Arrrrrg! Thar be pirates!

Did you know that crafts give me mental hives? But that my kids LOVE them? It's a conundrum that only the start of school will solve. Or if not solve, at least lessen. Until then, I'll keep muddling along, soothing my mental itches with chocolate. And ice cream. Chocolate ice cream. From Ritters.

The kids have both been involved in play groups this summer. Megan's group only has 4 girls. Jared's has 8 boys. Eight. Boys. Between 4 and 7. I'm hosting today and I'm shaking in my boots. At least I would be if I were wearing boots. But it's summer in Houston and only a crazy person would wear boots...you may see me in boots tomorrow. After play group...since I will probably be classified as a crazy person.

Jared really wanted to do something involving pirates when it was our turn to host. He's been talking about it all summer. So, he and I made pirate eye patches out of black felt and some black elastic cording. I already had the felt, and the cording was on sale at Hobby Lobby, so I only payed $0.80. That's a price I can handle. And they turned out cute. The example I saw online had white paint decorating the eye patch, and I thought about doing that during play group for about 3 seconds. Then I remembered. 8. boys. ages 4 to 7. Nope - not painting today. :D

 (Megan and Kate wanted to get in on the Pirate action as well.)

We are going to have a treasure hunt. Last night, when I sat down to write out the clues, I decided that it would be fun to write them in rhyme. Not sure what possessed me, since it took waaaaaay too long, and we are talking about 8 little boys, who aren't going to understand half the words I used. Words like "avast" and "vittles" (and since the meter is off on a couple of them, which really, really bugs me...). I tore apart a large, brown paper bag, sprayed it with water, crumpled it up, spread it out and let it dry, tore it into smaller pieces, and then wrote the clues on them with a Sharpie. In the future, I think it would work better if I got it much wetter because the wetter the paper, the softer, more supple it is when it drys. I was in a hurry and didn't want to wait for it to dry much.

Here are my clues:

1. At the end of this hunt, there be treasure for you. Go find the first clue inside Jared's shoe!
2. So far so good, ye pirates beware, find ye next clue...beneath the computer chair.
3. Ye pirates sure know a lot of fun things. Look for the next clue out by the swings.
4. Pirates do be clean and posh, find the next clue in the place where you wash.
5. Ye pirate vittles, Yer always lovin', Look where they're cooked...Thar in the oven.
6. Ye next treasure clue is not in yer head. It is where Jared sleeps...Right under the bed.
7. All pirates are warned, watch out and beware, ye next clue is...on a pirate's blue chair.
8. To find the treasure ye must see far and vast. Look for the clue out by the spy glass.
9. Ye smart pirates will find it if ye are able. Right on top of...the kitchen table.

After the treasure hunt, they can decorate their own pirate flag, make their own pirate map, or just go play.

Whew - I'm tired just writing all of this. Wish me luck!