Treasure Hunt & Last day of School

Lots of pictures today! Today was Gabriel's last day of school. (the first photo in the series.) We made it extra exciting by forgetting his and Asher's car seats in Nate's truck. So Nate went to work, and the boys and I realized, belatedly, that we had no way to get to school. So we started walkin'! Nate turned back around and made it back in time to pick us up about halfway there and drive us the rest of the way. So it was an adventurous morning! To keep up with that theme, while Gabe was in school, I drew up a detailed treasure map on a piece of paper, and went into the garden to mark the last spot on the map with a big X where I had buried a new toy I had bought for him as a "last day of school" treat. Then I placed the shovel in the dirt nearby. When he got home from school, he quickly dressed up in full pirate gear, and we followed the directions on the map....10 paces to the porch stairs, to the pirate "ship" (the hammock) where we had to sail 256 miles due Northwest to the deserted island. Then it was a trek through the jungle to the lookout tower (his playground...where I had already taped signs with skulls and crossbones that stated "PIRATES, YE BE WARNED!!!) to scan through our pirate looking glass and look for treasure ... then 10 paces due west, and .... the treasure! I can't even begin to explain to you how thrilled he was by this whole setup. He dug up his "treasure" all by himself and was sooooo excited by the Ninja Turtle action figure that was buried there. (He loves Ninja Turtles, especially Raphael, which was what this one was). His exact statement? "Maybe we can do this at the end of 5K (kindergarten) again mom!!!) The photos tell most of the story. But my little pirate king certainly had an afternoon to remember!