crashing.   So that's a bit of a fail and disappointing for sure, but at least there’s cake ;)

Very late - so of all people, Chris was the first one through the door, and with the lighting and him wearing a jacket I hadn't seen, I couldn't even tell it was him at first - until he spoke lol.  And was definitely surprised to see me there :).  So deeming that a win.   Both people had their birthday celebration, lots of food was consumed by all, and a good night was had.