A Fun Day Bowling

I know, I know....I've neglected the blog again. I'm searching for an excuse, a really good reason for my slacking, but I'm drawing a blank. Perhaps it's the back-to-school chaos that seems to take weeks to simmer down. There's also the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping and the laundry. Or, it could be my determination to spend more quality time with friends during the day (thanks Janet, Sue, Micki, Terri and all). And then there's the club softball team that a friend of mine and I are coaching. We're just getting it all off the ground, collecting dues and trying to order uniforms so we can play in our 1st tournament later this month. And, our family is also planning a four day get-a-way this weekend to visit Grandma Della in her new home. Whatever the reason for leaving my blog sit idle, I apologize and I'll try to do better.

Thought I'd post a couple pictures of the kids from our recent outing to the bowling alley. It was Buck's idea, he's been asking to go for weeks. So, we took off this past weekend for a morning of fun. Audra did not tag along on this one, due to her sizable homework load. We did decide that the next time we go, we will ALL go.  

I'm not sure who had more fun, me or the kids. I know it wasn't Wade, as he stopped after game #1 due to a sore shoulder. Age does have it's disadvantages. Buck was definitely the most gung ho and Colton, not surprisingly, was the most competitive. At least amongst the children. We started by ordering our bowling shoes and I'm completely shocked that Sierra, little Sierra, now wears the exact same size shoe as her mother. And her mother has been razzed for most of her life for having boats for feet. Moving on to the ball selection, we also noted that little Sierra threw the same weight ball as her mom. She is so strong and me, not so much anymore. Colton needed a special ball that they kept behind the counter, for little people. It weighed 6 pounds and if I could have jammed my stumpy fingers into those holes, I might have used his ball, too.

Since God has been really working to build into me a humble heart, I'm not going to mention who won ALL three games.  As we got started, Wade was immediately distracted by the all-you-can-eat pizza they were offering. I decided, after his constant hinting about pizza that this was his way of taking my mind off the game. Once I started to ignore him, I found my groove. Sierra kept us all on our toes and as she approached the line, swinging her arm for the release, the ball would actually plop down just behind her and bounce forward. Buckley amazed all of us with his ability to adjust. He would throw his first ball down the right side and it would spill off into the gutter.  His very next ball was always beautiful, spinning inward toward the head pin for a good score. This happened time and time again. Colton really should have had his own reality show film crew along for the day. He is just funny and entertaining, all without meaning to be. He was so bent on winning, that he just got worse and worse with each game. It was pure emotion causing the train wreck and by the third game, we all stopped making eye contact with him on his way back to the chairs to avoid a massive meltdown. I think, in the 6th frame, he had 8 points. Wade, who just can't help himself, suggested to Colton that he check to see if there was a record book at the alley. Thankfully, Colton had no idea what he meant and sulked off to his seat. I could really see some maturity in Colton though, because as bad as the 3rd game was, there were no tears.

All in all, it was a fun day of bowling. This photo was clearly taken before we started.

Colton was not nearly this happy as we left the alley, but it was fun. Anyone who might be interested in bowling in a league....let me know. I'm really not any good, but it would be a fun way to spend an evening with friends!