USVI-On-Line

Well, we are getting closer to hubby's surprise 40th birthday trip (STJ & Little Dix) at the end of August. It has been a rough time planning this trip in secret! I had to lie about using his airline miles, make secret credit card payments to mom and dad, deal with USAirways cancelling the STJ-PHL flight home for three days that week, and a very nosy husband who wants to plan other things for his 2 weeks off at his b-day. Anyway, I am looking for a creative way to surprise him with the trip. Was thinking of some type of scavenger hunt, but not sure. Anyone else have any good ideas?

I love scavenger hunts, they are so fun to put together and fun for the person.
I would make 7 clues that spell out ISLANDS, so the first clue would be something with the letter I or an eye, and so forth and then make him spell it out.

How about making a diorama of past trips?

Or make one for this surprise trip, it can include the villa you'v rented for this trip, beaches, roads, Skinny's, Cruz Bay, etc.

Good luck!

Here is the birthday card I made for my father-in-law in 2007. Our gift to him that year was a week at the beach with his 3 kids and his grandson, and me.

How about having a land shark deliver a candygram?

JIM

Make a collage of island pix and words and put it on one of those blank puzzles and give it to him at a pre BD dinner!

How about a message in a bottle? You could float it just about anywhere...in the bathtub, the sink, a pool, etc....

Or you could put out some beers on ice and have the bottle nestled in with the others.

Wow, how fun!!!

Coden, really cool card!

I would get my bathing suit on, with full snorkel gear on, with fins, scare the crap out of him by jumping out at him and just say surprise. My husband would "get it". But that's just how we work.

djmom, I was thinking along the same lines as you. Maybe get a 6 pack of something from STJ Brewers and empty one bottle (however ya like ) and put in an invitation to the trip. Anyway it happens I am sure he is gonna love it. Enjoy the anticipation and the trip.

Great ideas and LOVE the card. I also really like the wearing flippers and a snorkle mask and scaring the crap out of him. (of course the sight of that might make him blind and not for a good reason! )

My favorite childhood memory was getting a phone call from my mom telling me to pack for myself and younger sisters, that they would be home in an hour and we were leaving for vacation.

I say just take out his suitcase and tell him to get packing. After he looks a bit panicked - then walk in naked with the snorkle gear - ok - not good - my husband would probably have a heart attack from laughing so hard. Maybe then tell him you just want to take him to his favorite STJ bar for a birthfay cocktail.

My daughter and son-in-law told their kids to pack and did not tell them where they were going. They were nearly to the Gulf coast before they realized what was happening.

JIM

Coden, I love your card!

Could you pick hubby up from work in a swimsuit, mask and snorkel? Or even just the mask and snorkel?

If you order BBQ your first night on island, you could give your hubby the # to Candi's or Joe's, and ask him to phone in an order for pick up.

When my daughter was young, I picked her up from school, as was our routine, one day. When we didn't drive directly home, but got on the highway, she said "Where are you going?" And I told her "Myrtle Beach!" That was pretty fun, too

jimg20 wrote:How about having a land shark deliver a candygram?

JIM

LMAO!!!!

We gave all of our family members a calendar that had their plane ticket and the dates of the trip marked in it.

Since he's turning 40, you could play up all the cliches about getting older, slowing down and cutting back on things like beer and red meat...play into the whole, "oh no, I'm 40, life is over."

If he's like me and most men, he'll just say, "oh don't do anything big for my birthday." So say great and flat out tell him that for his birthday, you're taking him to dinner and invite the usual suspects (kids, other close family members, but nobody out of the ordinary or unexpected). Just a simple, quiet b-day, nothing exceptional, no surprises...as if he was turning 43 instead of 40.

Choose a restaurant that features really, over the top healthy food and say things like, "I've heard such and such really helps you cut down on cholesterol" and "these lima beans help shrink your prostate."

For gifts, don't it make it too obvious, but give him really practical stuff (ties, workout clothes, gym membership, etc.) and maybe a gift certificate to a local health clinic for a full work up (EKG, that treadmill test, mole patrol, etc.)...and of course you'll tell him that it's because you love him soooo much and want him to live a long, long time...SIDEBAR: Us guys nearing age 40 just love it when our wives tell us that, love it! (sarcasm, extra thick).

Okay, now for the fun part...if you have two cars, have a friend replace the car you took to the restaurant with your other car and have it completely pimped out STJ style...make it look like one of those ridiculous golf carts people drive around at Buffett concerts with all sorts of beach paraphernalia and blasting Island tunes...if you can get a bunch of his friends to be hanging out around the car dancing and having fun, all the better. Maybe right after you head to fun bar to really celebrate his birthday and have a slideshow with all pictures from his first 40 years with the last slide being an art card that say, "STJ Soon Come!"

Okay, maybe a little much, but it's an idea and kudos to you for you for going to such lengths to make it a great 40th.