Last year for Halloween we went to town, decorating, dressing up, only to find that no one on our street was celebrating....cue four very disappointed kids (especially Sienna who spent the evening in tears). This year I decided to do something a little different, to get them out of the house and having fun, but still keeping safe.
This afternoon I made up a series of clues for a mystery walk. I chose the Hamilton Gardens, as the girls know it pretty well, and there is a lot of space to explore. The clues all lead to various parts of the garden, like this one below Dad + {rose} = the answer? One of the little sub gardens named Roger's rose garden.
This one was of course the English garden.
And this one for the cemetery.
This one was 'Turtle Lake' the big lake in the centre of the gardens.
I number and decorated the envelopes, half would be mine and half Roger's.
Then I packed two backpacks with the envelopes, candy and a map, in case either of us forgot where to go. Unlikely, but best to be prepared.
The girls got in their costumes this afternoon, they knew I had something planned, and were trying their best to guess what it was.
Sienna as Red Riding Hood
Denver as Regina, the evil Queen from Once Upon a Time.
Madison as Snow White.
Kyla as Belle, from Beauty and the Beast.
When Rog got home he changed and then we loaded them into the car and drove to the gardens, where I finally let them in on what was going on. I gave Madison a map and my phone, and they headed off to find Roger at the first clue.
I, meanwhile, made my way to where I'd be giving them the next clue, the American Modernist Garden. And waited.
And finally they found me!!
Next clue....Turtle Lake!!
Then I went to the English garden, and got stalked by the local dove colony. They wanted my candy.
'Give me all the candy and I won't peck out your eyes!'
The girls eventually came to rescue me. Kyla was convinced they were pigeons and tried sending them on a homing mission.
At the Indian Garden I hid the clue, (we can't make things too easy now can we?) and Kyla managed to find it.
While the kids ran off to get the last clue, I ran up to the cemetery, and got comfortable behind some gravestones. When Rog brought them up, I leapt out from behind one snarling. Everyone aside from Madison got a good fright, and Denver's face was the funniest thing I have seen in ages. Totally worth an afternoon's hard work.
We figured we owed them a treat after that, so we headed to the Hog's Breath Cafe for some dinner. All in all, this Halloween was definitely a winner!
