Monday, May 18, 2015

Simple Birthday Treasure Hunt




In our home, we celebrate birthdays... but we do not have huge celebrations... and we do not spend a lot of money on our celebrating. We do a few simple things that mean something.... and this daughter LOVES having a birthday treasure hunt. :)








 It isn't elaborate...  I just use some small papers - maybe 3" x 3"... and I write Happy Birthday on them...  I use various markers and lettering... maybe some stickers or other messages.



The paper is usually pink because... she LOVES pink! :)

I used to use yellow post-it notes so we could stick them to the walls, mirrors and other places.  Since we have to hide them multiple times, the "sticky" wore off too quickly... now I use regular paper and cut it up... then use tape... just one small piece on the top. Easy.  :)

I like to have these all done and in place before she gets up in the morning... and she loves hunting for these notes.  This year, I made 36 of them... and I think that is about what we did last year.

I started this many years ago, with just a couple of notes.. on the bathroom mirror or refrigerator door. It was so well-received that I kept adding them until I am doing 36. Why 36? Well, because I pulled out 3 sheets and cut then into 12 each... not because I planned that, but because that is what I grabbed.  :)  I was in a rush to get this done before she got up and I was glad for my husband's help as he wrote a few of them and hid many of them.

 These are such a big deal to her...and the notes from last year have remained on her bedroom wall ALL YEAR long and will be removed so this year's notes can go up. :)

I thought that this year, she may be too old for this, so I wasn't sure if to do it or not... I'm glad we did as she still LOVES it and we ended up hiding the notes 5 or 6 times.  The whole family got in on hiding them.


She had a place on the dining room wall where she collected them and kept counting them and going to look for more..... 

A few times, her brothers took a few from the wall... and hid them again before she was done...   :) 


These were hidden in many rooms... a few even made it outside.


We have had to get more creative in hiding these... I have always put them where at least a bit of the note was showing, without totally obscuring it, but this year, her brothers challenged her more... they totally hid them... in cupboards, under pictures and more. She loved it. 

I am so thankful that all of the family gets involved in such a simple little game...  a game that goes on throughout a day or two around her birthday. It isn't an "official" party....  it is just loving her and having fun with her.

She had trouble finding a couple of them... but she kept looking... sometimes I would tell her there was still one in a certain room.

Her dad wrote a few of the notes... and of course, he helped to hide them.  :)



I think we will probably continue our simple birthday treasure hunt... at least for her.... until she tires of it, which may be a few more years yet.

We are building memories...  and that is quite special.  :)  I am so glad we have never done elaborate or expensive parties...  and I am glad our kids have learned to enjoy these simple birthday fun times.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. :)








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20 comments:

  1. What a fun way to celebrate! My parents used to do a treasure hunt with rhymes on Easter morning to help us find our Easter baskets.

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    1. It sure is fun for the kids... and a challenge to find new hiding places. :) How fun it would be to have rhymes also, like your parents did. :)

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  2. Love that! I always prefer celebrating the person and letting them know how much they are loved to having elaborate, expensive parties.

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    1. Thank you.... we do too.... it's a way of building memories, not receipts!! :)

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  3. First time to visit (I think!) and I love your pretty header. The "treasure hunt of love" sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate your daughter's birthday. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Blessings, Bess

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    1. Welcome... I am so glad you visited my blog. Thank you for your sweet comment. This treasure hunt has sure been fun here. :)

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  4. This is a lovely idea, and it is fun and meaningful things like these that our children will remember, not how expensive their gifts were. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thank you... they really do enjoy it.... the hunt is the best part of the fun for them... but then the messages have so much meaning too. :)

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  5. Great idea, I could see doing something like this for my hubby, bet she loves it!

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    1. Thank you.... I leave notes sometimes for my husband... especially when he will be home alone.. I leave them in places where he will come across them... like in the cupboard where the glasses are, on the cereal box, on the milk, on the bathroom mirror. :) We all like to know we are thought of and considered special. :)

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  6. This is so sweet and especially sweet for her since she loves it.

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    1. Thank you... it is a special treat for her. :) We all love seeing her enjoy this.

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  7. What a fun way to celebrate your daughter's birthday.

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    1. It has been fun.... and I love that it is so simple and she loves it. :)

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  8. Definitely a fun way to celebrate that gets the whole family involved! I like how the attention is not on the gifts. Thanks so much for your visit this week. It led me to your beautiful blog. Enjoy the rest of your week! ~Nora

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    1. I am so glad you found my blog and visited. :) It is fun and I love the good natured part of it where everyone is enjoying her enjoyment. Seems to be a unifying thing and builds great memories. :)

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  9. I agree what a fun and special way to celebrate your daughters birthday.Thanks for stopping by today!
    Julie xo

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    1. It really is... I need to do other treasure hunts again... they just love them. :)

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  10. What a lovely idea!
    Enjoying simple birthday fun is what make birthdays so special! :)

    Hugs,
    Mila

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    1. Thank you.... I am reminded more and more that showing someone they are special just doesn't need to be elaborate or expensive. :) Thank you for visiting. :)

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