A Joint Surprise Birthday Bash

Saturday 17th May was an exciting day as Jess, Ben and Jack arrived from the states for a 3 week visit. Steve went down to Heathrow to pick them up while I was busy getting ready to receive about 80 guests that evening for a surprise birthday party. This was for Steve's 50th which was on the 7th May, Jessica's 23rd May which was the day before the 16th and Jack's 1st the next day the 18th May.














For a couple of months had Steve believing the party was for Jess and Jack and Jess believing the party was for Steve and amazingly I managed to keep them believing this till the party. I sent them out to buy cream (that I didn't need) while the guests arrived, I told both of them to play along with the other person so that the guests could arrive and surprise them, I hope you are still with me! Well I think the photo above says it all. Jess then figured out why I was keen for her to have her hair cut and styled that afternoon, after all she had informed me some weeks earlier that her hair hadn't been cut for a few months.




We had a wonderful evening with family and friends eating and talking, in spite of the not so warm weather it didn't rain. We ate cold meats, quiche, pizza, cheeses and salmon prepared beautifully by our dear friends John and Vicky, with lots of lovely salads and breads and crackers. Followed by several different naughty deserts from Costco (good old Costco) and I made and large chocolate birthday cake with fudge icing and 50 candles (74 were just too many). Steve and Jess really enjoyed catching up with friends some of which we hadn't seen for some time. Considering Jess, Ben and Jack arrived that morning they did incredibly well to stay wake as long as they did.










The next day Sunday 18th was Jack's 1st birthday and we had a little celebration lunch, with my sister Sarah (Jacks great Auntie) and her family, husband Kelvin and their 4 children, Lydia, Ella, Finley and Chester. Jack was so excited to see the children who are his first cousins once removed I believe. We had a lovely afternoon with Jack opening many gifts and a walk with dogs to see the horses and finishing up with a photo birthday cake which fascinated Jack.