Every July 4, my neighborhood has a potluck party right here in the cul de sac. We play a special game, water balloon volleyball, which is popular from ages 2 on up. Just once/year. The teenagers play, the grownups play, Kenzie (age 2) and her grandma Di (pictured) had an important role this year. Helps to have a middle schooler boy to be in charge of making the water balloons.
The game is played with partners who hold either side of a beach towel. You catch and launch the water balloon from the beach towel, hopefully to the other players. It's vaguely volleyball but it's more about launching and running with your partner on the other side of the towel to try catch incoming water balloons. Often you don't and the water balloon smashes on you or the pavement with the resulting splash and shriek. Here, the four teams at the bottom part are waiting for a water balloon to come towards them.
A pre-schooler (this year, Kenzie) is in charge of distributing the water balloons by dropping them one by one in a towel to be thrown into the air. Grandma Di is assisting Kenzie and they're both having a good time. Behind the picture is a resident audience of party-goers who provide applause and encouragement. Teens who refuse to do ANYthing with their family will participate in the game. I know that Narronika (age 9), in the center of the picture, INSISTED to her parents who had visiting relatives that they HAD to be back in time to play.
It's fun and silly and a neighborhood tradition.
1 comment:
Temp is in the 90+ here in the midwest so this sounds just great! I suppose catching is an art .. . . without getting soaked!
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