I created some candy guessing jars for the kids, and set them up on a table in Kathy's yard. Since my boys didn't get to receive candy along the parade sidelines (that was their biggest complaint about having to be in the parade), I thought it would be a fun way for them to receive a variety of some.
They could write their names down by any jar of candy, and they had to write their guess of how many candies they thought was in that jar. There are 11 grandkids, and I made 13 jars so there were extra choices just in case somebody won a jar of candy that they didn't like. I changed up the rules this year. I made sure that every kid won one jar of candy, and when I announced the winners of each jar, I told them that they could only have 50% of their candy jar. I gave each child a plastic baggy with their name on it, and they emptied 50% of their jar into their bag. This way, everybody was still a winner, they could all have a sampling of whatever candy they wanted that was left in the jars, and for the people who won smaller jars vs. those who won larger jars, the size would no longer matter. The kids were all very pleased with the result!
There was lots of relaxed play in the yard that afternoon, like playing in the ditch, riding the giant stride, swinging, and taking naps!
On Friday evening, several of the Harris clan (our summer neighbors and cousins) joined us for dinner: Myrna & Jerry, and their daughters Josie & Jeralyn and their families came down on the barrel train. We had a delicious dinner of hot dogs roasted over the fire, and fresh veggies and fruits. Afterwards, there was a big game of Lightning on the expanded basketball court in the driveway.
It was exciting and fun to watch, and they played several rounds of it, so as time went on, there was a crowd of onlookers, too!!!
When it began to get dark, the Harris clan left and the older kids and younger adults played some night games. I'd purchased some glow-in-the-dark bracelets for all the kids, and it made it trickier for them to play Ghosts in the Graveyard!
When the sky was all black, it was time for the annual family fireworks festivities put on by Malachi! With assistance from lots of little helpers deciding the order, he had a great display. We said several "oohs, and ahhs" at the colorful ones, and screeched at some of the noisy ones. The kids ran around some of the fountains doing Indian war dances and hollering/chanting/singing. It was a fabulous show!
The sparklers were the day's final activity, and they ended the firework show as well. Gideon helped keep the flame going for all the kids to use multiple sparklers to create light-designs in the air.
It was the first day of two at our annual family reunion, and it was a good and full and fun one!
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