GWO 2014

We had our first ever Graham Winter Olympics over the weekend!  The idea burned its way into our thoughts and imagination last August while having a campfire.  Mike, being the crazy guy that he is, was having a bit of fun running around the dark backyard with a 'torch' and the idea was born.  This is what the backyard looked like then...

And this is what it looked like this weekend!  After some serious planning, elbow grease, and quite the MN winter, Nathan & his 'Crew' built this amazing Bobsled - Luge - Skeleton track!

Bryndel got in some good Grammie & Grampie love before the Games began.

She's certainly a Grandpa's girl :).

When the athletes arrived in the Olympic Village, Kenzie passed out her carefully crafted torches, and we had the Opening Ceremonies complete with music, flags, and an LED lit cauldron!

From there, we made our way out to the track.  And was it ever a blast!  The track had been strategically built up, shoveled off countless times, iced down, walking path smoothed, lit by tiki torches, and sent each and every rider down in smiles directly onto the frozen lake!!!

The luge engineer, Nathan, and his littlest helper.  The rest of his 'Crew' included: Grandpa, Grandma, Mike, Kyle, and of course his very patient wife :)

Grandpa was thee best pusher up on top, and sent these two down in squeals every single time!

Hadley was probably the most frequented track rider. Her favorite trip down was on the spinning saucer; yikes!

These two were the smallest spectators along the course.  Cylas thought riding was fun too.  Bryndel did N.O.T. 

We attempted a 5 person bobsled by squishing our whole family on a sled.  Hilarious, but Bryndel shouted 'All done' the whole way down, hehe. 

This is what wiped out looks like when you're an Olympic athlete :) 

After an official timed father/child bobsled race, Piper was awarded the gold medal, Brooklyn the silver, and Hadley the bronze. 
Not to worry, all of the other athletes were awarded medals and got to sing along to the National Anthem on the podium as well :).





It was an Olympic event just feeding all 9 kiddos - Special medal to Grandma for that!

And we may have snuck out after the kiddos were all safely asleep, and had a few adult timed races :)  The track & lake were pretty spectacular lit up by the tiki torches and our whoops of encouragement.

Plans for the 2016 GSO are already in the works, but how do you top that luge track?