Fake-Thanksgiving Murder Mystery Baby Shower Extravaganza

Photo: Turkeys with Diapers Cake

For Karen and Dave's baby shower this year, my baby sister Anita inspired us to have a murder mystery. We also had it in conjunction with fake-Thanksgiving since the Golden Girls were already coming to town for the festivities. Kudos to us for a well kept secret since the end of July. Liz and I started tapping our fingers together with Emily about this at the end of the summer, and the event couldn't have gone better. As luck would have it, Scott and I went to the spy museum in Washington D.C. and loaded up on supplies. Thank goodness.

Photo: Cake with the Big Orange Baby in a Pea Pod(notice the red hair)

This is the cake, which was lovely and delicious (I hear), but not exactly what we ordered. I fought with the cake place and hopefully it will be resolved soon. The cake being wrong really only upset Liz, Emily, and I since we were the hosts of this fantastic shindig. Everyone else enjoyed it thoroughly.

Photo: Barbie Dahl-Scam A.K.A. Ali

The murder mystery took place at the Christmas party of the law offices of Lie, Cheat, and Steal. All the guests, except Dave and Karen, planned their characters well in advance of the party, and I have to say that everyone really brought their A-game. We decorated the house in Christmas and office decor, as well as Thanksgiving since this party had four themes (Thanksgiving, Christmas, murder mystery, and baby shower... and technichally Halloween since there were costumes). We revealed our plans to Karen and Dave over dinner on Thursday night so that they would have time to prepare for their characters. I still can't believe no one spilled the beans since my dad, Dave's mom, and the office gals were coming to the party. Amazing!!

Photo: Barbie and Inspector Ness A.K.A. My Dad

My dad played the inspector and did a fantastic job. Baby Hyrum played Karen's character's husband and Dad was really funny interrogating him.

Photo: Bonnie Bolin A.K.A. Valerie, Mamba Macumba A.K.A. Nancy (Dave's Mom), and Gabby Gossip A.K.A. Aunt Jane

Valerie from work, Dave's mom, and Aunt Jane also did an outstanding job with their characters. Jane won for best performance as Gabby Gossip, the gossip columnist. She really gave Rita Skeeter a run for her money. Dave's mom was a voodoo priestess from Haiti, and Valerie was the wife of a drug scientist who had vanished. They were great in their roles.

Photo: Shamus Steal and Ben DeToy A.K.A. AJ

A.J. had a death scene in the very beginning. It was wonderful. He played a boy toy that all the female characters had the hots for and the son of Seymore Steal and Enid A. Drink (not pictured here -- I honestly don't know how that happened).

Photo: Senator Earl E. Byrd A.K.A. Tiffany
(also known as a pop star and a spy)

Tiffany, our real life spy, channeled her inner Kermit-as-a-director for her role as Constance Cheat's father, the shifty Senator. She referred to Karen's character all night as "Cookie". She was great and was easily second runner up for best costume in that spy museum mustache.

Photo: Sue Yu A.K.A. Shiva, Badger Nutkins A.K.A. fake-Jake, Barbie, and Keene Whistleblower A.K.A. Fallon

Shiva played the ambulance chasing Sue Yu and Fallon played the F.D.A. agent. They both did a stellar job with their characters. Fake-Jake was Badger Nutkins. Fallon was interrogating everyone as soon as she walked in the door. It was pretty funny.

Photo: Mary Christmas A.K.A. Aunt Mary (Liz's mom)

Aunt Mary played Mary Christmas, the office administrative assistant. She had a surprise twist at the end that no one had suspected of her. She also hosted the "office gift exchange" where all the gifts for the real baby shower were opened by all the party goers like a real office party. The inspector opened a breast pump, it was pretty funny. Karen and Dave opened about four of their gifts and the rest of us opened all the others. It was really fun.

Photo: Marsha Mellow A.K.A. Emily, Badger, Seymore Steal A.K.A. Dave, and Barbie

Emily was Marsha Mellow, head of Vale Pharmaceuticals. Dave played Seymore Steal, one of the partners at the firm. Dave was a wearing a great light linen suit with flip flops and looked like he was heading to the Cayman Islands the entire time. Both of them did such a great job with their characters as well. Dave got first runner up for his costume.

Photo: Constance Cheat A.K.A. Phil A.K.A. Karen's Arm (It's all we have been allowed to document during her pregnancy)

Karen played Constance Cheat, an in-your-face partner of the firm. She would only let us photograph her arm, so sorry for the rest of you. She called Gabby Gossip an "untalented busy body" every chance she got. It was really funny. I must say that she was shocked by, and very pleased with, this party. It was not what she was expecting at all. So good job to Liz, Emily, and I.

Photo: Seymore Steal Cutting the Cake

Here is Dave cutting his cake. He also had a great time at this party and wants to do a murder mystery every quarter now. Really, it was just that fun. If anyone wants to borrow our game, just let me know and I'll send it to you. Our contract was not a one time use contract. I also think he owes us for not throwing the typical baby shower, which are generally torture for men.

Photo: The Winning Present Wrapping, "Coming home from the hospital outfit driving a sleigh"

Nancy won the best wrapping job, which Liz and Karen did for her. She got little Leah the most beautiful crocheted blanket, dress, bonnet, and booties at a craft fair, which the girls turned into a baby driving a sled pulled by a little ceramic golden retriever puppy. Jane came in as runner up for a boppy wrapped in a garbage bag with santa's taped all over it. Genius I tell you, genius.

Really this party was the best we've ever done and we won't likely top it again. The food was fantastic (Dave smoked and roasted turkeys), every guest put so much effort into their characters, everyone successfully kept it a secret, and the party was so much fun!!! I am sorry not everyone could realistically come. It was not the party to miss. Until next year's fake-Thanksgiving... Ta Ta.

Ali, Liz, and Emily
Party Planning Committee Extraordinaires

** Not featured in photos: Enid A. Drink A.K.A. Liz, Will Lie A.K.A. Scott, and Igotta Cheat A.K.A. Hyrum.