Post Derby Louisville

Our recent trip to Louisville was different from our past two visits since Chuck started the LGO program.  The first time we visited home was the week of our wedding. The second time we visited home it was Christmas and New Year's. This time, though we had Derby and a wedding, the rest of the week was pretty open and unplanned. We were able to fit in some things we haven't been able to do and see some people we haven't been able to see on our last 2 trips. It was great!

The Monday after Derby, we spent the day cruising around Louisville, grabbing Panera Bread with my sister, buying up some National Championship stuff at the Neutral Zone, and hanging out at Shannon's house with the nieces. Then, after a quick stop at an MCC Youth Leaders meeting, we met up with my college roomie Holly and her husband Matt for dinner and ice cream.  Holly and I hadn't seen each other in about a  year and a half but have kept in touch with the occasional text or facebook message.  So we did some catching up and of course we did a little reminiscing about the good old days in the dorm when we did nothing but watch Oprah, Gilmore Girls, and drink Dr. Pepper.  It was so fun! We definitely won't let another year and a half go by without seeing each other again!

 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were spent doing more of the same. Chuck and I went our separate ways a lot as he met up with friends for coffee and old work friends at GE, while I met up with old work friends and my sisters. We spent time at his parents' houses and my parents' house, his sister's hosue,  Havana Rumba, denist appointments and hair appointments, lunch dates, coffee dates, breakfast dates... Pretty much whatever we wanted. It was great to be in Louisville and just BE.

 

Thursday night we hung out at Chuckie's sister's house and after we left I told him that our evening was exactly what I miss about living in Louisville. That night we had grilled out steaks, played with the girls in the backyard on the swingset and then sat in his sister's kitchen for a few hours just talking about some serious and some not-so-serious things. Those are exactly the types of nights I miss having all the time, with both his family and mine. (As we all know, grilling out is also a favorite activity for my family, since my dad thinks he is Bobby Flay and everything.) The times when you're not really doing anything but grilling out and talking and laughing and having a good time just being together. Those are the best times with family.

 

Friday we met my cousin Ethan for lunch and then headed off to Cincinnati for our friend Jared's wedding. We checked into our hotel, got ready, and headed to the church just in time for the ceremony. The ceremony was beautiful and we were so happy we could be there. I love witnessing our close friends get married and know that they are so in love and have found happiness. Congratulations, Amber and Jared!

 Jared's groom's cake- a chili cheese dog. If you know Jared, you know this is the perfect cake for him.

 The happy couple!

 The other happy couple!

 

The reception was a blast and then it was back to the hotel for the after party, which the bride and groom joined us for! Once again, we were up until 3:30 am and completely messed up all the sleep we had been making up since the previous weekend. But it was worth it.

 

Saturday we were back in Louisville for our last full day in town. That afternoon we went to a local bar/restaurant where a fundraiser was being held for our friend, Rebekah, from high school who was injured in the Boston Marathon Bombing. (Rebekah was in marching band with us at Eastern and was a good friend of ours. We haven't seen her in about 2 years but have kept in touch like everyone does these days, via social media.) Bekah was at the marathon with her boyfriend and her son, watching her boyfriend's family in the race. She has some pretty bad injuries and is still, a month later, in the hospital.  Bekah has a long road to recovery and has already had 11 surgeries to save her left leg. This fundraiser was put on by some awesome ladies we went to high school with who, though they haven't spoken to Bekah or seen her in years, decided to take action and raise money for her and her family. We stopped by and bid on some auction items, bought some food and raffle tickets to do what we could for the cause.

 

 

That evening we met up with family and friends at El Toro to say goodbye and then spent the rest of the evening at our favorite Louisville bar, Thirsty Ernie's.

 

Sunday was Mother's Day, so after church we had a quick celebration at Shannon's house and then a quick celebration at my house before we headed to the airport. Here's Uncle Chuckie with a last minute picture with a few of his nieces. (They asked me to take this picture of them with him, by the way. Adorbs.)

 

 My sis bought some bookends for my mom. My mom then proceeded to put her modern day book (iPad) and Amazon Kindle gift card in the bookends and then we had a discussion about how hundreds of years from now people will find bookends and wonder what the heck they are.

Mother's Day picture!

And an early Father's Day picture!

 

It was another great trip home and we're looking forward to another trip in July! More details on that to come...