独家优惠奖金 100% 高达 1 BTC + 180 免费旋转

Treasure Match

Judah turns four this Sunday. We’re having a small party in a nearby park. Pam has organized everything; the kids, the place, the cake, the theme.

To invite everyone, she used her PaperlessPost app. She likes the designs and electronic efficiency. But mostly the design part.

(Oh, did I mention my wife’s a copywriter? And that my son can watch construction workers in reflective vests and hard hats dig up our alley ALL DAY LONG?)

“What do you think?” asked Pam.

“Nice,” I said. “I dig it.”

And that was it. I didn’t need to suggest another color, font, or piece of clip art. I know enough not to be the client because:

“It’s gonna be a digger themed scavenger hunt,” she continued.

“Cool.”

In the various hard drives of my mind, I’m sure there’s data to confirm I’ve participated in a scavenger hunt. But I was blanking. However, I didn’t question it because:

And I didn’t question the digger theme either because:

However, last night Pam and I were lying in bed…

Steve: I picked up some cars, bubbles, and other stuff for the scavenger hunt. They’re in the closet.

Pam: Cool. Thanks for doing that.

Steve: Duh.

Beat.

Steve: Um, so how is this supposed to work? Are we going to bury stuff in the park and then the kids dig it up?

Pam:

Steve: Like do we need to get them trowels?

Pam:

Steve: And then is everything dirty? Like will there be dirt on all the toys?

Pam: Um.

Steve:

Pam: I thought we could just hide stuff and the kids could find it? Or maybe just place things in the grass?

Beat.

Steve: Ok, well, how is that different than scattering a bunch of toys around the yard and singing the Clean Up song?

(While my wife is laughing and unable to catch her breath, please allow me to take a moment to point out that when I was a kid, there was no Clean Up song. At least not that I remember. But now having kids of my own, I am VERY AWARE of the Clean Up song because I use it ALL the time. It goes like this:

But I digress. And Pam’s almost able to form words now.)

Pam: I don’t know! (Laughter)

Steve: Well, we should probably-

Pam: It was Nola’s idea! She thought it would be fun! (Laughter)

Steve: I see. So did our seven year old daughter write something up, or present you with a Powerpoint on how-

Pam: Stop! (Laughter) I can’t! (Laughter) Breathe! (Laughter)

Steve: Maybe I should just go above you and talk to Nola about how-

Pam: Stop! (Laughter)

Steve: Well, we should figure this out. Maybe tomorrow I’ll-.

Pam: Just be glad there’s no piñata! (Laughter)

Steve: Yes. Well, tomorrow I’ll google about scavenger hunts.

Pam: Ok. (Long breath out) Thank you.

Full disclosure: Pam’s right about the piñata. We can go through almost a dozen piñatas a year if we’re not careful. Nola’s birthday, Pam’s birthday, my birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, etc. Nola is ALL ABOUT a piñata.

Fuller disclosure: Turns out a scavenger hunt is a bit involved. It suggests a list of clever clues. Which means it also suggests all participants can read. So I think we might go with some kind of treasure hunt with a hand drawn map.

Fullest disclosure: Yes, I’m totally looking forward to the party because:

ADDENDUM:

Totally had my Pinterest Dad Hat on today, tall and oversized. I took Solo cups — sets of 5 with the same sticker, and put different party favors in each — Matchbox car, bubbles, dinosaurs, etc. And then placed them randomly around the area near the party. Then each kid got an index card with a sticker that they had to find/match to their 5 cups.

BOOM! Treasure Match was born!!!

The kids actually seemed to dig it — so to speak. No eye rolls or yawns, just a bunch of unjaded children racing around looking for their cups.

“I found a butterfly! Who has butterfly?!”

Afterward I was hanging with some of the dads.

Steve: At first I’m watching the kids and I’m like, damn, this is actually working. But now that I’ve thought about it, this is pretty much just Easter, right?

Kevin: No, I think you took it up a level with the stickers.

Perry: Plus the egalitarian aspect of everyone getting the same thing. There’s no hoarding.

Steve: So it’s a win?

Nick: For sure.

PRO TIP: If you decide to do TREASURE MATCH, fill ALL the sets of cups in one place, rearrange them, and THEN distribute them around the area so you’re not going back and forth and back and forth. Unless you need more steps for your Fitbit…

Every time you click that clap a puppy gets a belly scratch, an ear rub, AND a handful of super yummy crunchy puppy treats. But if you don’t, it gets the hose again. Just saying…

Add a comment

What is your view?

Send

Related posts:

Future of Social Media

It was the early 1980s and the man looked out his apartment window at the San Francisco Bay. Lights from ships dotted the harbor, framed by a setting sun. He sipped a glass of wine and looked with…

How Birthdays can be Used to Enrich Lives

Birthdays are one of those strange traditions we have. Whereas with Thanksgiving, we stuff ourselves silly and shop until we pass out the next day, birthdays compel friends to do most whatever the…

Metaprogramming

Metaprogramming can help make your code contain less repetition, and improve code readability. And in some cases it can make you feel like a wizard.