Mission Impossible Birthday Party

Looking back, this birthday party should have been titled Amazing Race or Survivor instead of Mission Impossible. That's only because I am a perfectionist and actually care about that. The kids, however, did not care at all. I told Raya after a similar party last year that she would be able to have a few friends over for dinner and a movie and that there would not be a big huge party for her next birthday...that worked out well now didn't it?

Planning this party fell in between our Disneyland Anniversary trip, the last few days of school, which are always the busiest, including 2 all day swimming field trips, A Sunsplash field trip, 8th Grade celebration dance that I had to pick students with the best neon outfit and I had to MC the contest, and not to mention the last day of school pizza and ice cream party I volunteered to help with. So, the majority of the planning came 2 days before the actual party...it was a little rough!

The invitations went out one week before the party. I would have liked to have had them out a little earlier than that, but hey...it was a little busy around here! Each kid got their own Agent Name. Raya picked them out for each of her friends. I wish I would have incorporated the names somehow into the party, but again...time was against me.


There were 3 teams and 7 challenges that the "agents" had to do to complete their mission. They all went to different places at different times. I was a little worried that there would be overlapping or that the teams would all finish at different times. I was surprised that everything ran perfect! I mean, it couldn't have run any better!

I had to enlist the help of many friends. I couldn't have done it without them and I couldn't have chosen anyone better! Everyone was so eager to help and excited too which made me feel a little better about asking them to give me 3 hours of their time on a Friday!

Each challenge had a clue as well as a coded address. The kids caught on pretty quickly with the clues. They all had a pretty good idea on what they would be doing at each place, but some got tricked...like at our food challenge. Their clue read:

It just wouldn't be a challenge
Without something to taste,
Hurry on your way
You don't have much time to waste.

They arrived and saw this:



They were totally stoked about being able to taste those candy bars...BUT...they would have to roll a di and eat what was under the cover first before they could eat that candy bar:





I heard funny stories! I think the funniest was of Michael having to eat pickled garlic. These photos tell the story:







Some kids actually liked what they were eating...bleu cheese? Ya, I would be all over that!

























The Water Challenge was pretty awesome too. I enlisted Raya's ex-boyfriend's parents to help with this one. The ex-boyfriend was in attendance too. He was completely surprised when he rolled up to his own house for this challenge. I loved that his parents helped me out. They seemed to have a lot of fun as well, which again, made me feel better with taking up 3 hours of their time. The swimming challenge was perfect for the 105 degree weather. I was just surprised that even though only one person from the team was required to jump into the pool, none of the other kids jumped in with them...I would have! The swimming clue read:

Grab your suit or extra clothes
Cause you just might get wet
Your destination could be puzzling
and be the best challenge yet.

The teams had to pick one person to dive into the pool and collect three torpedoes of any color. They had to solve a three colored puzzle with the torpedoes. They were allowed one help where the host could tell them one color and placement of a torpedo that was correct. Some were quick with this challenge and others needed a few ideas on the process from the host, but they all eventually got it. After the torpedo puzzle was finished, the rest of the team got to put a Disney Princess board puzzle together while the diver dried off. Then they were given their next clue.

















The endurance challenge needed a few tweaks. The first team blew through the challenge in 3 minutes which didn't work out well with the 15 minute time allotment. So, the team had to hang out for a little bit before heading to their next challenge. My friend Heidi made the necessary adjustments so that the other two teams were tortured just enough to get a popsicle in the end. They had to hold toothpicks with marshmallows on the end to resemble dumbbells. They were not allowed to lower their arms or bend their arms and they had to stay their for ten minutes. Most teens gave up...surprise surprise...They also had to blow bubbles with gum or with soapy bubbles...The popsicles were much appreciated by those teens having to endure their toothpick challenge in 105 degree heat!
The endurance challenge clue read this:

One bubble, two bubble
Three bubble, four
How long can you stand there
Without getting bored?

















Another hot challenge was the sports challenge. 100 baskets had to be made by any of the team members. Some teams used one or two of the members, others used all. My friend Danielle, who also was a driver AND who didn't have any kid at this party, opened up her house and asked her parents who were visiting from out of town to host this challenge. How awesome is she? She also provided cold water for the kids...totally unexpected and super nice! The sports clue read this:

The time is ticking quickly
Hurry but don't fall
Free throws and turnovers
But hopefully no air balls









The engineering challenge consisted of building a four wheeled vehicle using at least 100 Legos. Apparently, it was more of a challenge then I thought it would be. 100 Legos is a lot of Legos! The teams had to split in two and make two vehicles. Then they had to race them down the driveway. My friend Katie provided all the Legos and her home for this challenge. This clue read:

Zoom Zoom and Rumble Rumble
Are you ready to go?
I'll give you a hint, your next challenge
You get to play with Legos















At last minute, I decided to host a challenge at my house. I borrowed a bunch of costumes from a friend of mine who has a closet full that her teenage boys get decked out in around Halloween. The clue to my challenge read this:

Something viral is on its way
You've probably seen this done
Get ready to shake your best shake
It's going to be really fun

When the teens arrived they had to choose an outfit and plan their own Harlem Shake. The teens loved it and so did I. One team did theirs in the backyard, another in the living room and one in Raya's bedroom. Raya wasn't too happy after spending all morning cleaning her room, that dirty clothes were strewn about and her bed unmade when she arrived home from her challenge. Ahhhh, Teenagers! During the After Party (2 hours after the challenges were over), the teens watched their teams Harlem Shake, then they decided to perform one with the entire group...in my front yard...for all my neighbors to see...so what if I had a few shirtless boys and a girl in her bikini top shaking around my yard... You can view these videos on the DVD at the end of this book titled "Harlem Shake" and the number 1-4.








All the teams had the same last stop on their route. They were given some money, a coupon and an order for purchasing pizza and sides/drinks from Little Caesars. It worked out well because as the teams arrived back at my house, they had hot pizza, drinks, and bread sticks to eat. Who cares that I forgot to pull the watermelon out of the garage fridge right? This clue read:

Now that your mission is complete
You're probably hungry as can be
It's time to pick up some food
What is it? You'll have to wait and see





Each team was given a disposable camera to take pictures with. I haven't developed the photos yet. I'm pretty sure I will get a lot of "selfies" and perhaps a few butt shots. I will try and remember to post some photos here if...errr I mean when I get them developed.

The After Party consisted of opening presents, watching part of Warm Bodies (the movie), eating cake, cleaning cake up off of the ground and off of kids, playing piano, guitar and singing, and our final Harlem Shake.











I'm pretty sure our family has some of the best parties... at least that is what Malia said anyway. What Malia and Raya and the other kids who attended this party don't know...is that I am a master chaperone camouflager. All these kids were being chaperoned by all the adults involved in the making of this Mission Impossible party. And THAT turned out to be Mission Possible! Happy Birthday Raya! Until next year...