October Hike

 Felicia and I hiked around Catalina State Park. There was water in the wash. The recent monsoon had altered the course of the wash a little and the trail had to change as well.

Black Tarantula

Oct 2021 - Stake Picnic

 My high council assignment put me in charge of the Tucson North Stake Picnic this year. The facebook administrator did a great job putting together an announcement.

Facebook Announcement

Here was the planned layout at Riverfront Park. We rented all the ramadas but everyone congregated at the Bighorn ramada. Games for primary-aged children were set up in the lower fields. It was suprisingly difficult to get the kids down there to play.

Here were the games:

Freeze Tag

Here’s an oldie but a goodie. Kids love the thrill of chasing and being chased, which is why variations of tag are so popular.

How to Play

1. Have two kids be "it" for a party of 10 to 12 kids. (For larger groups, assign three or more kids to be "it.") Set up boundaries if you are not in an enclosed yard; use trees or park benches, or other objects as markers.
2. When the people who are "it" call out "Go!" the other kids scatter in different directions.
3. The people who are "it" will try to tag the players. Any player who is tagged will freeze. They can only be unfrozen and run again if another player who has not yet been tagged touches them.
4. The last people who are not frozen become "it" in the next game.

 

SPUD

The object of this ball game is to run as far and as fast as possible from the person who is throwing the ball and to dodge the ball when it’s thrown at you without moving your feet.

Be sure to use a very soft ball, such as a foam ball, which is specifically made to be thrown at people without hurting them.

How to Play

1. Start with a person in the middle. That person is the thrower, or "it." Everyone else should stand within arm’s reach of the thrower.
2. The thrower tosses the ball straight up into the air. As soon as the ball is released, players begin to run away from the thrower. When the thrower catches the ball on its way back down, he yells, "Spud!" at which point players immediately freeze where they are.
3. The thrower then tries to tag a player with the ball. The frozen player can try to dodge the ball but is not allowed to move his or her feet. If the player is hit, he or she will get the letter "S" and move to the middle to be the next thrower.
4. If the thrower misses, then the thrower repeats steps 2 and 3.
5. The game is played until a player gets all four letters "S-P-U-D," which means she is out of the game. The game continues until there is only one player left. That player is the winner.

 

Red Light, Green Light

This is a simple and fun outdoor game that doesn’t require any setup or accessories. It’s great for a small or large group of kids.

How to Play

1. One person is designated as the "stoplight." The stoplight stands with his back toward the other players, who stand about 15 to 20 feet away from him.
2. The stoplight calls out "green light!" which signals the players to begin moving toward him. Then the stoplight yells, "red light!" and turns around. If any player is caught moving when the stoplight turns around, that player is out.
3. The game is over if all the players are out before anyone reaches the stoplight or if someone tags the stoplight. If a player reaches the stoplight, that person gets to be the stoplight in the next game.

 

• Buddy Tag. This game requires at least 6 players, but is even better. To begin, one person is It and one is the runner. Everyone else finds a buddy, links arms, and then scatters around the playing field. "It" then tries to tag the runner. The runner must link arms with a pair of buddies before he gets tagged. When the runner finds a buddy, the buddy on the other side of the pair then becomes the runner. If the runner can't link to a buddy before he's tagged, he becomes It and It becomes the runner.

Dragon Tag, Tails, or Sock Tag

There are many versions of tag and most can easily be turned into a great party game. One option that kid's love is "tails."

Tails is a perfect outdoor game for a party with an animal theme.

To play this game, start by giving each child an old sock to tuck into a back pocket or waistband (their "tail"). The object of the game is to grab other players' "dragon tail" without losing your own.

Any player who loses a tail must sit down, but if another player passes close enough, the tail-less player can grab himself a new tail and re-enter the game.

 

• Water Balloon Toss. Divide party guests into teams of two; teams line up, facing each other, a few feet apart (each pair should be an equal distance apart). Give each team a water balloon. The first player tosses the balloon to his partner, then both take one step back. Keep tossing and retreating until only one team has an unpopped balloon.

 

Egg-and-Spoon Races

Susan Chiang / E+ / Getty Images

Can be played: Indoors or outdoors

Supplies: Spoons (one per player), eggs (real or plastic, one per team)

For this one, you'll need two teams. Each player gets a spoon and an egg (hardboiled or plastic).

Each team must carry their egg on their spoon from the starting line to a turnaround point and back again. Then, the egg is passed off to a teammate who takes their turn.

If the egg is dropped, the player must stop and retrieve it. The first team to complete the relay wins.

Variations: If you're willing to make a little mess, use a raw egg. In this version, kids will have to try to keep the egg from breaking or cracking for the duration of the relay. If you have bigger teams (and a full carton of eggs to spare) you can also play a version where each team is allowed one or two replacement eggs.

If you want to use the plastic variety, change the game up by skipping the spoon and having kids run the relay with an armful of colorful, non-messy eggs.

Don't have any eggs on hand? Use coins (one per player, though you may want a few spares) instead. In this take, you can place a small coin on the spoon and have kids try to keep it from falling as they race.

Whether you use eggs or coins, try increasing the challenge by adding obstacles to navigate through or require players to skip instead of walk.

Dress-Up Relay

Can be played: Indoors or outdoors

Supplies: An assortment of dress-up items

Place two piles, boxes, or suitcases filled with dress-up items at each end of the playing area. Divide the group into two teams.

The first player runs to the pile, puts on all the dress-ups on top of their regular clothes, then runs back to the team.

When they make it back, the player must remove all the dress-up items and pass them off to the next player, who puts them on and runs the length of the playing space before returning to the team. Then, they'll remove the dress-up items so the next player can repeat the process.

Variations: Have the first player put on just one item from the pile. The second player has to put on that item, plus a second one. The third player puts on three items, and so on.

Hula Hoop Pass

Can be played: Indoors or outdoors

Supplies: One hula hoop for each team

Divide the group into two teams (or more, if you have a lot of players). Loop a hula hoop over one player's arm and have each team join hands to form a circle. Without letting go of the other player's hands, the player with the hoop must step into and through the hoop, so it rests on their other arm.

From there, the player must slide it onto the next player's arm, who repeats the same maneuver. Whichever team can pass the hoop all the way around the circle first wins.

Variation: Have teams stand in a straight line instead of a circle.

Drop the Penny

Can be played: Indoors or outdoors

Supplies: Empty egg cartons, bowls, and at least one penny per player (a few spares are a good idea in case they get lost)

To set this relay up, start by marking off two lines: a starting line and a turn-around line. Divide your players into teams. Place an egg carton (lid removed) about halfway between the two lines, one for each team.

Next, head to the turn-around line where you'll place a bowl containing enough pennies for each player.

The first player from each team starts the game by racing to the bowl and picking up one penny. Then, they run to their team's egg carton and, from waist height, drop the penny into one of the carton's cups (decide in advance whether second chances are allowed if a player misses).

The game is over when one team has successfully dropped a penny into each cup in their egg carton.

Variations: Swap beans or other party-themed trinkets for pennies. If you have spoons from your egg-spoon relay, combine the two games by having players carry their pennies or other items to the carton on the utensil.

Crab Walk

Can be played: Indoors (in a large gym with mats or a roomy carpeted area) or outdoors (on grass is best)

Supplies: None

Before starting the game, you'll need to teach kids how to do the crab crawl.

First, have them sit on the ground. Then, have them put their hands behind them, palms down, with fingers facing their feet. Have them bring their knees about hip-length apart. Their feet should be planted on the ground.

Next, have them lift their bottoms from the hips and push up so their body weight is evenly distributed between their hands and feet. It helps if they can tighten their tummies.

From there, they can "scuttle" along, starting by moving one hand and one foot forward, then the other, trying to keep their bottom off the ground as they do.

Once the players are divided into teams and have mastered the crab walk, set the start and finish lines and have the kids race.

Variations: If the crab position is too difficult, kids can crawl sideways on their hands and knees instead. You can also get creative, especially with younger kids, by having them impersonate their favorite animal (think bunny hops or penguin waddles) for the race instead.

Wheelbarrow

Can be played: Outdoors

Supplies: None

Another relay that gets kids moving and bending in new ways is the wheelbarrow race. Mark your start and finish lines, then pair kids off in teams of two (or let them choose a partner).

In each pair, one player will stand and hold the ankles of the other player, who must walk on their hands. Together, they'll head for the finish line as fast as they can. When they reach it, the players switch spots and head back to the starting line. The first team to make it back wins.

 

The highlight was the music by Bryson and Taylor Tudor from La Cholla Ward. Here is a recording they made years ago before they were married with children.

Felicia made sure the chips and cookies were delivered to the park. I got the sandwiches from Jimmy Johns. The RS kept the flies away and served.

Aug 2021 - Never to be Forgotten

 

We had a very eventful week starting Aug 6. We had contracted to have a house built last Oct. It was finally ready to be moved into the first week in Aug which happened to coincide with the week my daughter needed to move to GA to start school. It also happened to be the week my 2^nd son, Eric, was scheduled for life-saving surgery at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Eric has a genetic blood condition that causes his blood to clot and not dissolve easily. He had been hospitalized twice before with pulmonary embolism (clots filling his pulmonary arteries). It turned out that some of the clots had been in the lungs so long they had turned into scar tissue causing high blood pressure between his heart and lungs. At 33 he was beginning to suffer congestive heart failure. Through a tremendous tender mercy, Eric and his wife had moved to the Dallas area just weeks before his diagnosis, and UT Southwestern Medical Center is one of 3 places in the US skilled at being able to remove this scar tissue. The surgery involved placing him on a heart-lung machine while the surgeon removed the scar tissue from the pulmonary arteries. We are blessed that the surgery was a success and he is on the road to, what we pray will be, a full recovery. From this experience, I can testify that those who wonder, “Why me, Lord”, can, with the eye of faith, come to understand why and be strengthened through that understanding.

First was the move. We packed everything in the old house and the movers came to get most things out. Felicia had to leave to be with Eric before the old house was completely empty and cleaned so I spent the last day working on that.

Old House Cleaned and Emptied

I moved the last of the stuff to the new house. We had a lot of trouble getting the gas switched over but, after waiting on hold for 2 hrs, I was able to get it done.

New House on Alamo Spring Lp

The Dog Getting used to New House

Tail on Bull Art broke

Meanwhile in Dallas, Eric was checked into the hospital. His health had really deteriorated by the time he was admitted for surgery to correct Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

If his legs look large, it's 'cause they are. Swollen

The surgery went well and we are grateful. His first 2 days after were comatose.

Krystal with Eric

Felicia with Eric Immediately After Surgery

Recovery had some difficult times

This came out of his pulmonary arteries

After two weeks he was ready to go home

UT Southwestern Hospital

Hospital where Eric's life was saved

While all of this was going on, Gordon was helping Haley drive to University of Georgia to make her orientation day.

Haley and Charlie in GA

Apartment Back Door - Hippie Roomates

Meanwhile, I had left Tucson for Georgia to haul the rest of Haley's stuff. I would meet Kevin in Dallas and he would help me drive to Athens, GA. I stopped at Wild Dogs in Benson for lunch on the first driving day.

Lunch in Benson

When Kevin and I left Dallas, we stopped by our old house in Mesquite.

Mesquite House (Kid's first house)

 

Bucc-ees was a favorite on the trip

Kevin looking for lunch

We made it to UGA

Stadium

Football Stadium

The Ngs and Adrian and big dog

Sorority Girls

Haley on first Sunday at Institute Bldg

We delivered Haley's stuff and helped with some furniture purchases then left for Dallas. We visited Stone Mountain on our way home.

Stone Mountain, GA

Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson

Next was Vicksburg, MS battlefield.

Canon Ammunition

Pemberton and Grant face off

Vicksburg defensive posiiton

Park Entrance

Kevin touring Vicksburg

Blue is Union position, Red in distance is Rebel position

Army of Illinois memorial

Seal of Illinois

Site of surrender talks

Mississippi River from Rebel Position

USS Cairo sunk in battle for Vicksburg

USS Cairo

Bryan and Kevin

Last of its kind

Battlefiel Cemetery

Vicksburg Courthouse

Largest Hotel Room

Stopping to Smell the Roses. Tyler, TX

Tyler Rose Garden

Hurray for Organ Donors

Back to the Hospital

We were back at the hospital to see Eric just before his release, then Felicia and I drove home to start unpacking from our move. An extremely eventful two weeks but Eric is recovering well and Haley is settled at school.