The planning started a couple months ago, and has taken countless hours of planning, sneaking, and hilariousness! Trying to accomplish such an elaborate surprise was difficult to conceal. However, we stuck through the not-so-perfect times in an effort to make sure everything went smoothly!
Going to the party store in Ankeny to pick up decorations, was perhaps one of my most favorite trips! Not only did Lindsey and I plan this trip at the last minute, but we also both came straight from a stressful day at work! Turns out picking out decorations for a room that we have only seen a handful of times is as hard as it sounds! Couple that with the not-so-helpful store employees and it was a recipe for craziness! 30 minutes into the shopping trip, we had everything picked out for the decor. Until, the "Happy 30th" decorations practically leaped off of the shelf into our baskets. Then of course, we were forced to settle on the "ok" decorations or go for the Gold....and back to square one. As we were carefully picking out plates and napkins to match the new decorations, the store employee ("of the month", I can only assume) strategically placed her latter directly in front of us, making it ever more difficult to maneuver around, who later corrected Lindsey on the exact shade of blue in her hand, and almost found herself in for a world of hurt. Finally, we were ready to proceed to the check out. The check-out employee was extremely energetic and was almost too much to handle, until he asked us what we were celebrating and said "Oh 30!!!!!!!!" in such a way that I literally laughed out loud. Although, I felt bad laughing at him I couldn't stop. As I am typing this, I am laughing again....
The rest of the party supplies came much easier. Food was basically decided prior to the shopping excursion, however, there were a few changes that we made as we went.
Driving to Ackley was a very tight fit, with all of our items! We went directly to the Floral shop to have the balloons blown up, and then headed to the Country Club. The decor was excellent, the scrolling photos of Mike and Paula throughout the years was the perfect touch, and we were so excited for the party to start.
We arranged for Mary Ann, Harlan, Rick and Darla to take Mike and Paula out for dinner as we gather guests into the Country Club. At around 8:00, Mike and Paula arrived with a loud "SURPRISE" and seemed as shocked as we hoped that they would be. It was amazing to see them so happy and so touched that everyone was there just for them!
Everyone ate, drank and celebrated for several hours! Once the party started winding down and the guests started leaving, the shots started flowing. We were actually able to get Paula to drink a lemon drop, which could have been the biggest success of all the night! Lindsey and I took anything that the bartenders but in front of us! By the end of the night, we were shouting "RICKYS, RICKYS, RICKYS" and pounding on the bar...at the Country Club.
Getting home was a blur, but once we arrived, the party continued. My husband, passed out right away while Lindsey and I decided to take our show to the next level! At one point, Lindsey and I ripped the curtains off of the wall, placed stuffed animals and picture frames in the refrigerator, shoes in the freezer, and talked constant gibberish. Lindsey wound up in the shower, fully dressed, pretending to wash her hair. When Paula found me in the bathroom with a bucket on my heading laughing, she turned to see Lindsey in the shower with her head cocked to the side staring at her as if she was the strange one. HILARIOUS. But by far, the best quote of the night came from Lindsey and her reaction to me asking if the stuffed animal in my hand smelled like chloroform, which she loudly replied "It's a LION, of course, it smells like chloroform!" Later to realize that the "lion" was actually a dog. Oops!
There is definitely not anything that I would change about that night! I am so excited that they were able to be so surprised, and touched at the group of people who arrived to show their support of them!
An Epic Success....
An Epic Success....
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