ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

Blake's birthday is today but on Friday he kept saying "nobody is even thinking about my birthday!" He was very worried that we didn't have plans but we definitely did!

Starting Saturday morning, Blake had requested that I make bacon and Mickey-shaped pancakes. Easy enough.


Then we told him he could pick where we ate lunch. He chose Freddy's Custard because it's his favorite, especially because of the fries. When we were wrapping up our lunch, I gave Blake a card signed by the three of us. The card had flaps in it with jokes written on them which Blake methodically read through. He loooves jokes.


The card also said that we'd be going on a GPS scavenger hunt and his first clue was enclosed. The clue said to go to specific coordinates and look under the big metal sunflower for the next item.

He programmed the GPS very quickly (none of the rest of us know how to do it with the coordinates) and we were on our way.

The coordinates led us to a parking lot at Sedgwick County Park and after searching for a bit, Blake spotted the windmill (sunflower) and his gift under it.



It was windy and cold so we headed back to the van quickly for Blake to open his gifts and read his next clue. The gifts were a couple of books - one of them a Klutz book about building contraptions and the other a book w/laces to help learn to tie shoelaces. The clue gave some coordinates for the next stop and said to look under a sign when you get there.

Payton thinks she's a gift.


These coordinates led us to a spot in a rural kind of area and then Blake walked to the sign for his next gift and clue.


This gift was a Rainbow in my Room that Blake's been wanting forever. He shrieked with excitement at getting it. The clue indicated that we should go to a specific address and then ask for an envelope with Blake's name on it.

That address led us to Imagine That toy store - my favorite toy store in Wichita but not one the kids had ever been to.


They had his envelope behind the counter and were expecting him today!


The envelope contained a clue for the next stop as well as a gift certificate for the store. The clue indicated that Blake should shop and then proceed to the next stop which would be the last.

He loved the toy store and enjoyed looking for things to buy. He spent exactly the amount of the gift certificate and then Payton bought him one other thing he wanted with her own money.


The clue that Blake got here said to go to a specific address and said that address would be the last stop. It also said to ask for a bag at the desk.

The address led us to a hotel.


The man at the desk was expecting Blake and knew right where to find his bag.


The tag on the bag said to get your room key because we'd be spending the night! Blake LOVES hotels so this was especially exciting. He still hadn't opened the bag to see what was inside. He waited until we got to our room to do that. The kids were SO excited about the room because it was so nice. It was a suite that included a kitchenette and had a total of 3 beds. It's the #1 best rated hotel in Kansas on Tripadvisor.com and affordable as well. Loved it, highly recommend it, stay there if you are ever in town.

His favorite snack - Fudge Brownies with nuts. I never buy them so this was a special treat.


More treats and finally, the Zero Gravity Racer he wanted most of all! He was so happy because he had planned to spend his own money and a gift card on it.


Andy and I got our luggage and Blake's gifts from the car. We explored the hotel, checked out some free DVDs from the front desk and then Blake wanted time to play with his new things and Payton wanted to watch a movie. I took the opportunity to take a nap since I was still feeling the effects of the meds I came off of.

Once I got up, it was dinner time and we headed to Red Robin for dinner. Fun time and good food. We came back to the hotel and swam for a while and then came back for showers and ended the night with a movie. It had been a GREAT time and Blake was so happy about his "totally awesome" day. His happiness was apparent:


Sunday we woke up and had the free breakfast buffet at the hotel and Blake was concerned that we weren't going to have cake or balloons for his "real" birthday. After we got back home, I headed to the grocery store like I always do on Sunday and made sure to get things to celebrate his birthday at home.

Dinner was Blake's favorite meal, Indonesian Chicken (chicken with fresh green beans and a peanut sauce) and a cookie cake for dessert.



Fantastic weekend for a fantastic boy. Happy 7th birthday Blake!