Easter, A.K.A. The Remler Egg Bowl

Most families celebrate Easter by arising to find a basket left by a magic rabbit, going to church, and enjoying a delicious ham dinner. Cavities aside, it sounds nice, doesn't it? A great way to enjoy the spring weather and recognize the reason we are all Christians.

That's what most people do.

This is what Remlers do:

Our Easter does include church, bunnies, and food, but that's just the boring part. Actually, the Remler Easter should be renamed the Egg Bowl. Let me explain.

Pop Pop and Max served as spectators for much of the day.

First of all, there will always be hats. Usually, said hats are made ahead of time, decorated with bunny ears or duck bills or some such nonsense, and upon arrival all aunts, uncles, and cousins are told they must wear them. This year's Easter event (which actually took place on Saturday for easier scheduling) we heightened the hat tradition by making the day's first event an arts and crafts session during which we made our own visors.

Afterward, we collected them all and had a hat contest. If I remember correctly, this year's winner was Kathryn Fortenberry, who won for her efforts a miniature bottle of Tangueray gin. Did I mention Remler Easters also involve alcohol? It fortifies us for what comes next.

Following the arts and crafts session comes the Laugh Olympics. Before we could start, we needed Bob to arrive. When he did, he was sporting a woman's wig that his sister in-law had purchased for a buck at some yard sale. He left the wig on all afternoon, and he won the prize for being the most hirsute. 

I can't help thinking he looks just a little bit like Bob Seeger. What do you think?

The the Laugh Olympics commenced. This photo of Kelley should explain the name:

I like this photo of Kelley because it reminds me that a year ago, we were all just hoping she would live.

Clearly, she's all right now.

The Laugh Olympics took place in four events:

• Some kind of contest during which people had to throw jellybeans across the yard into muffin cups,
• Another event during which people had to transport jellybeans in plastic spoons across the yard--while blindfolded--and, with the instruction of a wigged coach, dump said jellybeans into a glass, 
• And a bunny hopping sack race.
• An egg toss.

Those teams ran their hearts out, as you can see in y opening video. By the way everyone is yelling and cheering, you'd think they were competing for a $10,000 prize. And what amazes me the most is that Bob Remler's wig stayed on during the entire bunny hop race.

Look at Taylor's hair a-flyin'.

In spite of Stephen Remler's crash in the bunny hop sack race, his team won the Laugh Olympics. Their prize? A string of genuine gold colored plastic beads, an M&M trophy, five dollars, and (for the adult competitors) mini bottles of various alcoholic beverages (Lawson had to opt out on that part--he should have gotten extra M&Ms.) By this point, Bob's wig had begun to look normal on him, which is odd because it had also sprouted a giant pink flower.

Look at the proud photo of the winning team. That was worth wasting two dozen eggs, don't you think?

Following the Laugh Olympics came the Remler Easter Bocce Ball Bonanza. For all other events, I served as the sports photographer, but I just had to get my name in the bocce bracket, so I teamed up with Alicia Visotsky, and we tore up against Jelly and Kelsey. Unfortunately, we soon lost to Ben Bob and Wigged Bob.

 Bocce is more challenging when players wear bunny ears, wigs, and flourescent green visors.

Davis served as the bocce commissioner, wielding his tape measure in order to ensure all bocce games were played and scored accurately.

 There was no prize for the bocce bonanza. I'm still trying to figure that one out. I suppose by the time it was all over, we were just too tired.

But it was a splendid day. It was good to see everyone again, especially Davis, who was able to come home for the long weekend. And JoJo was happy to see most of her grandchildren and all of her children--no matter what they put on their heads.