To make our Saturday at home a little more fun (we're pretty much home-bound since we sold our car and walking isn't very safe), we had our own family Olympics. We've been able to watch the Olympics thanks to a website for Americans oversees, so the kids have been inspired to dream of being Olympians themselves, especially Savannah and Rhea who want to be the next Simone Biles, the gold medal gymnast (I can relate as I was in competitive gymnastics for years trying to be like Mary Lou Retton in the 80's!). With all of this extra excitement and energy in the house related to the Olympics, I suggested that we have our own. The kids selected the country they wanted to be from and made a flag to attach to a straw for the opening ceremonies; Thomas chose South Africa, Savannah chose Argentina, and Rhea kept the U.S.
As they made their flags, Bri and I decided that it would probably be better to have the kids on one team, competing against dad, than being competitive with each other (especially with the varying ages and abilities). So during opening ceremonies where we played the national anthems for each of their countries, we told them our new plan. There were no complaints as the idea of all of them "ganging up on dad" and beating him, made them even happier than competing against each other.
The competitive events were really challenging, events like holding the longest handstand against the wall, Ripstick slalom, holding one note on the flute the longest, best cartwheel, name that tune (from my whistling), eating a disgusting concoction, arm wrestling, holding the longest balancing yoga pose against me, identifying flags from other countries, etc. We had a lot of fun!
I kept score and after an hour of so of competing, and despite Bri winning the arm wrestling, the kids were presented with the gold medal! Bri was a good loser. :) We had a ball and the kids have asked to do our own Olympics again (they want to beat Bri again!).
As they made their flags, Bri and I decided that it would probably be better to have the kids on one team, competing against dad, than being competitive with each other (especially with the varying ages and abilities). So during opening ceremonies where we played the national anthems for each of their countries, we told them our new plan. There were no complaints as the idea of all of them "ganging up on dad" and beating him, made them even happier than competing against each other.
The competitive events were really challenging, events like holding the longest handstand against the wall, Ripstick slalom, holding one note on the flute the longest, best cartwheel, name that tune (from my whistling), eating a disgusting concoction, arm wrestling, holding the longest balancing yoga pose against me, identifying flags from other countries, etc. We had a lot of fun!
The girls still can't get enough of the gymnastics, dragging their mattresses out into the front room and into my room to bounce around and do their tricks. Rhea turns on the Celtic music from her new little birthday radio and they go at it. They are begging to be put into gymnastics lessons when we move back to the states so they can "start their training." Bri and I had to burst their bubbles a little, as softly as we could I might add, and let them know that to make it to the Olympics, you have to train for years, all day-every day, and that mom and dad weren't necessarily up for that kind of life for our family. We hope they'll forgive us for that. :)
Just US | August 24, 2016 at 6:22 PM
What a great idea! Maybe Bri can redeem himself one of these days.