A Birthday Treasure Hunt

My big boy is has just turned 8 years old. I didn't know what I was going to get him, but I always have the best of "last minute luck." I get an idea in my head and BOOM there it is, I'll see the potential for what I need to make my idea happen. Mostly out of the box thinking. But I believe we can train our minds to be more open to seeing the potential in things. Below you'll see my spontaneous treasure  hunt map. It was a great addition to his birthday experience, but really, you can have a treasure hunt for a bag of candy for NO Reason on an Any Day of the week

We were at the Salvation Army in Indiana and I found this kids trampoline for $9.99. I didn't want the large ones in our yard because, well there HUGE. My uncle has one at our former house and its a pain to work around. Don't get me wrong, if you don't have a garden to manage (front and back), our kids activities and supervision, a dog to collect poop everyday, and picking your seasonal harvest of red currants, cherry tomatoes, pumpkins and  have I mentioned weeding all season! Well, I do enough and the headache of a big trampoline - no thanks.

But this little beauty is small enough for baby girl yet enticing enough for my 8 year old.

That's it hidden under the blanket I always keep in the trunk. My son was with me in the car when I picked it up.

I also picked up this card - sitting on a shelf into clear view. How awesome. I knew instantly I'd make a "treasure map" with clues for m son to hunt down his new gift.

So the next morning while I was making breakfast I made a instant treasure map. First using two color if pen and later highlighting areas in a third color. I usually don't use more then 3 colors on anything because it'll look too busy.

This is a map of my moms property in Indiana where we celebrated my sons birthday. He chose "an experience" this year instead of a party. The experience was spending 4 days at my moms, having ice cream everyday and going to the beach, alot!!

I also had a "clue keeping" page for

My young son to help in the adventure.

My older son stopped to take Notes of the clue hints, the other two tagged along.

When they found the trampoline there was some fuss, but birthday boy went first and the other two waited (fairly patiently) for their turns.

Notice were all barefoot fairly quickly.

The days are long, the years are short, enjoy every moment NOW.