Decade.

For Youngest the party of his decade, as he turns 10 this week! He, naturally, wanted a party, so like any sensible set of parents, we decided to take kids on a Winter Hike. But, just tromping around the wood is not enough direction for 10 year olds, so we focused on Letterboxing. This is a past time our family has been enjoying for about 5 years. Letterboxing is a tradition born in Victorian England, when young suitors and the objects of affection could not communicate directly. It was very complicated. Many folks have heard of the messages sent in a nosegay, where the suitor would choose flowers that would convey a message to the recipient. So, for instance a hopeful young man might send a bouquet with red carnations (I love) and Coriander (lust) and he might receive a discouraging bouquet of Clover and Bachelor Buttons (Good luck with the Celibacy...). Well, with Letterboxing, a guy on the lonely moors of Dartmoor, left a jar with a note in it, and some clues to the jar, and Letterboxing was born in 1854ish. It was picked up as a way to share special letters of affection, and you would hide the letter in  the park, send your sweetheart the clues and wait, going to check for a return letter, likely daily.

Today, the hobby is in many countries and every state in the U.S. Most boxes have a hand carved stamp which you use to stamp a book you carry with you on hunts. You in turn, mark their book, (hidden with their stamp) using the stamp of your own. Then you sign a date and your "Letterboxing name" and hide it all back where you found it for the next happy hunter.
So, for the party, each of the children recieved a Letterboxing kit, with a book, stamp, pen and inkpad. They named themselves their supersecret Letterboxing name they would use to sign the books they found. Then, we piled into our cars and headed for the Hills! The Hocking Hills. Beautiful, rock filled, moss and fern populated forests of icy streams and wonderful caves. Of course, we picked a fine day for a winter hike, as it sleeted more or less constantly for 5 hours. Surprisingly, we were not the sole hikers at one stop, Conkle's Hollow. Often a rather popular hike for it's simple beauty, we thought we'd be alone on such a raw, wet day. But there were several couples out on Sunday afternoon hiking dates. Huz and I served as a cautionary tale with our brood of 7. Certainly a few of those couples are now exploring the option of spinsterhood, or planning the future as the eccentric lifelong bachelor. We hunted all afternoon, eventually locating each box we sought- 5 in all, and with red hands patiently stamped and signed.. Birthday Party for the hardy. As the sleet turned to a downpour, we turned the minivan into the party van and folded away all the seats for a party in a heated vehicle. Streamers hung on the sides, we piled in for food and cupcakes and gifts. Youngest had a grand time, and has pronounced it the most memorable Birthday ever.....who knew all I had to do was set him loose on the woods?

The cupcakes sported little "letters" made from marshmallow.

Youngest holding the first located Letterbox. We started out easy on 'em. Hidden just inside the wood and non-strenuous.

Horsehead Grotto in the sleet. At least it was nice and dry in the cave... if not warm!

For this box, we headed down one of my familiar horse trails in the park. Little did I know, there was a Letterbox here each time I rode past.

Now, the going was getting tough. Wet and slick with a nice coat of sleet and ice. The boys had a fantastic time scampering around the rocks while I yelled "Take it Slow!"  and "Not one step closer to the edge!"

Car Party! Each one of the kids mentioned they'd never attended a Birthday Party INSIDE  a car before.... new Midwestern trend? Forget the bowling alley and the roller rink. Just take the kids to a parking lot and hand out cupcakes.