30th Birthday Surprise

Yes folks, this year I turned 30. I made a promise to myself that I will never begrudge age. I will never be resentful of the years I have been blessed with on this earth to share with my friends and family. It kind of came as an epiphany when I read another blog about a 23 year old mother. She had leukemia and desperately wanted to grow old watching her infant son grow. She was not granted that wish. I know I am blessed to have had 30 years to love, cherish, and share in the lives of those I love.

Every year on my birthday Jason takes me to 220 Seafood. It is a WONDERFUL restaurant here in Winchester VA. Jason and I were unable to go home and my birthday fell on a Thursday so I knew no one would be able to come share with us. Through chance I found out that 220 had closed down d/t inflation of prices. I was HEARTBROKE. I only get my all you can eat crab-legs once a year because I totally embarrass Jason with how many crabs I eat. Jason even makes me watch "The Deadliest Catch" on TLC so I can be thankful of the feast I eat. I digress, I called Jason on his way home from work that day and told him to "fix it!!!" I was in a state of total panic. I didn't want anything for my birthday but my family and my crab legs. i didn't think that was too much to ask. Jason co-horded with the guys at his work and told me he found a place. I was so excited. The day of my birthday I had AJ bathed, I was dressed and we were practically ready as soon as Jason walked through the door. We were getting ready to go and I was putting AJ in the van when I noticed we had a lot of trash sitting right there. I was going to go back into the house to throw it all away when Jason snatched it from my hands and went into the house. I thought I was irritating him because I was taking so long (how long does it take to throw trash away???) Anyway, we got in the van and started going. We were all they way down 360 getting ready to pass Charles Town when his cell phone rang. I didn't pay much attention, his cell phone always rings. My ears perked right up when I heard him say "The alarm is going off?? We're heading out to eat do we have to be at the house? The password is blah blah blah. I was SOOO MAD. I knew no one was in the house. We had been having trouble with one of the doors shutting all the way and I knew that was why the alarm was going off. We were farther enough away that I was afraid the cops would bust down the door. I was furious. ALL I wanted was my crab legs. It was already 6:30pm by the time we got back to the house, turned off the alarm, and dealt with the police it would be too late to go back out. I pouted all the way home. All I truly want anymore on these special days is my family to be together. When I can't have that it's upsetting enough, now I couldn't even get my traditional crab legs. Then it hit me....the dog. Those officers better not hurt or let my dog out. "Jason, do you think they busted the door down or are they just walking around the perimeter? You don't think it's too loud for Moose's ears?? They better not have hurt my dog or it's going to hit the fan. I really hope they didn't bust down the door, that's just more money right over the trash can. I'm never using the alarm again, blah blah blah. When we drove through the neighborhood enough to see the house I was really freaking out. OH NO!! They've called out the whole police brigade!! Jason, did you leave the lights on when you left??? They've busted the door!!!! Don't hurt my dog!!!!! AHHHHHHH!! It wasn't until we drove up to the stop sign right by the house that Jason said "Shannon, how do you spell surprise???" I was like "HUH??" It wasn't until I saw my Aunt Piss on the porch and my mom in the driveway that I knew what was going on. JASON GOT ME!!! He pulled this whole thing off!!! He had been working for weeks on my surprise party. That morning I woke up to a note by the coffee pot. He told me he wasn't going to be at his desk most of the day (not unusual) and told me to page him if I needed him. He actually took the whole day off and camped out at the old house. He went out, changed the oil in the car, put meatballs in the crock pot, got my cake, got the food. He was amazing!!! He had invited a bunch of people from work too. They were all waiting for me as I came in the house. My cousin met Jason at the old house and he was the one that placed the phony alarm call. Jason had given him keys to the new house and as soon as we left he went over and got the house ready for company. It was AMAZING!!! I had a wonderful night with my family and friends. How blessed am I to have a husband that would go through all that trouble to surprise me like that???? I know it's a long story but it's just to awesome not to share. Jason really didn't want me to post this because he actually forgot to invite some friends of ours and he felt really bad about it but I just couldn't not post this. It's too cool and I wanted to brag on my husband. He's such a good man. I may not have gotten my crab legs that night but I got my family and friends and that means more to me than anything. Here are some pics of that night


Walking through into the kitchen to a house full of guests


My beautiful birthday cake


Piss, Mom holding AJ, and Uncle Michee



Eva, Roxanne, Me, Lisa, Vanessa, and my boss Peggy
These are all girls I work with at the hospital.



AJ enjoying mama's cake and ice-cream. It was a wonderful night and just re-affirms how blessed I truly am. My family travels upwards of 4 hours to get here and they came, stayed the night and left out the next morning. It was WONDERFUL. I love Jason for thinking of me and going out of his way to make me happy. That took a lot of work and a lot of planning. Thank you Jason for everything!!! I love you BBMB, for eternity.com and with all my heart.