Birthday Part 1: Scavenger Hunt

So almost a month has gone by and I have yet to post on the great fun we had on a special little boy's 3rd birthday.  What can I say, this month has been a little crazy and I've been a bit, well- uninspired.  But we did have a great time for his birthday- so here it is (part I anyway)

I remember the consistent highlight of my birthdays growing up was a scavenger hunt that my parents would always create for me.  The would come up with great little limerick clues that would lead me from hiding spot to hiding spot.  I don't remember very many of my actual presents- but I remember the thrill of following the clues.

Since at three my little guy isn't so much reading yet, I decided to go with visual clues for our scavenger hunt.  I took pictures of things he would recognize from in and around our house

cut out small circles from each

and hot-glued the circles to some saved up juice concentrate lids to give the tokens a little bit of heft.

Then on the big day, I hid them in order so that one clue led to the next and when he woke up from his nap gave him the very first clue and explained the puzzle.

It took him a few clues to catch on, but then he was off!

 

The clues led him to the fantastic excavator-sand-box that was a present from Gramma.  

We put a wrapped up match-box car with each clue to add incentive, but in retrospect I didn't like the way he felt hurried to disregard each of these gifts along the way.  I felt like we were teaching him ungratefulness.  So if I were to do it again, I might go with a hershey kiss or some other small treat along the way.