My husband turns 40 this year on the 4th of July (how in the world has so much time passed already??). My initial thought, like 5 years ago, was that I would whisk him away on a long weekend trip by surprise. Of course, life has happened and now we will have a 4 month old baby and 2 other kids that nobody can really take care of for more than a night, so travelling is out of the question. What other fun ways have people surprised husbands with on big birthdays? I'm just looking for ideas that we can do at home.
If you can get someone to watch the kids for a night, sent him on a scavenger hunt - and YOU are the end prize!
You can do it just at home, giving him clues around your house. OR you can sent him out with a list of things (wine, ingredients for dinner, lingerie, whatever - a theme might be fun) to get and bring home. Then, use them :o) Make a romantic dinner together, drink wine, watch a movie - whatever you like to do together.
Maybe you and the kids can get dressed up in 1970's clothing. Find a movie from the 70's to watch maybe that night. Get a cake from the local bakery and have his baby picture put on it (or put a disco-ball on it). Put on some 1971 hits on the stereo. I'm sure you can Google all this type of info. Call his mom and find out what his favorite snack was as a kid (if they still sell it). Google "70's themed party" and a ton of sites will pop up.
Do you mean literally at home or just locally?
I would suggest having a part at the house to celebrate. Invite close friends and family for a BBQ- even he would be comfortable with a party. Everyone has that day off, so the timing is great! You could get creative with a polaroid and do an "instant scrapbook" at the party as well.
If he's not the "party type", consider having the day filled with his favorite things... special meals, family activities, favorite beer/wine ready for dinner, early bedtime for the kiddos!
It depends on what he likes. When my mom turned 50, my dad threw her a huge catered costume party (week before Halloween) with 75 people. She loved every minute of it! When he turned 50 he made it quite clear that he didn't want the big fiesta. Instead, my mom flew all of us home, including his parents for a long weekend of little activities... day at the beach, golfing, dinners out, etc b/c that's what he wanted!
Wow, you have been thinking about your husband's 40th for 5 years! You are definately a planner! If you are going to stay at home, the only thing I can think of is a surprise party at your house. However, are you sure that your husband would want a surprise party? Personally, I feel like surprise parties are overrated. I am not a fan of them. It is his milestone birthday, so shouldn't he decide what he wants? (unless you know for sure that he would love a surprise party). Maybe he would rather get a sitter and go to a nice restaurant just with you, or with a couple other friends? Unless you know for sure that he would love a surprise party, I think you should ask him what he would like to do. Have fun!
For my husband's 45th birthday, I invited friends and family (with kids) over for an informal dinner party, and I'd bought multiple CRAFT SUPPLIES (papers, pipe cleaners, pom pom balls, styrofoam shapes, etc.). I also had stacks of magazines, old family photos, and multiple pairs of scissors on hand.
When everyone had arrived and settled in, my husband had to sit in the center of everybody, and I assigned pairs of guests each a decade (0-10, 11-20, etc.). Then, they had about 5 minutes to "interview" my husband in front of everybody about that time in his life, where he lived, what he was doing, and so on. After everyone quizzed him, they set to play with the craft supplies for the next 30 minutes, to create artwork or diaramas to illustrate that time in his life.
It was hilarious to see what folks came up with. And, the kiddos had a lot of fun, too. I had a bunch of munchies on hand, and music in the background. And, everybody had a good time describing their masterpieces to my husband and the group when the time was up.
If I had to do it differently, the one thing I'd say is that I'd clue my hubby in about the particulars beforehand. I wanted it to be a surprise activity, and he felt a little "on the spot," struggling a bit to recall things from 15 and 25 years ago.
For the 39 days before his birthday, give him a gift each day. It can be big or small, store-bought or home-made. Include a little poem about meaning of the gift, starting with "39 days until my birthday, my true love gave to me ..." and so on. You can include your kids in the gifts -- framed photos, hand prints, make videos of them, crafts, etc. Then, on his birthday, you can give him his final gift. I did this for my husband's 35th and it was a lot of fun surprising him every day!
For my husband's 36th, I painted a 3 on one kid's back and a 6 on the other kid's back. (they are both boys) Then, I took a picture of them from behind as they were both looking out of the slats in our wooden fence. (I told them a big truck was coming to keep them still! ;-) ) Then, I took a picture of each of their faces from the other side of the fence. I printed the pics in black and white and put them in a 3-opening frame. It turned out great and my husband still proudly displays his gift in the living room!!
I hope these ideas help!!!!
When my husband turned 50 we had a day of 50's! When he came home from work, there was 50 balloons floating in the living room. We delivered 50 of his favorite cookies to work that day. A list of 50 reasons I love him. And so on....
You been thinking about this a long time! I am sure you can come up with lots of fun things to have 40 on this day!
Hi A.,
I say you should spread it out over the week leading up to a backyard cook-out on Saturday. Do something special all week, stick a birthday card in his lunch, have something delivered to work (flowers, balloons, cookies, cakes, whatever he likes), make his favorite sit down dinner with the family, watch his favorite movies/tv shows/sporting events. Friday have 40 minutes (or whatever amount your schedule allows) on "Him Time" . Finally, Saturday make his favorite breakfast then all his favorite cook-out foods.
Best Wishes!
