Beba's SURPRISE Fiesta

Whew! Being a liar is tough work! I am proud to say that we successfully pulled off the Brenda McDonald Birthday Weekend Extravagnza and it was a hit! Lyndsey, Paul, Brad and I have been planning Brenda's 60th birthday weekend since October and this weekend went beautifully and relatively smooth.

Friday began with a surprise dinner by Master Chef Jules at Chez McDonald. Brenda thought she was meeting us for dinner at a local restaurant because Lynds had to work on Saturday (her actual birthday). Little did she know that we had arranged for her sisters and niece to surprise her and have a relaxed dinner at our house. The Kentucky crew got stuck in traffic in Chattanooga, so we spent the evning concocting one lie after another to stall Paul and Brenda. When they finally arrived, the Ky. crew was just around the corner. While we were upstairs looking at Norah's room, they snuck in the back door, up the stairs and surprised her. It was priceless.

On Saturday, the girls went shopping at Phipps and "waited" for Lynds to get called into work. She was "called in" around 2 p.m. (from my cell phone in the same store- LOL!). At 2:30, I had to leave for a "meeting at Tech". We rendez-voused back at my house to haul our liquor, cake, etc. down to Taqueria Del Sol for her surprise party. The rest of the group (the sisters, guest of honor, McKenzie, Brad & Paul) were meeting me later for a launch and tasting party for Taqueria's catering arm (wink, wink).

Around 6:30, we were joined by 75 of her closest teacher friends, church small group and the rest of her family. Around 7:15, the guest of honor's entourage pulled into the parking lot and walked with me to the party. As we turned the corner, we were met with 75 people staring at us and yelling "surprise"! The look on her face was priceless as it registered that this was no "tasting", but rather a party for her! The night was spent watching the slideshow of her life, eating the yummy Taqueria food and drinking tasty margaritas (virgin for me, of course).

Sunday, the entire McIntyre side of the family came back to our house for brunch before heading back to Kentucky & Tennessee. At this point, we were exhausted, but the work was well worth it!

Me & Lynds Plotting...


Lynds and the belly with legs...


The birthday girl sees everyone and is a little confused...


It sinks in that she knows these people...


I think she's gonna have a heart attack!


She still can't believe it!


Brad, Me and Baby Norah


The 60 pinata and a matching mustache..


The "twins" Judy and Brenda (same birthday, different year)


The McIntyre siblings
Rick, Bubby, John John & Scott
Patti, Beba and Judy