Olympic Games: Evelyn-style

In honor of the winter Olympics, I thought I'd mention a few of Evelyn's current main events.

Pine Cone Collecting:
This is a year-round sport requiring both physical coordination (athlete must be able to walk and squat while carrying a full pal) and a discerning a eye (twigs and leaves must not enter the pal). Armed with only a small metal pal and her bare hands, the athlete aims to collect all of the pine cones from her front yard. This is an especially challenging event in the fall, when freshly dropped pine cones abound. The athlete competes against herself in this event, aiming to fill her bucket with greater speed and accuracy each time. The athlete may receive assistance from a grown-up at any time, particularly when she needs to empty her pal in the large yard-waste bin.


Car Seat Wrestling:
This is a relatively new sport in our home. Here, the athlete uses the full, sheer force of her will. She must engage both body and voice as she arches her back and vehemently refuses to sit in the car seat. The opponent will attempt to coax the athlete into the seat, gently at first and eventually applying slight pressure and pleading after five minutes have passed. A "win" is characterized by a full retreat by the opponent and play time in the yard. Some points will be awarded if a negotiation between the athlete and the opponent results in some kind of treat or prize for the seated athlete.


The Leg Cling:
This event primarily takes place in the evenings when the athlete has grown tired. The athlete's main objective is to get the opponent's attention by clinging to her legs while she is attempting to stand or walk independently. The athlete must not, under any circumstances, support her own weight. Bonus points if the opponent loses her balance in some way. The athlete is considered victorious when the opponent completes the task at hand and directs all attention to the athlete.