Summer Gathering, 2023: The Bocce Tournament

We are a week into our summer gathering and still going strong.

My kitchen counters are covered in water bottles, paper products, snacks and more. The front hall has a bajillion shoes, sandals, and backpacks on the floor, and folding chairs are spaced all around the living room and the dining room.

Most of us are bleary eyed from the busy days and late nights as we make the most of our time together.

Wizards, Skip-Bo, Pass the Pandas, Scrabble, and Sky-Jo are just a few of the games we have played and we have plenty more to go. But not all games have been indoor.

The tenth annual bocce tournament was held on the 4th of July at my sister Jenny's home in Indy.

Eagerly looked forward to all year long (Kyle and niece Trinity),

we take our bocce seriously. (Curt and Cole.)

Especially when the call is close.

We bring out the measuring tape to determine who won.

See what I mean?

And even though family members are pitted against one another (Trinity and her mama, Sarah),

Rick against Kyle with Cole judging and Jenny observing, it's all in good fun.

There is a separate competition for the Cowpokes and Pony Pals, too. This year we learned that it might be a good idea to give them some training before they play. See that twist as Susie prepares to roll? 

Instead of going straight, all her rolls went wild and had us dodging out of the way. I didn't move fast enough and got whacked by a rogue pallino (the white ball), but no harm was done and all who were present still have their teeth (and maybe a bruise or two.)

Leslie is this year's champion with Cole second, Rick third, and Nancy (a family friend) fourth. Pony Pal Susie won Rookie of the Year. (She has vowed to win the whole tournament next year; I have vowed to make sure she gets some training.)

But we weren't done! Since it was our tenth year, we pitted all the champions against each other in a Tournament of Champions. 

Sarah won the Champions competition beating out her dad (a two time champion), and both her aunts.

By that time, the tournament had been going on for several hours in 90 degree heat and we were all ready to go inside and cool off. And, we needed to head back to West Lafayette for fireworks.

I think I enjoy the bocce tournament more than anything else on the 4th of July. (Well, maybe not as much as the Texas Sheet Cake...)