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