Olympics is the word

Kuchta clan (my dad's side of the family) with Mike's Dad and fiance Beverly too plus girlfriend Chris & boyfriend Steve
Having 4 kids means there are 4 birthday parties for family/friends to attend and in my case 4 different times a year. In planning out having kids I always dreamed of having one in each season so they would all have their different moments. Well, I got my wish. Non of them were when I intended but they are in fact 4 times of the year. The first is July, Summer. That is a great time for parties especially when you own a pool. The next is December, Winter. A not so great time since it is chilly and close to Christmas. In the beginning I avoided the Dec holiday by having her party Thanksgiving weekend. Nowadays it gets looped with one of her recitals and then a friend party around Valentines day.
Next came #3 in Fall, October. This of course lends to outdoors, bonfires and smore's. I have to be honest even with my cold nature and enjoying the warm Summer best this child's party is my Favorite! Then we have number 4 barely making herself a Spring birthday, April. Like her sister's she piggybacks on Easter which is a big holiday for us as we host the festivities and then also being just 10 days from hubby and my anniversary followed by our birthdays another week to two weeks later. It does make for bright fun treats and activities which may or may not be outside because Missouri Spring is unpredictable.
All that sounds great until you do it year in and year out. At some point it becomes like non stop party's and takes away from the joy in celebrating. There had to be an end to the massive jobs without losing the celebrations all together. People are worth celebrating. The solution was simple, 10 would be the formal birthday finale. The subsequent years would become friend parties and a dinner out where family was invited but not required. Yet our 10 acres and my inclination for hospitality pushed to create a new tradition in the closing of a door, Family Olympics. We would still host a summertime function but no longer would it center on #1 but be a bonding, memory making event to last hopefully a lifetime. This being the 3rd year running I am pretty sure it is just that. Well except I forgot about the newly teenage cousin who hit that I am too cool to be a kid mood. That too shall pass :)
4 games were prepared but only 3 played which was the case last year. The Salami factory (aka Aunt D) purchased tshirts too. It brought back my own teenage memories of this family on vacation together donning matching shirts.

Game 1: Bopper Ball
Teams of two (1 adult, 1 child randomly drawn), hit a beach ball with a rolled up newspaper bopper to score a goal. 2 goals to win, elimination rounds held prior to this round which was to determine who enters the finale as you see below. #2 did in fact win this round with her partner Aunt L.

#2 and cousin J

G-ma and Aunt Lisa











Game 2: Beachball Boogie
The goal is to keep the beachball in the air longer than any other team. We had three rounds all playing except each winner and then the top three played for the win.
#4 wouldn't play the first game and
after this game was over she finally tried it


Round 2 attempts














Game 3: Balloon darts 
The final game was simple. Throw the darts at the board to pop as many balloons as possible. The kids would go first from a specific spot and the adults next from a farther away spot. There was a 3 way tie for 2nd place with Gma and Jared winning first place easily (thanks to Gma). The tie required #1, and #3 to play two additional rounds to determine the winner. 
#3 was methodic and focused. He did GREAT!
#1 had no technique but did surprisingly well.














Then well there are a few other things which just had to be shared. For example the best cheerleader award, best ref award and most motivating spectator for the other adults not participating since we were short a few kids this year. Oh, and then #4 in her bubble of 3 year old adorable too. 
Aunt D, photographer with helper

Oh yes I am getting it done
Game creator/scorekeeper/
ultimate ref

#2 with Minnie (yes
we know she is a he
but #4 doesn't care)


Uncle John ref

#1 cheerleader Aunt Laura getting players
into the cheers, LOL
                                                                                                    

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