HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!!

November 2009:

Once upon a time Matthew went swan hunting for the first time, and had a blast! He came home with the BEAUTIFUL swan, and put it in a pillowcase and garbage bags and in his grandma's freezer. I wanted to have it stuffed and make it a birthday present. His birthday is in May so he knew it was going to be a late birthday present. He just didn't realize how late.

One day, under false pretenses (he thought I had colorgaurd practice) I drove up to his grandma's house to get the swan out of said freezer. The man that was doing the taxadermy was supposed to be available for me to drop the swan off at his work. However, I couldn't get in touch with him, so I was on a desperate search of dry ice throughout all of Cache Valley. Do you think I would have any such luck of finding dry ice?

No.

I had to SNEAK (Matthew was in our bedroom when I finally got home with the swan) a big white cooler full of swan and the little dry ice I did manage to scrounge up into our basement. I had succeeded!

I got in touch with the man who was working on the swan and dropped it off and all was well. (This would be much more exciting for you if you knew how hard Matthew is to surprise)

All was well? So I thought. We all went up to his grandparent's home and as we were cleaning up and putting chairs away, Matthew went downstairs and for some unkown, insane reason, decided to check on his swan in the freezer. Why he felt he had to do this, I have no idea. The swan was wrapped up like a mummy! He couldn't have seen it anyway...but he just had to look.

I was busted.

Thankfully Jeff had the swan for about 4 months and I didn't tell Matthew when I had been talking to him, so I thought he had no idea that his swan was done and I could pick it up anytime.

Or again, so I thought. I got Jeff's (the taxadermist) information from a friend of ours, who was also keeping tabs on the swan. Matthew heard our friend talking about how good his swan looked.

Again, I was busted.

Granted, Matthew wasn't sure when I'd bring it home, but it was like he had a little spy the whole time this opperation was taking place.

Maybe one day I will be able to surprise him with something, but I think it will be a lifelong battle.

After much annoyance, and attempted secrecy, and about one year later, Matthew came home from work on Tuesday to a big ol' swan laying in the automan with a green birthday bow wrapped around it's neck!

November 2010:

It's a good thing he LOVES it!!

The End.

I love you Matthew, and I hope you had a great birthday in May,

as well as an awesome half birthday!