Off to the Races

We do highs and lows at department meetings, and my high last week was that we were having friends over this past Saturday for a game night. It's been far too long since we all got together, and we had such a great time! The theme for the evening was "Bring your A Game," so we munched on Asian zing wings, stuffed anaheim peppers, apple crisp and more. Even the brand of wine started with an "a." We played Apples to Apples, of course, but for most of the night, we watched the Thunder playoff game. At halftime we were way ahead so we decided to cook some s'mores by the fire. It was the perfect evening for it! However, the game took a turn for the worse, so we headed back in to cheer the Thunder to victory.

 We tried the flat marshmallows made for s'mores, and I'm a big fan. It was a lot easier to cook them through and there was more surface area to turn yummy, golden brown. 

One of my coworker's highs was that Sunday was exotic animal racing at Remington Park. I'd never heard of such a thing, but when he said there would be ostriches, zebras and camels, I thought Asher just had to see them. So I called Stacy and we were on!

According to the website, racing started at 1:30 with exotic racing occurring between regular horse racing. So we got there at 1:30. Unfortunately, we learned a little too late that the ostriches were the first exotic race and that wouldn't happen until 3:50. Apparently we weren't the only ones in the dark because it was packed! I was so worried that Asher wasn't going to make it, but he did a great job. He loved watching the horses race. They even had a few pinned up on the plaza so the kids could see them up-close. They had pig racing, too, which was only mildly entertaining for him. What he had the most fun doing was throwing pennies and splashing in the fountain. That literally entertained him for a good 45 minutes! Oh to be a kid again...

Asher was beat by the time the ostriches finished racing, so we headed home. Next time we will definitely go later in the day, but overall it was a fun trip. Thanks for the recommendation, Matt!

He got his camel and his program and he was ready to go! 

 Asher pointing out all of the horses to his Dad.

Yes that's right. There were mini horses there AND, luckily for all of the parents in the crowd, they were for sale. Thank goodness Asher can't read yet!

 He named each and every one of them. 

The Clydesdale mommy and baby were his favorite. I believe their names were Clydie and Coltie. So creative!

Taking a picture to send to Mamo. 

 Making a wish.

 It was quite the process to get the ostriches into the starting gate. I seriously thought one of them was going to get out going the wrong way! The jockeys were brave, though, and they got on anyway. One got knocked off early in the race and his ostrich just kept on running around the track after all the others had been caged back up. Asher wondered how they were going to get him roped with that skinny neck. :)

 Is it nap time yet?