Ten Pin Bowling Party
10-pin bowling sounded to me like the perfect theme for a 10th Birthday Party. Even more so given how much Leighton enjoys it. 
One of the drawbacks of living out here in a rural area is access to these kind of things. It’s almost 2 hours drive from our home to the nearest Bowling Alley.
This meant that in order for him to have a 10-Pin Bowling party, we needed to transport the guests to and from our nearest town, turning what could be a very simple party (for those that live near a Bowling Alley) into quite a complicated one.
We gave Leighton a choice for his 10th Birthday Party. He could take 4 friends bowling (we have a 7 seater car) or we could have a larger party more locally. He chose the option of having just 4 friends and going bowling.
A couple of years ago I saw some Ten-Pin Bowling candles and grabbed them, thinking it would make a great theme for one of the kids birthday cakes. Perfect! It was great to have them in the cupboard when Leighton decided he would indeed have a 10-Pin Bowling Birthday Party. While you have to be careful not to end up with too much stuff that doesn’t ever get used, I’ve learnt living out here that I need to grab stuff like that when I see it. Chances are, when I wanted them, I would have had trouble finding them.
I noticed in this photo that the alley have used red to border their lanes. Not that I expect anyone really noticed (other than me just now looking at the photo’s). If you click on any of the photo’s, it will take you to a larger copy which shows the red lines between lanes a little clearer.
We met in town at Farmboy’s brothers home and did the presents and cake before heading off for the day. I think some of the parents thought we were very brave taking 5 boys for the day. The kids were SO GOOD though. Very well behaved and polite. A real credit to their parents in my opinion.
I had quite a bag of snacks packed for them to munch on as well as some cans of drink I bought for 40c a can. We also took a couple of DVD’s and played them in the car DVD player. I expected them to be extremely noisy but they were quite quiet. The DVD on the way up there finished just as we were driving into town.
It was amazing how the day seemed to fall into place like that. One thing seemed to roll into the next quite naturally and without fuss. KFC for lunch followed by a trip to the park for the boys to kick the footy around (we couldn’t get into the Bowling Alley until 2pm due to Penant Bowls).
The Bowling Game took around an hour then Farmboy gave each of them a few gold coins to play on the games.
I had a couple of hours shopping after lunch while the boys did all of that. Then they picked me up on our way out of town. We were due back in town at 5pm and arrived with about 6 minutes to spare. Parents started arriving around 30 seconds after we got there and all the boys were gone by 5pm.
I just couldn’t believe how smoothly the whole day seemed to run!!!
I think it’s a party Leighton will look back on fondly (at least I hope he does ). Here’s a shot of him with the candles lit.
My heart just melts when I see him. My beautiful little baby on his way to becoming a man. He was such a GOOD host all day. I was SO proud of him. At lunch time he was making sure everyone had food (including me and Farmboy).
When we did the birthday cake in the morning, he insisted on cutting it and serving everyone with a piece. Then when his younger brother dropped his, he raced off inside to get him some more. I kind of expected he would be focused on his mates and not care about his younger brother and sister. So that little expressed of thought and caring really touched my heart.
We have our moments but all in all, he’s a GREAT kid!!!!
As much as I love birthday parties, I must admit I’m glad I don’t have to think about anymore for a while now. I’m a tad “partied out”.
If you are having a party, one thing you will need to purchase are party favors. There are many various types of party favors such as bridal shower favors, themed favors and wedding reception favors, all perfect for your next big bash!
Similar Posts:
- Number 4 Birthday Cake
- Torture Tuesday
- Smiley Saturday - Party On
- Cousins Birthday Party
- Pirate Birthday Party Photo’s
14 comments:
Write a comment:
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate each and every one of them. If this is the first comment you have left, your comment will be held in moderation for approval so you may not see it immediately. Once your first comment is approved, all future comments should appear immediately. You can choose to receive any further comments by email. Simply tick Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
Heya Lightening,
That is an awesome looking birthday cake. It is a shame that you live so far away but it sounds like Leighton had an absolute blast…
I know I am 22 but *hehe* that is a party that even I would enjoy
Stuart
Hey Lightening. Sounds like a great time was had by all. I love the cake. You have a DVD player in your car? Perfect!!
Sounds like a great day! Happy belated b’day Leighton!
Glad it was such a success. That cake looks fab - hats off to farmboy
Sounds as though a good day was had by all!
I surreptitiously asked StuffyJr what sort of theme party he might want. He said Pink ;-). I’m pretty sure that by the time his birthday rolls around at the end of the year he’ll have changed that answer to something a bit more “socially conventional” for a 5 year old boy.
Perhaps he’s been reading my blog Stuffy????
In some countries, pink is a very manly colour, especially the deeper pinks. It’s related to red which is considered a very strong colour.
Thanks everyone for your kind wishes and comments. They’re always appreciated.
What a fabulous day babe. And give Farmboy a smootch from me for being so wonderful too.
Sounds great, Jodi. And it’s lovely to hear how proud you are of your son.
OOh my baby turned 10 in January too. We had a surprise party, and drove 3.5 hours away from home for it too, lol mean mother I am, told him we had a long long drive friday morning to get to a specialists appointment at 4.30pm Friday. He asked what type of specialist he was seeing, I just said “a specialist, no more questions”. Lol by the time we were half way there he still had no idea and even though his baby sister knew, she never let on (well that was more because she overheard a conversation and was then threatened that she wouldnt get a birthday party, presents or a birthday if she spoilt her brothers surprise - very mean I know, but Poor Mr Moo has only had three parties in his 10 years and this was going to be special if it killed me).
I was going to go bowling party for him this year, but the problem is that he has 5 best friends, and none of them can stand each other, so I would have had 7 kids in total and only 3 of them speaking to each other at any one time lolol.
I loved the cake, fantastic lane Farmboy, and great score on those candles Lightening. I saw soccer plates etc two years back and didnt have the money, when i went back to get them for Miss Boo’s birthday (she played 6yr olds for local team last year) there were none to be had anywhere and I went to three local towns looking for them.
I will post pics and description on my blog later, but had to post and tell you, cause it was cool hearing that your son and mine arent all that far apart in age (days/weeks?) and the fact we were going to go bowling and ended up driving so far away.
Hehe I am starting to sound loony, might go get some water, maybe my brain is drying up (damn hard to drink enough water when it rains all the time, water is the last thing i want to go near atm lol, at least when its stinky hot there is a reason to remember to drink it).
Ok ranting off to the kitchen to find if there is any boiled water.
EriN!
Hi there,
Cake looks great. You are right “10 Pin” birthday candles are impossible to find in Australia. Where did you get them ?
Genelle, Melbourne
Genelle - I think it was Coles. It was quite some time ago now though.
I just had to say i too found “thismorning” some Ten-Pin Bowling candles the same as yours and i grabbed them. As my Little boy is 6yrs on the 12th nov He is nut’s on an elf bowling game we found online. I thought “promblem solved” on his birthday cake Idea.
I then came online too see Ten-Pin Bowling Cakes, (for IDEA’S !!!) I see your’s and it’s COOL WEll Done “You Clever Thing” : )
I will give it a go…!!!! (well TRY TOO…) “God Know’s How it will turn out” ??????
I may just send in a photo (we can all have a good ole Giggle ..!!!
Reading what a Lovely Day had by All “I may even book Ten-Pin Bowling for the little one” ?
Thanks a million What a good idea.
I Thought Maybe the Kids could have a giggle and have a play on the 2 Elf Bowling games that my son is Bonkers About I will add on the links for you,(these are only a trial Version of only an Hour sorry to say) But Like myself you may end up getting it too……
Take Care All and have fun : )
From Louise (Middelsex)
http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/3678/elf-bowling-hawaiian-vacation/index.html?afcode=afc2e49bab7d&src=bfgppcgoogwselfbh
http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/2420/elf-bowling-7-17-the-last-insult/index.html
P.S……… To All
I Found The Ten-Pin Bowling Candles in a (CHEAP Shop) “well thats what i call them shop’s” ! NIC-NAC Shop that has all sorts of Bits”n”Bob’s ….. !!!!
and Best of all ONLY cost a POUND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~