When I found out about the Kids Bowl Free program I jumped at the chance for my kids to bowl all summer. When I found out I could buy a pass for Jon and I for only $25 I about swooned. Twenty-five dollars for our family of five to bowl two games a day (plus shoes) for the entire summer? Awesome. 

I grew up bowling with my family and we always had a blast. Jon and I bowled off and on early in our marriage — the most memorable when I was 9 months pregnant with Kyle and pulled a muscle in my side. 

We took the family yesterday to Zeppoz in Pullman for our first family bowling trip. When I realized I had never taken my kids bowling I felt like a bad parent. I was determined to have a fantastic time that ended in pizza and pitchers of root beer. (That seems to be how all my bowling trips as a youth ended — well, that's how I remember it anyway.)

It started out kind of shaky. We bowl on the Wii all the time, so we were prepared to get strikes and spares aplenty. WRONG! Wii bowling so does not prepare you for real bowling. First of all, if you get a ball that has holes that are a bit too small it DOES NOT come off when you swing it toward the pins. Instead, it pulls your fingers out of the socket and leaves 12 pounds of dead weight attached to your hand. I don't suggest it. 

After putting up bumpers for Moira so she had a shot at hitting some pins, it got a little better. Moira has an interesting technique, not to mention bowling attire. Decked out in a pink, blue and black plaid dress with white tights and orange and red striped socks she stands at the line and swings her ball back and forth at her side like a pendulum until she really feels it. Then she releases the ball with a sound I imagine a brick makes when thrown on oiled wood. It makes its painfully slow way down the lane,  bouncing off the bumpers to hit a single pin, which then (like dominoes) hits another pin and another, until she has hit at least eight pins. Never failed. 

Maggie went back and forth between Moira's technique and something that looked like she was bound to injure herself or others around her. 

Kyle, well Kyle, he just has his own personal style. What can I say? Most of the time it worked out great for him. We are definitely not going to win awards for form.

At the end of our two games, the kids had smiles on their faces, sweat in their smelly bowling shoes and Jon and I were worried out hips would not work in the morning. 

It was a blast, and I can't wait to do it again.

To witness a little bit of our bowling adventure you can click on this link for a short and poorly shot iPhone video.

Today I found myself walking between interviews and classrooms with a Pokemon pedometer attached to my pocket. It sounds a lot less pathetic than it actually is. My son bought a new game for his Nintendo DSi. It is a Pokemon game that encourages kids to walk by including a pedometer that trains your Pokemon based on the number of steps you take.

So, my son thought it would be a good idea to let me train his Pokemon since I walk just about everywhere. And I agreed. Either I am an incredibly supportive and wonderful mother or I am a big huge sucker. I think it's the latter. Now my son gets to make his mom look like a dork and gain points for his game all at the same time.

What was I thinking?  On a more positive note, I have already walked 8,000 steps and my day has just started. Go mom!!!!

****Side note: I think I may begin referring to myself as a personal trainer. I don't have to mention I'm a trainer of Pokemon.

When I was a kid I used to love watching game shows with my mom in the mornings. They were on right before her favorite soap operas – "All My Children", "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital". I loved "The Price is Right", especially the Plinko game (doesn't everyone?) and the show "Press Your Luck" was also a favorite.

While the contestants on "The Price is Right" were always very jovial and super excited to play and lose any game, the contestants on "Press Your Luck" were a whole different crowd. They were out for blood. They were ruthless and wished and prayed that their neighbor would see those creepy little devil-like guys walk across their scoreboard and wipe out all their money. When it was their turn they would shout, with abandon, "No Whammy, no whammy, no whammy!" I always secretly wished the mean ones would get a visit from the creepy guys.

Okay, so all of this reminiscing was just a way to introduce the fact that Nintendo Wii has come out with a new game — "Press Your Luck". Along with their "Family Feud" and "The Price is Right" games I could revisit my childhood every day of the week. I'm seriously thinking about having a game show Wii night.

Side note: Does anybody else think Drew Carey has put on a little weight since taking over for Bob Barker on "The Price is Right"? Whatever, I still think he's hot!