Bowling - Ben's Strategy

Brian and Ben were supposed to go bowling with the youth on Saturday night, but they ended up leaving early and Brian had agreed to put on his magicians hat once again for the annual magic show for the kids at the chili cook off. Ben was really disappointed to miss bowling so we promised to take him soon. Today was Marti's birthday, so to celebrate, we took the kids bowling and had dinner at our place. Marti chose to sit and hold her bowling ball sized baby while she watched. Brian did most of the helping with the kids and they had more fun that I could have possibly imagined. It was so fun to watch them get excited.

I'm not sure if bowling my way is the best strategy anymore. Glori beat us all with a score of 90 and she faithfully used the ramp thing and Brian was quite skilled with using the side bumpers to get those pesky side pins for her. She was super cute trying to carry the ball. Of course, it's all about the color of the ball. The pink ones do the best job hitting the pins.

Ben was next in the mid 80s with a mix of strategies, Brian got 80 and I think I was close behind but can't remember. Brian and I both shared our turns with Maddie who only cared about pushing the ball down the ramp. Before it even hit the ground she had turned around to head off and pick up the next ball, totally missing the point of the game to hit the pins. Oh well.

Now for Ben's master bowling strategy... We are totally going back again with a camcorder. It was priceless to see him bowl. He started out with the ramp and thought it was pretty cool. Then he wanted to try just pushing it. Brian would help him get it pushed hard enough to make it to the end. Several times I was positive it was going down the lane so slow it would stop before it got to the end. Once he got the bright idea to kick it down the lane like a soccer ball. All three grown-ups yelled in unison, "NO!" and got him stopped as he ran up on his approach for a serious hard kick. He stopped just before he broke his foot. It was so funny though. He was genuinely confused why we all freaked out.

My favorite approach had tears rolling down my face time after time. He did it over and over again. He would insist on carrying the heavy bowling ball up to where he wanted it, place the ball just behind the foul line. Then walk back to the very back of the wooden floor before the step down. He would gear up his body and then run full speed toward the ball, come to a dead stop just inches before the ball, kneel down really fast and roll the ball, exactly the same as the times when he would just stand at the foul line and roll it with Brian's help. Who am I to judge? He beat my score...