Family, Birthdays and Viking Games

On Saturday we had a collective birthday party; mine, my husband's, who's birthday is today and his daughter's, Angela, who's birthday was last week. We had enough delectable food to feed a platoon and our laughter echoed through the Black River Valley from early afternoon until dark. The only person missing from these festivities was my grandson, Alex. He had organized a band concert at the skate park to raise money for park improvement and was busy organizing and performing.

That takes care of family and birthdays but I bet you are wondering about those Viking games, aren't you? My son-in-law, Rick, is responsible for that part of our fun. The game is called Kuub (no guarantee on the spelling) and involves everyone. We divide into two teams and rectangular blocks are lined up in front of each team, team one's blocks in front of team two and vice versa. The king is placed in the center. Batons are issued to the starting team and the object is to knock your blocks down. It's way more involved than this but there is no need to bore you with details, better I should tell you that there is much yelling and hand slapping, and enthusiastic Viking roars can be heard for miles. I referee.

Now for an explanation of photos: the following is Will's aunt Skip, our family matriarch and all-around good sport. At the age of 82, she still participates in our games and hilarity. Woo hoo aunt Skip!



This next picture is me with Sarah and Paige. My recently, enthusiastically highlighted hair was done by my daughter Deb and has been voted by the family, a success.



And here is team A lined up for a game of Kuub.

The man in the hat is my husband, the one in the dark shirt is Scott, his daughter's husband, the blue shirt is his cousin Michael and in the white shirt, Shawn, his son.

And this is Shawn's son, Ryan.

Here we have little Ryan's mom, Jacqui with their daughter Emily, sitting with Will's daughter, Angela.

And last, but not least, my daughter Laura on the far right,daughter Debbie and son-in-law, Debbie's husband, Rick.

Below that,Shawn and Jacqui's cats, Rascal and Bubbles