Last Thursday, August 3rd, was my 30th birthday. Quite a milestone, and one I was frankly looking forward to. It feels like an accomplishment. So here's the rundown on my birthday festivities. As you may or may not know, Kevin is in grad school, and attending classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Because of the intense summer schedule, they are not really allowed to miss class sessions. So I have known for months that Kev had class on the night of my 30th birthday, and I was going to have to come up with alternate plans. I emailed a couple of my girlfriends here in the city -- Dana and Laura -- and said I wanted to get a Girls' Night Out planned for my b'day. Dana and Laura jumped on the idea and immediately took over the planning, effectively leaving me in the dark.
I woke up on Thursday morning to 30 roses from my husband, delivered and arranged by the Flower Fairy (Dana from across the street). I also received a birthday present...tickets to see Wicked in London in November! And not only that, Idina Menzel will reprising her Tony award winning role of Elphaba. This may not mean much to you...but this is HUGE for me!!!!! I simply could not believe it. Kev treated me to an early morning breakfast at the diner around the corner from our place before he had to head into work.
I had a relaxing morning at home, and then headed to an audition at noon. I spent an afternoon in a small holding room waiting to sing 8 measly bars...ridiculous. But I got through it, and was free to spend a few hours at home before the girls came over. Kevin called me a little before 6:00 p.m. to say Happy Birthday as he was headed into class. Dana and Laura arrived about 6:00 p.m. and we opened a celebratory bottle of champagne to kick off the evening. Dana had provided both a crown and a purple leopard print party hat that said "All Hail the Birthday Princess"...and they were insistent that we take them with us for the evening.
As we were getting ready to take off at 6:30 p.m. my phone rang...Kevin? He said, "Hey, I just snuck out of class to call and tell you that you need to go downstairs...there's something waiting for you. Have a great night...I love you." And hung up. What? So the three of us head downstairs to find a black stretch limo parked outside our building. The driver was standing by the back door and as I walked out he says, "Are you Tracey?" Uh...yes. "This is for you." As we walked up to the limo the driver opened the back door and all these people yell "SURPRISE!!!!" Out jumps Kevin, and a whole group of friends -- Hicks, Dana's husband, as well as Brian & Jen Henson. Needless to say, I was absolutely speechless!!!! Kevin had sneakily gone to class the night before...same class, but a different session. He'd clearly been planning this for months. Well, over the next two hours we picked up Laura's husband Matt and my dear friend and Kevin's cousin Carrie. By the time we made it to dinner there were 9 of us! {Carrie's husband Tom selflessly stayed home with the three kids! :) }
After cruising around New York for 2 hours the limo dropped us off at the W Hotel in Midtown for dinner at a restaurant called Heartbeat. We had a fantastic dinner, topped off with white chocolate cheesecake for dessert...complete with 3-0 candles...not actually 30 candles, but the numbers 3 and 0. :) I blew out the candles, we ordered coffee, and then Kevin hands me another envelope. Inside is a note that says, "Having fun yet? Why stop here? This turning 30 thing only happens once. Party continues upstairs!" And with it is a room key! So all 9 of us head up to the top floor -- 18th floor -- to room 1805...the corner suite. This room had a terrace that was bigger then our entire apartment (I know, I know...if you've seen our place you know that's not saying much!). We cranked up the music and hung out on the terrace for the rest of the evening. Kevin gave me another envelope...a massage scheduled for the next morning at the Bliss spa at the hotel. Are you kidding me?!?
Everyone finally left around midnight, and Kev and I crashed. But not before opening one final present. When we were on our honeymoon we bought a black pearl with the intention of having it set in some piece of jewelry. Kevin had sent it to our jeweler in Texas and had him set it as a drop on a necklace. I was so stunned...it is gorgeous!
We stayed the night at the W, I had my massage the next morning, and we vegged all day Friday (Kevin's birthday) at the hotel...we didn't check out until 4:00 p.m.!! Absolute heaven!
To make the whole thing funny, I had been planning a low-key surprise party for Kevin on Friday not, clearly having no idea of what he had put together for Thursday. I told him we had a dinner reservation, but I had invited all the same people over for a game night. I had to do a little scrambling on Friday, but at 7:30 p.m. Friday night everyone showed up at our apartment, much to Kevin's shock! It was such a lazy night...we were all exhausted. We ordered pizza, all the parents brought their kids, and we just hung out in our living room. Perfect recovery!
Whew...quite a story! Here are a couple of photos from the night. It was an unbelievable, unforgettable birthday!
I woke up on Thursday morning to 30 roses from my husband, delivered and arranged by the Flower Fairy (Dana from across the street). I also received a birthday present...tickets to see Wicked in London in November! And not only that, Idina Menzel will reprising her Tony award winning role of Elphaba. This may not mean much to you...but this is HUGE for me!!!!! I simply could not believe it. Kev treated me to an early morning breakfast at the diner around the corner from our place before he had to head into work.
I had a relaxing morning at home, and then headed to an audition at noon. I spent an afternoon in a small holding room waiting to sing 8 measly bars...ridiculous. But I got through it, and was free to spend a few hours at home before the girls came over. Kevin called me a little before 6:00 p.m. to say Happy Birthday as he was headed into class. Dana and Laura arrived about 6:00 p.m. and we opened a celebratory bottle of champagne to kick off the evening. Dana had provided both a crown and a purple leopard print party hat that said "All Hail the Birthday Princess"...and they were insistent that we take them with us for the evening.
As we were getting ready to take off at 6:30 p.m. my phone rang...Kevin? He said, "Hey, I just snuck out of class to call and tell you that you need to go downstairs...there's something waiting for you. Have a great night...I love you." And hung up. What? So the three of us head downstairs to find a black stretch limo parked outside our building. The driver was standing by the back door and as I walked out he says, "Are you Tracey?" Uh...yes. "This is for you." As we walked up to the limo the driver opened the back door and all these people yell "SURPRISE!!!!" Out jumps Kevin, and a whole group of friends -- Hicks, Dana's husband, as well as Brian & Jen Henson. Needless to say, I was absolutely speechless!!!! Kevin had sneakily gone to class the night before...same class, but a different session. He'd clearly been planning this for months. Well, over the next two hours we picked up Laura's husband Matt and my dear friend and Kevin's cousin Carrie. By the time we made it to dinner there were 9 of us! {Carrie's husband Tom selflessly stayed home with the three kids! :) }
After cruising around New York for 2 hours the limo dropped us off at the W Hotel in Midtown for dinner at a restaurant called Heartbeat. We had a fantastic dinner, topped off with white chocolate cheesecake for dessert...complete with 3-0 candles...not actually 30 candles, but the numbers 3 and 0. :) I blew out the candles, we ordered coffee, and then Kevin hands me another envelope. Inside is a note that says, "Having fun yet? Why stop here? This turning 30 thing only happens once. Party continues upstairs!" And with it is a room key! So all 9 of us head up to the top floor -- 18th floor -- to room 1805...the corner suite. This room had a terrace that was bigger then our entire apartment (I know, I know...if you've seen our place you know that's not saying much!). We cranked up the music and hung out on the terrace for the rest of the evening. Kevin gave me another envelope...a massage scheduled for the next morning at the Bliss spa at the hotel. Are you kidding me?!?
Everyone finally left around midnight, and Kev and I crashed. But not before opening one final present. When we were on our honeymoon we bought a black pearl with the intention of having it set in some piece of jewelry. Kevin had sent it to our jeweler in Texas and had him set it as a drop on a necklace. I was so stunned...it is gorgeous!
We stayed the night at the W, I had my massage the next morning, and we vegged all day Friday (Kevin's birthday) at the hotel...we didn't check out until 4:00 p.m.!! Absolute heaven!
To make the whole thing funny, I had been planning a low-key surprise party for Kevin on Friday not, clearly having no idea of what he had put together for Thursday. I told him we had a dinner reservation, but I had invited all the same people over for a game night. I had to do a little scrambling on Friday, but at 7:30 p.m. Friday night everyone showed up at our apartment, much to Kevin's shock! It was such a lazy night...we were all exhausted. We ordered pizza, all the parents brought their kids, and we just hung out in our living room. Perfect recovery!
Whew...quite a story! Here are a couple of photos from the night. It was an unbelievable, unforgettable birthday!
What in the world?!?
The big 3-0 birthday candles!
The Girls in the Limo -- Jen, Laura, the B'day Girl, Dana. (We picked Carrie up later).
The Master Planner and the Birthday Girl!
