It started snowing while I was running on BMBlvd.
A genuine Tennessee snow flurry. Actually more than a typical snow flurry, because there was a pretty high density of flakes. Not enough to stick on the ground but for a winter that has been warmer than I can ever remember, its a bit of a surprise.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Exciting Group Game
At the big New Year's Eve party yesterday, we played a game for the first time that was a lot of fun for really large groups. I'm not sure if it has a name but its a bit of a variant on Charades.
-Everyone gets 2 (or 3) blank pieces of paper and writes down the name of a famous person or character on each paper.
-All the papers are put in a hat.
-Divide into two teams.
-On the team's turn, one player from each team draws a name from the hat and tries to get their team to guess it according to the rules from the round (see below.)
-If the team guesses correctly, the name goes into that teams scoring pile and the player draws another name, and continues until their time runs out (we used 30 secs per turn.)
-A player can pass on one name per turn, and returns the passed name to the hat.
-Play alternates between teams until all the names have been drawn, which ends the round.
-The score for each team is recorded and all the names returned to the hat.
The game is played in three rounds
-In round one, the speaker can say anything they want except the name, or sounds like..., or begins with....
-In round two, the speaker can only say two words for each name. Use of more words and the name is forfeited to the other team (we were not super strict on this if it seemed accidental.)
-In round three, the speaker can only pantomime using Charade rules.
As you can imagine, being able to remember the names from the first round is critical to success. We played 2 games, both men versus women and for some reason, the men would lead through the first couple of rounds and then would get killed in the pantomime round.
-Everyone gets 2 (or 3) blank pieces of paper and writes down the name of a famous person or character on each paper.
-All the papers are put in a hat.
-Divide into two teams.
-On the team's turn, one player from each team draws a name from the hat and tries to get their team to guess it according to the rules from the round (see below.)
-If the team guesses correctly, the name goes into that teams scoring pile and the player draws another name, and continues until their time runs out (we used 30 secs per turn.)
-A player can pass on one name per turn, and returns the passed name to the hat.
-Play alternates between teams until all the names have been drawn, which ends the round.
-The score for each team is recorded and all the names returned to the hat.
The game is played in three rounds
-In round one, the speaker can say anything they want except the name, or sounds like..., or begins with....
-In round two, the speaker can only say two words for each name. Use of more words and the name is forfeited to the other team (we were not super strict on this if it seemed accidental.)
-In round three, the speaker can only pantomime using Charade rules.
As you can imagine, being able to remember the names from the first round is critical to success. We played 2 games, both men versus women and for some reason, the men would lead through the first couple of rounds and then would get killed in the pantomime round.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
2007 in Review
Life events
Whole family bought a minivan.
The Geo was honorably retired.
JP became a deacon.
ME was finally potty trained.
SS and AM celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.
ME had a seizure, AM survived the experience.
Academics
JP made mid-state honor band.
SS got a big grant award.
ME can count to 10, knows her colors, and many letters of the alphabet.
JA made the honor roll several times.
Athletics
JA scored a goal in soccer.
ME scored lots of goals in swarm ball.
JP saved lots of goals in futball and scored a few as well.
JP hit 2 in the park home runs.
JP threw out a runner trying to steal second.
JP struck out a bunch of batters.
SS finished his worst half-marathon ever.
SS finished second in Clydes for sprint tri.
Adventure
SS and JP hiked Virgin Falls.
JP survived camps in the coldest, hottest, rainiest, and windiest days of the year. SS survived a few of these as well.
SS and JP biked 50 miles.
SS and JP did the 32 mile version of TdN.
AM, ME, JA did the 4 mile version of TdN.
JP, JA, and SS spotted 3 copperheads while canoeing, but no herons.
SS and JP finished the Harry Potter series, ME, JA, AM are caught up on the movies.
SS and AM visited Myrtle Beach, Smokey Mtns and Blueridge Parkway.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas party
The annual Christmas party at our house. I think this year we ended up with about thirty people all squeezed into our house. With so many of our cherished friends that have abandoned us for greener pastures, we have had to make an effort to make new one (Although you may recognize some of the old faithfuls in the picture.)
Christmas morning
Christmas came a bit too bright and early for everyone but the two girls. Emilie served as the the master of ceremony handing out the presents. Thanks to all who gave gifts and cards to us this year. We miss you all.