SuRpRiSe!!!!!

So we pulled it off. The family and I successfully fulfilled our covert operation and SURPRISED MOM FOR HER BIRTHDAYY!!!!!
It was planned mid-September, I thought it would be a fun surprise for her birthday, Dad made the reservations and without even the slightest slip up from Amazing-Secret-Keeper-Austin mom could NOT have been more shocked.
My plane got in thursday night, there was a driver there to pick me up and take me to dinner in seattle. I arrived a little later than planned (traffic, etc.) and got there after the rest of the fam had sat down. I came in the door facing mom's back, so I kinda sneaked around the table and then just stood there. She just looked at me at first, then the water works began. YAHHH!!!! I was so happy to see her and everyone, yes, even you austin ;)
We had a delicious dinner at Shuckers, a amazingly tall birthday cake with a candle, stayed in Seattle for the night at the Sheraton, and did breakfast and some shopping Friday. Friday night we hung out, all of us minus Megan went out to dinner in Tacoma and then rented Guess Who with Bernie Mac and stayed in. It was SO nice to be in my own home, feeling fall, appreciating halloween decorations (the holiday i MISSED last year) and sleeping in my own bed. Mom was just glad to have me around, we ran errands, she helped me get an outfit for my Black&White date night this friday, we hit Emerald City twice =) , and had an epic adventure to the UPS store with a very emotional store clerk talking to us about her recently deceased sister... umm yeah.
Saturday night Megan and I prepared an amazing dinner and delicious pumpkin cake (that I ate too much of) then we went to see The Dutchess at the Grand Theatre. I really liked it! I mean, Kiera Knightly consistently plays those regal, Elizabethan roles, but it was good. Brownie points go to Dad for sitting through it... at times I thought it was going to fall asleep/leave/throw something at the screen.... but he was a good sport (kinda) and just had a few minor eye rolls and heavy sighs.
Sunday Megan, Mom, and I went to the NEW Nordstrom.... very nice!!! Really impressed, felt like seattle!! I got two pairs of cute shoes and a black dress for friday. We ate at the Bistro, had a really good chicken caesar salad, and we hit the e-bar before we left as well. Megan's Mexican Mocha might have been a little adventurous for me, but hey? it was a good day : ) My flight left that night at 715pm, so it was nice to have the whole day!!
Now I'm back at school, middle of mid-terms week, and wishing I could have stayed longer : (
Tomorrow I have a Philosophy midterm and Art History quiz (midterm on tuesday) and just got back that paper on the affirmative action and got a 87%!! Thanks for the editing mom!!
Tomorrow night we are going to LA for a fundraiser to make money for our informal in November. We're going to an MTV show taping?? Never done one but I'm excited to go!!! We fill the audience, they pay $15 a person and i think we have about 30 deltas going so about $450 ?? I'll let you know how it goes!!
I'm so happy I got to be home last weekend!! It made my month and made me that much more excited for thanksgiving! Missing my family and shower-less shoes and delicious food, but I manage okay down here.
All my love,
♥