I’m somebody who likes to surprise my close family members on their birthdays, perhaps with an unexpected gift that has the personal touch or a surprise visit – such as the time I walked in an hour into my mum’s surprise 60th birthday at just the point that she was saying what a shame it was that all the family were able to be there apart from me (thinking I was at a dance competition that weekend).
Back in our university days when hubby would go home for the summer, I planned a surprise for him on his birthday (which is in August) with the help of his parents. His dad picked me up from the station in his van and I ducked down out of sight as we arrived at their house before getting inside a big box in the back of the van. My father-in-law told hubby that a parcel had arrived for him at work but it was a bit too big to carry into the house and of course, when hubby opened the box, out I jumped!
Every other year for the last four years, we have given my mother-in-law a very special surprise on her birthday – the announcement of a grandchild being on the way. I had a very early scan when I was pregnant with Jessica and made a card with the scan photo on it to say “Happy Birthday, Grandma”. We’d already done the exchanging of presents and cards earlier in the day but when we were out for her birthday meal that evening, I just handed her the white envelope with the card in and said casually “oh, we have another little something for you.” She opened the envelope, saw the card and promptly burst into happy tears.
Two years later, my mother-in-law sat opening her cards and presents with Jessica sitting on her lap and ‘helping’. “It’s a little warm in here,” I said, “could you take Jessica’s cardigan off please?” and there was a T-shirt reading “I’m going to be a big sister!” Cue more happy tears.
It made me chuckle when my mother-in-law said earlier this week “no surprises this year, please!” in the run-up to her birthday – it’s been two years since the last announcement and whilst she adores her granddaughters, I don’t think she’s quite ready for another grandchild just yet! That’s just as well as we weren’t planning on making any announcements at the moment! It may be that we decide to try and extend our family a little more, but with Jessica’s next surgery likely to take place in the next year, it’s not something we’re considering right now.
So no big surprises for Grandma this year. Just a few birthday gifts, a lovely afternoon as a family and going out for a Chinese meal together. Sometimes it’s just nice not to have any surprises and besides, once you start to expect the unexpected, the impact gets lost anyway.
Aww those are great ideas for birth announcements! My sister and brother in law announced their pregnancy through a team game of pictionary at Christmas. We were in 2 teams with each of them drawing…took us a while to work out it was a picture of her pregnant lol! Mary, Joseph and Jesus were guessed first!
That’s a brilliant idea – what a great way to announce! 🙂
I love your idea of birthday surprises. What a clever way of announcing a baby on the way.
Congratulations on the birthday. #TwinklyTuesday
Thank you 🙂
Love your birth announcements! Sounds like you have a lovely day this year too even without any announcements haha xx
Thank you – we did have a lovely day! 🙂
What a lovely post I really enjoyed reading it! Such a fantastic way to announce some very exciting news xx
Thank you 🙂
What a wonderful thing to be able to do, I just love this 🙂 I especially love the taking off of the cardigan – how ruddy cute does little Jessica look in that photo. Lovely post and thanks for linking it up to #twinklytuesday
Thank you – she did look so cute that day! Lovely to link up to #twinklytuesday again 🙂
lovely post! I am very impressed with all your thoughtful surprises! Your relatives are very lucky to have you! 🙂
#twinklytuesday
Aww thank you very much 🙂
Aww, lovely ideas! I especially liked surprising grandma with the big sister t-shirt! 🙂
Thank you – it was a lovely moment! 🙂
I love how you planned all those surprises! Your family photo is just beautiful, and I hope Grandma enjoyed her birthday 🙂
Thank you – she had a lovely day 🙂
It sounds like it will be wonderful even without surprises. Lovely photo of you all x
Thank you 🙂
Aww what lovely original ideas ! I love the card and T shirt…may be pinching them. Lovely post. #sharewithme xx
Thank you 🙂
Awww how sweet this made me well up!!! I could totally fancy a Chinese dinner for my birthday this year, if you’d like to surprise me with that I’d love you forever haha! Xx
Thank you – lol, not sure I could manage to get over to the Seychelles to do it!
What brilliant birthday surprises- you sure time your babies well! 😉 Wish we’d been able to do this, I just didn’t think at the time! #sharewithme
Thank you – yes, it just so happened that my mother-in-law’s birthday was the perfect time to announce both times!
Ahhh what a lovely post and great ideas for birth announcements love it. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Thank you, lovely to link up again 🙂
What a great idea for announcements! It’s such an exciting thing to announce hehe and you picked a lovely way to do it =)
Thank you Jenni 🙂
Grace says – What lovely surprises
The Mother says – What a lovely way to tell someone they’re going to be a Grandma. This really brought a smile to my face xx #sharewithme
Thank you – they were lovely moments 🙂
I have to admit you are good with surprises! Those pregnancy announcements are awesome. I think the rest this year would make next year a better year for planning a surprise =P #sharewithme
Thank you – and who knows whether we’ll have any more surprise announcements to make for Grandma’s next birthday! 🙂