Surprise!

A ways back, in October, we started talking about getting together for a party. You know you're busy when five couples have to start in October is wrestle down a date for a get together "sometime" before Christmas. But, when we decide to get something done, we get'er done.

Ann and Charlie hosted this fine soirée complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and (my favourite) stuffing! We also brought other dishes to augement this wonderful meal. But the fun really got going once the cake was brought out.

Cake? you say. Birthday cake. What could be better than hijacking a Christmas party to morph it into a surprise birthday party for a man whose birthday is just a little too close to Christmas? Well, Charlie, we heard your lament and we delivered.

This is Charlie just as Barb has pounced. He had that hat on before he even knew what hit him.

And then I made him exchange the pointy hat for this birthday hat.

This picture debunks a commonly held myth that man will not cry unless his dog or his truck dies, or he is hit with a hammer (by a menopausal spouse). He will deny it, but I think there was a touch of mist in his eyes.

This captures exactly how satisfying it was to have sprung the suprise without Charlie getting a whiff of it before hand despite so many knowing and so much going on behind the scenes.

A collection was taken for Charlie's new Par-tay Piggy Bank.

And a mysterious gift was left at the front door. It was touch and go as to whether it would fit through the door. It cleared the frame by a quarter of an inch.

Yes, it says "Fragil-ay" doesn't it. It was a Christmas Story done only like Anne and Jessica could have done it! They love you, man.

At this point, you could cut the tension with a knife. I, having never see the movie, had no idea what was going on. So I waited.

It was worth it.

Like a good, red-blooded male, Charlie was quick to check out the "hardware".

Congratulations Anne! You deserve a Home Depot membership for life. You know your way around that store. Not only did she and Jessica procure all the components of this masterpiece, Anne put that sucker together and ...

It works beautifully. Really, it's hard to tell which one has more glow on!

Then we set the party into festive celebration gear with sequin covered sparkley hats. I think we look like Pilgrims! And we're all still a bit sparkly!

Thanks so much, Charlie for being such a good sport.

Thanks to Anne for putting on such a wonderful spread. I could eat that stuffing every day.

And thanks to all participating delinquents who really made that party shocking, surprising and fun!

Hmm, who's birthday is next?