The Lone Olympian

Thanks to his G-Ma (a.k.a Gramma Joyce) Connor caught the spirit of the Olympics when she came out to visit a few weeks ago.  In his fury of excitement, and to our dismay, he completely filled up our DVR with hours and hours of winter games.

Most late afternoons, there Connor sat like an Olympic junkie, avoiding homework, teeth brushing, eating, and even his usual circle of friends (true warning signs).  He took his place on the couch as the lone spectator watching everything from snowboarding to even ice dancing!  He was into EVERY SINGLE SPORT.

Here he is with Edward Scissorhands (the cat) taking in a hockey play-off game...

 Which team USA happened to win...
before we eventually lost.

 

Disappointed at his family's lack of interest, Connor tried to kindle a little enthusiasm amongst the ranks by sharing a few of his favorite things about the Olympics.  He did this by making a little speech during dinnertime and then forced us to watch youtube clips which he had marked "favorite".  Among the highlights of Connor's pep-rally speech were:

The Mascots

 

-which only peaked Chloe's interest mildly.

The "Bum Shove" in the Speed Skating Relay

-which got my attention, 

since I've got a freakish preoccupation towards

gragarious shoving and good humored socks to the arm.

and lastly,  he attempted to sway us by showing us

The Epic Spills...

-which excited the remaining family members who were still holding out.

After the Olympics came to an official close, Connor seemed to suffer from massive withdrawals.  The thought of having to wait another FOUR years for the next winter games seemed overwhelming to a young boy who has only been on the planet a mere eleven years.  Though perhaps the calamity was due mostly to the fact that now he had no legitimate excuse to avoid his homework, teeth brushing, and room cleaning.   He began to look so melancholy we took pity on the boy.  Something had to be done to suppress his post-Olympic-separation anxieties.

There was only one thing to do.  Hold an Olympics of our own.

[commence Olympic theme song.]

It was the poor Hassells who ended up being our guinea pigs for a family-style Olympics.  The third family we tried to beguile was out due to a broken arm.  This meant we had to start dividing ourselves into teams by grouping everyone into their birth season; spring, summer, fall, winter.  Then each group picked a country to represent.  Then, we let the games begin!

First up, the Two-Man Table Sled:

Then, on to Skiing:

Next, Curling (This was Mitchell's invention- a paper bowl with a tennis ball underneath):

(please note Brett's "Agony of Defeat" pose, above.)

And finally, Broom/Mop/Swiffer/Vacuum Hockey:

All of course while serious score keeping took place:

And no Olympic meet could be complete without a metal ceremony where Gold, Silver, and Bronze gets awarded (or should I say Twinkie, Ding Dong, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup?):

Winning the Gold definitely took the edge off Connor's withdrawal symptoms.

...and, let's just say I'm glad I was the official photographer for the events so that I didn't have to stand with my team on the loser lowest podium.  However, the Bronze Reeses Peanut Butter Cup "Metal" was by far the most delectable award presented.  The chocolaty peanut butter goodness more than made up for coming in last.

Oh, and yes, please note the humility at which Mark (in the blue t-shirt) accepts the Gold.  You can see for yourself one of the many reasons why this humble man is the love of my life.

Let's just hope this quenched Connor's Olympic thirst for another four years.  I haven't the courage or self-esteem to lose that bad again for a few more years.