Sneaky Devils

 2 Years, 33 Weeks.


That's what Corey kept calling us all evening:  sneaky devils.

For we were very sneaky indeed.

You see, we had just pulled off one of the biggest surprises ever recorded in the history of mankind.  Well, maybe not.  But pretty close.

About 2 months ago our friend Jennifer Bergherm came up with this fabulous idea to throw our friends Corey and Duncan a surprise party to commemorate a milestone anniversary, their tenth.  Usually they would have gone on some vacation or cruise to celebrate, but they had just purchased and moved into a brand new mansion, and so those plans were put on the back burner.  Enter Jennifer and her brilliant idea.

But when, where, and how?  We needed a plan.

So we got to work.  Meeting, emailing, texting.  The first thing was including Duncan's parents (Ron and Elaine Gregory) in on the secret plot.  Once they were committed it was game on.  Then we decided to make it happen on the very night Jennifer had originally reserved for her annual Christmas party they hold at their home.  That would be a perfect scenario to get them out.  So now with the date set we needed a venue.  We couldn't hold them at our homes due to babysitting logistics.  Fortunately we have a community clubhouse we could reserve and decorate, which we did.   Now we just had to work on the details.  And invite Corey's parents to fly down from Boston.  Who said the Navy's Seal Team 6 were the only ones who could carry out a covert operation?  Jennifer was absolutely amazing working out every facet of the party, from the decorations on the tables to the design of the cake to the implementation of the photo Christmas tree.  I took care of the technical side:  program, games, and a couple of video slideshows.

The weeks flew by and before you knew it, the date was upon us.  It was a lot of fun working and communicating together about the party, which we coined Mission Grodack 10, sometimes speaking within earshot of Corey and Duncan.  I will admit, there were even a few white lies told here and there, but they were condoned for a much greater purpose.  I got the keys to the clubhouse early in the afternoon and immediately met Jennifer and her assistant Kaley (an 18 year old student that helps her with her bakery) and set off to transform the clubhouse into a Christmas themed delight.  It was a flurry of furious action, culminating into a beautiful and intimate setting.

Meanwhile, Tangie was also busy making a lasagna and 2 salads as part of the dinner menu.  Usually we would always bring a dish to Jennifer's party, so we made sure everyone brought something, including Corey, as to not raise any suspicions.  The Gregory's "volunteered" to take the Grodack children out to dinner;  they would immediately drop them off at our place where 2 of Jennifer's best CPR certified babysitters would watch all 6 children for the next 4 hours;  Ron and Elaine would make their way to the clubhouse in time for the big surprise.  Our job was to pick up Corey and Duncan as we also had "volunteered" to carpool together, with us driving.  Everything was going according to plan.

Actually, the only hiccup in everything was the fact that the night before Corey had ingested something at dinner that had caused her to have an allergic reaction, her lip swelled up and she was itchy all over.  Duncan had just had his Lasik eye surgery so was unable to take her to the doctor but luckily we were just getting back to the subdivision from dinner and Tangie was able to pick Corey up to take her to a Centra Care, where she would get treated and released.  Not a very fun "Girls' Night Out" as you can imagine.  You can read her more detailed version about that ordeal by clicking here.  Anyway, I was frantically texting Jennifer back and forth, keeping her updated with the situation.  Had Corey decided she was too ill to attend the "Christmas party" I would have had to lay out my cards on the table (poker reference).  Luckily this would not be the case, as Saturday night she was excited about going to Jennifer's, even predicting to win some games.  Whew, dodged a bullet there!

Anyway, back to the plot.  Tangie and I picked them up at their home and drove out of the subdivision.  I was nervous but made light conversation about an unfortunate incident involving a burly redneck and an invasion of privacy that happened to me at a gas station restroom many many years ago.  Funny story, actually, but I'll save that for another time.  But then I had to turn back around to bring them back to the clubhouse, so I [white] lied about "forgetting" the games back at the house.  I called Jennifer to let her know we were going to be a few minutes late, which was the code for "we are heading your way!"  Amazing how a plan comes together; it was like being in a movie where all the members involved had to be at a certain place and a certain time in order for the mission to work!  Just before the clubhouse I stopped and made up some outrageous story of how Jennifer and I had been sneaking around together, lying and doing stuff on the sly, which we actually were planning the party, and then I gave them a copy of their original wedding invitation that I had manipulated, inviting them to their own 10 year anniversary party.

We had a great time, and a lot of fun recreating their wedding reception.  The food was delicious; we had 5 or six different lasagnas.  We enjoyed watching them play some newlywed games, including one where a blindfolded Corey had to identify Duncan by touching the guys' faces, most of the time it being Duncan with a prop or accessory for disguise.  But the biggest surprise and highlight of the evening was when Corey's parents arrived at the clubhouse; their flight from Boston landed at 7:30 and they had quickly made it from the airport, halfway into the party.  The look on Corey's face when she recognized her father through the glass door was priceless.

We had reserved the clubhouse for four hours.  We ended up having it for nine.  It was a feeling of relief and satisfaction knowing we had successfully pulled it off, and that the Grodacks were both surprised and pleased with it.  Maybe a yearly tradition?  Maybe not.

The amazing room Jennifer created!

Duncan checking out Jennifer's cookies of them.

It was like having a royal wedding with these cookies.
William and Kate had nothing like these!

Bruce shares in Duncan's walk down memory lane.

Jennifer takes a picture of the celebrants cutting their cake.

Would they re-enact and feed each other?

Playing the newlywed shoe game.  Duncan flashes some gang signs.

Tangie helps Corey identify Duncan with a wig on.

The fun and revelry of the games!

Group shot of everyone that attended.   Thanks for making it such a fun event!

Here is the rest of our week:

Here's the difference between boys and girls.  And I just gave him ONE piece of chocolate!
Seriously bro?

Enjoying the peanuts at Texas Roadhouse Grill.

Showing support and hanging out with the Grodacks while Tangie took Corey to Centra Care for her allergic reaction.

Again, Kohl wouldn't sport the shepherds' headdress at Sabbath School.

Playing with the colorful round cloth with bouncing balls in the middle thingy.

Pastor Barbara photo bombs the two girls in their Adventurer's uniforms!

Bouncy house at the Ottati's on Sunday, celebrating both Richard's and Alexa's birthdays.

The twins find their footing.

Hanging out with Daddy.

The Ottati family.

Birthday celebrants, Alexa and her daddy.

The children with props for the photo booth.

Sunday evening we took a drive to see some Christmas lights.

Showing the new pajamas Mommy got them on Black Friday.

We took Braelyn to school and Mommy to work early on Tuesday so we could borrow her car because the
minivan was in the shop, hence the reason they are still in their pajamas.

We swung by the Science Center and bumped into our friends Lisa Kittrell and Leslie Hazen and their children.

They worked on cinnamon and gingerbread spiced play-doh.

This is what having sisters does to a boy.

Story time at the library.

A quick photo with our friends before departing.

Lost the twins in Old Navy.

Maddy sporting fun winter head gear.

Kohl, not to be outdone, fashions this Eskimo get up.

Playing soccer with big sister in the backyard.

Big sister joined us for our Costco run Thursday afternoon.  Such a silly girl.

Happy with our Holiday card!

Showing Christmas colors for Brae's concert.

Kohl joined the ladies getting ready to get on stage.

Mommy and the twins watching the concert.

Maddy a little distraught at how loud the band was!

It was a full stage!

Braelyn is in the front row,  4th from the left.

Injury of the week:

My daughter will never have pretty knees.  Just look at that face!  :(

Randoms:

I beg to differ, but that ain't tuna.  It's not even a fish!
Actually though, after researching the fruit, it is called tuna from the cactus family!  Go figure!

Saw this cute dress for Maddy and loved it!  I considered buying it until I saw that it was $80.  At Target.  What?!

Saw this car sticker and thought, Hmmm...that's an interesting viewpoint!

Quotes:

• On Sunday we had dropped off the van to get an oil change.  We were listening to some Christmas songs in Tangie's car:

          Tangie: "Do you hear that instrument?  What instrument is that?'

          Brae:  "I don't know...a trumpet?"

          Me:  "A saxophone!" 

          Kohl:  "I want play Daddy's phone!"

          Me:  "No, Kohl, not Daddy's phone.  Saxophone!"

          Who am I kidding?  The kid(s) always wants my phone!

• We were driving home after picking Braelyn up from school, listening to some songs on the radio:

           Brae:  "Daddy, who is this singing?"

           Me:  "Carrie Underwood."

           Brae:  [Giggling]  "Oh.  That's funny!"

           Me:  "What is?"

           Brae:  "Her name.  Underwear."

           Me:  "No, not underwear.  Underwood!"

           Brae:  "Oh.  I thought you said underwear."

           Seriously, this child of mine!

• Again, we had picked Braelyn up from school and were walking to the minivan in the parking lot when another parent passed us by and said hello:

          Brae:  "Daddy, do you know who that was?"

          Me:  "Nope.  I haven't a clue."

          Brae:  "That was Diego's mommy."

          Me:  "Oh, okay."

          Brae:  "But a different Diego.  Not the one on TV."

          I see.

These monkeys like to get on our backs!

Have a great weekend!