a surprise party for steve.

for the last many days (weeks!), i’ve been totally preoccupied with plans for a surprise party for steve’s upcoming birthday (it’s a big one; steve, mind if i tell ’em? 5-0!). i had one particular night when from about 4 am on i had total monkey brain (you know, that middle-of-the-night thought pattern when everything seems way more stressful than it really is in the light of day?) and was going over all the details of the party from cups to napkins to timing to getting steve out of the house, so on and so forth. but, the party was saturday night, and it was a huge success! 

65 of steve’s closest friends (including some of my family who drove up from nj!) were in our backyard on saturday ready to scream SURPRISE!!! when he walked through the back door. i really didn’t think he had any idea but i wasn’t sure. i mean, he wore his grossest “work” jeans out for the day (despite my putting his other gross ones in the wash the morning of hoping he’d then pick his cool ones but plan was foiled when he came down in an even more ratty pair! note to self: get rid of all gross jeans and replace with only cool ones.). nathaniel and jordan went to a movie with him and then back to nathaniel’s apartment for dinner. when they both abruptly (we laugh about it now!) said at 7, “well, gotta go!” then steve was back in the car en route for home while they raced to beat him here. i had installed the find my friends app on steve’s phone earlier in the day so i could be ready.

and there we were, as he came through the back door. he was shocked and it was so much fun having him completely floored by the whole thing. the weather was perfect and the backyard was so perfect for the whole event. we had a food truck (hey new englanders–lexie’s food truck is THE BOMB.) catering the event: fish tacos, burgers with all sorts of toppings, and the most delicious fries. then we had caprese skewers, and melon and proscuitto and bourbon lemonade and cheese and on and on. my friend caroline made the most incredible chocolate cake and cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream frosting. there was a fire pit and tiki torches and lights and music and celebrating our favorite guy who stayed up till 2 am that night with his friends.

his birthday’s not for a few more weeks, but it’s not too early to sing his praises and i don’t do it often enough. steve is one of my favorite people on this entire planet. he is so full of integrity and honesty and love and sacrifice. he is so good through and through and i’m really such a lucky woman to have him in my life. to know him is to love him. and we love you a lot, steve.

(ps a huge thank you to my family who kicked it into high gear the moment steve took off for the day–from food to chairs to ice pick up. i could not have done it without them! and to my friend jenny who took the above pictures which are the only ones i have of the evening!)