I think I must have mentioned to PinayWham that my hubby's 50 birthday was on June 5 because she sort of asked me how we celebrated it. Well, Juliana, here's the answer. A month prior to my husband's birthday, my girls and my sisters-in-law conferred that they want to give him a surprise party. I said, go ahead and do what you like. I was left out of the planning to spare me from stress. My girls said all I have to do is attend the party. So I sat on a corner and let them do the planning. (more pictures...)

On June 5, 6:00 a.m. my husband left the house to go biking with his biker friends. By lunch time he was at the office having an impromptu lunch with the employees. By 1:30 p.m. he was home as my son, daughter# 3, Ethan and I were about to leave the house presumably to go to the grocery to buy stuff so I could cook his birthday dinner. By this time, I think he was feeling pretty much sad for we have not planned anything grand for his natal day. By 3:30 p.m. daughter #4 called to say she has to be picked up at school followed by another text message from daughter #2 that she also has to be picked up from work. I know he was really starting to get pissed for it was his birthday and yet he was delegated into the driver of the day. Daughter #1 was already busy tying loose ends.

At 6:00 p.m the place was all spruced up for the party. The almost 200 guests were all hiding by the driveway, shrubs and other foliage and the marching band -courtesy of my brother-in-law- was in the carport. At 6:20 p.m. daughter #2 texted that they were 5 minutes away. Everyone got all excited and giddy! The marching band wiped their mouth pieces and readied themselves. The guests kept quiet and tried to hide themselves more - an impossible task, for how can one hide behind a gumamela shrub? Slowly the van drove up the driveway. As the van stopped by the carport, the band played a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, the guests came out of their hiding places, everyone started clapping and waving their hands while the rest of the family ran towards the bewildered-week-in-the-knee-teary-eyed birthday boy. I hope it was a birthday to remember.

Banda 96

Hubby & sis-in-law

Guests: relatives, friends, former classmates

golfing buddies, biking buddies, neighbors

husband & wife duo as entertainer

daughter #1, son, Ethan, hubby

kids!

My only regret was I think my girls forgot to invite my relatives. If anyone of you is reading this..... not my fault! Blame the girls!