Matt's Birthday Part 2/ The Kentucky Derby

May 7, 2011 was Brian's birthday. When we woke that morning, we celebrated with a fabulous brunch. Jennifer and Jeff went all out! We enjoyed mimosas and an assortment of wonderful food. Then it was time to get ready for the big day ahead. After we all got dressed in our derby attire we all enjoyed cocktails (mint Julips and Fleur de Lis) while we had our pre-derby photos taken. I think the drinks plus the anticipation of the day ahead made us smile that much more and made for some really great pictures. Then it was off to the derby. Pictures do not do the experience justice. It was an amazing day. We had so much fun seeing all the beautiful horses and betting on all the races. We didn't make a lot of money but we did come out a little ahead. :)We are so happy and lucky to have experienced it with family and great friends. The horses coming around the first turn The grand stand view from our box
Church hill Downs
Tickets in hand
Matt with his winnings from the Derby, put this with our winnings from the previous races and we didn't do bad at all!
The husbands in their searsucker suits! (Jeff, Brian and Matt)
Brian and Lori's pre-derby picture
our pre-derby picture

Matt's Birthday Part 1: Maker's Mark

Last year at my best friend Jen's wedding in Louisville, Kentucky we began talking about the possibility of coming back for the Kentucky Derby in 2011. Often those ideas fade as the year goes on but NOT this one. When Jen told me that Derby weekend was the weekend of May 6th, 7th and 8th, I was super excited! Matt's birthday is May 6th and my brother's is May 7th. Brian has always wanted to go to the derby. So, when Jen called and said she was going to order tickets and asked if we wanted to go, I jumped at the chance. What a great bday gift for the hubby and well I had to get two tickets as I didn't want him to go a lone. :) We extended the invite to Brian and Lori and they too jumped at the chance. We have been so excited all year for this weekend and it didn't disappoint.
Friday was Matt's Bday and the group decided that a trip to the Maker's Mark distillery was in order. It is located in the beautiful Ketucky country side. It is amazing to me that this one distillery supplies all the maker's mark for the entire world. Blows my mind. It was a fascinating tour. We happened to luck up and they were also bottling that day. I felt like I stepped into an episode of Lavergne and Shhirley. :) After the tour, we all got a sample of Maker's mark and the newer Maker's 46 (named so because it took 46 tries to get the bourbon the flavor they wanted)plus a yummy bourbon ball. Then we all had the opportunity to dip our own bottle of Maker's mark and sign up to be an Ambassador. We gladly signed up for this opportunity. Our names go on a barrel and when it is ready in 2-5years we will get a certificate in the mail inviting us to come and taste test our barrel dated 5/6/2011. We have the opportunity to pour our own bottles, they will have special labels with our names on them and then we get to dip them. Another fun trip to look forward too!
As you can see from the pictures below we had a great time.


Waiting to go into the distillery

Time Capsule....would love to know what is inside.

Brian, Lori, Matt and Amy, and Jen(present but not in photo as she was the photographer)

Where the Magic Begins

The woman found out it was Matt's bday and gave him a pull from today's batch 5-6-11.

Day 1 Maker's Bourbon....Jen and Matt ready to taste

Day 3 Maker's Bourbon.....Brian and Lori ready to taste

The bottling room

Filling the bottles

Labeling the bottles

Dipping the bottles... Each dipper is allowed to dip a bottle all the way (called a slam dunk) twice an hour. These bottles are rare and worth some $$ so if you see one on the shelf of your local liquor store, buy it!

Matt loving the production line

Brian with the production line and a SLAM DUNK bottle

Birthday boys about to taste

Brian dipping his bottle

Lori dipping her bottle

Matt dipping his bottle

Me and the birthday boy about to head out for a very nice dinner with Jen, Jeff, Brian and Lori.

Easter 2011

Easter weekend was a very busy weekend. Nana and Pop came in town to help us design our yard/flower beds. We also had an easter egg hunt, Ella Catherine had a birthday party to attend and we had Easter to celebrate.

It was so busy that I forgot to take before and after pictures of the flower beds but believe me when I say that they look 100% better. I do not have a flare for yard design but thankfully my mother does and Matt and I can follow a plan. It is still a work in progress but I am having much more fun now with a visual of what it will eventually become.

Our church's Easter egg hunt was rained out the weekend before Easter but the grade school up the road was having a hunt of Saturday and invited us to come. So, we took the kids. This was Carter's first Easter egg hunt. He was all ready to go before they gave the ok but once it was go time he was shell shocked. He stood there in awe of the rst of the kids running around picking up eggs. Ella Catherine being the sweet big sister that she is kept running over and putting eggs in his basket. She didn't get near the amount she could have because she was so concerned about him. So Sweet! Finally after much coaxing he started picking up eggs. Of course, he wanted to open them immediately. The Hunt also had face painting and the opportunity to get your picture taken with the Easter bunny. The kids had a ball. Unfortunately it was cutt short because we had to get Ella Catherine to her friend's birthday party.

Easter morning we got dressed up in our finest and headed to church to praise the Lord. After mass, mom and I were treated to breakfast cooked by the men. It was fabulous! Once breakfast was over it was time for the kids to hunt for their baskets. That tricky rabbit, you never know where he is going to hide your goodies. After scouring the house, they headed outside. The rest of the day we finished up planting, did some relaxing and just enjoyed the day. Oh and we all ate WAY TOO much candy. :)
Carter and Ella Catherine with the Easter Bunny Ella Catherine getting her face painted
The cutest bunny in town! Let the hunting begin Carter Finally getting into the action Trying to open an egg
Easter morning sharing an egg full of jelly beans
Running and looking for her basket
Found it!
Carter finding his basketReady to dive in and see what the bunny brought

Showered with love

Elway misses Baylor but is loving the extra love from everyone especially from Ella Catherine and Carter

swim lessons

Ella Catherine started swim lessons today. She has been asking for weeks about them and was so excited to get started. As an added surprise, one of her old classmates was in her swim class. It is going to be a fun 6 weeks.

Big Boy Bed

Carter has been asking to sleep in his big boy bed for about two weeks now. We let him fall asleep in his big boy bed but then transfer him to the crib once he is asleep. Well, Matt finally talked me into saying goodbye to the crib forever. Taking down the crib was a little rough on mom (no more babies) but it is hard to be sad when he is so excited about sleeping in the big bed.

Saying Goodbye

Today was a very sad day for the Lynch family. We had to say goodbye to Baylor. I can remember so well her birth day. She was one of the puppies from my parent's lab Dixie. Dixie was a black lab and the father was a yellow lab. I had told my parents that if there was a yellow female I wanted it. She gave birth to 4 yellow males, 4 black females, 1 black male and 1 yellow female. It was destiny!!! She was destined to be mine, my golden baylor girl! She was a wonderful dog. She is extremely missed. I found the below poem on the internet and thought it was perfect.

If it should be...

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,

and pain should keep me from my sleep,

then you must do what must be done,

for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,

but don't let grief then stay your hand,

for this day, more than the rest,

your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,

what is to come can hold no fears,

Would you want me to suffer? So,

when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,

only stay with me until the end,

and hold me firm and speak to me,

until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,

although my tail it's last has waved,

from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,

who must decide this thing to do.

We've been so close, we two these years,

Don't let your heart hold any fears.

--Anonymous

We planted a dogwood tree in our yard today in her memory. She is forever in our hearts.

Rest in peace my sweet golden baylor girl 10/04/2000-3/12/2011