Learning With My Boys

My son wanted to have a secret agent spy birthday party with his classmates. It was so much fun, and the weather cooperated with us too!

Crime Scene Gifts

Secret Agent Badges

“First thing you all need to do is to create your Secret Agent Badge.  To figure out your Secret Agent name, you will draw a name from this “First Name” can, and then draw a name from the “Last Name” can.  Then you can write your Secret Agent Name on your ID card.  Next you can add your fingerprint to your ID card.  Gently press one finger into the ink pad and carefully place it on the box in your ID card.  Last choose a badge holder and place your ID card into it and clip it on your clothing.”

One girl even drew the name “Secret Agent”! I found the Badge Holders on Amazon.

Spy Gear

“Before we get started, we will need to equip ourselves with some Spy equipment.  Unfortunately, the equipment has been kept under lock and key, so you will need to work together to release the supplies.  To open the cuffs there is a key maze inside each cuff.  Insert the lock pick in the maze and the rotate the lock pick left, right, up and down to follow the maze to reach the bottom and unlock the hand cuffs.”

I placed the Spy Gear in the Top Secret Boxes that I found on Amazon, then I cuffed them together with the boys Spy Code Yulu Break Free game. In one box I had Walkie Talkies that I had gotten my son for his birthday gift. Another box had face disguises like mustaches. One box had Invisible Ink Spy Pens and Pads. And the last box had the Spy Look Behind Glasses that the kids loved.

Mission Possible

The kids followed the clues around the yard and solved the puzzles to find the laser maze at the end. We used the Spy Code games that my boys already had. There are several spy contraptions in each game that we pulled out and used in our Mission Possible scavenger hunt. They have Spy Code Operation: Escape Room, Spy Code Yulu Break Free, and he got Spy Code Safe Breaker as a gift from Grandpa.

“Things to remember, if you come to a ‘Mission Envelope’ that is not the next number, just leave it alone until you get to that number… the envelopes must be solved in number order.  Use the walkie-talkies to communicate and don’t open any of the “Mission Envelopes” until all of your agents are present.  Work together to solve the code, and decide who will work on the Spy contraption. Who ever is not working the code or contraption can use the walkie talkies to find the next clue after solving is completed.  Do not open the next ‘Mission Envelope’ until both the code and contraption have been solved for the current ‘Mission Envelope’.“

Laser Maze

Licorice TNT

Pop Secret Popcorn

Root Beer Floats

I scooped the icecream into jars ahead of time, so the kids could choose their flavor or icecream and soda. They really enjoyed these!

Party Foods

Basically I put out some of his favorite red and yellow foods to stick with my color theme. Watermelon, pineapple, salami and cheese and crackers, popcorn, and licorice, lemonade, and Koolaid!

Secret Agent Cake

I made a red, yellow, and chocolate checkered cake with my homemade white butter cream icing. Then I made marshmallow fondant to create the decorations.

Buttercream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup Crisco
• 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Marshmallow Fondant Recepie

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
• 3 TBSP water
• 2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
• Crisco

Directions:

1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
2. Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
3. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
5. Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
6. Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
8. Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
9. When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
10. Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.