Fun family games to play outdoors.

This is the time of year, as the days get longer and the weather improves, that it is nice to be outside in the evenings. My family has a lot of fun playing games out in the yard like Bocce, lawn darts and croquet. There are so many new games on the market now it makes spending a warm summer day in the yard lots of fun.

Recently, my family discovered a new game that has no name, or at least we don't know what it is. It is a lot of fun and is easy to build yourself. The game consists of two stands, each with three rungs and four strings with golf balls attached at each end. You place each stand about 10 feet apart and then throw a string with a golf ball tied at each end, towards the stand. The goal is to get the golf ball to hook on the rungs of the stand. You get one point for the top rung, two points for the middle rung and three points for the bottom rung. We play in partners but you can play alone. Great fun. Know the name? Sound familiar to anyone?

Another game that is a lot of fun is bean bag toss. You'd think it would be so simple. Throw the bean bag, get it in the hole and rack up the points. Huh, as if. Not quite so simple, otherwise what would be the point in playing? I like that you can knock your opponents off the board or cancel their points out by getting your own hole in one. The funnest thing is all ages can play. It is no fun when the kids don't get to play because it isn't safe or if it requires so much skill only the most athletic can play. Bean bag toss is good for everyone and that is what makes it so fun.

Ever play washer toss? It is a bit like bean bag toss except you throw washers instead of bean bags. I have to say that it is easier than it looks. Those darned washers are more likely to pop out of the hole than stay in it. I had lots of holes in one only to get robbed as the washer bounced right out again. Play in partners because then you have someone to count on when you can't score to save your life!

Hope you enjoy getting outside and playing some games this summer. I know my family will.