Bridal Shower

My sister is getting married, I just a couple weeks in fact. And we all know what comes with weddings.

Bridal showers. Lots of them. I think my sister had 7. Or maybe 8.

Luckily, as I am not particularly one to get super excited over weddings or anything wedding related, I was not asked to attend all seven, just two. One hosted by my cousin and aunts. Apparently it is "tradition" for your godmother to host your bridal shower...who knew? Also? If that's true, I am in trouble if I ever get married. My godmother is my aunt (ex-aunt?) who used to be arrived to my uncle (my dad's brother), who isn't anymore. She is sweet, but also...eclectic. And I can't imagine her attending a bridal shower, let alone hosting one.

But my sister's godmother is quite lovely (also, normal) and hosted a lovely shower for my sister. Complete with take home recipe books that she collected from guests prior to the shower (although not from me, I totally spaced out and forgot to send her anything...whoops). Luckily, my sister's other bridesmaids are much more into all things bride and wedding and put together a lovely shower for my sister.














Like I said, the wedding date is fast approaching, so there will be more wedding mania to come. Complete with photos of my dress. Which is taffeta. And fuschia. And has a flower on it.

And if the idea if me in that doesn't just make you beyond curious, then you clearly have no sense of humor.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lacrosse

I moved away from St Louis when I went to college, but most of my family still lives there. There have been a few visits from my parents or my sisters in the years that I have lived away from home, but not too many -- since I go home on the holidays that I am not working, I haven't had too many visitors. Which is not a woe is me thing, it's really just fact.

But my youngest cousin was in town a few weeks ago to play in a lacrosse tournament. Since the team only drove up for the day on the bus, most of the families (including my aunt and uncle) didn't make the trip -- not that I blame them, driving four hours each way to watch some lacrosse games doesn't sound too fun to me either. I was working all weekend, but luckily one of the games started at 3, so I could go before I had to head back to work...after all, I couldn't pass up the chance to see someone who actually came to where I live (even if it was only for a few hours!)


The pups were VERY excited that I not only woke up much earlier than I normally do, but that they actually got to go with me on a little car trip. And the weather outside was GORGEOUS!










And this is my absolute favorite picture from the game:


If you look closely, you can see the facial expression of the other player (in the white shirt), who is being slammed squarely in the gut by my cousin's lacrosse stick. Hey, sometimes agressiveness runs in the family...

Another Reason To Join The Family

Just in case The Bag Game wasn't enough of a reason for you to want to join my family (or at least my family gatherings), allow me to give you another:

Jello shots.
Or, as I like to call them, Jello shots for Jesus.
Festively done in holiday colors!

Several years ago my mom got the idea that she wanted to take Jello Shots to the family holiday. Why? No idea. But I can only assume that she saw them somewhere and thought it was fun. Which makes me also assume that she never experienced this little alcohol filled wonder before adulthood. But like a good little jello shot maker she went to a party supply store and bought little cups and lids and everything, selected festive colors (red and green for christmas, more pastel colors for Easter...hey, our Jesus really likes his Jello Shots!) and made the family some shots.

See, and here you thought that you might not want to join in on The Bag Game.... Believe me -- a few of these little shots and you'll join in on just about anything...

And yes, this post did go out twice - once on Tuesday night (when I was too tired to pay attention to what I was doing) and once now -- when it was supposed to show up :)

The Bag Game

I assure you, after you get a load of our family activities you are all going to be DYING to be a part of our holiday gatherings...

So here's the game...

1. Take a paper grocery sack
2. Place it on the floor
3. Everyone has to bend over and pick up the bag with their mouth and WITHOUT touching the floor with their hands or knees.
4. Cut off 1+ inches and then go another round

How low can YOU go?!

Warming up before the game...















Yes, this was the winning piece of bag. That my sister picked up.
With her mouth.
Without touching the ground.
And without putting forth much effort.



The winner and the runner up.
With the size of the original and winning bag pieces for comparison.



You might think that we just came up with a random game, but you'd be wrong. My cousin introduced us to this little gem, and we have played this game just about every year since. And now we have a commemorative trophy to keep track of the winners. Seriously.

Best Shot Monday - Worth Every Penny

It doesn't matter how much the Wii or the Wii Fit cost...seeing my 90-something year old great aunt playing it on Easter made it worth every single cent!

Be sure to check out all the other great shots!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional

You asked, so just keep that in mind...

What the *(&@#! is up with the bag on Christmas. Well, allow me to explain.

My family is too poor to afford anything but a paper sack My family puts the fun in dysfunctional.

A few years ago, we were all sitting around at Christmas, and one of my cousins was talking about this game that she had played with friends of hers (my cousin was probably in her late 20s at the time): you take a paper sack, and everyone has to bend over and pick it up, using only their mouth -- nothing but feet on the floor (no hands, no knees, etc). After everyone does the round, you cut a strip off the top of the bag, making it shorter and the game a bit harder. Eventually (or in a fairly short amount of time, depending on who is playing) people start to fall over...

I think that this was originally started as a drinking game, but you need not fear. We had jello shots. For Christmas morning. Hey, they were red and green -- that's just festive. So we played. And, being some crazy yogi flexible, my cousin won.

She wasn't at Christmas, but we decided to try again. Because once again we had jello shots. On Christmas morning. Shut up - I told you we put the fun in dysfunctional.

One of the highlights was watching my aunt (who is over 60) try to get down that low.

My youngest sister was the winner. Although I am pleased to report that I made it farther in the rounds than I did the last time we played. Apparently getting older and fatter isn't a hindrance my flexibility is improving. And in second place was my cousin's husband...who is built not at all like a yoga master at least 6 feet tall.

Seriously, that is impressive.

For some more normal holiday memories that most likely don't involve jello shots see what everyone else has to share at Stacy's!