We're hopefully nearing the end of our 'layover' time (Asa had some interviews lately that went well, so we are hoping to hear something next week), so we're trying to finish up the items we had on our 'layover list', and one of those items was to play Survivor overnight. Actually, the boys wanted to play over two nights- but after the first they quickly changed their minds.
I decided I wasn't sure how long they'd want to play, so I had a general structure and a few challenge ideas in my head, and I would just kind of play it by ear. I did, however, have to make the hidden immunity idol, so a little rope, a few beads and a toilet paper roll later and I had my hidden immunity idol (which I hid in the compost bin).
I also prepped with a few things. I got rice and water, sunscreen, and some items to make their tribe flag and took the basket out to tree mail.
Then I gathered up various items that might come in handy. Pillows, blankets, a cast iron skillet, a lighter, a duraflame log, a couple of tents and light sources, some oranges, peanut butter, air mattresses, and towels.
Then, I gathered the Survivors. I told them they wouldn't know when we were starting, but when we were they would only be allowed to put on their shoes once I said it was time. Asa, Calib and Hayden all then put on hoodies for whenever I called them. Peyton, however, didn't think ahead that far.
I had them vote on a leader, but didn't tell them why, and it ended up as Hayden in charge. The leader was then tasked with picking five 'luxury' items from the table. Hayden chose the big tent, duraflame log, lighter, the oranges, and the picnic blanket. The last two earned some groans from his tribe, as he neglected to pick the pan to cook rice in.
They gathered their items, and they were off to tree mail to find the items for making their tribe flag and their water and such.
Now usually when we put up the tent, Asa has me with him. Apparently he didn't really remember how to put the tent up, which took probably three times as long as necessary.
But, they did eventually get the tent up.
Not long after the tent was up, it was time for their first reward challenge. They were paired in teams of two, and I just took a dollar store foam ABC puzzles, and then threw all the letters in the outdoor toy bin. They had to collect their letters by digging through the bin and finding them and complete their ABCs first to be the winning team.
The reward was comfort in the form of blankets and pillows.
The paired off in two teams: Calib and Peyton vs. Hayden and Asa.
Calib and Peyton were the winners, and they had a choice- either comfy normal bed pillows, fuzzy blankets and air mattresses for them-- OR basic blankets and outdoor pillows for the whole tribe.
They chose the blankets and pillows for everyone, which frankly, I was counting on, so I was glad they did it that way.
Also, there had been a lot of drama around Hayden selecting the picnic blanket, and so I let them trade in one item. He traded in the picnic blanket for the cast iron skillet.
The tribe then worked on their tribe name and flag.
I left the lights on outside for them until 11 PM, but it was funny hearing them talk about what time they thought it was (they were sure it was much later). Peyton curled up in the hammock for the evening, Hayden stripped down to his boxers to enjoy time in the water, and Asa and Calib managed to make a night time snack of rice, and then used a palm branch as a spoon. (We didn't start Survivor until after dinner- so they did all have full tummies when they went out there).
Meanwhile, I spent the night inside with Porkchop and Ellie.
The next morning, around 9:30 I went out to find only three Survivors remaining (and them declaring that maybe we shouldn't play two nights).
Peyton had quit somewhere around six in the morning and came in to sleep. We did announce anyone who quit or was voted out would be in sequester and wasn't allowed to play video games or have their phone. Peyton instead served as my helper for the day.
Since we were already down to three Survivors, the first challenge of the day was changed to a reward challenge.
The first Survivor to complete their slide puzzle would get to come in to brush their teeth and shower.
Asa was the winner, and he was most excited about it.
I also left an extra pop up day tent at tree mail for those Survivors remaining.
They were happy to have that, and the extra shade.
And then, around lunch time, when I knew they would be hungry I staged the Survivor food auction, where they all had Monopoly money to bid on food items.
Peyton helped me set it up. I made a bunch of stuff and then covered it up.
Sometimes they had to bid on the item without even knowing what it was. And sometimes they got to see what it was.
They bid on everything from drinks to PB & J to Hot Dogs to donut holes.
Calib even got himself an advantage in the game.
It was a clue to the hidden immunity idol.
They were all happy to have food though. They were like 'You don't even understand, we're starving!' (It was like 12:30, mind you.)
After the food auction, they headed back to camp. Hayden, however, bid on access to the toy bin for one of his Survivor auction items, so at least they had something to do.
And it was a nice, warm day, so they hung out around the pool.
I also had them do interviews so I could make the 'episode'. I actually took a lot of video. It was during one of these interviews where the rice got dumped out. Calib blamed Hayden and Hayden blamed Calib.
Asa was giving his interview, so I knew it wasn't him. All we heard was Calib screaming at Hayden not to dump the rice out.
After another hour or so at camp, Asa thought maybe it was time to start wrapping it up.
But Calib had found the hidden immunity idol, so he would be safe from the next vote.
So, it was time for the first and last immunity challenge!
Complete with our immunity idol!
I tied bags of puzzle pieces up at various stations around the yard. They had to untie their three bags and then put the puzzle together.
And the Survivors were off!
Asa was the first back with all three of his bags, and then Calib and then Hayden.
But Asa was the first to put his puzzle together and win immunity!
So, it was time for the first tribal council- complete with their torches.
And we had to bring out the first member of our jury.
There was lots of talk at tribal council, about who poured out the rice, and Calib finding the hidden immunity idol. Since Asa had won immunity at the challenge, it was clearly Hayden's time to to go.
The votes were two votes for Calib, one for Hayden. (Like my big pot for the votes? I thought it was a pretty great prop!)
But in a stunning turn of events, Calib gave his hidden immunity idol to Hayden. Turns out, Calib dumped the rice right in front of Hayden (which screaming at Hayden not to dump out the rice) and felt guilty about it. Also, he wanted to go shower.
I had planned on having a final two breakfast- but since we went from two nights down to one, the celebration for the final two was a rootbeer and a cream soda.
And then they cleaned up camp.
Meanwhile, our jury members got all 'fancy' for their final tribal council. (Peyton tried to find his one polo shirt, but to no avail, so he slicked his hair back instead).
And then it was time for the final tribal, where the jury gets to ask the remaining Survivors about the game.
Then our two jury members cast their votes for who should be the sole Survivor.
Of course, you can't read the votes right after they are cast. You have to wait until you are with the live studio audience, and all inside and showered.
But with a jury of two, there's always a possibility of a tie- which is exactly what happened. Peyton voted for Asa to win, Calib for Hayden.
So it came down to drawing rocks. The person who pulled the white rock would be our winner. Asa chose first and he ended up as our sole Survivor.
Originally we said the winner would get a million Indian rupees. But as it turns out, that's like $15,000! So, we discovered Vietnamese Dong is worth even less. The winner was to get half-a-million Vietnamese Dong, which is about $22. Second place got 100,000 Vietnamese Dong, which is $4.39
In other news, Asa and I went out to lunch to get his free Red Robin burger.
We had a few game nights.
And my pond looks all pretty. I even got some feeder goldfish to see how they did. So far, we've only had two 'floaters'.
And I leave you with cute pictures of my puppies, because what is a blog without them. Also, fun fact: our shelter had an adopt-a-thon today, and Calib was there volunteering. He got his very first dog adopted! He found a homeless puppy a fur-ever home!
Next Up: Cross your fingers for us, hopefully next week is good news on the job front.
