MMX (2010) Christmas Games - Gadsden, AL.

The 2010 Christmas Games at the Hornbuckle residence in Gadsden, AL. were my first to attend. However, the games have been an on-going Christmas tradition for several years in their household. The winner of the games receives a trophy of unparalleled hilarity: an old Avon perfume bottle in the shape of a poodle sitting on its hind legs. It used to be a vessel that contained the pungent aroma of "Jovan Musk." In the words of Daniel, "Once it (the scent) gets on you, it's not coming off." Nevertheless, the Black Poodle trophy is a novelty worth competing for. I must also add that the Black Poodle has been a permanent residence of the Richards family (Daniel, brother-n-law; Jennifer, JT's sister; and Caleb, JT's nephew), a tradition that must be stopped either by Donnie and Sherry (JT and Jennifer's parents) or JT and myself. We went into the competition feeling pretty darn confident about our chances. Stay tuned to see if our hunch was right.

This is the premise of the MMX Christmas Games: each family (there are three) brings two games to the table; everyone participates in all the games; the team with the highest points at the end of all the games wins the coveted Black Poodle. Sounds easy enough. These people are serious about their games. I was told by Donnie, my father-in-law, "I can tell by the smile on your face you don't realize how serious these games are to us. Get ready." That made me a little nervous, but I was game. I like to win as much as the next guy (but apparently not these guys and gals). Judging by the looks of everyone else in the room, I was the only one who didn't have my game face on. (Quick note to self: Get a game face.)

The following is a list of games competed in this year:

1.) Donnie and Sherry brought "Shoot the Moon" and a new fangled version of "Hot Potato" to the games. Instead of making a noise when the timer goes off on the hot potato to let the catcher know they are out, this version of the game actually shocks the fire out of the person who ends up with the dreaded potato. It's easy to know who is "out" when they cry out in pain after experiencing electrocution from a battery-powered starch.

2.) Daniel and Jennifer were inspired to bring games seen on the show Minute to Win It! Therefore, we participated in the timed "Cup-stacking" game, as well as, the edible game called "Face the Cookie." The cup-stacking game was simple enough provided that you didn't drop any cups and incur a 5 second time penalty (which I did). It was the cookie game that was a tad more difficult. This game required that the participant place a cookie (Keebler rainbow chocolate chips in this case) on their forehead, and using their facial muscles and gravity, slowly guide the cookie into their opened mouth. Not only did we get crumbs in our eyes, but this game was so much more difficult that it sounds! Sadly, a game where food was involved was the only one in which I dominated. "Next year," said I, "I'm bringing a hot dog eating competition to the table. But, I refuse to dip them in water." "Gross!" was the reply of everyone in the room.

3.) Finally, JT and I contributed the following games: Lego Architecture: Sears Tower and helicopter flying/landing. The Lego game was so much fun because we got to construct a building from a city we had all visited together as a family. The previous summer we had visited Chicago for Daniel, Donnie, and Jennifer to run in the Chicago Rock n' Roll Half Marathon. The Sears Tower was one of our favorite buildings from the architecture boat cruise that we took. The helicopter flying/landing game was tricky. It required quite a bit of skill, and a lot of patience. Needless to say, JT and I didn't win that game.

Good for them, but bad for us - Daniel and Jennifer won all the games but "Face the Cookie." Not only did they receive gift cards for every game that they won, but in the end, they also received the Black Poodle for being the defending champions of the MMX Christmas Games.

Next year, it's our turn.

- W:)