Happy BIG 30 Eric

I had a huge surprise party for Eric last night. He had no clue!! It all started Friday, I was supposed to pick his friend Ashley up from the airport at noon but his plane had mechanical problems and he couldn't get another flight until 10pm so he didn't get in until midnight and he and I got home at 130am. He thought I was at a movie with Staci after we put the kids to bed. I picked up a keg of his fav beer, LaBatt Blue and Ash unloaded it in the trash can in the garage. I put a trash bag over the top (which he took trash out in the morning before I could catch him and he opened that trash can and put a wet diaper, some paper, and a soda can on top of it and didn't even realize it). We came in and I woke Eric up and told him I had a birthday surprise. He asked me if I could give it to him in the morning and then he heard someone in the other room. He bolted in there and found Ash. He was stunned and so elated. They stayed up and visited until 3 am. So on Saturday, 3 of his buddies had a tee time to take him golfing and he thought after golf we were cooking out with Mark and Stac. So Ash was a trooper and went on the golf outing even though he doesn't golf. I ran and got the cake, which had the Grim Reaper on it by the way. Then, I ran to Pittsboro and picked up hot wings with sauce, stuff for a build your own Reuben bar, Mac and cheese, and 2 awesome fruit plates. George and Adrienne Meyers drove in from SC and made the lemonade and helped me get ready and Stac got there really early and babysat and helped me set up, too. Everyone parked around the corner at the Electric Company generator parking lot and walked to our house. We had 25 of us and we hid in the garage and as he walked up the driveway, he never even looked up. We yelled "Surprise!" and he yelled and was so excited. Everyone had a great time, especially the wild kids. He got awesome presents including lot of gift cards, some new clothes, framed citadel pics, lots of beer and Jameson!, and I made him a shadow box with Citadel memorabelia including his door card, ring hop invitation, pictures, marching medal from St. Patrick's Day parade in New Orleans and he loved. Then I saved his big present and wrapped it in 2 boxes, the outer box was really big. He opened it to find his new Citadel Ring, which his old one was stolen 5 years ago and it has just been too expensive to replace. Anyway, he teared up. It was great. Total success. Especially, since Jason, Molly, Ash, George, and Adrienne came from SC and FL. He had an awesome time. And we have such AWESOME family and friends. I can't thank you all enough for such a memorable time. He told me tonight "I have never felt so appreciated in my life".