Block Parties

When the kids were small my neighbor and I had a brilliant idea.  Instead of traipsing down by the ocean or bay to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July and fight the crowds and traffic, we would organize a block party and invite the entire street.  The tradition was born.

With the help of some neighbors who had access to the police-type barricades and willing friends and families, our annual Fourth of July block party was a hit each and every year.  Barbecues were hauled out, tons of food was made/shared and a day of activities made for some great memories.

My co-chair and I planned the fun with a bicycle decorating contest and parade, a water balloon toss (that always turned into a gnarly water balloon fight), and the all-time favorite event; the pie eating contest.  We lined up our tables in the center of the street and each child had to bring a cream-type pie for entrance.  With their hands behind their backs and the "On your marks, get set, GO" the kids would delve into their pies face-first in an attempt to win first prize.  

We always had cool prizes for the winners (and of course goody-bags so nobody cried for the losers).  You can only imagine what happened after the winner was announced with all of those unfinished pies lying in wait.  Pie eating quickly turned into pie throwing and with the video cameras rolling, came the most hysterical pie throwing fight you can imagine.  We had twenty-plus children unrecognizable due to pie-muck from head to toe.  Grant was always one of the first to start throwing.  A boy's heaven.  We always said we should submit these films to America's Funniest Home Videos show and could easily win the $10,000.  We only had  one near choking incident with a girl who brought an apple pie which was dangerous to eat at rapid speed!  It took the dads on the block quite some time to clean up the aftermath--but it was sure worth it.

Photo above of Grant (on table left) with his buddy Daniel in the moment.