Walker turned 28 last Wednesday. We didn’t really make any plans (that he knew of) since it was during the week so when he left for work I just said that we’d figure something out when he got home. Then I got to work because I had a lot to do!

I hung a curtain from the entry way into the living room so he couldn’t see that I had set up the tent where his birthday evening would take place. I got all the groceries I needed and baked and did a lot of prep work. I made his birthday surprise book and wrote all the clues and hid things around the house. I set up appetizers and cocktails in the tent and waited for Walker to get home.

^curtain for Walker to see when he walked in the door

^birthday surprise book. I got this “book” from atly because they are sponsoring Alt Summit in San Francisco (and I’m going!) with information about their company but I reused it as a clue book for Walker. It was perfect!

^inside the book. An overall explanation and 6 clues to start. I also had extra clues with some of the initial surprises that comprised round 2 of the clues. Some of them were to go to a certain place (the tent), some were little gifts, some were parts of the meal (beer).

^Walker finding the tent. ha!

^appetizers in the tent.


^clue reading. I had such a hard time not blurting out the answers. It’s possible I enjoyed it even more than he did.

^I hung little stars in the tent, you know since we were “camping”.

^course 1: arugula and spinach salad with beets, walnuts, balsamic soaked strawberries, with a grapefruit vinaigrette. course 2 was pizza with pesto and toppings.

^course 3 or the dessert course. strawberry shortcake, coconut chocolate ice cream, cupcake, homemade vegan peanut butter cup, and a chocolate bar. It might have been overkill but it was all really good! also the entire meal and all desserts were vegan.

^after all the food, games, and watching the sunset we ended in the tent listening to night sounds I captured last time I was home (featuring a whippoorwill, spring peepers-frogs, and various bugs).

I think it turned out pretty great!