Bowling for little guys

We went bowling again yesterday.   For Will’s birthday, a few weeks ago, we went to the center just down the street.   The boys really enjoyed that, so we thought we’d try it again with my local Mom’s group.  This time, we headed to a different bowling alley that had a special room for kid’s bowling with half-length lanes and 2.5 pound balls.  On the pro side, it was cute and they had fun.   As for the negatives:

• Ben was disappointed that the balls didn’t have finger holes and Will cried because bowling shoes were not required.  We like to be authentic. 
• The lanes were token operated,  one 2 dollar token each kid, each game.  Not cheap.
• The computer operated game allowed 30 seconds a frame before you lost your turn.  We lost many a frame to our preschool-speed style of bowling.  Annoying to me, especially knowing the cost, but not that big a deal to the kids.
• Due to our slower, not very powerful bowling, the balls kept getting stuck and I had to climb back near the pins several times to unstick them.  The children followed me, of course, and got a kick out of seeing the pin setter up close.

So, really, overall, the arcade-style bowling was good.  We enjoyed ourselves.  But, we’ll probably stick to real bowling next time. 

If for nothing else, the shoes. 

A “what if” piece that speaks my language

Go here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/if-the-first-child-had-au_b_159610.html

“If the First Child Had Autism”–Kim Stagliano

Third Birthday!

He is absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it, in all ways THREE. But part of me can’t see it. As precocious as his babyhood was–walking at nine months, saying things like ‘bulldozer’ before he was 18 months–it is often hard to remember Will as an infant. And yet, he will always be my baby in my mind.  I won’t soon forget his birth–the one I did not plan, but that Mark “attended” via his phonecall from Iraq at just the right moment.  My big, ten pound, six ounce baby with cheeks that made ‘chubby’ sound svelte. He remains my must-be-bounced-carried-held-don’teventhinkaboutlayingmedown-to-sleep little guy who gave me such great upper body strength, and helped me lose 20 extra pounds while nursing him.   And my hindsight is perfect when I recall his poor little allergic body (before I gave up dairy)–rubbing his baby legs together to scratch that eczema itch, the night sweats, the back-arching, the baby acne that lasted forever, the troubles with pooping…No, nothing will diminish the memory of that OR my funny, sunny baby with those twinkly brown eyes and constantly revving engine.  Not even turning THREE. 

Happy Birthday Will!

Love,

Mama

Muppet Monday: Mike Rowe’s Dirtiest Job on Sesame Street

“Christmas is over.”

Will spoke aloud what we all were silently thinking to ourselves this morning after a dramatic collapse of the Christmas tree. EllaRose was beneath, pulling on a favored ornament, when the un-watered, empty-based Old Blue found itself top-heavy and came crashing down.

There were minimal casualties.   I was sad about this one. But, since I found all the pieces, I superglued it back together.

Ella Rose did not get crushed, thank God.  But, she did not escape unscathed.  Poor baby.

Although, really, she didn’t and doesn’t seem too bothered by it.  That’s our tough cookie.

And as today is the Feast of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day, the 12th Day of Christmas), Christmas really is over.  Hooray!  and Wah!  It’s always bittersweet to move on from the Holiday Hoopla, but move on we must.  Look out 2009!

The next best thing to Santa

My mom and dad (and youngest sister) came to visit this past week from Chicago(land).  What fun we had with Aunt Anna, Grandma and Papa!

In addition to the lap-time, book reading, giggling and snuggling, we took a trip to the James Island County Park’s Holiday Festival of Lights.   With over 600 light displays AND a choo choo train ride through the enchanted forest, it was a winner before we even got there.