Game Day

Today is Memorial Day and most everyone is busy getting together with friends and family.  But a few of us had no plans, so we decided to get together and have a Game Day at Carol N's house. We had a really small group, but that's OK . . . we still had a really fun time just hanging out and playing some silly games.

We started out playing . . .

Quirkle Cubes

If you've never played, it's similar to Dominoes, only different.  You have 6 different shapes in 6 different colors and you try to line up one of each shape all in the same color, or one shape in each of the six different colors.  It can be challenging and it's a lot of fun to play.

Seema arrived and we switched to our second game . . . 

You've Been Sentenced

In this game you get ten five-sided cards with a word on each side (5 words per card), and you try to make a sentence using one word from each card.  You don't have to use all the cards, but you should use as many as you can.  And the trick . . . the sentence has to make sense and be a complete sentence - no fragmented sentences allowed.  Some of our sentences were pretty funny to say the least!!!

Third game . . . 

Kings in the Corner

A take-off on Solitaire, easy and fun to play.

By the time we had played several rounds of each of these games, even with all the snacks we had sitting around on the table, we were getting hungry, so we headed off to Corky's Diner for some lunch . . . 

Here we are at Corky's -
Debbie, Carol N, Joy, Seema

Lunch was good, but then . . . . .

Dessert!  Super Yum!

We finished our day by going to the movies to see an amazing movie called "Where Hope Grows" about a troubled ex-baseball player named Calvin who meets a down-syndrome kid named Produce (because he works in the produce department of the grocery store).  Produce has a profound effect on Calvin and really changes his life.  Great movie!  Highly recommended!  

Even with a small group, it's always a fun day when F.R.I.E.N.D.S. get together!

Tinkerbell!

(Thanks to Carol N for the photos for this entry.  I was on vacation and couldn't attend this event, and she did an amazing job of snapping photos to document it for us.  I'm ad-libbing the story based on the photos, so if there is something wonderful to add, please let me know.)

Today is Mother's Day, and it's starting off  r..e..a..l..l..y   r..e..a..l..l..y  early - at 3:00 AM to be exact - but it's so worth it because today is our day to cheer for the runners at the Disneyland Tinkerbell Half Marathon.  And in return, we get a FREE park hopper ticket that we will use later in the year to spend a wonderful day in the Magic Kingdom.  But for now, yawning and blurry eyed, we're on our way to Disneyland!!!!

Once we arrive, we find lots of other Red Hatters already lined up along the street, waiting for the race to start . . .

Right in front of the big blue Sorcerer's Hat at the Disneyland Hotel

A perfect spot in the middle of the crowd -
Leslie, Carol B, Debbie

Never ones to waste a moment, while waiting for the start gun to go off, the Red Hat ladies occupied themselves by . . .

Texting

Sleeping

And Dancing

Here are a few more pics of the amazing Red Hatters who got up so early to be a part of this  really fun event . . .

Do we look cold?  Brrrrrrrrrr . . . .

Finally the gun went off and the the first runners came into view . . . .

These are the ladies who are in it to win it . . . . 

Later the mainstream crowd passed by. . .

These are the ladies (and gentlemen) who are here for the fun
and the feeling of accomplishment of running 13.2 miles!

As always happens, the runners are as excited to see all the Red Hat Ladies cheering as we are to see the runners!  Mutual admiration society!!!

Our Heartiest, and Most Energetic F.R.I.E.N.D.S. -
Carol N, Debbie, Carol B, Leslie

Yummy breakfast on the way home at The Lazy Dog . . .

Carol N, Debbie, Carol B, Leslie

. . . then on to Inland Hills Church for the 11:00 AM service, and later to celebrate Mother's Day with the family.  

Can't wait for our play day at Disneyland!!!

Grand Canyon Trip - Day 5 - Heading Home

Our last day of vacation!  [Insert big sigh here!]  None of us really want this trip to end, but sadly, we have no choice.  So we check out of our motel, load up the cars and head over to Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

Cracker Barrel

If you've never been to a Cracker Barrel you're missing out.  Unfortunately, we don't have them in California (at least not yet . . . our server said there is a possibility they may start opening some in the near future, so keep those fingers crossed!)

Anyway, the menu is full of down-home style comfort food - not a recommended place if you are trying to lose weight - but everything is yummy and the portions are large.  Most of us couldn't finish all the food - this is a good place to consider sharing a meal.

But besides the food, which is delish, the real adventure and fun is wandering through the country store that is adjacent to the restaurant.  In fact, you have to walk through the store to get to the restaurant.  Definitely good marketing on the part of the manager, because all the while you're eating, you're thinking about what you might purchase!  The store is chock full of unique gift items, clothing, nostalgic candy, and jars of wonderful goodies from the restaurant - like fried apples!  Absolutely can't leave a Cracker Barrel without at least one jar of fried apples! Trust me on this!

We spent quite a bit of time exploring all the treasures in that store, and most of us left a few dollars there.

There is a large porch in front of the building which is filled with inviting rocking chairs that just beg to be sat in.  And so of course . . .

We did!  Our last group pic of the trip . . .
Front - Carol N, Debbie, Joy, Chris
Back - Seema, Barbara

Nothing exciting to report on the way home, just cruising down the highway and talking about all our adventures and experiences during the trip.  Our very last stop was at . . .

Freddy's in Victorville . . .

Where we toasted the end of our trip with concretes!  Here's to a really fun trip, great F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and lasting memories.

And that's the end of our Grand Canyon Trip and our 10th Birthday Celebration.  Now we need to start thinking about our 15th Birthday coming up in only five more years.  How does New Orleans sound?  Good?  OK, start saving!!!

Grand Canyon Trip - Day 4 Part 2 - Route 66

We arrived at the chiropractor's office in plenty of time, and while her "posse" waited in the lobby, the doctor adjusted Debbie's back and gave her a brace to help keep it in place and alleviate the pain until she could get home and see her regular doctor.  When she came out, it was so good to see her smiling without grimacing!  Her back is still very tender, but at least she's in much less pain.

We grabbed a quick lunch, then drove back to Williams and on to Ashfork, at which point we turned onto Historic Route 66 so we could take a nostalgic drive along this famous highway. Back in the day, Route 66 was the main route between Chicago and California.  But then along came I-40 and the road was pretty much bypassed.  What we are driving on now is one of the best preserved sections that still remain . . .

Historic Route 66

It's raining again, but hopefully it'll stop by the time we reach Seligman
which is our next stop

Driving along this road brought back so many childhood memories for Carol and me . . . and got us thinking about the summer road trips our parents took us on, probably along this very same road. Do you remember driving past signs like these when you were a kid? 

Here's another set . . . 

These cute little phrases were always followed by this . . . 

Love this!!!!!

 Soon we arrived at the town of Seligman . . . 

Stepping out of the car and looking around was like stepping back in time to the 1950's . . . or onto the set of the Disney movie "Cars", whichever you can relate to most.  There was so much to see, we didn't know where to look first.  Here's a sampling of what this quaint little town has to offer . . . 

Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In

Sorry We're Open???

And out back . . . 

Juan's Garden

Full of treasures such as . . . 

A handy dandy restroom

That actually works!

Lots of old vehicles

And gas pumps

And photo ops

Of course we had to take a stroll down the main street . . . 

Taking a step back in time

By this time it was after 6:00 PM and most of the sidewalks were already rolled up.  But there was one store that was open, so we went inside.  As we wandered through the store, the owner heard us talking and when he realized it was Barbara's birthday, he gave her a gift . . . 

How cool was that?  

Back outside, we continued down the main street . . . 

Interesting mural

Gift Shop and Cafe

I have no words

Tombstone

Check out the airplane

Another view 

Souvenir Store

Stops along Route 66

Dinner anyone?

There were some very unique signs posted on some of the buildings . . .

Sounds good

Parents beware!

What a perfect place to celebrate
Barbara's 66th Birthday

It was hard to leave Seligman, there was so much to see, but it was getting late and we wanted to make it to Kingman before dark, so we jumped back on I-40 . . .

In time to catch a bit of the sunset

In Kingman we checked into our motel and then over to a restaurant that Barbara's friend had recommended for dinner at  . . . 

Kingman Chophouse

And one last birthday celebration
Happy Happy Birthday Barbara!!!  And many many more!

We've had such a good day!  Actually, we've had a great four days and we're sad that our little F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 10th Birthday trip is winding down.  Tomorrow we have to go home!  But we still have a little bit of fun left . . . stay tuned.