Tickle Tackle Fight

You can always tell when it is Kate's turn to choose the activity for Family Home Evening (FHE). It is never conventional but usually quite simple. Kate is all about close interaction and FUN. Lately she has been choosing, without fail, to have a family "Tickle Tackle Fight."

This is where the entire family engages in something that is undoubtedly reminiscent of seeing a pride of lions "playing" on a Discovery Chanel program. While the reckless abandon and broad smiles of the event clearly demonstrate that we are playing, there are also bared teeth, a lot of growling (Daddy) and even an occasional whimper (that is because of the "tackle" part).

Basically, we just pick someone to tackle and then tickle. Sometimes we gang up on one person for a minute (like Mommy) but mostly it is just a matter of grabbing and tickling the person closest to you (like Mommy).

It is great fun and EVERYONE laughs so hard that our ribs hurt. Then, after about five minutes (which seems like MUCH longer), we stop...catch our breath...give the kids one last, quick tickle...and then go into the kitchen for a treat (last night it was banana splits - yummy).

Leave it to Kate to come up with this. Of course it has developed into this "organized chaos" from the too-many-to-count spontaneous eruptions of tickling and tackling with her Daddy and the constant needling of her Grampa Shaw.

The rest of us tend to choose activities that are more typical (games, coloring, etc.) but not Kate. Of course Kate is anything but typical. She is a delight and has a knack for keeping us on our toes. With her, you are never quite sure when you may be tackled and tickled.

~Wade