Treasure Hunting (on a budget)

Megows love treasure hunting. We do it quite often (especially when it's cool outside). There are many different kinds we have done: Following a big treasure map (see video below), scavenger hunts, hidden clues, puzzle types, etc. They just love figuring things out that lead to a big surprise.

Actually, this hunt was one of the firsts, and 

the one that really got the kids interested in Treasure Hunts.

We've also done a variety of different treasures, sometimes the treasure is just some pictures I have printed out of their favorite characters or people. It's a great way to get the kids running around outside, excited, and entertained for very little money. Normally, they are pretty random and silly, so it's right up our alley.

We hadn't done one in awhile, so I figured this weekend would be a great time to do one. When I was trying to plan it out, I was brainstorming on a way to make it new and different from things we have done before. Suddenly, I got a fun idea so I explained it to the kids and they absolutely loved it. So I wanted to share it with everyone.

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1) CONCEPTION AND PLANNING

The first thing we did was instead of dad planning out the map and the clues, I let the kids each draw their own "map". I told them this was going to be an imagination hunt, so just draw or write anything they like, but to not explain their map to anyone. When we get to the park, each person will explain their own map and everyone would figure out how to solve it together. Typically, we do our hunts on a separate day than the day we make the map. It draws out the fun and really gets them excited for the next day. Plus, it's a super easy way to get them to bed that night... "Ok guys, let's go to sleep because tomorrow is our TREASURE HUNT!!" Works like a charm every time ;) 

My little group of cartographers

Stevie helping Olive

2) STARTING THE HUNT

We were supposed to do it yesterday, but Titus wasn't feeling well, so we had to postpone until today. So after church, we dropped off a birthday present (Happy Birthday Bowen George Southerland!) and headed off to our 'secret park' for the hunt. Now since it's normally just me, once we get the park, I make the kids turn around and close their eyes while I go and find a place to hide the treasure box. After the box was hidden, We figured out the order of who would present and explain their map. 

Showing off their maps and ready to start!!

(The sun was bright so they didn't want to look at the camera)

3) TITUS'S MAP

We decided Titus would do first. We all gathered around and listen to Titus explain his map to evereyone. Of course, it was power ranger themed. The first thing Titus said is we needed to find things to make his Power Rangers "the real Red Rangers". So we thought for a bit and Stevie shouted "Let's find Red Leaves!" and off they went.

Explaining his map

Hunting for red leaves

Stevie found most of the red leaves. She is a pro finder.

After we found red leaves to complete the rangers, Titus said we needed to find a sword. I said before we could find the "real" sword, we had to find the Power Rangers's Morpher or he wouldn't be able to use his sword. He agreed. After hunting for a few minutes for Power Ranger Morpher, Neela found one of our family favorites "Bomb Seeds". These little berries will shoot slime and seeds if you squeeze them. So we all shot of a Bomb Seed together and it landed next to an acorn. Titus told everyone that this acorn was the Morpher and the sword must be near a lot of acorns somewhere in the park (These little hunts are normally just a lot of imagination and making up little clues on the fly). 

A "Bomb Seed" before popping

The inside of a "Bomb Seed" and the little seed that shoots out

So ran around looking for a large group of acorns with a stick on it. We found one pretty easily. We had completed Titus's map!

4) NEELA'S FIRST MAP

Neela made two maps. (Side note, the night before everyone else finished their map in about 10 minutes. Neela sat there coloring for like 30 minutes and sneakily chuckling to herself "This map is going to be so so tricky.."

Neela explained to us that we needed to find "an animal but not a bug" in the park. So we ran around looking for an animal. No luck, we couldn't find anything. I figured she would get frustrated, but she never did. Finally, she started to laugh... "HAHAHA, Tricked you! We have to looked in the 'secret field'. So we ran over to the secret field and started to look for a few minutes. Luckily, dad figured she would want us to find something about animals, so I snuck a feather in my pocket and dropped in an area she was looking ;)  Soon, they found the feather and were ecstatic. That completed Neela's first map.

Neela explaining her "tricky" map

Neela- "Olive! An acorn is not an animal!"

Olive- "I love it. It's pretty"

Finding the strategically placed feather ;)

Adding her map and clues to the completed section.

5) STEVIE'S MAP

We all gathered around Stevie for her to explain her map and what we needed to do to solve it. Stevie explained that her map was a picture of our old bearded dragon Alabama that died a few months ago (click here for the post about Alabama's passing). She explained her map said we all needed to pray for Alabama in heaven and share our favorite memory of him. 

Everyone praying

 This was just the sweetest thing and made me smile so big seeing the kids praying on the hunt. 

My favorite part was that it was all Stevie's idea :)

Once we did that, I asked Stevie what kind of clue we need to place on her map. She suggested making a cross because Alabama is in heaven with Jesus, so we did that. 

The cross we made

Sweet Stevie :)

6) OLIVE'S MAP

Well, Olive's map didn't really make much sense. Just like everything else in life, she just said her map was Minnie Mouse. So Titus said me and him would find things to make a Minnie Mouse and the girls could find a flower since Minnie loves flowers. 

Everyone took a turn trying to decipher Olive's map

"Dad, this just looks like throw-up."

hahahaha

She found a pretty flower

Acorn Minnie Mouse and her white flower

After that, I figured it would just be easier to say Olive's was done than to stand there and try to decipher any other hidden meanings :)

7) NEELA'S SECOND "EXTRA TRICKY" MAP 

Neela informed us that her last map was "extra tricky". She said we needed to find a "snake pit", followed by a "Nature Adventure", and lastly head into the "Bamboo Forrest" to find a piece of Magic Bamboo.

I explained to Neela that I doubt we could find a snake pit, but we could probably find a vine or stick that looked like a snake. That seemed to make her happy. Shortly after, Olive found the "snake stick". Neela then lead us into the woods for her "Nature Adventure". We just walked around while Neela pointed out different things she knows about nature. She showed us a spiderweb and explained what kind of spider it was "An Orb Weaver because it makes golden webs" (No clue if that was right, but we enjoyed her explaining it.) Finally, we made our way into the Bamboo Forrest and found the Magic Bamboo. 

She took off running before I could take a picture of her last map

Finding the Snake Stick

"Nature Adventure" 

The magic bamboo stick - on the right

The completed map with all of the "clues"

This means we were done with all the maps! So we put them all together with all of the clues we had found. (In my head, I was trying to figure out how to piece together these random things and try to give some clues about the Treasure Box's location). 

Stevie and Neela took a stab at figuring out the clues first. My favorite thing about kids is their imagination and just general faith that things work out for good. So after examining the clues, they concluded that the treasure box was hidden in a dove's nest. So I let them run around looking up in trees for a little while. Eventually, they came back and concluded we needed to re-evaluate the clues. Well, since I knew they were familiar with all of the hiding spots of this park and that the clues would just be random things we found on the hunt, I planned ahead and hid the box somewhere that could be related to pretty much anything on the planet but they wouldn't find easily. So I needed to figure out a way to explain all of this stuff. We started with the cross. "Where did you guys learn about the cross?"... "Church!".... "Ok, now let's look at everything else. How do all of these clues and church fit together?" 

It didn't take them long before they took off sprinting for the van. (I never actually hid it. I just left it under the driver's side seat). I knew this would work because we have a million "pieces of nature" stored in various compartments, under seats, and in cup holders of the van. We currently have a cup holder in the back dedicated to acorns. It's just how the Megows roll (If you are curious about the famous Megow van, click here for the post dedicated completely to our family member with four wheels).

They figured it out

It's always a big source of pride "finding the box". 

Titus found it this time.

There was another family at the park. So we made some new friends,

and they joined us part of the hunt

Opening the box

The treasures. I already had some of this stuff, so I just bought a few treats to go along with it.

We also got to split the candy into a bag to send home with our new friends

(Don't worry my kids didn't eat all of their candy in one sitting)

I FOUND THE TREASURE BOX!!

Stretchy, rubber bugs are always a hit with my kids.

It was a good day and a whole lot of fun. Another reason I like to do things like this is because it gives me a chance to get on the kid's level. Just acting silly and doing random things that don't really make any sense besides the fact that they are just fun.

Be blessed and hope you can enjoy your own treasure hunt soon :)

Seth

Application for "Seth's Significant Other" Position

Some "Adult" Funny Stories - 'Male Lingerie' and 'The Horrors of Umbros'

Disclaimer: 

This post has some adult themed humor. If you believe you might be offended or feel uncomfortable reading that type of thing, please skip over this post. I really don’t want to offend anyone.

So it’s Friday night and I want to tell my two of my favorite stories. Both of these stories happened before the kids, but I just want to share them anyways.  Again, they are not for children J

The first happened quite a few years back… I have always been heavily involved in church, specifically skits, dramas, or anything that involves me being able to crack some jokes ;) This particular church drama was an Easter performance. It was portraying the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  I was assigned to be a roman soldier. If my memory serves correctly there were maybe three of us? Anyways, one thing that most people know that have participated in church production usually knows is that the wardrobes typically aren’t custom made for each person. Sometimes they are, but most of the ones I have been involved, I was just given a random costume and hoped it fit.

“Don’t worry it will fit. All of our costumes are One-Size-Fits-All.”

As a somewhat tall man, my roman soldier was a little short in the top and the bottom. So during the dress rehearsal, I felt somewhat embarrassed that my man skirt armor thing was kinda short so I kinda of pulled it a little lower around the waist so everyone at the rehearsal wouldn’t be staring at my pasty white, scrawny thighs.

Most of the play involved me just standing there looking “tough”. Hahaha.  So I just continued to stand there rocking my tough guy face (side note: I’m better at funny roles. I just laugh the whole time if it’s serious). So at the very end, the other roman soldiers and I put Jesus in the tomb and stood guard. When the angel appeared and rolled the stone away, we were supposed to just kinda fall to our knees facing forward and bend over with our hands on the ground. So I did that; however I got the feeling that something is a little off, so sit sitting on my knees and facing forward with my upper body stretched out, I kind of turned my head and see some sweet old ladies just staring at me with their faces pale and in utter shock. In my head, I’m racing through my mind on what the heck they were staring at me for. Suddenly it hit me…

I’m not trying to get too graphic or reveal too much, but when me and Crissy were married we loved to do fun, silly things like dare each other to do stuff or just do fun things to keep out married life “spiced up”. For a gag gift for my wife, I bought these pretty much dental floss man thongs. I would always put them on at night to make her laugh. Anyways, when we were leaving for the dress rehearsal, she dared me to wear them. I said heck no because they were super uncomfortable and I only wore them as a joke for her. She countered with she would give me a special “treat” when we got home. So of course, I said yes.

Back to story, I realize that since my armor pants thing was hiked down so I wouldn’t be showing off my upper legs and my armor vest was so short, I was pretty much mooning the entire line of “angels” behind me. The angels were made up of mostly older women in the church. Not only was pretty much the entire half of my butt hanging out, but I had this black, leather thong stretched to the max finding its way up my lower back. I remember this moment so vividly; this dress rehearsal was ALMOST over. So should I just stay there and hope no one else notices or should I try to roll around in this tiny costume trying to stand up and draw more attention to myself. All of this while, the angel is announcing that the Savior of the world has risen from the dead. I guess the situation was too much and I just busted out laughing. Like ultra-hard laughing. I felt all of the eyes of every cast member just being drawn to the sexiness radiating out of the Roman Soldier’s backside.  It was one of my favorite church skit memories.

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My next story, believe it or not, is a little more graphic. Be warned. It takes place back when I was probably in seventh grade. That is back in the days of Umbro shorts and Adidas sandals.  My mom took me to the dentist because I had a cavity. So my mom just sat in the waiting room and I walked back to the room. I guess it was a pretty bad cavity because the dentist told me he was going to give me “laughing gas”. I had heard of it but never had it before. So when he said it, I got really excited because I thought I would just think everything was funny and laugh the entire time. He put the mask on me and turned on the gas. The dentist told me that the gas would take a few minutes to take affect so he was going to leave me in the chair to check on other patient. So the dentist and his assistant walked out of the room. They told me they would be back in about 5 or 10 minutes.

So I’m just sitting there with the chair reclined, so my lower body is kind of higher in the air. I’m just chilling looking around the room and waiting to start laughing. I guess the gas hit me, because after a minute or two I just zoned out. Remember I said this was when I was in middle school. The golden age of raging hormones. Anyways, as I’m looking around I glance down to find my hormones were completely raged, if you get my drift J hahaha. Sometimes at that age, it just happened for no apparent reason. So I’m sitting there somewhat high on laughing gas with a clearly evident bulge. I start kind of rolling and shifting my body in a way that might hide the thunder, but to no avail. Then I tried focused concentration, hoping that I could mentally make this situation would subside. Well, that didn’t work either. Finally, I had no choice but try to position things were it wouldn’t be so evident for the crew of dental health care professionals that were going to be entering the door any minute. I think I sat there for 2 or 3 straight minutes trying to arrange things in a less obvious way, and then I realized that this task is a physical impossibility in Umbros. 

 Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

By now, I am freaking out. I couldn’t really think straight due the laughing gas, so I couldn’t really make a clear decision on what to do. Suddenly to make matters worse, I hear footsteps coming down the hallway to my room. Then it hit me. It was now or never, and I would just have to do the waistband tuck and let my shirt do the hiding for me. I can hear the dentist and his assistant talking and laughing as they get closer and closer to my room. So in the blink of an eye, I quickly removed the “problem” for its current position and hid it under my waistband and pulled my big shirt over it… Yes!! It worked! Problem solved. No one would be the wiser. I just would have to sit through the most awkward and strange tooth filling of my life. So I’m just sitting there in the chair thinking how I dodged a MAJOR bullet, when suddenly I hear a noise come from behind me. I turn my head to find a 20 something year old female dental assistant who just witnessed the entire chain of events and is now just staring at me in complete disbelief. I guess I forgot they probably couldn’t just leave a kid hooked up to a controlled substance in a room by himself. Hahahaha. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve tried to picture how this sequence of events happened from her perspective. So there we are just looking each other dead in the eye, both horrified. We are still looking at each other when the dentist and the other assistance walk in. Needless to say that dental assistant left the room and I NEVER saw her again. I mean for the rest of my life, I never saw her again. Hahaha

“Who’s the next patient?” “Let’s see… its Seth Megow”  “Ooohhh… I just remembered I volunteered to fit dentures for homeless cats at the shelter. I’ll be back in an hour.”

On the bright side, the sheer terror of our eyes locking calmed “the situation” down. So I sat quietly for the remainder of the procedure just imagining the stories being told about me in the break room. When the filling was done, I briskly walked to the lobby to find my mom cheerful and smiling about her son’s new oral health. She asked, “How was it?”… “Fine. I’m going to wait in the car.”

I don’t think I have ever told my mom this story before. What a better way to find out than on the internet. Love you Denise J

-Seth

Neela the "Aminal Helper" Inventor

Neela has been convinced that being a zoologist was her calling in life for quite some time. However, last night I found her rustling around the house and organizing a bunch of random things on the kitchen table. I asked her what she was doing and she informed that she no longer wanted to be a zoologist but rather an "aminal" inventor. She was preparing everything for her first invention.

I got so pumped at this idea. However, it was late so I told her we could do it after school today. All day at work, I was so pumped to get home and get started. Right when I picked her up and raced in the door and immediately began finishing up her equipment collecting and gathering. I asked what she would be inventing today for her first ever invention .She wanted to create a: "Nature Potion Collector" *patent pending

Titus eagerly agreed to be her assistant and they asked me to document the process, so she can put it in her book "Neela's Nature Inventions". By now I'm freaking out excited. I LOVE the idea of my kids using their creativity combined with nature to do and create things.  Titus were super excited too and agreed to be her helper. Before we started Neela wanted to put on her most beautiful dress... just because ;)

The following is going to be a step by step instructional guide on creating and using her invention which will be the first chapter in her book.  Disclaimer: This was all Neela's idea, but she did have dad help with some parts (mostly cutting, taping, and building the strainer piece. Each process and piece of equipment was CAREFULLY planned by Neela herself. Enjoy!

Part I: Preparing the Ingredients for Extraction

Step 1 - Organize all of the necessary tools and ingredients

Step 2 - Categorize and sort by plant type

Step 3 - Wash each ingredient carefully and separately

Step 4 - The mandatory spaghetti break

Step 5 - Arrange by type and dry

Hand drying with a sponge roller. This girl is serious about her work :)

Step 6 - Once dryed, collect ingredients and prepare for crushing

(It's amazing how beautiful nature is. All this was just in our front yard :D )

Step 7 - Crush ingredients and load into potion extractor capsule

Neela using her custom made "smasher"

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Part II: Using "Nature Potion Collector"

Please note: I was under strict orders to not take any pictures during the construction process.

"Inventors don't tell people how they make their inventions" - Neela

"The Nature Potion Collector"

She wanted to make it on wheels, 

so it would be portable and be able to take it to the park.

The spout to add the "secret ingredient"

This mixes with the crushed leafs and flowers to produce our potion!

Here's a short 12 second video of her invention in action!

After extraction, add bubbles to complete the potion

FINAL PRODUCT!!!

Needless to say, I had a blast with my little inventor and her helper. :)

Be Blessed,

Seth