The view from our porch

This week we've had some "crazy" weather, which is actually typical of most Springs and Falls in Utah. We had a couple days that reached 100 degrees, then a few with lightening and rain and strong winds. We love the rain and wind and the awesome scenery that sometimes follows after.

This is the first full rainbow any of us had ever seen. Theses pictures show it from right to left. 

 Mason and Gage posing their cute and crazy faces

Secret Agent Birthday Party

Tucker turned 8 last week and he had his very first friend party ever. This was the first year since his birth that we haven't been traveling or at a family reunion, so he was pretty excited. Tucker received some spy toys for his family party so I thought doing a Secret Agent theme would be fun, and luckily he did too. We sent out invitation in manila envelopes marked "Top Secret".

 The premise of the party was that he and his friends were training to become Secret Agents and the games all centered on skills they would need to become spies. Gabe made this poster for our front door.

When the guests arrived they each received a passport with their training course

Next they were given Secret Agent code names, these were created by drawing two slips of paper from 2 jars: One with a color or adjective, like spinning, jumping, lightening etc. and one with a noun, like ninja, tiger, rider ... then we wrote their names inside their passports.

OBSERVATION SKILLS:

We played a memory game where you put several objects on a tray and let everyone look over it for a minute or two, then you take away the tray, remove 2 items, then bring the tray back. The kids had to figure out which items were missing.

ART OF DISGUISE:

The kids designed their own secret agent disguise on a sturdy paper plate, then we cut out eye holes and fastened the plates on with yarn. The kids had a fun time choosing their mustaches.

Disguise Kit by The Project Girls

TARGET PRACTICE

Using nerf guns the kids took turns shooting at the target that Tucker helped to make, which we created on a piece of styrofoam  from a refrigerator box.

LASER COURSE

I got the idea for this game from the internet, so I can't claim creative license, but it was a big hit and the kids had a lot of fun. They had to go through the course without touching the laser beams, retrieve an object, then come back through.

CLUE IDENTIFICATION

The final mission was to locate the loot. We put the loot bags in an old briefcase that looked very spyish and hid it. The objective was to find and decipher the clues that would lead them to the loot bags.

We used this QR code generator to create printable codes that would be the clues. I then downloaded a QR code reader onto my cell phone for free. When the kids found a code, I would scan it with my phone and it would generate the text clue that would lead them to the next QR code. Here is the link if you want to view the clues I created, http://goo.gl/RMSxJ

SPY CUPCAKES

Rather than making an elaborate, time consuming cake, I let the kids create their own spy cupcakes. We used the following supplies: regular and mini m&m's, jelly bellies, licorice string, chocolate sprinkles (for the stubble), and chocolate frosting to pipe on details.

(I didn't get a picture of the cupcakes we made, but this is where I got the idea from)

If you want to see any more ideas for creating a Secret Agent party, then check out these two websites frugalfamily and chickenbabies