bowl!

We spent a fun couple of hours at a local bowling ally yesterday, celebrating one of the kids' friend's birthday. Neither one of my boys have ever bowled before, but they both quite enjoyed it! J, as usual for him with new activities, picked up a fairly reasonable style by the end of the two strings they bowled, and actually won the 2nd game.

Zoo Boy's enthusiasm (he marched right over, grabbed a ball, and headed for a lane before anyone could stop him or get him fitted for shoes!) was NOT matched by his style -- he would stomp right up the line, then squat down, and give his ball a slow push down the isle. The scoreboard clocked one of his sizzlers at a whole 5.1 mph. He actually was fairly accurate, often hitting the head pin, but with no momentum behind the ball, he usually only knocked a couple of pins down. Didn't stop him from cheering that ball all the way down the lane, though, and he stuck with the game the entire time.

Each party (and there were about half a dozen going on!) had a couple of lanes and their own attendant. The kids signed a bowling pin for the birthday boy (here Zoo Boy explains to the attendant what his scribble said). I checked out the party prices, and they were pretty reasonable, although there was just so much noise and chaos, I'm not sure I can see doing the same for either of my kids. But, gosh, they sure did have a blast, so maybe if they requested it....

The bowling ally provided pizza and drinks, the parents provide the cake (in this case a giant cookie, which both of my boys declined, which meant The Map Man and I were in luck!). It really was fun, and we're planning to take advantage of the free game coupons the ally provided us to go as a family at some point this winter.