WHAT?! aka A Surprising Birthday...

So yesterday was my birthday. It's a pretty low-key kind of day that starts out nicely... I left Bayli with her sisters (Daddy was still crashed out upstairs) and went for an amazing massage. Bayli's such a Momma's Girl, so I was a little nervous, but so thrilled to find out that she was a happy, happy camper the whole 90 minutes I was gone. (Thanks Girls!!) I came home, showered, had the world's best pizza for lunch (Extreme Pizza's Peace in the Middle East) and hung with my Baby while my hubby took the big girls birthday shopping. So far a pretty mellow but pleasant day...

We're leaving for dinner when I get a call from my Mom, who's been inaccessible all week on a trip with my Dad. So I'm thrilled to hear from her, but have to run to not miss our dinner reservation (which I've already rescheduled once because Bay was still napping.). She asks where we're going (Biaggi's), several times, 'til finally I just spell it for her. I tell her that I'll call her back after dinner. She asks when that will be, and asks what time we are having cake. More than once. It was a little odd. I start wondering why she cares so much what time we are having cake. I say "Mom, where are you?". She says "At home". Okay. My imagination. I get off the phone and we head out. But I check the Caller ID before we leave - my Mom called from her cell.

In the car, I say "I think my parents might have come out to surprise me for my birthday..." My Mom is acting crazy and the last time she acted like this my brother & sister-in-law were 20 minutes from my house, coming out for a surprise Christmas visit. We talk about it all through dinner. Literally every 90 seconds my hubby looks towards the entrance and says "And there they are!" (Poor Madi was jumping out of her seat with excitement every time...) I call my brother to say "Where's Mom?", knowing that I'd know from the instant of awkward silence, but no answer. I can't help a tiny leap in my heart that he's here too... Mike says "Oh, they came out too!" I say "They're probably at the grocery store". I have to tell my kids not to get their hopes up, that I could be totally wrong, but I'm thinking I know my Mom and she's here...

Long story, I know...

We drive home, looking for my parents. We turn on our street and look towards the house - sure enough, there's my parents' van with the Oregon license plate and my Mom is standing on the curb! As we are pulling up, she jumps in the van and they start driving away! We honk at them, but they keep going, so of course, we follow them! What are they doing? My Dad drives around the block with us behind them, laughing. Mike says "How many people are in the car?". I look - just two. So thrilled that my Mom & Dad would come all this way for my birthday!! So my Dad gives up the chase and pulls up along the curb next to our house. We drive past to pull in the garage when the side door opens and out pops my brother's excited face! I scream & jump out of the car. I'm in tears. Truth be told, it's been a rough week for me. I needed this. I'm so touched that my whole family is here just for my birthday. We all jump out - hugs, laughter, cameras flashing - my family getting a huge kick out of my surprise, my brother documenting the whole thing. So surpised. So happy.

Still more..

Me: Mom, you are not a good liar!

Mom: I didn't lie about anything. I told you we were going on a trip.

Me: Yeah, but I asked you where you were and you said "home".

Mom: I am home.

Me: MY home.

Mom: No, I'm home.

Me (thinking, mi casa, su casa): Okay. That's sweet.

Mom (to Dad): She still doesn't get it.

(to me): We're HOME.

Me: silence

Me: What?

Mom: Honey, we're home.

Me: more silence, brain racing furiously...

You're moving back?

Mom: We've moved.

Me: WHAT??!!

Everyone is laughing at me, Eric is literally videotaping my amazement (after all, this is what he came here for), I am trying to wrap my brain around what I'm hearing...

Here's the scene shortly afterwards...

I still can't believe it! My parents haven't lived here for 17 years. I see things that have made me sad for a long time disappearing - 7 missed recitals, countless birthday parties, quiet Grandparent's Days at school, lots of firsts, girls' days out without Mom... I still can't believe it! In my 38 years so far, the most surprising birthday yet....

Now if I could just get my brother to move here...