BEST Surprise 40th (early) Birthday Party EVER!!!!

I must say I have the BEST husband and friends!  My birthday isn't until June - but I share a birthday with Matthew, Gavin's birthday is 2 weeks before that, the twins & my mom are 3 days after mine and Matthew's birthday, and Dallin's birthday is 3 weeks later - so my birthday kind of gets forgotten - not really forgotten, just no time for it.  So, with me turning 40 this year, Ed was so GOOD and planned an early SURPRISE party for me.  He had help from some of my AMAZING friends (especially Carol and Michelle T.)- I can't believe all the work they went to to make my party AWESOME!

The party was up at a reception center called Noah's up in Sandy.  Ed and my friends made some posters of pictures of me (some not so cute pictures from when I was a kid) and had pictures hanging from purple balloons (again some picture were not so cute - I went through a REALLY chubby stage when I was younger). 

 All the tables had black table clothes (I am turning 40) with PURPLE M's and apothecary jars filled with all different kinds of PURPLE candy and cute little tags!  And PURPLE ties were on the chairs.

 Since my party was at a reception center, they had a list of all the events listed when you walked in.  So instead of it saying "Michelle's Birthday" (that would have ruined the surprise), it said "Spencer Guster Wedding" (I will explain why it was a wedding in a second) - if you watch PSYCH (my all time FAVORITE show), you know that those names are from the main characters of the show - which I didn't even notice at the time.

 Here is the buffet table with all the YUMMY food.  Ed had it catered by VIP catering - seriously YUMMY food!  There was a spinach dip and crackers, super YUMMY beef sticks (I must find out how to make them), coconut shrimp, some kind of black bean egg roll, veggies (since normal people do like veggies - I just skipped them), YUMMY fruit, lemonade, and then STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRIS and PINA COLADAS (virgin of course) that a girl made for everyone all night long - my two FAVORITE drinks!  And of course there was a DESSERT table with desserts from my FAVORITE dessert place - The Chocolate (they are in Orem).  We had my ULTIMATE FAVORITE: SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIES along with turtle brownies, peanut butter brownies, lemon bars, salted caramel chocolate cupcakes, white cupcakes, and strawberry cream puffs with real strawberries - oh my they were all so GOOD!

 Here are some of my cute friends setting up and getting ready for me to show up.

 So, how did Ed get me there?  We had been trying for MONTHS to go out with our friends Jim & Laurie - we finally had a night that worked for all of us.  Laurie & I had planned to go to dinner.  When I said I would look up times for a movie and get the tickets, Laurie quickly said she would get the tickets (I was at a soccer game so I didn't think anything of it). Ed had mentioned wanting to go to a reception for some new guy they hired at Xactware that night.  I asked if Jim & Laurie wanted to go.  He said that Jim had mentioned wanting to go.  I was too lazy and didn't have time to go get a gift, Ed said he would just give him a present later.  On our way up to "dinner" we stopped by the reception real quick (which I wasn't really dressed for but it was cold and I wanted to be comfy for the "movie"). We got to Noah's and walked in.  We read the sign when we walked in to see where the "reception" was - and found the "Spencer Guster Wedding".  Ed thought for sure I would catch on, especially since I said it out loud - yep, not a clue! We went upstairs and of course they all hung back (which I didn't notice).  I had no idea until I walked around the corner and saw NO ONE in the room but LOTS of PURPLE BALLOONS and PURPLE M's on empty tables.  When I walked all the way in they all yelled SURPRISE and started singing Happy Birthday!  What a FUN surprise! 

 Here are some of my friends that came - Nichole, Janeen (funny that they actually went to high school together) and my college roommate Haylee - so so fun to see her!

 More friends - the Becks, the Wells, the Bowens, and the Stringams.

 Even more friends - the Gormans, the Hansons, the Jones, and the Walkers.

 Yeah, still more friends - the Gardners, the Benchs, the Lindseys, and the Meeks.

 And of course, Ed's co-conspirators in getting me there - the Lovelands.

 After we ate and mingled for awhile, Ed got up and thanked everyone for coming and all their help (and even got a little sappy - which is NOT him but was fun to hear) and started talking about another SURPRISE he had for me.

 He started talking about how he had gotten to know our friend Brooke better and that she really helped with my SURPRISE guest.  At that point, I knew who it was because she use to work for him.  I was so SHOCKED and EXCITED!

 It was PETER BREINHOLT!  I had been going to see his concerts since my sophomore year in college (I think that is the year we started going to his concerts).  Peter B. even played at the Xactware Christmas party this past year.  I LOVE his music!  I still CANNOT believe he played at my party!  BEST SURPRISE EVER!

 More friends came a little later (but luckily made the concert) - the Amussens.

 Seriously, how cool is this - our own private concert!

 Had to put this picture of Chris in - he took tons of pictures and video of my party - I can't wait to see them!  And I must thank Donna for all these pictures - she was busy taking pictures the whole night!

 Everyone enjoying the concert!

 I was in heaven!

 So fun!

Enjoying the concert!  I smiled so much that my head hurt!

 Of course we had to get up and dance to "You Wear Flowers". Such GREAT memories from college!

 Notice that only the LADIES got up and danced!

The Taylors came a little late too (their daughter was in a State gymnastics meet) - so glad they made it!

 Love this picture - Ed and I and Peter B. playing for us!  How cool is that!

 Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

 Peter B. also gave me a CD of his greatest hits and autographed it for me.  

 Here are the Amussens with me - Scott works at Xactware with Ed and I worked with him back in the day.  We got Kesley's name from their daughter Keslee.  So happy they were able to make it!

 Peter B. and Brooke - so glad she was able to get him to come play at my party!

 Peter B. and the Michelle's!

 After the AMAZING concert, they showed a slideshow of me - so fun to see some of the pictures!

 Then, the real dancing began!  Of course, it was just the girls again. The boys just watched - until a slow song came on.

 Here are a bunch of my friends - wish we had taken this before some of them had left - and there are several that weren't able to make it to the party (like sweet Dani who lives in California right now - she tried to come but just wasn't able to make it work - totally understand but sure miss her).  Chris has a couple of pictures with EVERYONE, even the guys, that I can't wait to get!

Thanks everyone!  Especially Ed for making turning 40 so much fun!

Oh - the invitation was so cool - I will get a picture of it and post it soon!