My husband’s birthday was yesterday and on Friday he accused me of forgetting his birthday. Now how you can ‘forget’ something that hasn’t even happened yet, I don’t understand, but he was sure I forgot about him.
Well, he ate crow on his birthday when I busted out my present : “Choose Your Own Birthday”. This idea was inspired by my brother-in-law (soak it in Bryan!) who did this for his wife and my daughter’s new found interest in the “Choose Your Own Adventure” book series.
Now this fun idea takes a little preparation: I came up with 3 categories: 1-Dinner, 2-Activity, 3-Dessert and I came up with 4 options (A-D) in each category. For example, the activity choices were an action flick, an arcade, the driving range, or shopping for summer clothes. I tried to think of places that HE would enjoy and activities HE would want to do since it was HIS birthday; the night was not about my preferences. (This might be the only time I would consent to go to an all-you-can-eat-Brazilian BBQ.) I wrote the choices on index cards.
I put each option in an envelope and labeled the envelopes A1, D3, etc. so that I could keep track.
Now my brother-in-law wrote “Feeling Creative” or “Feeling like Italian” on the outside of the envelopes as clues, but I like to complicate everything so I wrote 4 line poems as clues for each choice. I taped the poems to the envelopes.
Then I bundled the category and tied all 4 with a ribbon knot. Every time I wanted to cutesy it up even more with scrapbook paper or borders or fun fonts, I kept reminding myself that “this is for a man and he won’t care”.
I also did a little research so the night would run smoothly. I knew what times the movie played at different theaters; I knew the driving range hours (and that it was heated) and I knew every Baskin Robbins in the area just in case.
My husband hates surprises so this idea was extra fun for me as I watched him deliberate over the poems. We ended up just going to dinner and a movie like every other date, but this time felt different. My husband knew I thought about him, cared about his interests, and he knew I didn’t forget his birthday.
![I spoke in church today and said the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of Charity. I read Moroni 7:45-47 to make my point. But wherever there was the word ‘Charity’ I substituted it out for ‘the Atonement of Jesus Christ.’ See if these scripture verses now have new meaning for you:
“And the Atonement of Jesus Christ suffererth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth,
[The Atonement of Jesus Christ] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ye are nothing, for the Atonement of Jesus Christ never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-
But the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
So Easter really reminds us of love. The first and greatest commandment.](https://www.raisinglemons.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
After all that – dinner and a movie!? 🙂 I’m glad it was fun. The best part is that [they] took the time to think about it and prepare something special-no matter what you do. Bryan will be so proud that he made it on your blog!
This is such a fun idea Tiffany! You are so clever. Wish you were my next door neighbor so I could soak up some of your creativity.
so fun! i think i might try and do something like this for nathan. although, we will most likely be camping on his birthday – which is probably what he would choose anyway!
Great idea for the husband but think of how fun you could make it for kids too! Love it!
Oohh! Good idea Renee. I just might have to do that too. Thanks for the idea back!
I LOVE the part where you said, “Every time I wanted to cutesy it up even more with scrapbook paper or borders or fun fonts, I kept reminding myself that ‚Äúthis is for a man and he won‚Äôt care‚Äù.
SOOOOO true.
Guys see wrapping paper as an obstacle in getting to the prize, girls see it as a pretty accessory to the decor of the table or tree it sits next to.