I survived!

Since it's the title of my post, yes, I survived Lauren's 21st birthday celebration weekend!  Woo Hoo!  Here's a recap with lots of pics.

SATURDAY evening!

Our first destination was Harrah's North Kansas City Casino.  I was a little late leaving.  I got on the road convinced I knew exactly where I was going.  I was wrong, so wrong.  Thankfully, Siri was able to help me out and I arrived safely.  I had a little trouble finding the room, only because I got on the wrong elevator and it only went up to floor 6, not 7.  Luckily, I realized it before the doors closed.  Though no less embarrassing on a crowded elevator.  After I got my bag dropped of I made my way to the casino to find Sue.  She was already winning at the poker machine.  :-)   I watched for a bit and it was time to meet the others for our limo ride downtown.

 

The birthday girl.

Happy 21st, Lauren!

for me, hydration was key.

Sue and I in the limo

Our driver stopped at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Lauren and friend - silhouettes in front of the reflection pool.

The motley crew

minus Sue, Michelle (CJ's mom) and I

Our destination

Lauren is ready to celebrate!

 

We started at the Pizza Bar.

$1 slices of pizza and $3 draws

on right - my dinner

on left - Jack's pizza required a little help.

Next stop - Angels Rock Bar

Jack and I only lasted a few minutes.

It was very loud and (umm...) a little too wild for us.

The plan was to take taxi's back to Harrah's but it was early and Jack decided to join us, so he drove 6 of us back and save some of the kids a little money.  We hit the Blackjack table and... lost.  Bummer.  Jack headed home to be with the our own kids and Sue and I played Poker for another hour.  Lauren stopped by our room to check in around 12:30 - she was doing much better than we expected.   

SUNDAY!

I woke up early (6:15) feeling great.  I was excited and ready to celebrate another day!  Everyone in our room was still asleep so I played games and read until they were ready to get up and around... I can't remember what time that was, maybe 8:30 or 9?

We played a little video poker, then I introduced Sue to Wheel of Fortune!  And she won! We both put in $20 - I doubled my money and she turned her's into a C note!  Woo Hoo!  And that was before brunch!

 

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

After brunch we decided to get players cards - the casino reward program for those that frequent the casino.  I thought I might have gotten one years ago, but couldn't remember.  Surprise, surprise, I did.  And it was under my maiden name.  Ha!  Lauren got a players card to and a die on a chain for her birthday!  We gambled a little more then headed over to the Argosy Casino and Hotel, where we spent night #2.  (Lauren's Aunt Patty got us rooms at two hotels for us - how nice is that!?)  We were expecting a standard room similar to the night before but were SHOCKED and delighted to find this...

A fabulous 1 bedroom suite!

(including two bathrooms AND a doorbell!)

from the tub.

  

Master bath... wowza!

Our view of downtown KC.

We went down to the casino and decided to get player's cards there too.  I put mine on the same strap as the one from Harrah's.  I was holding it while waiting for the others.  As we walked in the casino they asked to swipe your card.  I looked in my purse, no card.  I checked my pockets, no card.  ???  I went back to the desk thinking I left it there.  No card. What in the world?  I was to the point of asking for a new one and guess what???  It was around my neck!  ha ha!  How embarrassing!

And Sue continued to win!

Me?  Well, no.

At one point we decided the hotel suite was perfect and we were going to move in.  I 

We went out to dinner at Styx at the Legends and then took in a show at Stanford's Comedy Club and saw AJ Finney.  Then back to the hotel, who am I kidding?  We only dropped our coats off in the room then went back to the casino.  We tried some new (to us) games.  Lauren and CJ played roulette - but there were no chips or elbows flying on this table - it was all electronic, except for the wheel and ball.  It was fun to watch.  I was the first to call it quits and was in bed by midnight.  I slept like a log.  I didn't hear anyone or anything!  We had closed the blinds and the room was pitch black.  

MONDAY!

I got up at 6:30 but found my way back to sleep until 8:00!   

Cold and dreary KC

Sue got up and around first.  She called me into the bathroom to show me the shower... WOW!  How much cooler could this room get?  Definitely the nicest room I've ever stayed in!   

 I'm guessing you could fit a full sized mattress in there.

That is one seriously big shower.

Seriously!

The young ones weren't ready to get up yet - even after we opened the shades, so Sue and I went down and placed a penny slot.  I can't remember what it was called but if you got three of "special" icon you got to roll digital dice.  You got to continue rolling the dice and earning credits until you rolled a 7.  It was SO fun!  I put in a couple bucks and did really well.  The first time I had the dice come up Sue was showing me how to roll the dice and she rolled me a 7 and it was over before it even started.  It was fun to tease her about that, for sure!  We must have been a little loud and excited for a Monday morning so a few people came over to join the fun.  They were playing more than our 10 cents per pull and lost their money way too fast (in my opinion) but we made it fun and I walked away with $6 and change!

We ate breakfast together and I jokingly asked if anyone was ready to go to the casino.  Lauren looked at me like I was crazy, not picking up the sarcasm in my question.   We walked through the warmth of the hotel to our cars and hugs before we parted ways.   What a fun weekend.  

I was home by 11:45. 

Now, I get to enjoy the afternoon with my family before the craziness of the week begins. 

xo