Saturday, January 27, 2007

You HAVE to do it!

It was so much fun! I don't know who was more excited, him or me. He was so excited he ate his breakfast, got dressed and even made his bed without being nagged. LOL He did draw the line at brushing his teeth, pointing out to me that pirates don't brush their teeth - to which I told him that's why pirates have black teeth full of holes! - to which he pointed out to me... he'd brush them after he's eaten the chocolate money. OK, deal!

So first pic is my map LOL So I may not be the best drawer, but he's five, and as long as he can regognise a few landmarks in the garden we'd be right. I actually drew a path he had to follow, and marked X's at all the places he'd find treasure, because I wanted to see if he could really follow the map, and because I wanted it to take longer. Keep him entertained for longer.


He happily went and hid in his room while I went outside to hide the treasure. Didn't even peek! Such a good boy. He must have been bursting in there. I had to follow the map I'd made last night, making sure I put the treasure where the X's were on the map. Now that our garden is growing we have lots of little hidey-holes, so that bit was easy.


Time for him to come out. He was grinning like a cheshire cat! He followed the map a little, but I did end up showing him on the map which path he had to take, but he then understood where to go, and went on his own. He had to look high and low... never quite know where the treasure may be ;)

At the end he found a little Pooh Bear treasure chest (something I've had hanging around for years!) Filled with plastic bead necklaces and other glittery things, including a gold card from Teds Cameras LOL. He loves that thing. I don't use it anymore as I don't go there much, but he thinks its his 'credit card'.

Mmmmm yummy loot! They had a few pieces each, then we put them away for later, and they had some more, hidden in their icecream for dessert tonight. Ethan's I unwrapped first! Notice Ethan's top... that was clean on 15 minutes earlier! Thank goodness for Nappisan.

After this we headed down to Mornington for the Australia Day festivities. He carried the treasure map with him the whole time, and has hardly put it down all day.

I think we have a winner. He wants to do it again, but this time I have to dig a hole to put the treasure in.

Tonight Brett took them both down the the beach for a play before dinner. They should sleep well tonight!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm... choccy loot! Love it! :)

Nat said...

That is sooo awesome Katie!! You might have just encouraged me to try the same thing with Jaidyn (although a bit older he'll still love it!).. he has the most awesome pirate costume (Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribbean) he got for his birthday so he'd certainly get a huge kick out of doing this... might aim for next weekend, thanks for the inspiration - what great pics you've got to scrap there!!

Anonymous said...

Well there's your treasure there, Katie , to see their happy little faces!! Well worth all the time and effort that you put into it :)
Easter is not too far away and that is always another excuse for a treasure hunt :)

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

That is such an awesome idea. Pity my little dude is too little to do it. I wonder if I store it away in the memory banks now if it will hang around for a year or two. No it'll probably get lost in there somewhere.

Megan said...

What a totally cool idea Katie. You are such an awesome Mum. Hope I am as creative as you when I become a parent!! Glad the boys had such a great time

Jasmine said...

That's so cool Katie!!! You're so full of great ideas for things to do with the kids. I had a look at those kids sites you posted a while back for activities - now just to get myself a bit more organised :s

Francine Burgess said...

what a fantastic idea!!! oh and they look so excited hunting for the treasure..very clever..good on you mum!

Anonymous said...

They look like they both had lots of fun and enjoyed there treasures at the end....Have done this with my boys once or twice and they love it...I give them a note with a picture on it - and when they find the item pictured they find a lil choccie and another clue...the last clue they find lots of little treasures.... There is a great little book that the boys like to read called "Sonnys Treasure Hunt"....I found a bag of cool "pirates loot" at target prior to christmas....full of little whistles etc...and will use this once the heat wave we are having ends...

Anonymous said...

Katie you are such a COOL MUM!!! what an awesome idea :0) love all your photo collages too!!!

JULIEx

Sofi said...

I think this is such a fab idea! Love all your photos, Liam and Ehtan both look they honestly had a fantastic time.

Must do this one for Lee~ he's recentlty gotten into the pirate phase!

Anonymous said...

I can feel a mini book coming on - now which magazine has it published ?

Great fun, Katie !
I have you booked on a flight in May to Brisbane to co-ordinate my Ethan's 4th birthday party. LOL.

Nic Wood said...

No wonder the whole neighbourhood always wants to play at your house - you must be the coolest mum. What fun, looks like they both had a blast!

Nic xxx

Lisa Le-Ray said...

Love the treasure hunt :) I do lolly hunts!! :)

Anonymous said...

Katie.......what a fun activity....not usre who had the most fun though...the kids or mum!