Derby Weekend

Derby weekend was a fun one this year, and while we didn't go to the track on Derby Day, we did do some other fun things leading up to the big day.  On Thursday we went out to Churchill Downs with the Weises, Russells and Vargas.  We've gone out on Thursday (given an official name this year of "Thurby") with them the last several years, and it's become one of our favorite days at the track.  In fact, we had so much fun this year that I didn't even stop and think to take one single picture (shame on me!), so I'm going to include a throwback from last year's Thurby day.  Here is one of my favorites of Lawrence and me in front of the spires from 2013.

We stayed until the last race and then went to our traditional dinner at Z's in the neighborhood.  We laughed so much on this day...it was fun, fun, fun.

Somehow Sarah had sweet talked her dad into agreeing to take her and five of her friends to the Oaks this year (he is definitely the "fun" parent).  He got them a box and off they went that day for a fun day at the track.  

The day was a bit chilly but they all insisted they didn't need sweaters or wraps.  Having been at the track many a chilly day myself, I knew to send Lawrence with a bag of items, and late in the day he texted me a picture of them saying the wraps and the box lunches from Panera I sent with him were a good idea! 

The girls had fun hooking up with friends and the day appears to have been a success.  It's probably best I wasn't there, as I surely would have been a nervous wreck making sure they didn't get into any trouble in the infield!

That night we got to do something we've never done before...go to the infamous Barnstable Brown party.  Lawrence's friend Billy Collis gave the firm six tickets (they do work for him from time to time), and we all stepped out in to style to rub elbows with the stars.

The Firm - together for 20 years!

The party was such a fun spectacle to see...in some ways it was different from what I expected (the house itself is a bit tired), but in other ways it was just as I had pictured...lots of semi famous (and some really famous!) people, great food and music, and lots of over the top decor.  We had a ball, and I'm really glad we got to go.  

Me, Laura and Amy heading up the walk to the house

Checking out the pool

Watching Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert 

All the girls from Oaks spent the night, and we were all dragging on Saturday morning.  The day was beautiful outside, and after everyone went home Lawrence and I went and picked up flowers for the yard and I got all our spring planting done.  That evening Sarah went down the street to babysit for the Dezarns and we were all in bed by 10:30...not the most exciting Derby day ever, but definitely a great Derby weekend!

Easter

Finally, for the first time in years, Easter was a beautiful spring day!  We have had some really dreary Easters the last few years, so it was glorious to spend almost the entire day outside soaking up the sunshine.  The kids were off school on Friday, and John and I went to a viewing of the The Passion of the Christ at church (Sarah had spent the night with Emmalee the night before and was still at their house).  What a difficult movie to watch, but what a wonderful portrayal of all Jesus endured for us.  I'm really glad we went.  

Claire spent the night with us on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning we went to church before going to brunch at Meme and Papa's.  The service was so good...Kyle spoke about what our lives would be like without Easter, and it was a wonderful message.  Of course the Easter Bunny came and left the kids some goodies like lacrosse and field hockey balls, candy and a few other fun things.

Meme had set a beautiful Easter table and served her traditional brunch which we all love (she always says she feels bad serving the same thing, but it's a tradition, and we all love it!).

Easter is my favorite holiday...I love being with family without the pressure that comes with Christmas, and the beautiful spring weather was the icing on the cake.

That night we went over to Badoo's for a delicious Easter dinner.  Mary Lawrence joined us too, and we ended the night wishing Dick at happy 76th birthday (his and Uncle Bill's birthday was coming up on Tuesday).

After honey glazed ham, deviled eggs (one of my favorites!) and this decadent ice cream cake that Lori brought, I thought I might explode.  And it was totally worth it!

Happy Easter!  

Sarah's 16th Birthday

Sarah's 16th birthday was celebrated in a few different ways.  As it has most years, her birthday fell during spring break, which meant we would be in London on the big day.  The only angst this caused was that she wouldn't be at home to get her driver's permit on her actual birthday, but this was a small price to pay to get to spend her birthday in such a cool place!  

Before we left on Friday I gave her a few gifts that she could use for her trip.  

First, a Vera Bradley toiletry bag to match the duffle bag that Meme and Papa gave her for Christmas...

... and also a pair of Hunter boots to wear while she was in London.  She had been asking for a pair of these for a while.

Her birthday fell on the Wednesday we were in London, and I had packed a few little items to give her that morning.  She really wanted a Lilly Pulitzer wristlet that had a place to keep her driver's license on the outside, but the only ones I could find like that were sorority themed. Since she isn't in a sorority I got her one that would hold it on the inside, along with her phone (she liked it, but has since swapped it out for A Vera Bradley one with the ID on the outside - gotta show off that license!).  We also gave her a pair of Pandora earrings.  She loves small earrings so we gave her a special pair of new studs.  

We had a great day going to Kensington Palace, and I loveD that we got to spend the entire day together (one benefit of her birthday being on spring break - no school!).

That night we had a swanky dinner at Barbecoa, right outside of St. Paul's Cathedral.  

That next week after returning home we went to get her driver's permit.  She was so excited to pass that test!

That Sunday night we had the family over for dinner and cake.  I decided to enlarge a picture of her permit for her cake (strawberry with strawberry icing, her favorite).

She received lots of birthday moo-lah and gifts, and she had a nice night with her family.

I can't believe she is really 16...in a way the time has gone so fast, but in other ways I can't remember my life without her.  I am oh so grateful for my beautiful, smart, healthy daughter.  I love being her mom, and I thank God every day for the blessing of her in my life.  Now, remind me of that when I'm teaching her to drive over the next six months!

London - Spring Break 2014

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since we returned from London.  I've put all our pictures into an album, but I do want to still share some of my favorites.  We had such a fantastic trip...pictures can never tell the whole story of everything we experienced and the memories we made.  Here are some moments I will always treasure.

Lots of evenings at Kensington Gardens

Sarah's 16th birthday dinner at Barbecoa

See lots of iconic sites like Big Ben 

Riding the London Eye

Our lovely "neighborhood" of Kensington

Our hotel on Cromwell Road - Crowne Plaza

Views from the Eye

Lunch in Greenwich

Walking by Tower Bridge at some point every day 

Driving by Buckingham Palace every day

Tower of London

Kensington Palace

Westminster Abbey

I am so glad we got out of our comfort zone and went on this adventure.  I am no longer afraid to "cross the pond", no longer afraid of what may happen if I leave the states...it's a big world out there, and this wet my appetite to see even more.  I loved our time as a family (even when we got on each other's nerves from time to time), and it was even nice to not be able to use our phones unless we were back in the room (ahhh, the freedom of being off the grid!).  This will definitely go down as one of my favorite spring breaks - with the kids getting older, we don't have too many left!

March Wrap Up

Oh my, it's been a full month since I've sat down to document anything!  March was soooo busy, filled with all great stuff, but the days went by in a flash.  Here's what I want to remember about this last month of winter:

Shan, Mark and Joe Jr. all have birthdays within a few days of each other, and we all had dinner at the Hamilton's on a Sunday night to celebrate. It's always fun to see that side of the family...Joe's Mom and Dad weren't with us, but we enjoyed hanging out with Susan, Ed, Joe Jr., Nikki, Reese, my parents and the cousins.  Love my sister - so glad we live in the same town and get to see each other a lot. 

Shan, Mark and Joe Jr. 

Helen gave Shan one of her Carlton Ridge necklaces, which she loved

The girls

Love my sis 

The Hamiltons love to give funny cards 

Susan gave Shannon this really cool Louisville plate

Next up was my spring scrapbooking retreat at Country Lake.  I can't believe our "club" is celebrating 15 years of retreats!  I had such a fun weekend catching up on the kids' albums ...I adore these women, most of whom I never would have met had it not been for Gayle Garvie starting our club 15 years ago.  We had a little celebration to mark the occasion.

The "club"

Our cake that Rosemary brought - so sweet

Me and our club founder, Gayle Garvie

In between busy weekends there was lots of school work, field hockey practice and lacrosse games (a few basketball games for John too!).  Had a great book club meeting where we discussed "Me Before You", and then at the end of the month we discussed "The Light Between Oceans", which I loved.  I also had a chance to have dinner with Mary Oliver, which happens so rarely these days with us both being busy raising our kiddos.  I didn't get a picture of us, but I really enjoyed catching up with her.  

Sarah had some big projects due in March
and could be found in her room most afternoons

Book Club at Hurstbourne - one of my favorite
nights of the month

The Friday before spring break March Madness reached a frenzied pitch with UK playing UofL in the sweet sixteen.  The kids got to sport their team's colors to school that day.  Hmmmmm, I wonder who they chose to represent?

That night we boarded a plane to London right at tip off time - no Wifi on the plane, which was agony for my Cats fans!  London pics are coming soon!  

Big Blue Father Daughter Date

On Tuesday night Sarah and Lawrence headed to Lexington for the UK versus Alabama game.  It was Senior Night, and they had fun saying goodbye to Kentucky boys Jon Hood and Jarrod Polson.  I asked Sarah if they took any pictures, and the answer was "no" (whose daughter is she?!), but no worries, because the next day they were on the sports page of the Lexington Herald Leader (our friend Jerry Psimer let us know).  I think it's funny they are the only ones not cheering in the picture,  even though they swear they cheered the whole game.  Sarah does love her Cats, and I bet she was loving her dad too for scoring those sweet seats.

Something New for John

This spring John has decided to try his hand at the game of lacrosse.  Despite its popularity and its rapid growth in our city, neither of our kids have ever shown much interest in it, but something sparked in John a few weeks ago and he has decided to give it a try.  He had his first games on Saturday (a three game play day at South Oldham High School), and he loved it.  He was all ready to play defense (apparently height plays a big factor in being a defender at his age), but toward the middle of the first game they asked him if he would take over the goal for a while.  I was surprised he agreed to this because he had already stated that there was no way he was going to play goalie, because he's heard they basically get the snot beat out of them the entire game, especially when you get to the high school level.  He ended up having a blast and making some great saves.  I don't think it's where he wants to stay, but he had fun trying it out. CAL's A team won 2 of the three games, and their B team only lost 6-5, so I think all in all it was a good first outing.  Now if only the weather would cooperate, we can get going with all these "spring" sports!