Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and in our family, that means it's time for the annual family bocce tournament! (And Texas sheet cake, too. Always Texas sheet cake.)
My sister Jenny holds a potluck lunch and then we all head out to the bocce pitch (her front yard) and play. It's a highlight of the summer for us all.
We have been holding the tournament for 13 years and while I have stood on the winner's podium a couple of times, I have never actually won. Could this be my year? (Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!!)
Here's a look back at a few of my favorite videos from past bocce tournaments.
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2023
Curt and Cole coming down to the wire with Kyle judging and factions of the family cheering.
Why yes, we take our bocce seriously. Don't you??
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2021
The Great Bocce Mishap. Craig had won, and in celebrating during the awards ceremony (of course, we have a trophy and ribbons to 4th place), came close to taking out a competitor. How that bottle failed to break is a mystery but we are glad it did not.
Craig still feels sheepish about what happened, but told me it was okay to post the video here. Thanks, sweetie.
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2016
The singing of the Indiana state song complete with a little shuffle dancing by Jessica. (I mentioned that the song would be heard again in yesterday's blog post!)
We also sing the national anthem and, if Cole is here, have a "fly by" of the Blue Angels. (Basically Cole spreading his arms into wings and running as fast as he can across the bocce pitch while making airplane noises.)
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2018
A little brotherly/sisterly competition with my brother, Steve. And yes, I did sorta kinda cheat by bumping his elbow at the end.
But he deserved it, right? After all, he called me a loser! And he deliberately belched LOUDLY just as I was getting ready to throw my first ball! LOL
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As you might imagine, I am really looking forward to tomorrow's bocce tournament. (That Texas sheet cake, too.)
But most of all, I look forward to being with the family who is coming in for the weekend. Sarah, Todd and Trinity (with Blue and Rhett) arrive today, and Cole, Emily, Julie, Kate, and Susie (with Henry) join us in Indy tomorrow.
Of course, local family Lisa, (Nash and Mama), Curt, Vanessa, Ian, Mila, and Lukie (Gus) will be there along with other family members like Leslie and Rick, etc.
It's gonna be a day!
Note: Since I will have family here, blog posts may either be late or not appear at all. Don't worry if that happens. I will be back.
