Becky's Surprise

Last weekend I had the chance to fly out to California with the Murray sisters for a wonderful girls weekend. It all started a couple months ago when Becky's mother-in-law and sister-in-law were planning a baby shower for her and thought it would be fun if all her sisters and sister-in-laws surprised her and flew in for the shower. They reached out to all of us to see if we were interested and miraculously the stars all aligned and several of us were free that weekend and were able to find super cheap flights. Just like that we were planning a fun little girls weekend.

Jenna, Janessa, and I had all arrived by Friday morning and spent the day being tourists in San Francisco. Countless memories were made that day as we drove around the crazy streets of San Francisco like trying to decide on places to eat. Janessa screaming hysterically as she drove up the almost vertical inclines, me directing Janessa through her parallel parking until we realized there was a back-up camera, being in such a rush to make our Alcatraz Ferry we forgot to pay for parking and getting a whopping ticket - and we didn't even make the ferry, just to name a few. After all the drama it took to get there, we took the ferry out to Alcatraz and did the audio tour. It was very interesting. All I could think about the whole time was how much Mason would love it. Later that night we picked up Jennifer and Aubrey from the airport and drove out to Tracy where Linda Pepperman and Jenny Silcox were graciously hosting us. 

The next morning when Becky arrived early for her shower she walked in to get the surprise of a lifetime when she rounded the corner to see all her sisters standing there. She was completely speechless and burst into tears. I don't think any of us had dry eyes either. She had not suspected anything at all and never would have thought that 5 of us would have left behind a total of 14 kids at home and flown in from 4 different states to spend the weekend with her. We all enjoyed meeting and visiting with Becky's friends and coworkers during her shower. Once it was over we went for a girls shopping trip and out to dinner. We wanted to make the most of our single day together so we stayed up until well after midnight talking and laughing together. It was so much fun as we reconnected and bonded. I can't remember the last time we were all together, let alone without kids. Not having any sisters myself, I am always so grateful when my in-laws welcome me so openly into their sisterhood. I'm also grateful for a wonderful husband who fully supported me in taking a much needed break. What a wonderful weekend!!

SURPRISE!

If there is one thing I have learned in 12 years of marriage it is that Scott is hard to surprise with a big gift. The hard part isn't pulling off the surprise. The hard part is trying to get Scott to let go of his OCD need to research every item he buys so he can be positive he is getting the most for his money (even when it isn't his money). This applies to everything from a shirt to a computer. Scott stresses a lot about purchases because he always has the fear there is something better out there that he will miss.  After many failed attempt at buying Scott a gift just for him to then research it on his own and end up returning my gift and getting what he found to be what he really wanted I just gave up. Instead of surprising him with things I just tell him what I'm planning on getting him and let him research to his hearts content and choose what he will end up getting anyway. I know it sounds lame (and it feels lame, too), but Scott is so much happier with something when he has thouroughly researched and found exactly what he wants.
So when I finally convinced Scott that it was time for him to upgrade to a new Mountain Bike this year and he turned to Steve to help him find the perfect bike I decided to take a chance and go for a big birthday surprise. Since he was looking to Steve to help guide him to the right bike anyway, I figured Steve could help guide me to the right bike without Scott knowing. So with a little sneaking Steve and I found a great bike for Scott. Steve did the negotiating and I picked the bike up and then stored it at Chris and Kacie's house until Scott's birthday. In the meantime Steve continued to humor Scott by looking for a new bike for him.
When Scott's birthday finally rolled around we set out the bike under one of the kids' awesome birthday posters. When Scott walked in the room and saw the bike I think his jaw might have actually hit the floor. It was quite possibly the greatest surprise I've ever pulled off.
In March Scott was able to take the bike down to Arizona to test it out with Steve. I am so glad that I was finally able to surprise him with something that he deserves so much.