Icky Padidddlekins

Okay, so technically my buddy Isaac turned 7 nine days ago, but hey who's counting? His actual birthday was the day of the Draper Temple Dedication which was a busy day to say the least, so we didn't get around to having his birthday party until a week later.

He wanted an Indiana Jones theme.

Huh?

So first to the guest list. Ideally, I wanted about 7 or 8 guests since they are after all 6 and 7-year-old boys, but it got tricky. There are 12 boys his age just in our neighborhood; there are 10 in his Primary class; there are 15 in his school class. There must have been something in the water back in 2001 that resulted in a surge of testosterone around these parts. So I asked him who he wanted to invite, and he of course picked the kids in his school class. Against my better judgment, I decided to let him invite ALL the boys from school. I figured a Saturday morning party would mean that several of them would have ball games and other activities that would conflict. And I was right. Only 12 of them managed to make it to the party.

If you're ever going to host an Indiana Jones themed party, just be warned. You're not going to find anything in the stores to help you out. So this is what we did. When the guests arrived, they were put to work making their own pizzas. We had delicious toppings for them like chilled monkey brains, and sliced baby cobras. We had "Raiders of the Lost Ark" playing in the background so that as they finished their pizzas at different rates, there was something to occupy their attention until all the guests had arrived. Ah, sweet television.

After the pizzas were done and cooking in the oven, we gathered and read the letter that Indiana Jones had left along with a piece of a map leading to a treasure. The map directed them to the first game where they had to wrap two mummies (with toilet paper) in order to discover the next piece of the map.

From there, they were directed outside to a hazardous obstacle course. If they were successful, the next piece of the map would be revealed. The obstacles included blowdarts, (q-tips dipped in paint and blown through a straw at a target) a walk across lettered blocks, (ala "Last Crusade") a snake pit, (the trampoline covered in rubber snakes they had to navigate around) a rolling boulder, (Cory with a beach ball) digging for diamonds in the lost "ark" (a cooler filled with sand and golfballs), and a run with a chalice. About halfway through, Zachary remarked, "This is a lot more fun than I thought it would be."

One of the "diamonds" had the clue to the next piece of the map. It led them to the first clue to a treasure hunt. The clues were all cut up into puzzle pieces, so they had to assemble the clue, read it, then search for the next puzzle. I left Cory in charge of this while I set up lunch. This turned out to be the trickiest part because as it turns out it is physically impossible for thirteen 6 and 7-year-olds to work together to assemble a puzzle. Somehow or other, they finally managed to find the "treasure" which was a treasure chest birthday cake.

(I forgot to take a picture until after the candles had been blown out and the cake had been cut.)

We had just enough time to eat lunch (pizza and "bug juice"), cake and ice cream, and open presents. All involved had a good time...with the exception of Anna who was mad the whole day because she was not allowed to participate.

Our birthday boy is such an easy-going, cheerful child to have around. He is purely a joy. He is a friend to everyone; especially his little sister, Anna. He is one of those people who it is always comfortable to have around. He is compliant and happy and good.

Happy birthday Isaac!