Day 3 was our LeBaron Outback Olympics Day. We started by calling the 4 team captains, Craig, Kevin, Michelle, and Patti. Then we divided everyone else up into the 4 teams. Each team captain chose an Aboriginal tribal name out of a hat, and everyone had to decorate their white shirt and team flag using their team name.
For some reason, Waverly (4) took to my nephew Parker (15) and stuck to his side the rest of the reunion. She called his "my Parker". He was such a great sport about having a tiny girl cousin attached to him, climbing on him, and generally mauling him the whole time. She adores him, and still calls him "my Parker". She asked recently when her Parker was coming to visit. Thanks Parker!
Some of the t-shirt and flag design. We found out who the artists in the family are!
After everyone had decorated and designed their shirts and flags, each team had to come to the front and pronounce their teams' name for us, and demonstrate their team chant. I about peed my pants. They were all so funny!!! My family is full of clowns.
Team Craig, AKA Djihang
Team Patti, AKA Pintupi (pin-two-PIE)
Team Michelle, AKA Gagadju (everyone else pronounced this like gag-a-Jew. I don't remember what their official pronouncement was, but their team chant involved plugging one nostril, and something about a digereedoo).
Team Kevin (AKA Nagraluma). All the artists ended up on this team, somehow.
Let the games begin! First up was Lolly Water Relay. Each team had to thread a bottle opener up and down through their t-shirts. The last person had to use it to open a bottle of soda and be the first to drink it.
Next was Boomer Football. Each member of the team had to put a nylon-encased potato around their waist, and use it to hit their team's ball down to the finish line. The first one to have all team members complete it won. This was hilarious, watching everyone try to swing the potato to get the ball down the field.
As you can see, Team Michelle won. Look at her triumph!
Next was Pop a Wet One. Each team had to choose 2 people to compete in a 3-prong relay. The first was to carry a water balloon between their chests, run to the designated spot, and pop them between their chests. I loved that my brother Craig and Brother-in-law Kevin teamed up.
Gettin' cozy!
The second lap was to wheelbarrow, with one teammate holding the water balloon in their teeth, and pop it between their butts.
I missed my brother and Kevin popping it, but my sister Julie looks about to pee her pants laughing. Lastly, they all had to run with a water balloon between their knees, and pop it. First team to complete it won.
Next was Poop a Potato. Each team had to run from point A to Point B with a potato between their knees, and, without touching it, drop it in the bucket. You can see from the photo below why it was called this:)
Next was Outback Round-up. Each team was given an Outback animal, like kangaroo, and, making the appropriate animal noise, direct the picker-upper on their team to candy around the field. Whoever gathered the most won.
Next was Swagman Tea Time. Each team volunteered 5 teammates to be the blindfolded eaters. At go, the first person was given something gross to eat; they had to chew and swallow it, and then the next person could go. The first to have all 5 done won. In the bottles were vienna sausages, vegemite on saltine crackers, cheddar-encrusted crickets, sauerkraut, and feta cheese. Surprisingly, I had someone ask me for more crickets. I got them from my sister for a gag birthday gift last year, and held them back from my children for this event. What a perfect use for them!
Megan's reaction to her bottle.
We took a quick break for group photos before anyone made a mess of their shirts. This was the whole crew. What a handsome bunch! As the officials, Julie and I are in pink.
The posterity. My mom and her grandkids, minus 5. Keaton was NOT happy to be separated from me for this photo.
This is the great-grandkids, minus 7.
Me and my siblings and Mom. Craig, Patti, Michelle, Kevin, Julie, Mom, and me (the baby). My oldest sister Moana is missing.
With spouses, minus 1 sister-in-law and my oldest sister and brother-in-law.
Next was Bush Tucker Slurp up. Each team had one person that had to locate 5 gummy worms in a pie plate of chocolate pudding and set them on the table. No one checked to make sure the worms were actually in the chocolate mess. We opted to take their word for it:)
Good thing pictures were first!
Next was Jumbuck Jumble. We gave dog ears and a shepherd's crook to one team member who got to be the sheep dog. Everyone else milled about baa-ing. The sheep dog had to collect his "sheep" with the crook around their neck, and lead them to the team pen. First to collect all team members won.
Last was boomerang bingo, where each team had 3 chances to throw a football through the holes on the tarp; highest number of points scored won. This proved to be harder than expected, but one team got a football or two in.
We ended with an impromptu water fight with balloons that were supposed to be used for water balloon volleyball, but ended up being thrown at each other instead.
After a little R&R, we had a Family Store, where everybody made or bought items to be sold or auctioned off in a silent auction. We had hoped to make enough money to fund the next reunion, and reimburse us for the cost of this one, as we had no start-up capital. We made more than twice as much as we had hoped. Everyone was very generous with their purchases and donations. Some of the goods.
We let the kids shop first. Here's Keaton holding one of his purchases. It was great the last month before we left for the reunion; all my kids worked hard in doing chores, etc, to earn enough money to shop with. They all came with something, and Uncle Craig helped contribute in lining their pockets. Thanks, Uncle Craig!
The hit with the boys were these homemade bows and arrows made by my brother Kevin. We bought all the extras and took them home for future birthday gifts for friends. Score!
Scott was hoping to nab this picnic blanket made by my mom. We didn't get the exact one we wanted, but we did end up with one of them. Yeah!
Later, after dinner, we ended the night with the Closing Ceremonies. We made everyone sing Waltzing Matilda, and thanked everyone for their participation. My family is such good sports in playing goofy games, and being silly. Team Kevin won First Place, with tickets to Sydney, Australia and a million dollars (in mints), and most importantly, bragging rights. Second place was a lifetime supply of mutton and Jolly Ranchers. Third was a free Kookaburra bird and Outback licorice, and Fourth was a vegemite sandwich, and some after mints. Craig placed Fourth place, which we all found hilarious, because he is the cheater in the family, and will do anything to ensure a win. He'll have to redeem himself next reunion.
Keaton and Brighton dreamed of owning one of these. Oh, Santa!
We wrapped up the reunion the next day, Sunday, with breakfast and a family meeting to discuss next reunion in two years. Patti's family got passed the torch, and we're all excited to do it again in two years. We had a great time together. I love that there's no drama in my family, and everyone gets along. I wish I would have gotten more photos, but, as the planner, there wasn't always time to grab the camera. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, especially my sister Michelle, who we had to drop off at the airport again. Because of her job, we're never sure when we'll see her next, but it will be at least a year until we see her, maybe two, if we don't make it out to CA next year to visit. We piled in the car and drove the long drive home. Til 2014 then!
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