This celebration was about five months in the making, and I am not a secret keeper. I mean, I can be - you can trust me with your secrets, I promise - but stuff like this, I'm no good at. There were about five billion times over the past five months I wanted to blurt it out. But I didn't.
John didn't find out until Thursday night that we were going away for a weekend at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. I had arranged everything that John loves all in one weekend. Me, of course, a steak dinner Friday night, a tee time Saturday morning, and a couples massage Saturday afternoon. Then more relaxing.
I was giddy with excitement as we drove Friday afternoon. (My Mom, Jonathan and Missy are wonderful, and they came in town for the weekend to stay with the kids.) As excited as I was about the whole weekend, what I was super-excited about was my one last surprise for John that evening.
The Grove Park Inn is super schmancy and wonderful. It was quite the life.
The theme of the weekend was elaborate. My thought process was you only turn 40 once, so why not make it a big to-do? In keeping with that theme, we stayed on the Club Level floor, which was ooh-la-la. We were pampered, for sure, with people waiting on us and giving us our every whim. Cocktail? Coming right up! Some ice? They are on it. Our room had beautiful music playing when we entered, the bathtub was the hugest bathtub I've ever seen, and we had cute little chocolates on our pillows every evening. It was posh. (Fancy Nancy comes out in me at times, too.) This is the view from our room, overlooking Asheville and the golf course. It had a beautiful arched stained glass window above it.
We lounged and walked around the Grove Park Inn Friday afternoon, and had dinner reservations at 7:30. We arrived a little early, because that's how John is. I forgot to take that into consideration, and given my big surprise was running late, I had to kill a lot of time. We ate at the Sunset Terrace at the Grove Park Inn, and enjoyed this view.
Here is where we were eating from:
Due to some circumstances beyond my control, John got a little jumpy because he suspected another surprise. So he was a little jittery at the start of dinner, and I tried my best to act nonchalant and blow off his jitters. Here we are at the beginning of dinner, and I'm trying to act normal.
But then out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Surprise had arrived.
Our good friends Mark and Ashley came up for the weekend, to celebrate John. This moment was the best of the birthday weekend, I think. John got emotional, I was so excited my heart was racing, Mark and Ashley were just happy to be there...and our men didn't even care that 50+ people were watching them in a two minute hug. I love that about our men. It was an awesome moment. We laughed and talked and poured out all the secrets over the past few weeks...especially the few days leading up to this moment. I have to say I was quite relieved it was all over.
Here we are in the lobby of the Grove Park Inn, and we are standing IN a fireplace. The hugest fireplace I've ever seen.
Saturday morning the guys played golf, and the girls rode around in a golf cart and got to chat for four hours. And, we learned, our guys are a little picky at golf. John wanted complete silence, so Ashley and I had to be quiet for him, but Mark wanted us to talk because silence made him nervous. So we had moments of chattiness and moments of quiet. But did I mention how beautiful it was here?
And this view isn't bad either: (wink, wink)
That afternoon, John and I enjoyed a couples massage at the Grove Park Inn Spa. The spa is completely underground, with stonework and waterfalls everywhere. It was amazing. See the glass roof that sticks up? The spa is underneath all that, as well as the grass. They didn't allow cameras, otherwise you better believe I'da been snapping like crazy. Phenomenal! We enjoyed soaking in a waterfall pool before our massage.
Saturday evening we finally pulled ourselves away from the GPI and headed to downtown Asheville for dinner. This is the main entrance.
Afterwards, it was crazy Megan picture time, where I take every possible scenario, for memories sake. It's what I do, it's who I am, it wouldn't be a vacation with the Greiner's if I didn't do it. Oh, and that reminds me - the craziest part of our weekend was meeting another couple with the last name Greiner, from Knoxville who stayed two doors down from us! They have a five and two year old as well. How crazy is that? But back to pictures.
The guys. I love this picture. I love the background, and I love that John is smiling naturally, not forced because it's a picture. Ashley and I think these two could pass as brothers.
Me and Ashley. Have I mentioned that Mark and Ashley are one of the first couples we met when we moved to Atlanta? We were in small group together, and first met when Mark and Ashley had been married about two months. They were then, and they are now, a huge blessing in our lives.
Mark and Ashley:
And, finally, the only combination left - me and John:
Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast together, and then headed out. John and I stayed a little longer and arrived home late Sunday afternoon.
A fabulous entry into the 40's for John. A wonderful weekend with great friends. Thank you, Mark and Ashley, for celebrating my husband. It meant the world to both of us!
oooo... I am so excited to see the details!! I know how hard you kept this secret... and I can see now that it was SO worth it. WOW! That place looks amazing! So glad you had a wonderful trip! And John... Happy Birthday to you!!
See you in the morning!
Posted by: Christina | May 06, 2009 at 12:24 AM
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, the Grove Park Inn. Jim took me there two years ago as a surprise. The Spa is amazing! You am so glad that John enjoyed it and I love how Mark and Ashley made the trip. They are good people.
Posted by: Stephanie Perdue | May 06, 2009 at 08:36 AM
What a wonderful weekend away to celebrate together and a blessing to have your friends surprise John too! Beautiful scenery!
Posted by: Renee | May 06, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Congratulations to you for the surprise and to John for the birthday! Awesome weekend!
Posted by: Liz | May 06, 2009 at 06:37 PM
That looks so beautiful! Happy Birthday to John from the Kudlas fam.
Posted by: Angie | May 06, 2009 at 11:21 PM
So crazy we were in Asheville the same weekend without even knowing it! We were only there on Sunday...but still! Very fun! We almost stayed at the Grove Park Inn for our honeymoon...looks like we'll have to check it out next time :) Happy Birthday, John!
Posted by: Leigh Ann | May 07, 2009 at 12:48 PM