Derby

When Tim looked up at me one night while we were sitting at our desk and said start looking for Derby hats I had no clue how fun it would be dressing the part! As a mom who spends most of my days running around in shorts, flip flops and workout clothes, this Derby attire was a whole new game. I told the girls I felt like I was playing dress up! When we got the opportunity to go we knew we couldn't pass it up...as long as we found a special Nonie who was available to watch the kids. We booked the flights and my search for hats began. We had two days of derby attire events. Thankfully Jenna and Kent (wedding we went to in October in Carmel - we joked with them that they are the reasons we take fun couple trips) came into town ten days before the derby and I was able to meet her downtown to search for 'the" hat. We had such a fun afternoon, laughing at the hats, trying on clothes and catching up. Tim surprised me with finding a sitter and we were able to meet up with both our guys to have a fun dinner downtown.

Packed the kids stuff and I headed to AZ with them Wednesday morning. They couldn't wait to have Nonie time, cousin time, fountain time, movie time and everything else Nonie let them do. They were able to see all grandmas and grandpas too. Sorry I missed them but we know who they really want to see :-). I knew they were going to have the best time! It's so nice to be able to go away with Tim and know my kids are being so loved and taken care of and although we miss them lots it's so nice not to  worry. I was only there until Thursday morning but we fit in a lot in that short 22 hours. We met some extended family for a delish lunch at a little mexican place. We got to see Nana Peeps and that was the highlight. I am so glad we got to see her since we didn't go out for Spring Break. Snapped some fun pictures of her that day...

After unpacking their suitcases, a few errands and of course a quick trip to Trader Joes, we slept but were up at 4:00am with the time change...what to do with kids and a mommy up that early...tv for them and a quick run for me-coudn't be in AZ even for 22 hours without trying to squeeze in a run! Hugged and kissed the kids goodbye (after a shower of course) and jumped on a plane back to Houston. Tim and I laughed as I met him at the airport with two coffees in hand, a funny kind of date to be meeting at the airport. I had some family and friends say what a long day it would be with all the flying :-). They can think that but uninterrupted time reading some mags and books next to my husband is fine by me, even if I had to be on an airplane. We met up with Kent and Jenna for dinner that first night and somehow stayed awake pretty late - we knew we had a full weekend and figured we would sleep later. The first day of races was the The Oaks - lady jockey's. A totally new experience to see the books, watch bets, and we even had a handicapper come in a talk to us about his job, who was supposed to win and what he thought. Definitely learned something new. But the highlight of course was the people watching and hat watching. Wish I would have thought to take pictures of all the different hats. 

The Oaks - Friday, May 4th 2012

At our hotel before we left for the track that first day

Jenna and I watching from outside the suite

Tim making his 1st bet - we so did not know what we were doing

our view of the horses as they headed towards the finish line

this was the view most time watching a race - every lady had her hand on her hat

these were pre-race feet that first day

this was half way through the day :-). When we checked in our hotel room Thursday night there was this awesome black bag filled with all sorts of stuff - it seriously felt like a swag bag. It had Derby stuff, a toiletry bag for the races with everything from aspirin to mouthwash and bandaids for the feet. Binoculars, glasses, a horseshoe and more. But I knew I scored when I pulled out another little black bag and inside were these cute little flip flops that went with us everywhere. You started to see one by one each lady in our group slide her heels in her bag and replace them with these ones. We should have gotten a picture with us and our flip flops.

Tim took me out on Saturday morning before we had to get ready for the races to see the Ohio River and where all the barges come through...you look across here and there is Indiana. I do like hearing Tim talk about barges and boats because he is so passionate about it. He explains it all and it's nice to be able to hear him without being interrupted.

we couldn't go to Louisville without stopped here!

Kentucky Derby - Saturday, May 5th 2012

After two days of races and business talk the four of us were ready to head to a nice but late dinner that last night. We had so many laughs that night and ended up being the last table in the restaurant. Great food, great company and time with Tim

Outside the front of our hotel that last night after dinner.

As we walked in to the lobby there in front of us was this man sleeping. Because it was almost 2am and we were sleep deprived and not wine deprived we thought this was funny. Well as the flash snapped he woke up and started yelling at us. So we ran for the elevators. See what happens when our kids aren't around to keep us in line - ugggg parents!

Saying good-bye to our 1st ever Derby - headed to the airport.

And not to be cheesy but because this is my blog and I am allowed one of the many reasons I fell in love with Tim is that it never mattered what we were doing we always had fun. This was no exeption, but again not because it was Derby but because it was an experience and we were together - that's all. And last words of his the other night, start looking for hats, we are heading back next year :-)