memorial day games: some serious outside family fun

one of our family’s most talked about and anticipated events of the year is our

this year marked 7 years of this marvelous tradition 

something that parents and kids alike look forward to each year
click here and here for some early years of the games
how quickly our children grow

our games are played as individual and collective teams
but don’t think for one minute that this is just for fun
not in this family
there is a point system and score board to track each event
there are reputations to preserve, championships to protect, and a coveted trophy to win

due to daddy’s health conditions and all that surrounded our family situation for the past couple of years, our games went undocumented here on the blog.  

i’d like to highlight briefly some of my favorite moments from each game over the past many years

not even losing a shoe could slow grandpa down

without breaking hands

how quickly can you send your hula hoop around the circle

this simple game of balance and getting extremely squished

is quite fun to play and watch

see how many folds of your blanket you can get and still fit all of your teammates on top

well if you ever thought we might have been a normal family

you'll surely change your mind now

hose head has got to be the favorite of all the games

simple concept really

be the last man standing with your panty hose on your head, ha

each person is given a stocking with a sock inside the end

to put on their head

no where in the rules does it state that you must put it over your face

that just kind of happened

a. out of strategy so that it will remain on your head longer

b. everyone loves seeing each's other faces smashed inside them

object of the game is to run around and grab the hose off of someone else's head

winner is the last hose head standing

i didn't make this up, really

i found the game here

this has to be the most collision prone game of the bunch

last year poor Jani sprained her ankle in a fierce hose head battle

but it is certainly the most fun to play

and definitely the most entertaining to watch

did i say water balloon toss

what i meant to say was water fight

winners of the games earn bragging rights for the year

and the coveted 'ta-dah' trophy

the name is a play on a little inside family lingo

i have been blessed to have the most amazing family

who loves to do things together

traditions are essential to a family culture

and continuing on with family traditions since my daddy has passed has been such an essential part of the grieving/healing process

they are an important way to hold on to memories and continue to draw closer as a family unit

and what better way to celebrate the day of remembrance

than continuing on with something my daddy cherished

family time

family fun

and of course in our family we will raise the flag, and always remember