EASTER CARNIVAL FUN

    My mother did not get her nap on Saturday. If you’re wondering why that’s significant, refer to last week’s column. (Also, a quick plug- my columns are now available at marshallcountyjournal.com under the “Opinion” section.)
    On this particular day, Mom skipped her usual afternoon rest in service of a much higher calling: a birthday celebration and her annual Easter Carnival!
    I may have mentioned this before, but it’s such a fun and special little tradition that it deserves another spotlight. For the past several years, my mom has hosted an Easter Carnival at her home in Lake City for her grandkids and, often, other children—friends, family, or whoever happens to be nearby. It’s not a huge production, but it’s always a great time. Think: a school carnival, but on a smaller scale.
    The event features several games, at least as many as we can round up adults to run. This year’s lineup included a football toss, basketball toss, bean bag toss, “roll your age” dice game, dip-a-duck, ring toss, and the perennial favorite: the fishing pond.
    We lucked out with beautiful weather this year, so everything took place outside. In the past, the carnival has been indoors, which gets a bit wild—picture kids tripping over each other to fish ducks out of the bathtub.
    For an hour and a half, kids raced around my parents’ yard, playing games and collecting ridiculous amounts of candy. Each game offered a reward: pick a duck with a one, two, or three to determine the size of your candy prize. Land a ring on a pop bottle, and you might win a mini can of soda. Get a bean bag in the hole? More candy, of course.
    My mom always runs the fishing booth herself. She pre-selects individual prizes for each child attending and knows exactly what they’re fishing for. This year, my 3-year-old requested cotton candy—probably because she got some at the Britton-Hecla school carnival and now believes it’s a required carnival staple. Grandma came through, of course, and Zephie caught cotton candy while fishing. She was thrilled…and absolutely convinced she needed to eat it right now.
    This year’s carnival ended with a new activity: Bingo. The kids loved it, and Uncle Tom proved to be an expert bingo caller.
    It’s all a little chaotic from an adult perspective, but it’s incredibly meaningful. I’m so grateful to live nearby and be part of it every year. The kids laughed, played, and made sweet memories—and it’s all thanks to my mom, who funds everything herself and puts in so much work behind the scenes. Maybe she just loves shopping for candy and little prizes, but more than that, she loves creating special moments for her grandkids and the other children who come.
    If it had only been the carnival, maybe she could’ve squeezed in a nap. But she also spent the day preparing food for my dad’s birthday supper that evening. Needless to say, she was busy from start to finish.
    I’d like to say my mom works tirelessly on these events—but that wouldn’t be true. She’s definitely tired. Still, she powers through out of love for her grandchildren and a deep desire to give them joy-filled memories.
    What a champ.