OKC FUN!

 Since we were on the way home from Bricktown, we decided to stop at the large ferris wheel that we had seen a few times driving on the interstate - it looked like a really cool one AND there was a large OKC sign which would be perfect for a photo op!

We pulled into this cute park and walked over for some photos!

The ferris wheel was a super nice one but no one wanted to ride it so we just took pictures!  There were also hammocks you could use and food trucks there and pop up shops - what a cute place!

And then we decided to get ice cream - another coupon in that pamphlet was for a free scoop of ice cream so what the heck - let's go!  Took a little ways to get there and what a strange part of town this place was at, but it was quite the ice cream place - they had the WEIRDEST flavors you could imagine!  I don't remember the name of the one I had but it was some kind of dark purple fruit (with seeds) and it was delicious!!  A few girls playing on the local OKC team at the World Series walked in and we visited with them for a couple of minutes!

Back at the hotel, it was DEFINITELY time to get a new hotel room - we were hoping to get one on the same floor and lucky enough, the maid had just cleaned next door (which had a connecting door to ours) and we ended up getting it!  The GREAT news was the fan worked in the bathroom and there was NO heavy feeling of the air when we checked it out - the bad news was the people before had smoked in it and there was still a lingering smoke smell so we sprayed a LOT of vanilla to try and mask the smell!  It was a breeze moving everything into the next room - the frig had an actual door on the freezer which helped with our ice packs - and after spending 3 nights in the other room, it was nice to know that we had a CLEAN room for the next 2 nights!

It was FINALLY time for softball games - by this time we were almost feeling like we were ready to go home we'd done so much!!  BUT instead of playing late afternoon, the games were changed to later for us because of wet fields - so now Aleah played at 8:00 and 9:30!!  WOW - that will be WAY past my bedtime by the time we get home since it was a 45 minute drive to the field!!

We relaxed a little bit and then packed our ice chest to eat at the game and headed out!  The fields there were FANTSTIC!!  They were turf and the surrouding area was so pretty!  I snapped a picture at sundown!

We had a nice covered place to sit and it was an enjoyable evening watching the girls play although they lost both games.  Driving back to the hotel in the dark with all the crazy construction was a challenge but Jill did great!

No sleeping in either from the late night as the girls played the next morning at 8:30 and 10:00!!  This time we went the opposite direction and it was only 1/2 hour away!  We dropped Aleah off and then headed back into town a little ways to get gas and stop and get coffee!  Coffee was at the Press & Plow - we went inside to order as it was a restaurant too and it was gorgeous inside - one of the classiest breakfast places I've ever seen!  I peeked at a menu on one of the tables and the prices were very decent - too bad we couldn't have eaten breakfast there but we got our coffee and then headed back to the game!

This field was not great at all - we wished we were back at the really nice one last night!!  There was a covered place to sit but the roof was metal and every time a foul ball came on it, the noise was deafening!!  Aleah had a nice hit this game but they did lose!  It was a back to back game for them and the next game didn't go any better either - darn!  But I did forget to mention that to get to this field, the drive took you through the University of Oklahoma - a beautiful campus with gorgeous brick buildings!

We relaxed in the afternoon - played some cards - rested and read!  Aleah chose Chile's to eat at that night and it was fine!  A few parents and most of the softball team all headed to an escape room for the evening - we didn't have to go since Aleah was riding with a friend so we had an evening to relax!  UNTIL we got the text that bad weather was coming in the next afternoon so all the games were being pushed up early with an hour time limit! Since the girls' played at 9:00, we would have to have all of our stuff packed and to the car to check out as we did not have another night booked at this hotel! So packing up was part of our evening!

If the girls won, they would play at 11:00 which meant there was no way we could make it home so would stop along the way and stay at a hotel!  If the girls lost, we would be ready to hit the road and make it all the way home!

Aleah had a great time at the escape room!

Tuesday morning came early and we ate quickly, packed up our remaining stuff and got the car loaded in record time!!  But first, a quick picture of Aleah in her uniform - I LOVE the stripes!

The team played at the same field as last night - darn - 1/2 hour down there in the WRONG direction from home!  Unfortunately they lost this game also!

But a loss did mean we could get home that night so we headed north on the interstate as soon as the coach was done talking to them!  It was a nice interstate up to I70 but of course there was construction - isn't there ALWAYS in the summertime!

It was a LONG drive home (and didn't I just drive this 2 weeks before????) but we finally made it to Limon where Glenn had volunteered to meet us so Jill could get home sooner!  We met at Arby's and Glenn and I ate a quick bite but Jill and Aleah headed on to Ft. Collins!

Unfortunately we hit rain outside of Colorado Springs so it was a miserable drive up the pass in the rain as it was dark!!!  And then we hit fog at Woodland Park - my it was NICE to finally get home!

All in all one fantastic trip with Jill and Aleah and I'm so glad I was invited!!