Spring Birthdays are the Best, April 2010

I say it all the time, but I am so unbelievably blessed to be married to this man. We celebrated Todd's birthday with brunch at Lakeside Tavern. It really doesn't get much better than Lakeside Tavern's all you can eat brunch buffet, complete with an enormous variety of desserts including the delightful chocolate fondue fountain. This will hopefully be a new tradition of birthday celebrations :) I love you honey!

Chicago, April 2010

This was my first ever flight! We flew to Chicago for a NP conference, and actually for LOTS of sight-seeing!! Hope you enjoy seeing a few of the places we went!

On our first night, we had dinner at Cheesecake Factory, then went to the very top of the Jon Hancock (I think it is 93 stories high). This is a statue of the Jon Hancock made out of legos! My engineer husband loved it!

This is how high we were!! Can you see the teeny cars on the road below?!

You can't go to Chicago without visiting the BEAN!! 

Lake Michigan is beautiful! We walked on the "shoreline" for hours. I call it a shoreline because even though its a lake, it really looks like an ocean without waves. You can't see the other side!!

We went to the Navy Pier, which was where we experienced Garrett's Chicago Style popcorn, ate Chicago's biggest cheeseburger, and topped it off with $13 ice cream...well worth it!

They also had a Ferris Wheel!! It was high in the air, as our cart hit the peak of the wheel, that I learned my engineer hubby is NOT a fan of riding ferris wheels.

See? Much like an ocean, Lake Michigan has its own beach! Gorgeous!

Probably my favorite store.... in the entire world.....the HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE store!

This trip entailed many "firsts" for me. This was also my first ride on the Metra. I absolutely loved it! We rode about 30miles north of downtown Chicago to visit Frank, Molly, and Ivory Omiyale. Frank plays for the Chicago Bears! We had such a great time playing with Ivory, and eating a delicious meal prepared by the Omiyales. Thanks for a great time!! We hope to be back for another visit soon....and maybe a game at Soldier Field next time!

The Field Museum was full of exhibits that varied from ant colonies, to gold and minerals, to zebras and mammoths. It was huge! To tide us over until dinner, we indulged on some chocolate chip cookies from the cafe. Delicious!

We topped off our trip with Chicago Style pizza from Giordano's!! and oh my, it was by far one of the most delicious and best parts of our trip! I still want one shipped to Knoxville (which you so can do) for my birthday.

Dusty the Hayman, December 2009

Barr Farms first year entering into the Madisonville Parade! In case you don't know already, Barr Farms is where I grew up, and we make LOTS and LOTS of hay. Round bales, square bales, big and small, Alfalfa, Orchard Grass, Fescue, Timothy, Straw, and the list goes on and on. We decided to build a snow man made of rounds bales, and found it only appropriate to name him Dusty the Hayman. He was a hit, and even made the Advocate and Democrat (the Madisonville newspaper). It was so fun!! Freezing, snowing, cold, but SO fun!

Hot to Trot 5k, November 2009

The best way to spread Thanksgiving Cheer is to run a 5k at 730 in the morning so you can enjoy guilt-free indulgences the rest of the year....or maybe just the rest of the day.

TTU Homecoming, October 2009

Todd and I wouldn't be Todd and I without Tennessee Tech. This is where we met, became friends, fell in love, and the rest is history. We love Cookeville, miss it so much, and took advantage of the opportunity to go back to Eagle-Nation for Homecoming. It was raining, and freezing cold, but we had so much fun reminiscing, feeling like we're in college again. I will forever be thankful for TTU!

CPNP-AC's, August 2009

Vanderbilt University, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners!

Director of the Acute Care Peds program, awesome professor, and wonderful friend, Sheree.

Congratulations Class of 2009! We did it!!

Talladega Superspeedway, April 2009

For Todd's birthday, we got tickets to the NASCAR race at the Talladega Superspeedway. Great seats, great weather, great company. We had so much fun!!

Kefauver Park, April 2009

We celebrated Todd's birthday at Kefauver Park. It was a gorgeous, warm, spring day...perfect for an outside cookout. We grilled burgers and had all the trimmings, fruit, chips, and Todd's favorite cupcakes (yellow cake with chocolate icing). Everyone was able to be there. We are so thankful for our families.

Butterfly Fund Gala, March 2009

I had the honor and privilege of taking care of Emily and Maddie, two amazing girls who both suffered from Rhabdomyosarcoma, and sadly, passed away after fighting this terrible cancer. The Butterfly Fund was established in their memory, and raises money for childhood cancer research. Todd and I were able to attend the first annual butterfly fund gala. It was a wonderful tribute to these amazing girls. They will always hold a very special place in my heart. http://www.butterflyfund.org/

My Valentine, February 2009

I never knew I would be so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and best friend. 

I love you with all my heart.

Gatlinburg, December 2008

Each year, Todd and I take some time off from work to spend together in Gatlinburg.

We ALWAYS eat at Pancake Pantry.

Todd's mom and dad like to join us too when they can.

We had a "camp-out" night in our living room. Set the cots up with our sub-zero
sleeping bags, turned the ceiling fan on high, turned out the lights, and had
our own little campsite. I always have so much fun with Todd,
no matter what we do or where we are. I love him so much!!

Christmas 2008

Christmas Candies, December 2008

One of my favorite Christmas memories so far....making reindeer food and gingerbread houses with Billy. He wasn't a fan of getting his hands messy at first, but once I taught him we could lick all the sugar off, he was ready to do it again.....and I was too! I love being an aunt, and sharing special times with my nephews.

Family Vacation, August 2008

We went to Edisto Island for our annual Barr/Mills family vacation. 

If you asked any of our opinions, we had a good time, but wouldn't recommend 

going there for vacation unless you really just want to lay on the beach for a week. 

There's not a lot more to do other than that. We did drive to Charleston (about 1hr north 

of edisto island) for an afternoon. We took a carriage tour downtown, and ate at 

the famous Hyman's Seafood Restaurant.....so good! 

Thank you to both of our families for a wonderful vacation. We love you!

Senior Olympics, July 2008

My mom competed in the State Senior Olympics! She won 3rd place in 

the 5k and 10k cycling events! To top it all, she did this only a few months after 

being involved in a serious cycling accident. She wouldn't be defeated though, and 

got right back into the training. I'm so proud of her. We all went to support her, and 

had another great weekend of quality family time together....

all 7 of us in a 2-bedroom hotel room...haha!

Creek House Vacation, July 2008

Collin's family let us stay a few days at their gorgeous log cabin on the creek. 

We had beautiful weather, and lots of fun fishing for crawdads with Billy. 

We rode 4wheelers every day....to the lake....over fallen trees....through mud pits...through 

the creek....through the river....everywhere you could imagine. 

We cooked BIG breakfasts, and grilled burgers and chicken each night. 

We had canoe races, and my wonderful sis-in-law kept me on my toes each morning 

with a run to the lake and back.....oh and she was 5months pregnant, yet still 

pushing ME to run. It was such a nice trip filled with lots of quality family time together.

Foothills Sprint Triathlon, May 2008

Another family event/competition! 

1st leg: 300m swim (Evan, Collin) 

2nd leg: 10mi bike (Todd, Collin) 

3rd leg: 2.6mi run (Todd, Janice)

Team Barr/Mills

Team Barr/Mills

me and my hubby again....always :) i love you!