Summer Fun, You Win Some, You Lose Some

School has been out for a couple of weeks now, and the kids have been keeping themselves busy in various ways. Christian has spent a lot of time at the new desk, coloring and cutting and making an assortment of things (and a big, happy mess). They haven't spent a lot of time outside because, along with being hot, it's mosquitoey. We have all been bitten more than we care to have been bitten. 

Michaela's softball games are getting us outside. (I'll be honest...her 8am games? Mike took her to those.) 

Just sitting is hot. It has been 90 degrees at 10:30am. 

As the season progressed, her hitting improved. In the last game, she got two hits, at least one of which was a double, and because her team was short on players, Christian played and assisted her on an out. 

She pitched in many of the games, and took it seriously, practicing and learning how to pitch a softball (as best she could in a few weeks' time). 

I am proud of her for her hard work. The team has a losing record, but she is still enthusiastic about playing.

Aside from ball games and a couple of pool parties, we have been indoors! The other day Christian said all of a sudden,"Let's go bowling!" He had received some free bowling passes from school at the end of the year, so we made the spontaneous decision to go. 

The girls...

smiling for me...and Christian...

Yep. That's about right. 

The bowling alley was dark, but had black lights (or whatever), so we were all glowy. 

 

I thought Michaela had a most-fun outfit on to be in such an environment. 

She bowled really well. Her second frame, she got a strike! 

Michaela was a very deliberate bowler.

Christian, however, went flying up to the line and let his ball fly down the lane. It was all very fast and wild. 

Eliana had to figure out how to give the ball some force and not just drop it with a little forward movement. 

She got the hang of it as the game went on. 

While waiting on your turn, there are many ways to entertain oneself at the bowling alley. 

They had a lot of fun. 

After the first game, they convinced me to start another game. We had time, so I said yes. Eliana was winning that game from the start, and it made someone a little grouchy. 

Eliana was tickled, however. 

They used the metal ball guide, and Christian and Eliana had bumpers. I can't decide which way I think is the better way to go for him (bumpers or no). 

He kept sitting in the one place that had the best light for taking pictures, so I kept taking pictures. He tolerated me. 

Eliana led the whole game, and I think she ended up with a score in the 90s. 

The other two were exasperated that she won, and I told them we should have just stuck to one game if they were going to be so fussy. They still fussed. I'm inclined to tell them next time,"No fun for you!"

Another big hit lately is Monopoly. Christian is good at the game, and he also, somehow, gets lucky rolls. Mike and he were continuing a game that Christian and I started yesterday; Michaela sat down and played with him today, and Christian pretty much bankrupted his opponent, no matter who it was. He had hotels built on three of his properties and houses on three others. He had five monopolies and owned three of the four railroads. How do you beat that? 

  

See how happy he is when he's winning? 

 

But then when the game was over, he didn't want to have won...because he wanted to keep playing! Even winning is losing! 

Ah, tomorrow is a new day. We'll be ready for Vacation Bible School (a win!), lunch with friends (a win!), and who knows what else. (Probably laundry...a win?) (If it gets done, then yes!) May you have a winning day too!