Olympics Revisited

My grandson, Wil, turned 7 last week. On Sunday he had a family birthday party which was a visit back to this summer's Olympic competition. When the guests arrived they were greeted by an Olympic (Tiki) torch to set the tone for the day's games.

The badminton court looked very cool with its Olympic rings.

The boxing was a very popular and competitive event.

Beck, almost 2, was right out there with the big kids on the badminton court.

The (un)synchronized swimming was a big crowd favorite.

If hugging ever becomes an Olympic event these two 4 year old cousins will be medal winners for sure.

There was some pretty heavy competition in the track and field events,

which included the discus throw,

and shot put,

but in the end, everyone was a winner.

The award ceremony included gold medals for the winners and birthday cake for everyone.

Yep, another family event where the best part for me was kids of all ages having fun together.

Warning! For those who have been coming here for a while, there will be another annual Labor Day parade post coming up on Monday. I know, it is the same every year, but it is event my family has attended together for over 25 years and I just can't help myself. 

Chicken Fat

This blast from the past showed up on my car radio this morning. Most all of us (at least those of a certain age) will remember the Chicken Fat song, also known as "The Youth Fitness Song".

The song was written for President Kennedy's Physical Fitness Program and was distributed to all the school districts in the country in the early 60s. It was composed by Meredith Wilson and recorded by Robert Preston, both of Music Man fame. 

It became a hit song and was played in both schools and homes. I remember working out to it in gym class (wearing the one-piece gym suit that was the requirement of the day). For a time at my school it was even played each morning over the school speaker system so kids and teachers could work up a sweat before the day began.

Wherever and whenever it was played, when it came to the tag line Give that chicken fat back to the chicken and don't be chicken again!, everyone sang together at the top of their lungs.

Maybe a resurrection of the Chicken Fat song is just what we need to help solve the problem of today's childhood obesity.

If this song is a blast from your past, do you have any Chicken Fat Memories?

Stripes

I bought this shirt today.....nothing fancy, just an everyday shirt I thought I needed for, well, everyday, since I am no longer working full time. 

After I got home with it I realized that it had something in common, too much in common, with every other shirt I had bought recently-Stripes. Not just stripes, but all horizontal stripes.

I have always admitted to not being a very good shopper, but now I guess I have to 'fess up to having a jailbird complex.

Too Soon and Too Hot

In my opinion it is a little too soon and a little too hot for school to be starting. but since no one asked my opinion (or would care about it if they did) my grandkids are starting back to school this week. Actually only Hope and Wil start this week  and the others go back next week. We took this last chance on Tuesday for an impromptu end-of-summer-vacation pizza picnic. (Pizza, because moms who will soon be packing lunches everyday didn't want to start that activity any sooner than they had to.)

EJ has a couple of weeks before she starts her last year of pre-school so she was all smiles.

The big kids brought bikes and scooters.

They climbed a faux mountain at the park, 

 and worked on their balancing skills.

EJ wasn't too happy that she couldn't do some of the things the big kids could do,

but when she met a new friend everything got better.

Beck has a couple of years before he has to even think about starting school, so he was, as usual, happy to just play.

The truth is that most of the kids are pretty happy to be going back to school. I am the one who will miss being able to have last minute pizza picnics at the park. 

I Think This Means I Am (choke, choke) Really Old

The other day I noticed that I perked right up and listened when I heard an ad for Fruit of the Loom women's underwear. It described the underwear as ultra-soft, comfortable, and flexible. (Huh?)

I can't remember the last time I perked up and paid attention to an ad for Victoria's Secret women's underwear. (Do they even have men's underwear?)

I think this may (sadly) officially confirm that I am really old. 

Images from Google Images

Clean Your Plate

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s parents urged their kids to "clean your plate" during a meal just like parents today do. My family ate daily off the ubiquitous Franciscan Apple Ware dishes. I still have the dishes my family used. I also have some of those same dishes in the version of which they are sold today. The dinner plate on the left is one my family ate from and the one on the right is the size from which families eat now. 

I'm sure it is not news to anyone that the portion sizes we eat now are a lot bigger than they used to be. I am not advocating wasting food and I am not denying that there are hungry children in a lot of the same places there were when the parents of the 50s and 60s told their kids to "clean your plate." I'm just wondering if  "clean your plate" is the best advice to be giving kids these day.

I Miss You

Image from Google Images

I started blogging over 3 1/2 years ago and a lot of things have changed in the blogging world in those years....and I'm not talking about the actual Blogger changes which constantly confound me. I am talking about in my little blogging world. As I have said many times before, I started blogging as a way to record and remember my own family activities and events. The thing that was a surprise to me was the people I got to know and the friends I made through blogging. I met their friends and families. I read about the triumphs and tragedies in their lives. I learned what made them laugh and what made them cry.

Now a lot of those people I met early on are no longer blogging and I miss them. I won't name any specific ex-bloggers because I know I would leave someone out, but I know some of them still read blogs even though they  seldom or no longer write one. I especially like getting a comment from a blogger that I met early on that I haven't heard from in a long time. 

I know peoples lives and interests and time constraints change. I understand that keeping up with one's own blog and reading other blogs takes time and effort. I don't post as often as I used to and have always been a little sporadic. I am still amazed at people that post every day. 

I very much appreciate and enjoy the new blog friends I have made and value those I met in the beginning. I just want to let those who no longer blog but may still be reading that I miss you. 

Do you have some old blog friends that you miss and would like to hear from?