SURPRISE!

Heather turned 25 this past weekend and I planned a surprise party for the big day. The planning started about 2 weeks ago and I recruited Joni and Kim to help me. They were more than willing to help and I couldn't have pulled it off without them, thanks again! The day started off with the leapfrog race in Dallas Center (see previous blog posting). We headed home and I made her blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Around 1:30 we headed to the Clive Aquatic Center for an afternoon in the sun. After that Heather thought we were going to head home to change and go to Bravo for dinner followed with some mini-golf. What Heather didn't know is that I had been planning a series of challenges and planting clues for her to find that would taker her on an adventure around town ending back at our house for a surprise party. I had arranged for Joni and Kim to be waiting outside the pool around 3:45 with an assortment of clues for Heather to follow. So promptly at 3:45, I checked to make sure Heather had her cell phone, gave her a kiss, wished her happy birthday and told her a car was waiting for her out front and left. As expected, she quickly questioned, "Where are you going?" But she followed directions and she gathered up our stuff and headed out to find Joni and Kim waiting with her first packet, which contained a clue and a puzzle piece, for each clue she was allotted "25" minutes to complete the challenge. That clue took her to her office where she found packet #2.
Packet #2 was stapled to the underside of the table. The next clue sent her home to get cleaned up, when she got there packet #3 was waiting on the bathroom counter.
Clue #3 took her to Boesen the Florist, where she had flowers and another packet waiting for her.
Clue #4 sent her to the Johnston Soccer Complex, she needed to make 2 out of 5 penalty kicks.
Joni was the goalie.

Action shot!
She only scored 1 out of 5, so Joni and Kim imposed a penalty of 25 push-ups.
Clue #5 included side-walk chalk.
and took her to the Vocelka's driveway where she played hangman.
Plenty of time for a quick "senior" picture pose.

Heather with the finished puzzle.
After completing the hangman puzzle, she received her next clue, #6, which took her to Hubbell Elementary where she had to cross the monkey bars and then...
...slide down the slide.
Oh what fun!
Playing on the rock wall

Clue #7 took her to Ashbey Park, to the tennis courts, where she had to win a match...
...against Kim
After tennis, Heather was blindfolded and driven around town.
Kim guiding Heather and enjoying some payback. Heather and Joni planned a surprise party for Kim's birthday a few weeks ago, so Kim was more than happy to repay the favor!
After all the clues, they ended up back at our house for a BBQ. We sang happy birthday and I made a birthday cake for the birthday girl.

Miya helping Heather celebrate her big day.
Sarah, Jill, Heather and Laura celebrating Heather's birthday, Heather missed the grey memo.
The Faircloth's rode their motorcycle's to the party, Heather is hoping to get one of those padded jackets for her birthday next year!
Even Coco and Riley helped Heather celebrate her big day!

Challenges complete, Heather put her puzzle together, "Happy Bird-Day"!

It turned out to be a great surprise party and all the planning and preparation was worth it to celebrate my beautiful wife on her special day!