Auntie Emily's Visit

My sister Emily came to visit last week. We had so much fun having her stay with us.

She brought some fun gifts for the girls. She especially loaded Grace up with princess treasures she found at garage sales.

Having her here was the perfect excuse for us to finally do some Louisville sightseeing.

First on the agenda was a torrential Southern downpour. It was coming down so hard that we actually went back into the house to wait until it wasn't raining so hard so we could get to the car to start our adventure.

First we went to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.

The gigantic bat outside the museum and plaque describing it.

We got a tour of the factory and got to see them making bats for wholesale as well as the pro ball players. It was cool to see it all up close and personal. We also saw an exhibit of Norman Rockwell art. I love all his stuff. We even got miniature bats at the end of the tour.

Rob trying to be like Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth.

After the Slugger museum we ate at KFC. How can you visit Kentucky without eating Kentucky Fried Chicken? Delicious, if not gourmet, lunch :)

Next stop was Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby. You'd think that it's out in the fields with beautiful pastures surrounding it. If you thought that (like me) you'd be wrong. It's in the ghetto. So disappointing. But the museum and tour were not! It was awesome!

Rob and Grace at the starting gate (to the museum...they're a replica).

Hats on display. I think the hats are the coolest tradition of the Derby. People wear all sorts of hats. Some are spectacular and fashionable and some are crazy like a big horse head as the hat or a miniature stable on the hat.

Here's a tribute to 2011's Derby winner, Animal Kingdom. Ruby wanted a ride. So of course Grace did too :)

We toured the grounds. It was neat learning all about the Kentucky Derby and it's history.

Above (l to r): The walkways where the horses walk are paved with "stones" like these that are actually a rubbery material that's easier on the horse's hooves; the famous twin spires; every year they get a new sign - as of 2011, the Derby has been run every year since 1875, that's 137 times!

Below: (left) The winner's circle that's used for the Derby. For all other races they use a different winner's circle that the photo is taken from. (right) The finish line.

This little guy is re-painted every year in the racing silks of that year's winner. Here he is in Animal Kingdom's jockey's silks.

Back inside the museum were some fun interactive activities.

Like "racing" horses. You could use the crop to make your horse go faster and if you sat down your horse slowed down and you could go right and left to maneuver around the other horses in the race. It was especially fun for Grace. We played against each other a few times.

Exhibit of winner's silks. I think they're so pretty and fun!

They also had a race betting simulation. You made your picks and "bet" $2 on the horses you thought would win and place.

Then you watched the video of your race and cheered your horses on. (It was really fun!)

Then after the race was over you could scan your ticket and it told you how much you won (or didn't). We did this a few times, but I was the big winner of the day with $400-some-odd in winnings from my $2 bet. (It was all simulation, no money was actually exchanged) (unfortunately) (just kidding). :)

Grace apparently takes after her mama and can't not put on any fabulous hats she sees. Here she is in a straw and aqua silk number at the gift shop.


Since we stayed so busy that day, there were no naps. Here's a rare photo of Grace sleeping in her car seat. She almost never sleeps in the car. I love that she's clutching the bat from the museum.

Thanks, Emily, for coming to visit us! We had such a blast and Grace still talks about how fun it was. Grace also keeps telling us she wants to go to California to visit Emily now.

In true Emily fashion, she got Ruby jammies that say "Me + my aunt = BFF." It reminds me that when I was little, Emily puff-painted me a really cute sweatsuit (it was the 80's!) that said "If you think I'm cute, you should see my sister!" Just thought that should be recorded for posterity :)