Every year at Christmas, we plan and host a party for some of our friends - just the adults. This year ... "An Olympic Christmas". We played the events that didn't make it to the Olympics with all of our Olympic contender friends! First though, we all enjoyed lots of treats brought by everyone! Artichoke dip, homemade sushi, avocado rolls, crackers and cheesball, chips and 7 layer dip, so much more!
Event 2: Balloon archery! Each team must work together using random supplies provided by us to create some kind of arrow that will launch through the air and pop balloons. The catch, all 5 people on the team must help with the in some way - 1 holds, 2 launch it, 1 aims and 1 retrieves it. Creative minds at work ... unfortunately, nobody popped balloons without cheating although some of those arrows were deadly and had they come close to the balloons they would have easily popped them. Just a few aiming problems! As soon as the instructions began and the supplies started coming out of the bag, everyone started scheming (although this group of girls took some time for a pose with friends). Before the creating began, they fought for their supplies. We even had an injury, a toothpick stuck in someone's hand - sorry Met! While the teams created, Steve and I set up the balloons. 
Event 3: Feather curling! You've seen curling in the Winter Games, right? If not, you're missing out on a very exciting team event. :) So, the goal of Feather Curling is to pass the feather through the air from one player to the next player and finally land it in the box ... without touching the feather. You've probably played the feather volleyball version ... well this is curling! 
Event 4: Pompom ShotPut! We wanted to do watermelon shotput but figured it might be a little cold and messy out on the street! So, we opted for small pom poms. This event was cancelled due to CHEATING! Wet pom poms are not legal (even if the judges forgot to mention that at the beginning). 
Wrestling was NOT an event at our party ... but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Our teams take their events very seriously and competition leads to wrestling matches from time to time!
Oops - this would be one of those, didn't quite make it moments! 
The party ended with our annual gift exchange. Each couple brings one gag gift, and one nice $15-20 gift. And we roll the dice! When you roll doubles, you open a present, steal one from someone else that you like (maximum of 3 steals per gift) or trade yours with someone else (if you have one you don't want!). We always have some creative and fun gag gifts. No exception this year! Some favorites: the returning picture of Jason that has been at every party since we started it (framed snapshot that now has been artistically altered to have makeup too), a puzzle of Jason (the same picture) that first appeared about 3 years ago, and the picture of Jason cupcakes, the "I love Steve" written in chewed bubble gum, some bubble wrap, a bra bigger than anything I've ever seen and the coconut bra returned as well!
Thanks to all of our friends for such a fun evening. We really enjoy this party and hope you do too! We wish more of you could participate, but we barely fit as it is! We are so grateful for all of our great friends - those that came and those that didn't, including those who live far away! We love you all!
Event 1: The spoon and string relay! Each team must attach a spoon to a ball of string then pass the string and spoon down each person's clothes to the end of the team, essentially tying everyone together and then remove it, roll the string back up and yell done!
Event 2: Balloon archery! Each team must work together using random supplies provided by us to create some kind of arrow that will launch through the air and pop balloons. The catch, all 5 people on the team must help with the in some way - 1 holds, 2 launch it, 1 aims and 1 retrieves it. Creative minds at work ... unfortunately, nobody popped balloons without cheating although some of those arrows were deadly and had they come close to the balloons they would have easily popped them. Just a few aiming problems! As soon as the instructions began and the supplies started coming out of the bag, everyone started scheming (although this group of girls took some time for a pose with friends). Before the creating began, they fought for their supplies. We even had an injury, a toothpick stuck in someone's hand - sorry Met! While the teams created, Steve and I set up the balloons. 
Event 3: Feather curling! You've seen curling in the Winter Games, right? If not, you're missing out on a very exciting team event. :) So, the goal of Feather Curling is to pass the feather through the air from one player to the next player and finally land it in the box ... without touching the feather. You've probably played the feather volleyball version ... well this is curling! 
Event 4: Pompom ShotPut! We wanted to do watermelon shotput but figured it might be a little cold and messy out on the street! So, we opted for small pom poms. This event was cancelled due to CHEATING! Wet pom poms are not legal (even if the judges forgot to mention that at the beginning). 
Wrestling was NOT an event at our party ... but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Our teams take their events very seriously and competition leads to wrestling matches from time to time! Event 5: Hoop Hurdles! This one was the only non-original idea. We give credit to a Chinese Game Show for this event. The goal of the team is to role the hoop (hula hoop size but industrial strength) from one end to the other end of the room with three players in the middle jumping the hoop! Quite impressive hurdling occurred! Although, a few had some height issues and some timing issues landing on top of the hoop. Three rolls (plus one mulligan) were granted to each team and a point was awarded for each person who successfully jumped the hoop (9 points total available). The first team scored a perfect 9! Being tall has advantages!
Oops - this would be one of those, didn't quite make it moments! 
And another! 
Sometimes the hoop was a little off course and we had some lopsided jumps.
When the last team was headed for a perfect score of nine, the judges ruled style points for this team's jump BACKWARDS!
When the last team was headed for a perfect score of nine, the judges ruled style points for this team's jump BACKWARDS!
The winning team, of course was awarded a gold medal and a box of official Olympic Wheaties with Nastia Lukin on the front! Go team!
The party ended with our annual gift exchange. Each couple brings one gag gift, and one nice $15-20 gift. And we roll the dice! When you roll doubles, you open a present, steal one from someone else that you like (maximum of 3 steals per gift) or trade yours with someone else (if you have one you don't want!). We always have some creative and fun gag gifts. No exception this year! Some favorites: the returning picture of Jason that has been at every party since we started it (framed snapshot that now has been artistically altered to have makeup too), a puzzle of Jason (the same picture) that first appeared about 3 years ago, and the picture of Jason cupcakes, the "I love Steve" written in chewed bubble gum, some bubble wrap, a bra bigger than anything I've ever seen and the coconut bra returned as well!
Thanks to all of our friends for such a fun evening. We really enjoy this party and hope you do too! We wish more of you could participate, but we barely fit as it is! We are so grateful for all of our great friends - those that came and those that didn't, including those who live far away! We love you all!
2 comments:
Someday I'm going to be fun like you guys and have parties like that.
once again a party well planned! We always look forward to your parties....definetly one of our christmas traditions!f
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