As I watched my friends celebrate their big 4-0 birthdays, I thought how fun it is to celebrate with friends. Not usually one to be the centre of attention, I actually started planning my own dinner party. Chris and I traversed a number of options on our high street, until we settled on the perfect space . . . an American restaurant / bakery. We had sent out invitations, planned the menu, and were just looking forward to the day.
The Girls
The week before the dinner party, some of my sweet friends asked me to a ‘girls’ lunch’ to start celebrating this new decade. We met at Cote and had a lovely time together. I couldn’t believe they had brought gifts . . . sweets, candles, perfume! As we were preparing to leave, I was slipped an envelope from Chris.
Apparently, everyone else knew what was going on and I was clueless! This was the beginning of a scavenger hunt through the city chauffeured by a friend, who is also a private car driver. THANKFULLY, two of my girlfriends came with me as I was feeling so surprised, I was having a hard time concentrating!
Our first stop was to the “Walkie Talkie Building” where the Sky Garden sits on the top 3 floors.
It was beautiful! Not sure what we were supposed to do when we got there, we just enjoyed walking around and taking in the sites.
Me & Gina
Then I got a text from Chris telling me that in order to get the next clue for the scavenger hunt, I needed to take a picture with a stranger and post it on Instagram. I could see Chris having a good laugh, realizing how difficult that would be for me. Thankfully, a small group of women had asked us to take their pictures, so I was able to explain what we were doing at the Sky Garden and ask one to take a picture with me.
My New “Friend” from Prague
As soon as I posted the picture to Instagram, Chris’s text with the next clue came . . . for his old office to see Sue, his secretary, for a sweet treat.
Sue & Brad
Sue is a ‘Jane of all trades’ and one of her talents is baking/cake decorating! She made an amazing cake for Cami’s baptism and some truly mouthwatering salted caramel cupcakes for Chris’s going-away luncheon. I have talked about those cupcakes multiple times so Chris arranged for Sue to make some for my birthday.
AmAzInG Salted Caramel Cupcakes
It was becoming more apparent that Chris only gave everyone only the information they needed for their part in this scavenger hunt, as they were all anxious to know what was next and what was at the end.
Reading the Next Clue
The next clue took us to the Hyde Park Chapel, where Chris has his ‘other office.’ We were greeted by my two favorite senior missionary couples, Elder & Sister Mullen (our old stake president and his wife from California).
Elder & Sister Mullen
In order to get the next clue, I had to name my 3 favorite things from the last year. That was tricky! But, I named the two humanitarian trips to Guatemala and Nepal as well as the current birthday scavenger hunt. Then everyone in the Visitors’ Centre sang me ‘happy birthday.’
Lindsey & Gina
As the day was marching on, Lindsey had to peel off the hunt, but Gina stayed with me for one more clue . . . all the way to Chiswick to Outsider’s Tart, where my birthday dinner party was scheduled the following week.
Outsider Tart
The poor guy at the counter had no clue what we needed from him, as he only had ‘Stephenson’ down for a reservation at 4 p.m. and here it was almost 5:30 p.m.! I wondered if Chris and the kids were meeting me there for dinner, but they were ALL hidden on ‘Friend Finder.’ This guy thinks of everything! I finally did have to text Chris so I could tell the guy where the envelope was – above the cash register!
The next clue had me going to Heathrow Gym Club to see Tom, Caleb’s coach. I must have been really behind schedule because Tom came down to give me the envelope and was off again, without asking me to do anything for it. Then we were off to the airport, which is around the corner from the gym, as the clue was for Cafe’ Rouge in Terminal 4.
Okay, call me daft, but I seriously had NO idea we’d be flying out anywhere until I walked into the airport . . . then I thought, “Oh no!” That’s when I saw Chris walking towards me with a rose. He and all the kids were there (Hannah was filming the moment of surprise from behind a restaurant sign). Chris told me we were going on a get-away to the Maldives for a week!
The Bon Voyage Squad
I kept thinking of all the things I had going on this coming week . . . outings with friends, birthday celebrations, work, and meetings. But, Chris had thought of them all and kept canceling things as I booked them. I only had to undo a couple things myself.
After I left for my girls’ lunch, Chris and the kids had spend the day cleaning, washing sheets, replanning the menu, and even packed my suitcase (with 2 new swimsuits!).
Chris had arranged for a couple from church to stay with the kids and for my scavenger hunt driver to take the kids home (and Caleb back to the gym). I’m sure they were exhausted as I sat there completely overwhelmed and in shock! This was ultimately the biggest surprise EVER!
Don’t miss our Maldives adventure next!
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