Spring Fever

Our family is a big fan of spring!

Our family LOVES sunshine!
Our family enjoys smelly flowers!
Our family appreciates the wind in our faces!
Our family most definitely likes spending more time outdoors.

However,
our family knows that spring has a flaw...

Can you see it???? Hold on....

Yep,
even though we love almost everything about spring,
we have to be honest and say that we're dreading the bumps and bruises
that come along with this season.
We are praying that we survive the spring season with
minimal injuries and lots of smiles instead of tears.

In other words, we're hoping to learn something from this cutie and her attitude about life....(her biggest issues is that her hands are dirty when she falls)

We're also wishing the same to all of you!
Happy Spring!!! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Airport Adventures

Today our family decided to pack a picnic lunch and head to the airport after church to eat, play, and watch out for planes. The outing was a HUGE success!!!Our lunch was super yummy but Bryleigh definitely seemed to enjoy it the most. She was eager to go and play but kept coming over to chow down every spare chance she had.

Brenden seemed to enjoy playing on the "runway", huge "sandbox", and climbing structure the most. After her lunch, Bryleigh was quick to join in on the fun which was very exciting to watch. We are definitely at a different place in our lives where we're able to sit back and watch both of our kids play with minimal assistance and intervention from us. (We just had to occasionally help Bry when she would fall because she is too dainty to get her hands dirty trying to stand back up. Ha!)
However, watching the planes was definitely the most fun for us all. We were excited to hear them coming no matter how big or small and thrilled to watch them taking off as well. We didn't honestly see a ton of planes because one runway (the one closest to the observation tower) was closed but all of the ones that we could spot on the other runway made us super happy!
We were also very excited to have Nana and Papa join us for this outing. Anyone that has been around our 2 kids know that they both love their grandparents like crazy so any special outing with any of them is definitely a treat for us all. This was definitely the case today...we all 4 appreciated their company!

It was definitely a great day and a fun outing! We always have a handful of things that we love to do during the warmer months of the year and airport adventures are surely towards the top of our list. We cannot wait to go back again very soon!!!!!

^{1 Peter 4:10 - 11 10}Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Last weekend we were blessed with the opportunity to serve at our local Ronald McDonald House with the other couples in our church small group. We volunteered to go to the house to prepare and serve dinner to the 50 guests that are staying there. We created a YUMMY mexican buffet complete with chicken and/or beef tacos, beans, rice, chips, salsa, and 2 different dessert options. We were so excited to talk with some of the families living there and to eat dinner beside them that evening.

Our hope is that these families caught a glimpse of the amount of love that Christ has for them. We hope that they know that to God be the glory for all that we provided them in such an amazing place during a difficult time in their lives. We also pray that they know that The Summit Church loves them and wants to help them during their stay/journey. We have always loved the Ronald McDonald house but we're eager to get more connected to this place and to serve there more regularly in the time ahead.

Here are some fun pictures from our night:
(Bobby and Jeremy hanging out...I mean helping)

(Amy cooking up some yummy hamburger meat)


(Tiff and Karen cooking and talking)

(All of the men - Jeremy, Bobby, and Jeremy...we missed you Reggie)


(All of the women - Amy, Tiffany, Karen, and Brooke)

Baseball Season...officially

Well, it's official...Brenden's first baseball season started tonight!!!! We're very excited about this new adventure in our life. Anyone that knows our family well knows that baseball is a big part of our life. It is one of Bobby's favorite sports and it's probably the only sport that Brooke can get into! ;)

Well, since birth, it has been a passion for Brenden. He has LOVED every aspect of baseball since he was tiny. When he used to throw things at us we would say...hopefully one day he'll put that arm to good use playing ball and make us some money in the process! Ha! Once he started walking he was eager to "play" baseball whenever we would let him. He would play catch with Bobby at home. Run the bases with Papa at his house. Watch rerun games on DVR no matter what time of year. It has been a constant in our life for 4 years now!

We knew that the day would come when we would sign him up to play in a local little league and honestly, we were both eager to see that day arrive. He has such a love for this sport that it's actually nice that he's finally old enough to play some "real baseball."

Tonight was his first practice and we're both very proud of how well it went. We won't lie and say that he's the best on the team...shoot he wasn't even 2nd best. However, he was probably the most eager out there! He leaned against the fence at one point punching his glove saying "I can do this! I can do this!" He was PUMPED about this opportunity and that make us so happy!
Coach Brad was also great with him which is refreshing as well because we didn't mind stepping back and letting him take over with any guidance, discipline, encouragement, etc.

It was a GREAT night and we're hoping it's just the start to a GREAT season. We know that Brenden has A LOT to learn about the sport and we're eager to watch him grow this season. However, we also know that you can't teach passion and so we're excited to watch him getting to do something that he loves so much at least twice a week!

I mean look at this face...

he's in heaven, right?!?

P.S. Brenden is now an "Expo" which is something that may take awhile to get used to! ;)

Friends and Family

Last weekend was a very special weekend in the Farr house. Bobby headed to Plymouth to pick up Brenden and Bryleigh from their extended stay with MawMaw! We were so ready to have the kids back home and it was actually interesting to see that for the first time ever, the kids acted ready to return as well. We are so blessed to have MawMaw keep those 2 when we want/need her. The kids absolutely LOVE their time with her and we are able to enjoy each other's company knowing that they are totally safe and happy. Bobby really loved being able to head to Plymouth to squeeze in more time with his family before heading back to Durham with Brenden and Bryleigh. It was also perfect timing because Brooke had plans for the weekend as well.

On Saturday, Brooke headed to Burlington with Kelly and Tonya to meet up and enjoy an extended visit with Jenn. The girls typically try to meet up for dinner about once a month (if they are lucky), but this time they decided to do a little more. There was shopping, dinner, laughter, and lots of visiting and stories involved with this trip. They decided to get a suite at a local hotel and really make the most of this visit. It is such a blessing to have good friends no matter where they live or how often you get to see them. However, to still have friendships that you started years ago...that's a rarity.

Our special visits this past weekend only remind us of how much we truly love our family and friends. We cannot get enough time with each one of them and constantly thank God for the impact and influence that they have on our lives daily.

Thank You MawMaw!

This past weekend we were SO thankful for MawMaw and her willingness to take care of her Grandbabies when we ask!!!

We had the opportunity to take the kids to MawMaw's for the weekend so we could enjoy some days of relaxation and dating! :) Both are a rare treat in our household currently!!!

On Saturday we had such a good time on a day-long date. We started our day by sleeping in late and enjoying a low key breakfast at home. (Anyone that knows us well knows that sleeping in late is treat enough for the 2 of us so we could have stopped there and considered it one of the best weekends ever!) ;)

After our morning at home we headed out to Chapel-Hill (God's Country) to watch our Tar Heels play baseball. It was a gorgeous day and a wonderful game...the Heels pulled out a win and we all know that's also a rarity now a days! ;) We could not have hand picked better weather for this game and it was a perfect location for our day out and about.

Right after the baseball game we had to hurry home so we could change clothes and get ready for our annual date to Easley's Silent Auction. This is hands-down one of our most favorite date nights all year! We met up with some friends and headed over to Umstead Pines for some bidding, socializing, and enjoyable adult conversations. It was a blast!!! We even left the auction with a few new and fun items that we will be able to enjoy in the months/year ahead...but that's for a different post on a different day! ;)

We really can't thank MawMaw enough for her willingness to keep the kids for us and for also taking such good care of them while they are there. These dates always remind us of how blessed we are to have such supportive families, enjoyable adult outings, and of course The Heels! :)

Wordless Wednesday

The Big 3-0!

Last Sunday Brooke turned 30 years old!

Yep, you read that right...the big 3-0!

Now, we know what you're all saying/thinking..."But Brooke looks so young!" "Wow she really looks hot to be 30!" "She must really eat well, exercise daily, and avoid sunlight to look so great!" We hear you and we're all just as amazed as each of you, but it's true. She is aging and this year was her 30th! ;)

The family had made some plans for this special weekend that included Greg coming in from out of town, Hopie having an Upwards game on Saturday morning, followed by lots of family time that afternoon, and then dinner at Outback that evening. Brooke was very excited about her "special day" but nothing could have prepared her for the weekend ahead...

On Friday night Greg arrived into town for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. It was a blast to hang out (until entirely too late), eat some yummy food, and just catch up over dinner. After dinner we went home and Bobby decided to go ahead and give Brooke her birthday gift. She was super excited to get some Dansko shoes that she has been wanting for about 4 years. It was the perfect gift and a HUGE surprise!!!

Bobby informed Brooke of some changes in the weekend plans but it was nothing too major for Brooke. Bobby had decided to hire a babysitter to keep the kids so Saturday's dinner would be a little more relaxing and enjoyable for the entire family. He had also decided that we would all go to Bennett Pointe instead of Outback for a quieter evening of celebrating. (Smart man, huh?) It still looked like it was going to be a great time for Brooke and the entire family.

So, having a babysitter meant that we had to leave for dinner after every one else to make sure our kids didn't feel too overwhelmed by everyone's immediate exit at the same time. After e giving the babysitter 1001 different directions we finally headed out to meet up with the rest of the family. Walking into dinner Brooke was her normal talkative self and was oblivious to what was about to come. Nana was waiting in the lobby for us and then quickly opened the door to a private room where Brooke heard, "SURPRISE!"....that word was a perfect description of how she felt! She could not believe her eyes. The room was filled with some amazing friends that had all come out to mourn...I mean celebrate the big 3-0 with Brooke! The night was great!!! Bobby had ordered an amazing 80's themed birthday cake that had some of Brooke's childhood favorites like MTV, PacMan, CareBears, and Smurfs! It was also covered with some favorite games like a Rubix cube, SIMON, and of course a record labeled with the #1 hit from when she was born (Michael Jackson - I wanna Rock with You). The cake looked amazing but also had to be one of the best tasting cakes as well!

Brooke was definitely a little bummed to see some faces missing in the crowd but she received special text messages, phone calls, emails, etc from them so she knows that they wish they could have come. Overall, it was an amazing night. It was filled with laughter, great stories, faithful friends, cute (and hilarious) cards, and yummy food! It was a wonderful way to celebrate such a special occasion. It was a HUGE surprise to Brooke and tremendous testimony to how blessed she is daily!
On Sunday (Brooke's actual Birthday) the family went to Outback for the much anticipated dinner that Brooke had requested originally. Her parents and sister's family did a great job of making her feel loved and appreciated with lots of attention and some great gifts. Plus, Outback gave her a YUMMY birthday treat which was exciting for the whole table!

Many people say that their 30th birthday was a hard one for them. Some say that it was depressing for them or hard to except in comparison to the others. For Brooke, 30 was definitely a dreaded birthday and she was not looking forward to the transition. However, now, thanks to this guy....
...Brooke will always remember her 3oth as a celebration/recognition of her many blessings! She will never forget what an amazing family she has or what wonderful friends surround her daily. She is so thankful that her hubby gave her this weekend to help her remember what God has given her daily already...no matter how old! :)

Wordless Wednesday

(Not taken by Brenden this time...we'll return to that next week) :)