A little birthday fun

Today was my sweetie's birthday. Last year, I really screwed things up; call it chemo brain (truly there is such a thing, and it still hasn't gone away completely) or whatever....I didn't FORGET his birthday...I just got mixed up on what day of the week we were on, and it turned out to be Friday instead of Thursday. In any case, I knew I'd hurt him, and that's just something I hate doing...to anyone I love. But I digress. Anyway....today was Austin's birthday, and I wanted to make it memorable! I'd already decided what I was going to get for him, so it was just the actual giving of the gift that I put the most effort into. Austin isn't a cake and ice cream kind of guy (what is WRONG with him???), so I made plans to cook one of his favorite meals, and I sat down with my thinking cap pulled snug. Then it hit me! We'd play a game! Not something cheesy...I wanted to be original. So...I came up with a scavenger hunt. It took quite a while...I wanted it to rhyme and be funny. But not too hard, because I wanted the kids to be involved in it. Jonathan tested it out for me, following all the clues. He did pretty well too. Think I might have to do something similar at Christmas. Drat....again, I digress. Here's the clues I put together. Maybe one of my readers will get an idea for something fun to do too! Happy Birthday Austin dear, Your gift is hidden but it's still here. Ten clues we'll give you for you to follow; We figured 37 would be too much to swallow! (Can you guess how old he is?) Here's your first, so listen now; You'll find your gift and this is how! In the room where I like to eat, look close around your favorite seat. (Have I ever shared my deep love of sitting around the dining table as a family, talking about our day as we eat? Best part of my day!) Now journey to where the books are found, Look high or low or on the ground. (We have a couple of bookshelves, but he guessed it right the first time.) Now on to the place you go to get clean When the day is over and all has been seen. (The shower.) For this fun clue you'll venture outside To the chauffeur's seat when the kids need a ride. (The driver seat of our van.) Cans and water and bottles galore, We can never have enough for us to store. (Our food storage room.) You're pretty close to the place you'll find The next clue with the silver sublime. (The silverware drawer.) Now to the place where my flowers grow But not in the house or a place where you (He had to put some effort into this one...the clue was on one of my hanging baskets on the porch.) You're almost there, keep hanging on... Next to the place where you charge your phone. (The bed...easy.) The next clue is where you will see The smiling faces of our whole family! (On the frame of our latest family photo.) Now look around, we're not being mean. Your gift is under the green cuddly thing! (It's a army green poncho liner that we use as a blanket, and was dubbed 'the green cuddly thing' by Austin himself.) So it wasn't a hard puzzle to figure out...next time I'll make it harder. (Oh yes, there will be a next time Austin!). But I had fun doing it, and the boys enjoyed watching Austin run here and there and everywhere looking for the next clue. And I'm hoping it was memorable. That's what matters most. Oh, and the gift itself? An inflatable kayak! Austin has wanted a kayak for years, and since we've started spending time up at Lake Wateree, I figured this will give us an idea of whether or not we should invest in a more sturdy one. It can accommodate single or double riders, so maybe he and I will have the chance one day soon to get out by ourselves and do some long rides. And the kids will love taking turns going out with him. So...that was his birthday, in a nutshell. Plus a good meal (shrimp Alfredo) and a trip to see Man of Steel at the theater this evening. How's all that for the start of his week off?