Second Stamp: Nanny Vaca

 There are a few girls that I went to school with still keep in touch via skype, facebook or text. We are a sisterhood and are truly the only ones who get and understand this profession. During a Skype date with my friend Anna, who is now in Connecticut,  had something very important to ask me. "It has been a crazy year and I have worked so hard. I want to go on a vacation somewhere nice and warm to relax. I want someone to go with me who I will have a great time with and works just as hard. So, will you please come to Costa Rica with me??"  How in the world could I say NO???

Swim up bar, A place we frequented.

Watching election day results in Costa Rica sipping a Mojoito!!

   Well.... Anna and I carefully picked the perfect week in November to fly south. She asked me about this trip shortly after I started with my new family so discussing vacation time so early on I was nervous about. They were 100% all about me going insisting that I take Itty E with me. Definitely a good laugh!

Vacation partner in crime

My favorite bartender who makes the most delicious margaritas

Ecstatic to have some Buckeye pride hanging at the Monkey Bar in Costa Rica.

Friends from California! LOVE THEM

   We had the BEST WEEK EVER! It was great to be out of the country with my cell phone not working and getting to do whatever I wanted. I arrived in Liberia, Costa Rica first, Anna arrived an hour after. Once she came through the doors to find our cab I was the one screaming, jumping up and down running to Anna simply because we were both SOOOO excited about this trip. We decided that the week was a free for all, nothing planned, get some sun, and enjoy as many adult beverages as we can.

Zip lining.

  Anna and I had facials at the spa, road on a catamaran during sunset, and went zip lining. We made lots of friends (imagine that!) from all over the place too! Our first day we woke up bright and early at 7am heading to the beach for a horseback ride. Totally worth it! Though our horses had personalities of their own, Anna and I laughed the whole trip. My horse would see the others galloping and speed up. To which I would hold on a little tighter screaming for fear I would fall off. Oh, did I mention I have never been on a horse for more than a 10 minutes?? What an experience that was and I am sure a sight to see for everyone I passed. The oddest part was being in bed by 11pm and waking up by 8am.

Costa Rica treated us well and we are looking forward to our next trip with more our nanny friends.

At the airport at 5am after a crazy night

. Oy vey!

This sums up our week.

Quacks McGee

Watching TV while JK and I are working hard.

Shit or get off the pot!

My friends and I went down to Little Italy for the 5 day feast celebration. While standing in the street enjoying our delicious desserts minding our own business, a guy (older than me by 30 years) approaches me (of all people!) telling me how much he would love for me to have this duck/chick blow up animal. Immediately JK named it and said how I had to keep him. So.... Quacks McGee has become the 3rd roommate to the apartment doing all sorts of crazy things while we are gone. He listens to our crazy stories and enjoys our delicious dinners too!

Itty E Update

Itty E is 7 months old and all over the place! She is doing the bear crawl all over the place and getting into anything she can. She loves play with her toys, hit balls and crawl after them, knock over towers, and to read books (Goodnight Moon and Brown Bear, Brown Bear are her favorites.) Her personality is developing as well as her voice. She LOVES LOVES people and any attention she can get, as if she doesn't get enough between her parents and I. Itty E has been eating delicious organic pureed foods that I make for her, loves her fruits, not crazy about her greens. Her doctor said there is no holding back as far as table foods go. When she sees a plate, she is reaching for it!

Baby Girl in a nutshell. She sat and watched the guy wash the windows until he disappeared.

Day One I was a baby food making machine! Anything  I could get my hands on was streamed and pureed.

  We are getting ready for family vacation in Florida. Looking forward (and a little scared) to Itty E's first plane ride, what Disney World will be like with a baby, and to spend a whole week with mom and dad. 
 

What A Year

What a year it has been. There has been plenty of laughter, emotion, stress and happy times. Never did I think I would be where I am today, right back where this whole adventure began.

  Figuring out what is right for me came with trail and error, some heartaches and lots of tears but it only made me a better and stronger person. There was plenty of lessons to be learned this last year but the one that was most important was being true to who I am. Standing my ground. Make my voice heard. I have stepped outside my comfort zone, learned from others and made decisions that only make me happy.

  Recently I was talking with my mom how much it surprised me when a friend of my brother's asked me how the new job was going and just went wrong with the last one. It then had me thinking, does everyone in Stark county know?  Which then has me absolutely blown away by the concern and support of every individual who has crossed my path in my 28 years. Yes, being an nanny is an unusual profession, but people voicing their opinion and glad to see that I am back in Ohio makes me realize I made the right decision.

 But now, the past is in the past. On to bigger and better things, like planning Itty E's first birthday bash!




 And for the record.... I was never homesick. South Carolina was absolutely amazing! It was the family that put me over the edge. :)

It's The Little Things

      
       I don't require much. A "Thank You" from time to time will do.

 I am three months into this job and both parents tell me over and over how blessed they are to have me, that I am an honorary family member, they support me in any personal or professional decision I make, and how I warm their hearts every time I walk into the apartment and Itty E smiles at me.
I can now add these parents to the listen of many others who value and appreciate me. It doesn't seem like work when I enjoy what I do and who I work for. Believe it or not, I have always felt that way. I am who I am and people like that. (weird, I know!!) These parents want to make sure that I am happy in every possible way! Even if that means taking time a day off because I am working too much.

                 I couldn't be any happier!

Itty E was fussy my first few days. This was from her apologizing for being bad. Can you tell I work for people in the dental profession?

Three weeks after I started to work for them it was my birthday. What an unexpected surprise!!!!

After a crappy few weeks, this was sitting next to Itty E's crib 

when I got her up from her nap.

 

What Are You??

      It hasn't been until recent years that random strangers (Even some friends) have questioned me.  I walked into the hospital and was approached by an employee, "What are you?" At work, walking around the apartment building with Itty E, many of the residents have asked the parents "Where is your nanny from?" when they respond Canton, the residents have been baffled.



Voluminous curly hair is not a norm. Blue eyes are more commonly paired with blonde's. Tanned skin only comes in the summer. (Or possibly in January from the tanning bed!)  However, this is me in a nutshell and people aren't afraid to ask "What I am" to put their minds at ease. My response is very simple.... "I am as white as them come!"


     Though some laugh I am possibly the mailman's child with my curly hair, I am the perfect combination of my German father and Czechoslovakian mother. Blue eyes are rare both sides of my family, but my curls have been traced back to my paternal Grandmother, and maternal Great-Grandmother. I might not look like my brother's either but they both have wavy hair as well.


 Yes there is a little of this and little of that in my blood, but like always, I am as white as white can be!!

MEANT To Be

Within the last 2 weeks in SC I had 3 phone interviews in the Ohio/Pennsylvania area. The first family to call was in Cleveland who pretty much wanted to hire me on the spot if she could. She and her husband wanted to meet me asap which is why I came home so soon. I secretly had my heart set on a family in Pittsburgh but figured I would interview with them just to get my feet wet. They were new parents to a baby girl, Itty E, and were only a few years older than myself. Talking with them was so natural. We had some of the same up bringing and the same views on what we want for Itty E. They knew I had an interview set up with the family in PA within the week to which she responded "Well, what do we have to do to hire you before you interview with them?"  I was shocked that they wanted to hire me ON THE SPOT! They had already interviewed plenty of women that just weren't the right fit. Itty E cried when a few held her. With me, I didn't leave her sight. I like to think it was her thinking of how much she would like to get her fingers in my hair.

  Walking out the door the mom was on the phone with the school. Is this even for real?! I called my mom to tell her how well the interview went and just a few minutes later school was calling me with new that the parents wanted to offer me a contract. I was absolutely shocked!! Apparently this was all meant to be.


  So it has been nearly 4 weeks now and I am in love with my new family. Itty E is as cute as cute can be with chubby cheeks, gorgeous blue eyes, fare complexion and light hair. Both parents text me all day long asking how things are going and telling me over and over how much they appreciate me. I keep asking myself over and over "Is this for real?" Even on the weekends both parents send me pictures of the baby and let me know how long she sleeps for. We are working together as a team to get her on normal feeding and sleeping schedules which has been successful. They want to know everything about me, my friends and my family which is amazing! They also have joked on a few occasions that I didn't read the fine print at the bottom of the contract: Agreeing to stay until Itty E is 25. " You are going to college with her and making sure she only drinks 2 beers at the frat house and gets home safely." It was a good laugh after I told them I would be the wrong influence on her in college.

My special treat from JAK when I arrived

  I am contracted for 30 hrs a week with 2 weeks paid vacation. They are currently building a house in summit county which won't be done until January. This being a live out position, I am staying with JAK until they move, then I will find an apartment close by.

O-H-I-O Here I Come!

  I drove home Tuesday, May 1st due to an interview with a family in Cleveland on Wednesday. My brother took the morning off to help me pack up my car (OH MY did I have a lot of belongings!) and to have breakfast with me. Spending my days off with he and his wife really helped our relationship. He is has always been the vinegar to my oil. For him to tell me over and over how much he enjoyed me being so close really meant a lot to me!!

  The 9 hour drive home gave me plenty of time to plan an agenda for the night. Rolled into Canton around 4, got a pedicure at 4:30, dinner with my parents at 5:30, surprised all of the kids between 7 and 8.  FYI this is completely normal for me and wouldn't have done it any other way.

  Before my pedicure I ran to the party store to get birthday balloons for Chica's 5th birthday. While searching the wall for the Justin Bieber balloon a woman leans over saying "Tara! Is that you?!" A customer from Taggarts, go figure! It was such a surprise and nice to catch up for a few minutes.

  I surprised the 5 boys with ice cream at Menchies then over to see the other 3. I called my 8yr old BFF as soon as I pulled in the neighborhood telling her I wasn't going to make it home for her First Communion which was that weekend. Little did she know I was surprised by her brother in the driveway. Seeing the look on their faces was the best! And naturally the girls were glued to me reassuring themselves I wasn't leaving again.

  Though no one, other than my parents and a few friends, knew exacting when I was coming home it was great being able to surprise friends and family! The one that was the best was from my Godmom and Godsister. My Godmom was making dinner while her 5yr old Grandson was sitting in the hall spinning around on the floor outside talking to his mom. After he gave me the biggest hug and said "Grandma, Tara Annie is here." She was confused until she turned around to see me standing there, to which my Godsister came running too. I stopped over just in time for dinner, SCORE!

I still had keys to JAK's apartment and boy did she get a surprise! I received a phone call her from her later that night. 

"You scared the hell out of me! I thought there was a burglar then I thought 'Wait, No! Tara is back in Ohio and she still has a key - JAK"

End Of A Chapter

My last week couple weeks in South Carolina were busy ones! Having to pack everything up in my room at the house, and also things at my brother's house became a little stressful. I was a little uncertain when exactly my last day was would put  a little wrench into my plans. The dad flew down to the Bahamas for a golf tournament for the weekend, leaving mom, boys and myself at home. All was good and fun!

  Saturday I was telling the mom about a random package that was delivered but put by the trash cans (in the back of the house). We were both super confused who would leave it there. Well, Saturday night around 2AM the power went out completely out of the blue. No storm, no accident, nothing. The alarm was beeping which all I could think about is it waking the boys up. The mom has always said to wake her up if I needed anything or something was wrong with the boys. Well I had to wake her up because I didn't know the alarm code. We both were so confused as to why the power was out and instantly sweating because the AC was out. I went to bed thinking "what if the power isn't back on at 8 when the boys get up? I won't be able to make anything for breakfast. I won't be able to get the car out of the garage or even if I did, I couldn't get it out of the driveway because the gate wouldn't open. This is all going to be a nightmare. JUST MY LUCK!" Well, the mom went to bed thinking "Whoever dropped that package off in the back cut the power and is going to break into the house and kidnap us!"  Needless to say the power went back on 2 hours later and the boys slept through the whole thing. Lucky them!

  The last day wasn't anything special. I took the boys to the zoo, out to lunch and then for cupcake treats. After all it was my last day, lets give them sugar!! We swam later that night after dinner and everything was as normal as could be. Gave the boys big hugs goodnight, closed the door, grabbed my bags and I was gone. I did give the new nanny the rundown for the week to come and told her to call me with any questions or concerns. Yep, said it right in front of the parents!!!! Didn't get a hug goodbye from anyone, just a "Thanks. Have a safe drive." Now thinking back if could have been SOOO much worse! Pulling out of their driveway there was no tears just a lot of screaming and bad words on how rude people could be!

Run. Mudd. Color. Beer.

My friends last year traveled to Pennsylvania last year to run a 5k obstacle course that has become known to so many. Warrior Dash


  I woke up one morning from an email from my practicum mom (Shawn was my Friday mom when I was in nanny school.) suggesting that it would be something I would love and that I should run in with she and her small group of friends. Can't predict where I will be in August, but doing something like this with Shawn we are bound to have a good time! I registered as soon as I woke up and texted her that we were on for August 25th, which then turned into a lot of texting with laughter included. I talked JAK and my cousin into running it with me. It should be a muddy mess. Can't wait!

 A few months later JAK told me about a 5k in Cleveland, The Color Run. You wear all white and at each mile marker they shoot color at you. Sure why not, sign me up. I will do anything fun.

Needless to say I need to get my butt running so I don't hold my teams up. Bribing me with a beer at the finish line should do the trick.

The Sky Is Falling

Easter was a great time here! I took the boys to a nearby town for their annual Egg Drop. There was all sorts of activities for the kids, music, face painting, and the Easter bunny was there to get your picture taken with. KP wanted to leave the second we got there, he is not one for crowds. HB was all about it! There was a huge soccer field blocked off with eggs all over it. Then we stood and waiting for the helicopter to come and drop HUNDREDS of eggs all over the place. I might have been a little more excited then the boys! They blew the horn and we ran as fast as we could to fill up their baskets. Each of them got maybe 20 eggs, but with the mass amount of kids, some didn't get any. I was so proud of KP (who doesn't like to share) he gave 2 of his eggs to a little boy who didn't have any. Proud nanny moment!

Nighty Night

After the one occasion we had when KP took his diaper off in the morning, every night we put "dream tape" on the diapers. It was a small battle to get it on and started out as their "Super Hero" belts but then turned into "dream tape" giving them good dreams at night. They have come to love their tape and look forward to putting it on at night. Leave it to their mom to find duck tape in so many different colors and prints.

Decisions Decisions

Sorry I haven't been posting very often, things have been crazy!

   So... where to begin! As most of you know this has been a complete adjustment for me. Just when I feel better about myself and that I am doing a great job, I have all sorts of doubts. I am not myself! With lots of headache and stress, not to mention plenty of tears, I have decided to leave this family. The decision was very hard to come by but I know deep down it is the right thing to do. My bond with the boys is getting better each day which is making the whole thing even harder, but at the same time I am holding my head high knowing there is something better for me. There is such satisfaction knowing there are certain things the boys will carry on with them that I have taught them. This could be either a good or bad thing for the new nanny. haha!

On the bright side, I will be back in Ohio in a few more weeks. I have had a few phone interviews with new families who are willing to wait until I get home to actually meet me. Fingers crossed!!!

Boys Will Be Boys

Al the lizard we found by the pool

Walking down by the river

"My caterpillar" -KP

KP and HB love being outside and going on all sorts of "adventures". Their neighborhood runs along a river, or maybe it's a large stream I don't know, there are lots of wooded areas and paths for us to walk along. They love to go on Herbie rides through the neighborhood watching the guys build new houses and going super fast over the speed bumps. There are weeping cherry trees in the front yard, when the boys pick up the branches they stand up on the rocks pretending to fish, and sometimes catch lobsters! Their mom is not an outdoors kinda person, so when we tell her about the bugs we find she tends to get a little squirmish. Their favorite song to sing (my doing of course) while walking by the river throwing rocks in and finding sticks "Hi ho, hi ho". 

Herbie

I don't get off work until 8pm, by the time I leave the house it is usually after 8:30. The drive to my brother's is an hour and 40 minutes which makes plenty of time to collect my thoughts, make a phone call or turn up the music and sing my heart out. I had a very important question to ask a friend who was working at Taggarts last night. Shortly after she answered the phone was passed to a "grumpy old Marine who keeps going on and on about you." I knew exactly who it was!! A former Marine who is good friends with my Dad. After I talked with him and his wife it had me thinking..... I wonder how the rest of our regular customers have been?

  I think about the little boy who would come in with his Grandparents. He would hide his DS from me so I wouldn't shut it while he was winning a level in the game he was playing.
  I think of my Sunday people, hoping that the waitress gave them all of their sauces, someone got their pickle spear, and if that baby banana split was a baby size.
  I think of the Lehman group who come in on Wednesday and wonder if the same person is going to be late again this week.
  I think of Paul and Marie, wondering how they are doing.
  I think of the customers who live in Akron who found Taggarts to be on their way home from EVERYWHERE!
   I think of the guy who is daring enough to make a sundae out of whatever sorbet we have.
   I think of the family who invited me on a few of their vacations. Oh and the couple who always asks if I will marry their son.
  I think of all the customers who know my parents, or were shocked to find out they knew my parents after waiting on them for so many.
  I think of Terry and Mark and their laughter. Actually, I think of all of the customers who I would sit down with as other tables would give me the evil eye!



 There are little things every day that triggers my brain to think of Taggarts. It truly is so sweet when I talk to my friends from work and they tell me a customer asked about me. Because we aren't good with names, it is enjoyable when they describe the customer to me "you know, the guy with the hat. His wife always orders her Bittner with coconut."

Buzz Buzzzzz

Last week on my day off, I sat on the deck enjoying an adult beverage when something bigger than a normal fly started buzzing around my head. I didn't swat at anything but once I realized what exactly it was, I was a tad bit scared for my life. It was the biggest bumble bee I have ever seen in my life!!!!! ENORMOUS I tell ya! You could hear this thing buzzing miles away.

No joke, it was the size of a quarter

Imagine this thing buzzing around your head

I did my best to take a picture so people didn't think I was crazy when I say bumble bees in the south are on steroids. I sent it to some friends, to which one informed me that it is a carpenter bee. HOLY MOLY I have never see anything like it!! Oh and another friend who lives in the area tried telling me it was a fly that looks like a bee. Nice try! 

Day Light Savings

 The boys are in 4 different class each week. Tuesday is gymboree, Wednesday morning is art, Wednesday afternoon is swim lessons, and Thursday is music. Some days they participate, others not so much. KP leans more on the "not so much" side. At music he likes to sit and watch everyone act like fools. Swim lessons he screams as soon as he wakes up from his nap until he gets in the water. It is a good 35 minutes of "I am not swimming. I am not getting in the pool." HB on the other hands loves all of it. At 2 and a half, the swim instructor pushes him under the water to dive down and get whatever toy is on the pool floor, he pops up wide eyed with a smile on his face.

  Last week with the time change, KP is a whole new kid! He has participated in all the classes and we only had 3 minutes of crying. The other nanny and I talked about what could possibly be going on with him, to which we decided it was the time change. Think what you want, we are not crazy!


I was lucky enough to not have to deal with the boys loosing an hour of sleep. However, the other nanny did wake them up 30 minutes early in the morning and from their afternoon nap so they would adjust well.

Call Me Crazy

Hair in NC: bouncy and soft

Here is me proving a point that South Carolina and my precious curls can not and will not be friends! There is something in the water here that is not allowing me to have pretty curls. I know, I know....  "you have beautiful hair. What I would do for just an ounce of your curls. I can't believe it is natural." But I have become somewhat self conscious of my curls. When I have a bad hair day it adds a little stress to my day. And of course, there has been 2 or 3 curls that choose to frizz instead of "be one of the cool kids" if you will. Annoying!!

Hair in SC: Heavy, flat and frizzy

 Here are pictures to prove that my hair in South Carolina is awful. It is so heavy and frizzy. Yes, I have changed my hair products, how often its washed, the way I dry it. Nothing has worked, HOWEVER when I go to my brother's in Charlotte on my days off, my hair is amazing!

Nanny Diet

What I thought was only offered in South Carolina apparently is also offered in Connecticut. (where a friend is also a nanny)
 
  The last 4 months I have lost a few pounds, enough that I have bought 3 pairs of new jeans which are a size smaller. (Before I moved I bought 2 pairs) Everyone keeps saying that losing weight is a good thing sure whatever.  But not when you live in jeans daily and spend over $40 on them. With the daily schedule of the boys, I eat when they do. They don't snack throughout the day which makes it impossible for me to. Dinner is at 6pm, bath at 7:20 and bed at 8. My bedtime isn't far behind theirs. I am sure daily stress of things have added to the weight loss, but I am just going with I don't eat after 8pm and constantly snacking on fresh fruit.

   I suppose this is all a good thing and should justify my shopping because things don't fit, and my mom would only want me to look presentable. Right Mom?!?
 
  Ironically enough though when I head to Charlotte, NC to spend my days off with my brother and his wife, I binge on ice cream and cookies. I can not get enough chocolate!! When I had ice cream before dinner one night he responded "You are eating more ice cream?!" And actually I had more for breakfast the next morning. I know, I know! This is all going to catch up with me sooner or later.

Twins: twice as nice? NOT!

  These boys are truly something else! They are doing a great job with potty training. Maybe one accident a day for me, but not for the other nanny (she's just so perfect.) Their vocabulary expands more every day. From working at Taggarts for some time, I am a sucker for kids with manors. Anymore manors are a must! I am constantly on them about Yes Please, No Thank You, Can I Please Have, etc. They are getting the hang of it more so with each other than with others. When KP steals a toy from HB hands, and HB wants it back "No thank you Bubba" KP will tell him. KP, today alone, has been saying the funniest things. "That was not very nice Dave" when his dad shut the car door after getting frozen yogurt. "I am not going potty." Actually everything is "I'm not" which I really enjoy. Like I have told each of my 8 little loves "In the world of you VS me, I always win. You don't win until you are 18... if you are lucky."

  Their personalities are so different, but so are their looks. KP is blonde with blue eyes, HB has dark hair with hazel eyes. I can tell KP to stop doing something he shouldn't be doing and he will. HB will test my nerves until I have to raise my voice. Then he cries. Little does he know I have no sympathy. KP loves cars. He will lay down on the ground watching the wheels and just how it all works. HB will do silly things to make you laugh, which he succeeds at. HB is very stubborn. Trying to get him to go potty some days is shaving days off my life. He things as long as he sits on the toilet for 5 seconds it is the same as actually going potty. DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA! KP on the other hand will sit, go potty and be done.

  OH MY GOODNESS! HA! KP on occasion will take his pajamas off in the morning before I go in to get him. Well he figured out how to take his diaper off so we started putting duct tape (or "dream tape" as i tell them) around his waist. My last night of work a few weeks ago things were so crazy at bedtime I completely forgot to get the dream tape. The other nanny walked in to a messy smelly disaster. I felt horrible because I am sure she was swearing my name left and right. However I will defend myself: the parents were helping at bath time.

Adding a kid touch to my bathroom. No thanks!

  My bedroom is right next to the boys room. They have a bathroom in their room, but it has become daily routine when they get up in the morning and from nap they use my bathroom to go potty. They always put their hands and faces all over my shower doors and I tell them "When you become a big boy you can take showers too". Well tonight they took their first every shower in my huge shower.... AND LOVED IT! They each brought 2 cars to drive all over the walls. Mom and Dad both popped in and laughed over how much fun the boys were having. This will be a TREAT, not a nightly thing.

Fairy Godparents

                                                         Each time the world needs
                                             an extra touches of love and gentle caring, 
                                                          God creates Godparents.

My fairy Godparents

My newest Godson, Connor

My Godparents have always been such a big deal to me. Pat and Carol were neighbors of my parents and became close friends over the years. My dad and Pat golfed together, my mom and Carol would walk in the park together. Growing up with them across the street was the best. I became apart of another family going over to play after school, practice piano, and sometimes spend the night when my parents would go out of town. In the summer time we stayed out late catching lightening bugs and making s'mores in the crematorium.  Christmas we made it a tradition to cut down our trees after breakfast, laughing about how far we would have to hike to find the PERFECT tree! They made my favorite dinner to celebrate my 20th birthday when my parents were vacationing without me. When we get together we reminisce about the lady falling off the swing, breaking my collarbone falling down their basement steps, stitches had by all, 'Sarge' stories, neighborhood plays, and all the crazy things our mom's did for us growing up.

Their two sons and daughter have become siblings. My Godsister and I are not even blood related but resemble each other so much that her 5 year old son gets high school pictures of she and "my Tara" (as he calls me) confused. I have never really wanted a sister growing up. My Godsister does the job well enough laughing at me, messing with my curls, or giving me the pep talk when I need it most!

My first ever Godchild.

 Seven years ago when I was on vacation with my family I was asked to be the Godmother of my 4th cousin, Silas James. (Though to this day I don't think he gets why I gush over him, sugar him up, or smoother him with kisses.) It was such a big deal to me because my Godmother has always been an important person in my life.

 After I moved, I skyped with my Godsister to give me that extra boost and help me clear my thoughts. She hinted around when I was going to be home to visit and asked if I would be the Godmother of her son, Connor, who was born in August. Tears imediately started rolling down my face.WHAT A BIG DEAL!! With his Grandma being my Godmother, I have big shoes to fill! This will be the least stressful job of all, my job is to spoil him right?!

72 hours is not long enough!

I have decided that I am not cut out for weekend visits home. There is entirely to many people and to much to do in 72 hours.

   I slept 4 hrs Thursday night getting up at 3:30am to leave for the Charlotte airport for my 6am flight. I didn’t even need a cup of coffee because I was so excited to come home. My parents picked me up, I was home for 20 minutes to wash my hair, eat a bowl of cereal and find my snow clothes. 11am coffee with Whim at Taggarts was first on my agenda, followed by getting my eye brows waxed, nails painted, and picking up cupcakes for the kids. My 8 little loves who have been missing and bugging me about coming home had no clue when my visit was going to be. I made arrangements with their parents to surprise the kids making sure none of them suspected a thing!  I stopped to see 3 of the 5 boys, attacked with hugs and kissed. 2:30 came and it was time to pick of my Chica from preschool. ABSOLUTELY the best surprise! She looked at her teacher wide-eyed getting the approval to run to my open arms. With tears rolling down my face she didn’t let go of me! From there we went to surprise the rest of the boys with cupcakes. Then finally it was home to surprise lil’ man and Sassy at the bus stop. However the surprise was on me because their dad was already home and so were they.  I was attacked at the door (literally down on the ground and couldn’t get up) with hugs. As the kids scarfed down their cupcakes there was non-stop chatter and excitement.
Friday night we joined some family friends and went snow tubing at Brandy Wine in Sagamore Hills. The kids, as well as the adults, had a blast! The little ones had no fear of going down the hills themselves, the big kids couldn’t get enough, and the adults laughed flying down the hills with their tubes all tied together. Best part of the night was it actually started snowing!
After getting home late how could I not want to stop in at Taggarts to see some of my favorite employees. Once again I was attacked by blue shirts.


Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to meet a friend from nanny school for breakfast. We discussed the pros and cons of our jobs and had a chance to catch up. It was well needed on both parts! I stopped to visit my Aunt and Uncle on the way home, then it was time to get ready for the Wind Chime Ball. It was a breast cancer related event for the Josette Beddell Foundation, a memorial a dear friend of mine started in honor of her mother who passed away from breast cancer. I was very excited to have all of girlfriends, as well as my parents, attend this event with me. I had the chance to visit with plenty of familiar faces all in once place, dance and laugh along with my friends.

Sunday morning I woke up (not feeling so hot) to have coffee and breakfast with my cousin and parents. I had a very important job that day, I was asked to be the Godmother of the grandchild of my own Godparents. What a big deal!!! Connor couldn't have been a better baby during the whole thing. He laughed as monsignor talked and didn't cry as the water poured over his head. After lunch with my God-family, I headed to a grade school basketball game to see family friends. Then we headed to Taggarts (of course) where I saw all of the regular sunday familiar faces. I was asked by a few why I wasn't working to which I explained where I've been for the last 2 months. I think my next trip home I am just going to camp out at Taggarts for a full shift and have ice cream with as many regulars as I can. Haha!

It was such a busy weekend, and the little sleep caught up with me that my 7AM flight I could hardly keep my eyes open. I choose not to when I was seated next to an infant who's mother was snapping pictures of her first flight and the kids behind me kept hitting my seat. Oh then the best! I had a layover in Atlanta. Checked the screen, there was a 10:30 flight to Charlotte. When I stood in line to board my ticket beeped. Yep, I was at the wrong gate for the wrong flight to Charlotte. Just my luck!

What Season Is It?!

A few Thursdays ago, Feb. 2nd to be exact, it was a BEAUTIFUL day here in Greenville. Temps went up to 71 degrees with an amazing blue sky and big white clouds. It is a very weird feeling for it to technically still be winter when the sun is beating down. We had a picnic at the park and ran around like crazy, which the boys loved. I am very happy to admit that I miss the snow and a REAL winter.

Do I have an accent?

Oh the south, how you make me laugh! I went to Panera a few days for lunch. I handed the lady my credit card to pay with and when she handed me back she asked "So Tara, where are you from?" "Ohio. How did you know?" I responded with a smile. She told me with my accent she knew I wasn't from South Carolina. I started cracking up only because I do not have an accent, people down here do. The best part was from Texas, and didn't have an accent.

It's A Flip Flop Winter

-->Flip flops make me happy. There are so many different kinds, colors, styles. Simply the best shoe there is. For years I have worn my flip flops from the when the snow melts until it begins again. Living in the south, when people have boots on and are bundled up for winter, I have my flip flops on with jeans and a jacket. I also love nothing more than looking at my cute pedicured toes!!

  A few weeks ago I packed the boys up for a lunch date. It was a little chilly outside and as I was putting on their coats the dad told me how if the boys start freaking out about wearing a coat he won’t make them wear it until they get where they are going. According to him it is uncomfortable to wear a coat in the car. I beg to disagree. It’s cold outside. You are wearing a coat and you will like it. He thought I was crazy when I told him I always wear a coat in the car. When I reminded him I am from Ohio he laughed…. Then he laughed harder when he looked down at my feet to see me wearing flip flops! 

Side Note: the one thing that makes me so sad looking at my feet in flip flops are these horrible scares I have from ice skating in December. I took my 8yr old BFF ice skating for her birthday, and some reason the skates gave me these horrible blisters, which eventually scared. I often wonder what complete strangers think with they see them. Hahaha!

FAVORITES

                  Families are like good chocolate, some have a few nuts in them!

Funky fav #1 and #2

  My family is definitely full of nuts, but the ones that are good for the heart! 

  My great aunts and uncles shared endless stories of their childhood and what it was really like growing up on that "damn hill" in a small southern Ohio town. The "Founding Seven" were close, and instilled in their children the importance of family, which then progressed down the line. I grew up with knowing my second, third and fourth cousins. Spending weekends with them is second nature. 
  I have such fond memories of driving to Disney when I was kid, stopping to see family along the way. Weddings, and the late night that follows, are still talked about. Vacations are had, (even if it is during SOMEONE'S birthday week!!!) and some holidays are spent together. We catch up through Christmas cards, phone calls, email and now facebook. 
  Each of them bring a different joy to my heart and make me laugh like no one can. They are  my cheerleaders, support my dreams, listen to my crazy stories, and always send encouragement my way. That is why they are not only family, they are my FAVORITES!




  love to you all 2nd, 3nd, and 4th! xoxo

A t-shirt that my dad bought that pretty much sums our family up!