More Sister Retreat 2011

Let's talk about the horse races, shall we? On Saturday of our Sister Retreat, my step-father bought us tickets to the races. We all LOVE the races, so we were excited to go. It was on Friday, the day before race day, as we lounged in the pool to get away from the million degree heat, that we all realized the races were about a 2 1/2 hour drive away in Kentucky.
At that point, some of us gave each other looks...(okay, Kelley and I gave each other a look that said, "What? Two and a half hours each way? In the car?") Being the matriarch and all, I felt it was my duty to tread the waters of perhaps NOT going to the races the next day. Upon some tentative questioning, it turns out that someone went to a lot of trouble to get us the tickets and wanted very badly to do something very nice for us during our retreat.
So, after seeing the disappointed look on Mona's face, we were all gung ho again about the races.
Cut to the next morning...The first car/van was leaving at 7:30 am in order to beat the heat, as they did not have air conditioning in the van. The sisters were going to leave much later...we HAD air conditioning. The races were going to start at 1:00.
Here's the funny thing. Without even realizing it, my mom and step-dad came out to the car wearing EXACTLY the same thing...white pants and a lavender top. We sisters laughed about it, took pictures and thought it was cute. Once the van left, though, an idea hit two of us at the same time. What if we stopped at the Goodwill on our way to the races and each purchased an outfit of white bottoms and lavender tops. Hilarious! Great idea. We headed for Goodwill as soon as it opened. As Matriarch, I allotted 15 minutes to make our purchases.
Here is where sister Margarita (said with a Spanish accent) came out of the dressing room in a floor length lavender ball gown. It was a bit big for her, but she was sort of determined to wear it. She was going to wear a white sash or belt with it. Fortunately for us, it was $20 and she just didn't want to spend that kind of money. She found an appropriate outfit, like the rest of us.
Once we got to the races, our fun idea paid off as Mona (that's my mom) laughed hysterically as five lavender and white dressed sisters met her at the entrance. Sometimes other people stare at us in public...we just get used to it.

Anyhow, here is a photo of us with my mom and step-dad in our lavender glory.
Once we were making our way through the race park, all of the other people wearing purple that day wanted to have their picture taken with us. Below is a photo of two random men who wanted a purple photo. Their wives took the picture.


So that's the story of our day at the races. Kelley won her first bet EVER! I was so excited, telling her that I think she won like $100 or something, but it has been awhile since I've been to the races and my figures were a little bit off. When she took her ticket up to the Mutuels booth, they gave her her $30 in winnings. :) Sorry Kelley...although she DID get a free drink out of the deal.

More later.