SuRprISe!!

After 2 months of planning and lots of help from family and friends I pulled off a BIG SURPRISE PARTY for Shad's 30th Birthday!!

We had the party at my friend's house who had a huge backyard and an awesome pool! Shad definitely gave me a run for my money because at the last minute he wanted to play in a memorial flag football tournament and apparently "just going over to the Hendricks for a BBQ" was not important enough to miss the tournament. I pulled the "We haven't done anything fun with the family in a long time" card and luckily it worked.

The party was on the Saturday before Memorial Day, because we were going to be in San Diego for his actual birthday (more about that trip to come). Did I mention it was a day full of surprises?? My Mom decided to plan a little surprise for me too! She called my sister Stephanie, who lives in St. Louis, a few weeks before the party and said she would help pay for her plane ticket so her and her husband could be at the party too. How awesome is that!! After we all yelled surprise to Shad my sister's husband Matt caught my eye and I thought "that guy kind of looks familiar" but didn't think twice about it. Then all of a sudden my sister Stephanie was right in my face... she had to take off her sunglasses for it to really sink in. I FREAKED OUT!! I wish I knew how to edit the video of me freaking out because it is hilarious!! What a great day and weekend!!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped me plan the big surprise...and a very BIG THANK YOU to the Hendricks family that let us have the party at their house. How am I so lucky to have found such great friends?? Sorry to those who somehow I forgot to get invites to... it was not intentional.

I hope you had a FANTASTIC 3oth Birthday party Babe... love ya lots!!

Pictures will tell the rest of the story...

XOXO Melanie

P.S. I had one my good friends make an awesome poster with the "Top Thirty Interesting Facts about Shad Rollo" ... submitted by family and friends. I thought they were pretty funny. ENJOY!!

Top Thirty Interesting Facts About Shad Rollo
by family & friends

1- Grew up wanting to be the owner of SeaWorld and to be the trainer for the dolphins and whales.
2- Shad fell and bit his tongue when he was young. His parents were told that you couldn’t stitch a tongue and to just let it heal. He now has a small flap of skin on his tongue...which makes for a fun kiss!
3- Shad was his Dad’s shadow growing up. He learned everything from his dad- hard work, patience and a love for sports - just to name a few.
4- Shad’s nursery leaders had to take the balls out of the classroom because he had such a good arm that he frightened the nursery leaders that they thought he might hurt someone.
5- Shad swung the baseball bat so well at a very young age that Shad’s Dad had to pitch to him with some speed.
6- Shad was hit by a car while running away from a gas station after he “borrowed” a pack of gum. He just stood right back up and kept running back to elementary school.
7- When Shad was old enough to know better, he was caught peeing in the corner of his room.
8- Was voted Most Preferred by his high school - his talent- a roller skating routine while wearing a wrestling outfit made for a 10 year old.
9- Shad had two nicknames growing up - Shadrach & Boner - you’ll have to ask him how he got the second.
10- It wasn’t until close to the end of high school that Shad could finally beat his Dad in basketball.
11- He’s only been in one fight (until he became a police officer). It was in a baseball brawl. His only punch...was to the back of the head of a player that was already “preoccupied” with another one of his teammates.
12- Drove a 68 yellow and black Camero to high school.
13- Favorite Movie...Tommy Boy.
14- Shad is the BIGGEST tease you’ll meet.
15- Paid $500 to become a model while going through college.
16- Received a lewdness ticket for peeing off the side of the road...trying to make it back for my birthday that day...the month before we were married.
17- Proposed to me in front of more than 60 of my family members at a Christmas Party.
18- He has a great singing voice but won’t admit that out loud.
19- Loves all animals- including 2 sugar gliders he made us get when we were first married.
20- Gets hives all over his body when he gets stressed.
21- Has cut his own hair since his mission and now cuts the boy’s hair.
22- Shad would keep the TV on all day and night if I would let him.
23- Is a hopeless romantic...not kidding!
24- Still opens the door for me 100% of the time...thanks Steve and Doreen for teaching him chivalry is not out of style.
25- The “real” reason why Shad became a police officer was to beat the Whipple family at shooting contests when we go camping. We had a BB shooting contest one camping trip and Shad came in dead last. That November Shad entered the academy...he hasn’t lost a contest since! (He actually became a Master shooter in his academy,
which means he was in the top 10% of shooters.)
26- The first time Shad “let one go” in front of me was after we were married. We were fishing for the first time on a blow up raft and he said, “Melanie, what’s that? Shhh...Listen” then he let one rip that shook the boat and rippled the water.
27- My Dad took Shad for a “short” bicycle ride and just after climbing the first hill, Shad says he needs to stop. He rests and gets back on ...within seconds Shad stops and says “I think I’m going to be sick”...that’s right, my 50-something Father kicked the now 30 year old’s butt!
28- Shad will not let the kids out of the house unless their clothes are matching.
29- He does more loads of laundry and vacuums the house more than I do.
30-The one thing that can get Shad emotional at anytime is when someone talks about what a great person his Dad is...he is proud to be a Rollo!