Sandra Smith just marked a milestone—her 45th birthday on September 22—and when she talks about it, it isn’t the kind of celebration you’d expect from someone with her high-profile career. Instead of a fancy party or a spotlight dinner in the city, she says the day was spent in the best way she knows how: quietly, surrounded by her husband John, their two kids, and their dog Whiskey.

“It started with the sound of little feet running into my room,” Sandra laughed, remembering how her children, Cora and John Jr., surprised her first thing in the morning. “They had made me a card together, and it looked like a mix of a newsroom and a zoo—there were microphones, news desks, and somehow a paw print from Whiskey. But that’s what made it perfect.”

Breakfast wasn’t far behind. John had planned it with the kids, filling the kitchen with the smell of pancakes and coffee. The table was covered in sunflowers—her favorite. “John said he wanted me to wake up and feel like I was home, truly home,” Sandra recalled. “That’s who he is—he knows I spend my days in the rush of news, and he wanted to give me calm.”

Later, John suggested a family drive upstate. Sandra thought it was just a casual outing until they stopped along the Hudson River and she saw the picnic he had secretly packed. “There we were, with blankets spread out, sandwiches, fruit, and Whiskey chasing everything in sight,” she said, smiling. “I remember sitting there and thinking, this is the moment. No deadlines, no makeup, no scripts—just my family and the sound of my kids’ laughter.”

The afternoon turned playful, with John Jr. tossing a ball for her to catch while Cora insisted on teaching her a TikTok dance right there by the riverbank. “I kept saying, ‘If anyone sees this, I’m doomed on air tomorrow,’” Sandra joked. “But the truth is, I loved every second. You only turn 45 once, and if my daughter wants me to dance like a fool by the Hudson, I’m going to do it.” Whiskey, of course, joined in, muddy paws and all.

What made the day especially memorable were the thoughtful touches planned by her husband, John, and their two children. Sandra said she was completely taken off guard when they unveiled their surprise—a scrapbook from the kids filled with drawings, family photos, and little handwritten notes, along with a hand-painted wooden frame from John to hold their latest family picture. The pair of heartfelt, handmade presents left her smiling through tears. “It was one of those moments,” she admitted, “where you realize the best gifts really do come from the people who know your heart.”

Back at home that evening, John had one last surprise waiting: a home-cooked dinner. He grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and finished it off with a chocolate cake the kids had decorated themselves. “They wrote ‘45 & Fabulous’ across it in frosting that was way too bright,” Sandra recalled warmly. “It was a little lopsided, but I swear it was the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen.”

The night ended simply, with all four of them curled up on the couch, Whiskey taking up more space than he should, watching old family videos. Sandra remembers one clip of Cora as a toddler making everyone laugh. “I looked around at John, at the kids, at Whiskey asleep across my lap, and I thought: this is everything. This is exactly how I wanted to turn 45.”

For Sandra Smith, the birthday wasn’t about the number, the glamour, or the fuss. It was about holding onto the life she and John built together, and she admits that when she blew out her candles, she didn’t even make a wish. “Because really,” she said, “what more could I possibly ask for?”