Gutter Ball

Aaron, Ollie, and I went to our local bowling alley for family date night. The few times we went bowling before, Ollie was passed back and forth between turns. On a whim, I decided to let Ollie help me.

Do you ever have those moments when you just can't be bothered to put more than minimum effort? I didn't want to try to find a ramp, so instead, I had Ollie help push the ball while I awkwardly granny-shotted the ball. Check out this technique:

The family next to us kept offering their ramp, but I was illogically committed to this.  When they left,  I took it when they weren't looking. I can't explain my pride. She doesn't come out when I decide to do my Carol Burnett impersonation in public, but it will show up for reasons that make no since, such as not knowing where the corn starch in a grocery store is. I've heard about a ramp before, by the way. I used to work at a day care at a family entertainment center that had a bowling alley. Also, not to brag, but I am very good at "un-stucking" the balls behind the pins.

The ramp was a game changer, Ollie actually got to push the ball, rather than just sit there.

Hey! I'm actually in a picture with my son.

We had two different games, so Ollie helped Aaron with the second game. Ollie was so cute. He would say things like "Yeah mom! You did it!" He's a man who loves his routine and he found his quickly. When it was his turn, he would go up to the lane and wait for the ramp. Aaron would put the ball down. Ollie would push the ball and usually say "Oh no!" He probably thinks that's what you say when you bowl, since he initially learned how to bowl from me. He's going to grow up thinking "oh no" goes with bowling like "four!" goes with golf. After his turn was over, he would go over and stand on the step until it was his turn again. 

He was about done by the end of it, so two games was a good number. He wasn't throwing a fit, but you could tell he was losing interest. 

Afterward, we went to Texas Roadhouse. I guess the rest of Amarillo decided to go, too, because it was forty-five minute wait. We didn't mind waiting. It's nice not having to rush. Plus, restaurants are great for people watching.

We try to bring a restaurant bag so Ollie is entertained without a screen, and it worked for the full forty-five minutes! Just kidding, I brought out the phone for him to watch his cartoons after five minutes. We put it away once we sat down at our booth and Ollie was entertained with his restaurant bag and eating peanuts. I got inspired to put Ollie in gymnastics after watching college gymnastics on the tv. Both Aaron and I were trying to figure out the local college's course sign up, and long story short, me and Ollie are signed up for a "mommy and me creative movement," which I am thinking is more of creative dancing and less tumbling.

More to follow on that story. 

Ollie is so flexible and is just a pleasant guy. I love how he likes to try new things and really observes other people to see how things are done.