If I've got the special event things... puzzles is the word I'm looking for, but missed one and am not getting them in order is it possible I've shot myself in the foot somehow?
I'm not very far in, but missed Puzzle 6, but have 7 & 8.

No shot, no foot. You can do that puzzle out of order. Keep those lil' doggies working!!

Dont worry, sometimes you need to do them out of order.. ^^;; I found out that if you do some of them out of order you'll have less stress in completing the game.

There are only a few puzzles that must be done in a specific order. Most puzzles are dependent only on the status of your village and not on other puzzles. Even the dreaded puzzle 12 can be solved well before the end of the game, if you have the 'right stuff!'