Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey

Her birthday in pictures…

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Let me first begin by telling you…this is not a Vicki cake.  We had a bit of a snafoo that resulted in what I am now referring to as Quest for the Cake 2010.  Yeah, this is a Teeter cake.  And I tried to make it special by getting flowers, too.  I think we did okay.

So, after the cake was found and lunch was eaten and we were mostly waiting for 4pm to start the festivities, Rachel decided to lay down for a bit…which worked out perfectly, since I needed the time to organize the scavenger hunt.  Some parents buy presents and wrap them.  End of story.  This year, I wanted to be particularly memorable.  It was, after all, her 16th birthday.

She had asked for a tree of life tattoo.  I had said NO.  She had asked for years when she could have emerald jewelry.  I had said for years that 16 seemed like a nice responsible age.  And so I went on Etsy and found the most amazing Tree of Life pendant with a matching chain.  And all the leaves on it were made from raw emeralds.  Soooo beautiful.  I hope it’s not a spoiler to say that Rachel found it and counted 47 emeralds on it.  Yup, I’m the best shopper EVER.

Well, Justin and Ashley arrived and I handed Justin the camera, asking that he record the hunt for me.  And I passed Rachel the first envelope.  I had worked diligently to make these cute rhyming clues that would lead her ALL over the neighborhood.  It worked.  They were entertained for an hour.

The first stop…the cherry tree in Ed and Laura’s back yard.  Rachel lives for spring every year so that she can get cherries.  She was going there every afternoon for a week collecting the fruit.  And luckily, Ed and Laura were very cool with that.

So, the kids read that clue.

Rachel: Does this mean that I have to go to the greenway?

me: What do you think?

It was about 90 degrees out.  Mwah ha ha.

Before they left, I whispered to Ashley where the clue was hidden.  I didn’t want them stuck there forever.  And I knew Ashley wouldn’t let Rachel suffer for too long.  I’d love to give you a picture from that leg of the journey, but Justin didn’t take any.

About twenty minutes later, they came trecking back to the house.  I had hidden the next clue int he fridge.  And I had assumed that by then they would need a drink.  See, there was a method to my madness.

Then it was back down the road where I had hidden a clue down the storm drain.  We had a stray cat that Rachel had named Tinkerbell who lived there at one time.  Justin and Ashley stepped in to help her find that clue.  She somehow missed the tape and the dangling envelope.

Then it was back up a tree.  There was a tree in our old back yard that Rachel used as her reading tree.  She would disappear and suddenly I’d find she’d climbed out her window, usually with a pillow and a book to read.  She loved it up there.  And clearly, she didn’t mind these climbing clues.

Once she had that one figured out, she came traipsing back down the road.  HE had helped me hide this clue in the center of the pool.  It was in a baggie weighed down by stones.  Well done, huh.

Rachel went into the pool fully clothed to get it.

Okay, she may have had some help.  I couldn’t resist.  And in my defense, she was the one standing at the top of the ladder, staring at the clearly visible clue, instead of simply grabbing the skimmer.

I think she wanted to go in.  I think she just needed that little extra nudge to get going.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Her last clue brought her to poor Babbit.  I had hidden the present under the hutch.  It was mostly visible, but she still made a bid deal about having to rummage through rabbit poo.  Have I mentioned that she’s something of a drama queen?

That’s how the hunt ended.

The rest of the day there was much laughter and pool play and food and fun.  Some of the neighbors came over for dinner.   Some of the neighbors stayed for the UFC fight.  Some friends came over for the fight.  Some friends stayed over.

It was a very memorable birthday.  It was a fun night.  And even though I am sad for Rachel every year that her birthday falls on a holiday weekend and I feel like she’s missing out on having a big party…I’m rather glad it’s a long weekend and I get a chance to unwind after.

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

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