So last week I spent a good amount of time planning another ward activity. This year we decided to do a Ward Field Day with a twist--instead of individuals racing, we'd have families duking it out for first place. I planned eight different relays: Seed spitting, shoe-kick, tug-of-war, water balloon shaving, sponge relay, pizza delivery relay, suitcase relay and a remove-the-ice-from-the-kiddie-pool-with-your-feet relay. I tried to plan enough different relays that families of all ages and sizes could compete. We ordered some really good Italian Ice for the treat and I put together some silly little prizes for the winners like foot-warming lotion for the ice race and a seedless watermelon for the seed spitting contest. We got up early Saturday and rushed over to the church to put together fifty pizza boxes and fill up water balloons and other odds and ends. Then there was nothing to do but wait. We waited and waited and waited and just when we started thinking no one was going to come, the families started to arrive. We had six families total--not quite the turnout I had hoped for but still enough to have fun with. Our family had a lot of fun and I think everyone that came had fun too. It's not very often I get to just play with my kids and it was really good therapy. Other parents expressed the same sentiments. All of the relays went off without a hitch and everyone ended up taking home a prize, thanks to the small numbers.
One family, the Hogans, won six of the eight relays. They are totally strong and we were all amazed by their speed and their strength. Determined to see them lose something, the ward ganged up on them in the end and challenged them to a tug-of war--their family against the rest of our families. Then, and only then did they finally lose and they didn't go down easy either. See for yourself. I think from now on we'll be calling them the Hulk Hogans.
That is so frustrating! I hate to plan activities and not have anyone show up. I like to shame people that didn't participate in the announcements during releif society the next sunday! Hahaha!
i'm bummed we missed it. we just had birthday parties right smack in the middle of it. sounded like it was a blast. don't give up...you guys do an awesome job!!! next year we will be there!!!
I know it's disappointing when your carefully planned activities don't get a big turn out, but it's clear that everyone had a blast. And sometimes I like the smaller-crowd activities best because it's easier to get to know people.
But whether the crowd's big or small, you do such a great job. I'm going to tell our activities committee to steal your ideas.
