Surprise!

What's on the schedule for today after church? HumV thought it would be fun to surprise me with a birthday party with my family today. Even if it is family, I really do NOT like surprises and I REALLY do NOT like all attention on me. With that said, I don't think I reacted like everyone was hoping. I believe they were hoping for a smile and excitement. They definitely did not get either one of those.

After a week of secrets, sneaking and things, we arrived at my brother's house and I was on edge. Did I forget to mention that I caught on to what was going on earlier in the week. I won't give you all my 'hints' because should this happen again (I'm not counting on it), I don't want them to know what to change or look out for. I didn't mention it to HumV because I didn't want to ruin it for him (even though it was irritating me, but didn't have all the details). Later into the week, I hadn't really heard too much from family. And I will say our children didn't spoil it because they didn't even know about it until yesterday.

We ate lunch and I was starting to feel ok about the get-together. Until, I saw the whispering. I started getting on edge again. Then here comes HumV with a cake and glowing candles. I can not tell you how bad I wanted to just walk right out the door. My face was fire engine red and I could see right through the hole I had stared into HumV's head.

After I was able to cool down a bit, I thanked everyone for the thought. It was very sweet for HumV to pull this all together, next time don't lie to me (even though I know they weren't really lies, he was walking around the truth, normally something he can't do very well--I like that)! He didn't mean to, he was just excited about his surprise. I can say that calmly now.

Now that I'm calm they felt it was time to bring out the gifts. Everyone has asked me what I want for my birthday and Christmas. I have told them, each and every one of them to donate to whatever charity that they get hit up with at the register while Christmas shopping. That would be my gift. My gift is watching everyone open their gifts and play with them or just have fun. I'm not kidding! I LOVE that! And as I'm watching, I take pictures. That's what I do, that's what I love. Some people love the gifts and some people just love watching the gift. I love watching the gifts at Christmas. If that didn't work, just money. I feel weird telling people what I want. Mainly because I just don't know until I walk into a store. Whoa Nelly! Then I have no problem finding stuff! I am saving for a bigger camera (did you remember that I wanted one from last Monday's 'Not Me's'?).

Anyway, off my high horse and back to the gifts. There are gifts, and then there is THE gift. I received wonderful gifts. And then came to THE gift. Ya know, the one that everyone grabs their camera and watches you unwrap and ooohh and aahh about? Well, HumV totally surprised me with this gift. He and the children gave me a Mother's Ring! I am so excited about this ring because I have wanted one for years but we weren't for sure if we were going to have more children or not (and I do not like jewelry so to waste money on more than one ring just shouldn't happen). I was excited to open it and put it on (I was even able to dodge the cameras, I think). It is absolutely beautiful and perfect. HumV did a fabulous job of picking it out (all by himself). He knows that I don't like big and bulky (or jewelry at all for that matter) but this was perfect!
The day ended up being wonderful. Everyone had fun. We were even able to fit in a bit of Christmas shopping too. Thank you so much HumV and children! (No more surprise parties though!) Thank you to all my family that helped HumV with the preparations for today. Thank you to my family for all getting together for me.