11.11.11 {SURPRISE!}

For three months now, I’ve been planning a surprise birthday party for Daddy Buck.  I thought 11.11.11 was a big enough once-in-a-lifetime birthday to have a shindig; he turned 37, nothing special there.  {Why wait until 40 to have a big party?}

 

There were some minor miscues over the course of three months that likely proved I could never have an affair and keep it a secret, but I think I pulled it off for the most part. 

 

He certainly was unaware of the surprise guests that traveled from other states to be here to celebrate.  Daddy Buck had not seen either of these guys in a year or two.

Fall decor throughout the house, cigar boxes held napkins and utensils atop the tables, fresh flower arrangements, unbelievable food, and a mammoth chocolate-chocolate cake!

Daddy Buck doesn’t eat sweets…..

…..but he did this night. 

He even obliged us by blowing out the candles!

He also doesn’t like birthday gifts…..

(Buck-a-roo wanted to make sure that his gift got opened even though he couldn’t be here, adults only!)

…..but, I think he did on this night!

I couldn’t have put it together to the magnitude it was without the help of many of our closest friends.  And, boy, do we have talented friends…..musicians, chefs, bakers, caterers, artists, photographers, beer brewers, and cigar connoisseurs. 

 

Not out of character, Daddy Buck delivered a spur of the moment fantastic speech that included something about having an out of this world wife {smile}.

And, like always, he tried to remove the spotlight from it being his birthday and refocus to the fact that on the same day we celebrate Veteran’s Day and without the brave soldiers fighting for our freedom we couldn’t have been at this very party. 

  

It was a great party that lasted into the wee hours of the morning and that Daddy Buck will remember forever!

 

*all of the photographs were taken by someone else, and thank heavens she did!