Sunday, April 4, 2010

The Amazing Egg Hunt

Just have to brag, because once again, I've come up with a brilliant idea (it's rare enough that it's worthy of note). I know that some of you are fans of "The Amazing Race"--those of you who have at least seen the show will appreciate this more than others.


So each year, we send our children on an Easter egg hunt. We generally will send them on a treasure-style hunt, where they are given a clue to an egg, which contains the next clue to the next egg, which contains the next clue, and on until they reach the end. Sometimes there's a grand prize at the end, and others there isn't, but it's all fun.


You may have noticed that I'm in a bit of a funk these days, so I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to put it all together this year--inspiration and creativity is key. So I hadn't really been thinking about it a whole lot until yesterday when the threat of disappointing my kids spurred me to action. Zap, an idea popped into my head, and The Amazing Egg Hunt was born. Really, it was so simple, and the boys had a great time with it. Code-man's already been telling me what the Easter Bunny can do to make it better next year...I didn't bother to tell him that it was the best the Easter Bunny could do in the circumstances, and by the way, the E.B. was freaking out as she was outside hiding clues at 11:30 last night...


If you don't care, you can stop reading now, but I'm mighty proud of this egg hunt, so I'm going to list the clues we used below (there are some pictures down there, so maybe you at least want to scroll through).




Welcome to the Amazing Egg Hunt!
On the hunt, you will be working as a team of three to complete your tasks and bring you to the pit stop and the big prize. You must collect your eggs and clues in the provided basket and not make a big mess when searching for your clues. The person who finds the clue must let someone else open it.
To begin your adventure, make your way to Bubby’s room and search for your next egg.

Detour
All team members must make their way to one of three showers, then wash their hair and body and dry off. Once all members of the team are dressed in their Easter finery, you will receive your next clue.

Route Info
All team members must now make their way to the sandbox, where you will search for your next egg.

Detour
Team members must weave through the provided cones carrying an egg on a spoon (Bubby can just carry the egg). If the egg is dropped, the team member must start over. When this task is completed, you will receive your next clue.

Road Block
Choose one team member to climb into the fort, out on to the monkey bars, retrieve an egg, and slide down the slide (the other team members can slide down the slide, too, if they want).

Route Info
Make your way to the living room, where you will search for your next egg.


Detour
Each team member needs to pick up and put away the number of toys they are old (so Code-man puts away 9 toys, etc). These can be from anywhere, upstairs or downstairs. You will receive your next clue when all of the toys have been put away (all the way away where they belong).

Road Block
Team members must now collect the garbage and recycling from the following areas:
C & L’s room
Kitchen (under sink)
Upstairs bathrooms
Bubby’s room.
Once the garbage and recycling has been collected, place it into the appropriate bins, and take the bins out to the road. Once the bins are in place, you may search for your next egg.

Route Info
Make your way to the garden, where you will search for your next egg.

Road Block
Two team members must make their way to the tree fort, climb up, and yell “Happy Easter” as loud as they can. When the task is complete, you will receive your next clue

Detour
All team members must now ride their bikes down the bike path to where the “Lake” should be, where you will search for your next egg. After you find your egg, return your bikes to the garage.

Route Info
Make your way to the basketball court, where you will search for your next egg.

Detour
Each team member must make the same number of baskets as they are old. When all the baskets have been made, you will receive your next clue.

Road Block
Team members must now make their way into the house while balancing a marshmallow peep on their head (Code-man—no hands; Logo—one hand; Bubby—two hands). When you have reached the laundry room, eat your peep and search for your next clue.

Route Info
Make your way to the Pit Stop in the Living Room. Happy Easter!


They were the first team to arrive (of course), and as winners of this leg of the race, they won Easter baskets filled with edible and inedible goodies.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *



Went to the zoo on Saturday--it was a lovely day. For once, the tiger was moving--I think we've only ever seen him sleeping. The snow leopard and cougar (puma/mt. lion) were out, too--I didn't believe they actually existed until yesterday.


Guess what our favorite treat at the zoo (and amusement parks, and festivals, and parades, and the circus, and...) is!

We went to the Conservatory, too. The spring flowers in the sunken garden were gorgeous--well worth the trip, if you haven't been yet. I tried and failed to get a good picture of the boys with the flowers in the background, but they enjoyed staring at the koi. I think the koi liked them, too.

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