It's funny to really see how well your friends know you. I am not an easy person to surprise, because I am always pulling fast ones on everyone else so I am especially suspicious. This coupled with the fact that I pay far too much attention to the actions of those I love... but lately I have been a little distracted so the timing was perfect.

It all started a few weeks ago when my sister and best male friend decided to plan something for my 30th birthday.. They sent out invitations via email and planned meticulously in order to keep it a surprise. This is not easy since my best female friend can't keep a surprise a secret to save her life and usually ends up slipping....She just avoided me for three weeks, which I didn't really question because we don't always call each other or get together regularly and we have an understanding. A few of my work friends were also invited, and I am quite surprised that they were able to keep me out of the loop because the thing with me is I always can tell when someone is up to something...mostly because I usually am...but either I wasn't paying close enough attention or they have really good poker faces.

So fast forward to last week when my best male friend asked me to go shopping on Saturday and had even gone so far as to plan our dinner at Burger king....This should have been a dead give away really because he never really plans that far in advanced, but I didn't clue into that either. So the plan was set into motion. My friend and I went shopping in the afternoon and to burger king for supper, he did try to drag out the day which I thought was weird because my children were becoming quite unruly, but I just figured he missed spending time with me (but seriously)... We arrived at my house around 7 and I saw that my recycle and garbage had been taken out and some packages from cleaning supplies that I hadn't opened were in the recycle bins. I said aloud "that is weird, someone has been here..." I thought for a minute...."My mom must have dropped off my new vacuum, and did some tidying while she was there." This is probably where my friend breathed a sigh of relief because I didn't figure it out.

I walked in the door and my friends shouted "SURPRISE" and let me tell you..I was surprised. It was cool to see friends who had travelled from Toronto, my sister from Peterborough, my boss and close friend, my two best friends and a few very special friends from work. It was just a perfect mingling of friends and the ones who couldn't make it were there in spirit. I pumped the party with some tunes and they had a table full of delicious food so as far as I'm concerned that is all that is needed for a good party. But of course my friends who know me well, knew that the perfect party for me includes a karaoke machine, and even better still a paper mache Dora the Explorer with a death wish makes it even more of a celebration. So we strung Dora up to a broomstick and my male best friend held her up cowering in fear as I was blindfolded and with great conviction I declared "Hasta la vista Dora!!!" Beating Dora to a pulp until all that was left of her was her decapitated head. Candy poured onto the floor and I declared victory over that little kid with the talking backpack, hoping Boots was next, because I would really like to give him a couple of whacks too. So after my killing of every one's favorite little explorer it was time for the gifts. My friends again proved how well they know me as each gift was very well thought out and I loved all of them. After the gifts we plugged in the karaoke machine, and for some reason even though it was my birthday, I ended up not only the first on the microphone, but I had to sing every song, not because none of my friends can sing, but because they are all a bunch of chickens. I did manage to get some of them to sing with me so it was cool. We sang all night and I gave it all I had. I am after all the reigning queen of karaoke undisputed hands down, and if anyone wishes to dispute this BRING IT ON!!!

Everyone had a great time and it was the best surprise, I couldn't have felt more lucky to have great friends then last night. Some of us enjoyed a few more beverages then others....but it was all in good company and great fun. And those people will be pleased to see their pictures on this blog in all their drunken glory.

I do want to thank all my friends though. I'm going to be thirty and I am so blessed I have 2 beautiful children, great friends a roof over my head and I have become an independent woman who knows her mind, and has all that she could possibly need or want, but still has goals and dreams. I think thirty is going to be fantastic, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me. There is so much to look forward to in my life right now. I've been able to meet some really amazing people in my life and I know I am lucky to have them. I have always said that with friends it's quality not quantity, and that is so true...I didn't have hundreds of people celebrating my birthday with me, but I had 10 of the coolest people you could ever know at my party and I knew each of them well and they knew me. We had stories and memories...there were people I'd known my whole life and some that I had only known for a few years. There were a few people who couldn't make it or that my friends wouldn't have known to invite, but all in all it was the perfect gathering of friends, and I will remember it forever...mostly because my friends are a little snap happy with the cameras...and there are some pretty frightening videos floating around which will likely be used against me at some point in the future.

Peace out twenties...Onward and upward to my thirties, as I'm sure it will be a wild ride full of new challenges and adventures and new memories yet to be made.