buffet, bowling, and santa

Last Saturday was a great day!  We had heard there was a bowling alley in a town about 45 minutes from here.  We passed by it coming home from the airport a month ago and from the outside it looked nice.  Kind of unexpected.  So, we planned a bowling excursion last Saturday.

So, we waited for Jorge to get off work so we could head out.  While we were waiting, we snapped some pictures.  Here, the girls and I take a candid picture together.  And, below that, you can see my two "models".

On the way over to go bowling, we decided to stop at a restaurant that we had driven by many times.  From the outside, it looked really nice.  And, after going in, I was pleasantly surprised.  Very nice layout and they even had cloth table clothes.  Fancy, right?  A change from the plastic tables and chairs at all the other places we go.

It was a meat buffet.  They weren't kidding.  You start with a salad bar and get want you want.  Once you are done with that, you turn over this card on your table indicating that you are ready for the meat.  They just kept bring different kinds of meat.  We stopped them, but I counted 8 different sorts.  A turkey sausage, some sort of pork, chirizo, wings, ribs, ribeye, filet, and some other kind of sausage. Oh, and chicken wrapped in bacon.  Talk about a meat coma.  I didn't sample many of those.  I should have went with an empty stomach.  I thought they charged a very reasonable rate.  It was 140 pesos a person (and since the girls were little, they didn't charge for them.  Just their drinks).  Right now, that equals around $11.50 a person.

Once we were full, we headed over to the bowling alley.  VERY NICE!  VERY UNEXPECTED!  They could have plucked it up from some place in the States and set it down here. 

The girls loved it.  And, it was such a change of pace to do something fun when Jorge was with us.  We only bowled one game.  With the girls taking a bit of time, that was just under an hour for us.  And, it was very reasonably priced, too.  It was 30 pesos a game per person and 15 pesos for each shoe rental.  So, under $3 a game and less than $1.50 for the shoes.

Part of why it felt like it was plucked from the States is because everything was in English.  Take a look at the floor in front of Bella.

Bella did almost all her bowling on her own.  It took a bit of time.  Some of the turns, I wasn't sure if the ball was going to make it the whole way down.  What was nice is that they had automatic bumper guards that came up during the girls' turns.  You can see it is a clear plastic piece on both sides.  Just look at those yellow tick marks down the lane.  That is the bumper guard.

Somehow, her ball did make it down the lane every time.  And, she did fairly well at knocking down quite a few pins.

Emily was posing for me right after we got our lane assigned to us.  She was ready to bowl!

 Here I am in all my glory!  Not to brag, but I did end up winning!

Bella, striking a pose for me with the bowling balls.

Here is a shot of the score keeping screen.  Everything was digital.  I used my camera phone so the picture isn't the best.  You might be able to see they even show you how fast you are rolling the ball.  And, when we checked in, the girl asked for all of our names.  Jorge told her "Emmy" and she misunderstood him and thought he said "Amy".  So, that is why you will see that name.

Emily wanted help for all of her turns.  I think she thought having daddy help her was extra fun.

Jorge asked the girls if they would give him a hug if he knocked all the pins down.  So, you can see, he got them all down.

It was fun!  We are planning to go back again soon!  After we left there, we stopped by Soriana. It is pretty much like a Walmart.  We had perfect time because just about 40 minutes before we got there, Santa got there!  The girls were able to get their picture taken with Santa.  This is the first time ever for them to do this. They thought it was pretty cool.  Even though, Emily did tell us that it wasn't really Santa.  It was just a guy in a costume.

We headed back home and stopped by my mother-in-law's house.  Her sister was there with her 3 month old little girl.  So, my day was complete with some baby snuggling!  I'm glad there is a little one around so I can have time with a baby, but then be able to give her back! :)  Isn't she so sweet!?  I wanted to take her  home with us.

It was a great day!  It will be repeated!  Living in this small town, sometimes it just gets too boring!  It was nice to find something to do with the girls.