Birthday ideas?

My OH turns 40 in a few weeks. We're on a tight budget, but I want to do something for him. Because it's his 40th, and because I want to make sure our kids realize that when you're an adult and your partner has a birthday, you get off your butt to do something nice for the person, being creative and thoughtful if nothing else. Rather than a) not even getting a card or something before going on a camping trip the weekend your partner's birthday falls on; b) totally forgetting that the birthday is on the Saturday and not the Sunday, and only realizing it after dinnertime; c) not making up for sleeping in on the Saturday by getting out of bed on the sunday of camping, and rather continuing to snore 2 feet from the stove while your partner cooks breakfast while your children whine and complain and fight and d) not even bothering two months after the fact to get a card, gift, or anything for your partner - like forgetting means you're off the hook totally.

Bitter? Me? Naw.... ok yeah. Quite tempted to plan something that involves the kids 'taking him out for dinner', driving the lot of them to somewhere for dinner, and dropping him and the kids off while I go for a massage or something. :rofl1:

Next year will plan my own party.

But really, ideas would be good. Something creative and a bit 'rub your nose in it'....

1. Dadcademy awards. : for the kidsEvery kid has to make an award and tell a story about their dad.

"The award for best dramatic performance.. goes to dad at my 3rd grade soccer game when he told that coach that if he didn't let me in the game, he would kill him"

"The award for best hard-to-learn lesson..behind the curfews and bickering over skirt length and proper tie colors.. through just being you and expecting the best of us always..you taught us how to be the best versions of ourselves."

"The award for best father memory...when we both went to the dinosaur museum when I was 7 and you put me on your shoulders and told me all about each of them and made most of everything up. Then you took me to get ice cream and it was the most perfect day.. I remember thinking I have the best dad in the world.. and it's still true"

etc..etc..

2. Favorite dinner + the blank coupon book
The blank coupon book is a magical magical book.
In reality, it's about 20 pieces of bits of paper like this

stapled together.
My rule of thumb is..I write 10 and the other 10 are open for him to fill in. BUT he has to fill them in AT DINNER.

Write in all kinds of things.. I usually start pretty tame, my first 5 are things like "I will watch a sports game with enthusiasm" "I will let you control the remote/radio in the car" "I will cook ________ for you" "Breakfast in bed"

and the last 5 are always..well..erm.. adult in their nature. "blowjob pass" "Sex in the position of your choosing" "Dress up and role play of your choosing.. the store line is I'm the _____ and you're the _________" "The locational pass. Present this coupon at ANY location for the ride of your life"
but they can be anything! Favors, chores etc..

and then he gets to fill in 10.
Don't let him leave them blank or have days to think about it or else that mind will cook up some crazy things OR worse yet, he will want something and just scribble it down right then and there at some point lol
FILL. OUT. THE. COUPONS. AT. DINNER.

It's always fun and it's such a cool way to let someone technically pick their gift.

3. "of the month club" .
My dad gets beer of the month and bacon of the month. They have all kinds of things (bacon, beer, international wines, etc..) you pay for a year and they deliver a bunch every month. It's a lot of fun.

Scavenger hunt
Make up clues at all his favorite location and have him make his way to his surprise party.
For example (these kind of suck but this is all very short notice for me lol)

CLUE A (found in a toolbox) Fix this *cheap ikea something with a message painting on* and you will find your clue B

CLUE B: "Violence and action and sticky floors. at 7:10 it will all be yours" (pick a movie he would love, and let him go see it)

CLUE C: (Found with the tickets you leave for him at the theater for the 7:10 showing) "Steak and fries we won't be getting thinner, come meet us where you love to have dinner!"

CLUE D: At the table where you and your family waits. "We love you and hope you had a great day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" or something.


umm..that's all I got for now! HOPE IT HELPS!

I think the "drop dad and the kids off for a special birthday dinner together" rocks.

Especially if there's a Chuck E. Cheese . . .

Yeah really leaning towards that. Of course on his official birthday, he will be working as it's a Monday, but I don't have a problem postponing his birthday for a week. Or a month. But yeah mcdonalds or chuck e cheese sounds very good right about now. More if I can find a massage or pedicure place to go to while they're celebrating. LOL

For my husband's 50th--I had my sons, and I wrote out "50 reasons I love you"--each one on a separate piece of paper--folded them up and put them in a small box. He gets to pick a new one each day--nice way to know how people feel about you, and also was a great way to get my boys to convey their feelings about their dad.
You could do the "40 things..."
or get him 40 of something (40 chocolate kisses in container--tool box/fishing box, whatever he has an interest in) You get the idea.

Here ya go

Chuck E Cheese Hell

:rofl1::rofl1: