SchleicherFest VI

Once upon a time, two brothers married two sisters. The brother-sister pairs got along very well. One of their favorite pastimes together was game-playing. After they were first married, the couples lived only two hours apart in Michigan. They would visit each other often to talk and... you guessed it-- play games!

Now, both brothers were a bit competitive (and of course, the sisters were always calm and collected :) ). The younger brother loved designing competitions of all kinds. Never a game went by that he didn't keep score or remember the stats. 

On one of their game-playing weekends, the younger brother had an idea. "Let's play a series of games," he said, "come up with 'team' names for ourselves, and keep a running score of our places in all of the games." With that comment, SchleicherFest was born.

Over the next few years, the brother-sister pairs held 5 SchleicherFest competitions. The games involved everything from athletic events and relays to video games and board games. Each of the teams-- Sunshine, Dissection, Amaloo, and Willis-- was in it to win it! The scores were usually very tight, the competition was high, and the fun limitless.

Eventually, the couples moved to different states and then had children. Visiting one another just for a weekend of games was no longer possible. It seemed as though the last page of SchleicherFest had been written. The story was done.

But, oh, never fear! The pages have turned. The story lives on. The couples recently reunited in Texas. And late, oh-so-late, after dark, when the children were all fast asleep in their beds, the torch was re-lit, the teams were reborn, and the games, oh the games, were begun once again.

So here are the pages that just have been written. The story of the games, from so long ago, now continues with SchleicherFest VI. 

In honor of the Games' re-birth, the brothers and sisters selected new team names: Popcorn, Lefsnofuthiss, Double Trouble, and Manifest Calamity. Team Manifest Calamity had been the previous SchleicherFest champion and trophy-holder, so he did the honorary torch-lighting.

Let the Games begin!

One of the first competitions was Washers, a game similar to horseshoes. After drawing names, Team Popcorn found herself up against...

...Team Manifest Calamity.

So Team Double Trouble played in Round 1 against...

...Team Lefsnofuthiss (left snow for this, pronounced in a gangster-type way).

During the Games, the children typically entertained themselves quite well-- playing with toys,

playing "catch,"

or running up and down the walkway and climbing on the porch.

Sometimes, though, the children would need a bit of adult supervision.

(Sure looks like Matt and Kim are ready for 4 kids of their own, what do you think?)

The last outdoor competition was quite a creative brainstorm. The game was a relay, starting with the memorization of a hymn.

Each 'team' had as long as he/she wanted to look at the hymn and memorize one verse.

The hymn verse had to be recited perfectly to a nearby judge. If even one word was incorrect, the team had to start again until it was just right.

After correctly reciting the verse, the team moved on to the hockey goal. Three "pucks" had to be hit inside the goal.

Then, two frisbees had to be tossed inside the hula hoops.

Next, the 'team' had to maneuver around a few of cones, followed by a series of jump-roping.

Three balls then needed to be tossed through the basketball hoop,

and two marshmallows caught in one's mouth.

The relay ended with the assembly of a small children's puzzle.

Mostly, the SchleicherFest games were made up of indoor events that could be played late at night. The indoor games not pictured included Loot, Amazing Labyrinth, Samurai, Greed, and Pitch. Here, the teams compete in a round of Guesstures.

Points were awarded for correct pantomimes AND accurate guesses.

Quite likely, the most unique event of the year was the Sock Throwing game. Each team selected 10 socks (either pairs or individual socks) to throw from the stairs. We could choose to aim for a wide variety of targets (couch cushions, kids' toys, a bucket, a laundry basket, the fireplace mantel, or the window ledge). Each target was assigned a point value (points were doubled for hitting it with the more difficult to throw single sock).

Team Lefsnofuthiss had great throwing form.

Team Manifest Calamity was a pro at hitting the highest point-value target, the laundry basket placed all the way in the kitchen.

Team Popcorn also showed some mad skills as she aimed for some difficult targets.

Team Double Trouble loved the strategy of throwing single socks on the easy-to-hit couch cushions. She also loved aiming for the fireplace mantel.

Definitely a crazy, yet memorable event!

In the end, the scores were so tight that it came down to the last game... wii bowling. Team Manifest Calamity was ahead, but not by enough that he was out of Team Double Trouble's reach. If Double Trouble could pull out a first place, with Manifest Calamity getting 3rd or 4th, Double Trouble could nail the win. The game was intense. With an early-on turkey, Team Double Trouble sure looked like she could pull out ahead. Unfortunately for her, the strikes disappeared as miraculously as they had come. Team Lefsnofuthiss eeked out ahead and won the wii bowling, sending Double Trouble into 2nd.

So... the defending champion held on to his trophy, as the new SchleicherFest VI winner was crowned. Congratulations, Team Manifest Calamity!

Team Lefsnofuthiss wasn't quite as pleased with his 4th place finish.

So for another year, the SchleicherFest games have been recorded in the history books. Despite the intense competition, fun was had by all, and each of the teams lived happily ever after.

The End