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!

Singing, M&M's and Dancing

   Potty training might be the death of me!!

The mom, other nanny and I have been talking about potty training for a few weeks now. It was just a matter of time when it was going to start. The other nanny has potty training expert so I have found it easier to follow her lead. She started with the boys on Monday taking of and off the diapers to go potty. There were a few connections made but every day was getting better. After a day or two the boys moved it up to potty training underwear that they love, "No more diapers" they say.

   Thursday was my first day back from my 3 days off, I recommended staying home so we could really concentrate on what was going on. The mom said to still go out to lunch and maybe the park. I packed up 5 pairs of underwear and pants. We went through all of them during our 40 minutes at the park. We had some success sitting on the potty but it is all still so new to both of them.

   Friday we stayed home in our jammie shirts and underwear. They each only had 3 accidents from 8am until 6pm. YAY ME!!

  Of course there is rewards, going #1 they get one mini M&M and for going #2 two M&M's.  The difficult thing has been the screaming and fighting to get them to the bathroom. Friday it nearly put me in tears and again today. I try and think of anything to sidetrack their minds, silly stories about Lighting McQueen, nursery rhymes, eye spy, etc.







"This potty training thing is really stressing me out!" -Anonymous

Day Trip

 The dad's little toy

  My favorite part of weekends are going away to visit other cities. Columbus for the day, Buffalo for the weekend. How about Charleston for a few hours??

  The dad has his pilot licenses and a small 4 seater plane. I have never had any desire to get into small confined area and take off into the sky. Saturday we put car seats, and the boys of course, into the plane to fly down to Charleston and do some work on a house down there. I sat in the front with a head set on listening to everything that was going on in the town. A 3.5 hr car ride going 65mph is equal to a 50 minute flight going 220kts. I held on so tight to my seat belt for take off was wide eyed when we hit a few air pockets. The dad just laughed!! I survived I suppose that is what matters.  I guess this is another thing I can cross off my bucket list.
 
  I knew this was a big deal when we were leaving Charleston airport, which is an air force base as well, the guys in uniform were commenting on what a nice plane the dad had. Or maybe they wanted to make conversation because of the cute nanny. Who knows!

Sunset from 4,000 feet up

Let's Get Real

 I am sure many of you are wondering why I haven't posted anything lately. There really isn't much to say. The weather fluctuates between sun and rain, 40's and 60's. Typical Ohio weather if you would! I learn more and more about the area everyday. I am now trusting myself to get from point A to point B without using the navigation. I figure if I stay on 85 that will get me everywhere!! Ok maybe not everywhere, but the important places.... Target, the mall, Panera, my brother's, and to get frozen yogurt.

 I am not homesick by any means! I still talk to my girlfriends all week long, Skype with my mom and the kids weekly. It does not feel like I am 9 hours away and have been gone for nearly a month. Though I love it in the south, Ohio is still and forever will be home.

 I will admit this......  I am having a difficult time figuring out if this is the right family and situation for me. Though I will not go into any detail, I have become my own biggest critic. I have always been fortunate to know and work for hands-ons, caring and loving parents. Yes there was help from family or friends, but not the luxury of having nannies 24/7 raising your children with the parents assisting. It is a very foreign concept that will come to bite someone in the butt down the road. Is this something I can handle and accept? Is every family like this? Yes, this is only for a year but will I still be so critical of myself? Who knows. Until then I will pray that the Big Guy upstairs gives me some clear signs.

First Passport Stamp: BAHAMAS

Ride to work. No big deal. 

This family I am working for is very lucky to have access to a small private plane and a time share in the Bahamas. We left the morning after Christmas for Abaco to spend 4 nights. Small planes make me a little nervous as does flying over large bodies of water, but the view and flight were amazing! I was in awe looking out the window taking pictures and completely forgot I had a 2 year old sitting on my lap reminding them to drink their water because of the pressure. I made the executive decision that if I ever have to fly with my children I will drug them first.
  Taking off in Greenville it was 50 degrees. Landing in Abaco it was 68. It is amazing how the sun and hot temperatures can instantly put a smile on your face! Once again, because I was so excited to be given the opportunity to leave the country, I wanted so badly to take a picture of the guy in customs who stamped my passport. I didn't only because I didn't want to look like a crazy tourist. Once we got our car we drove to the rental office to get our golf cart. I felt like I was with celebrities because everyone knew the parents and couldn't believe how big the boys were getting.

Those would be parrots. Lots of them!

One of the few golf courses

  There was not a whole lot that we did. Out to breakfast every morning with the dad, beach, naptime. Our last day we went out on their friends boat. Go figure it was overcast and rained at one point. The boys sat with the other nanny and myself in the front of the boat, oddly enough neither of them enjoyed it. We stopped to catch lobster which was interesting. The other nanny jumped right in the water willing to try. Then there was me, all I could think about was how I would end up looking like a drowned rat not to mention holding my breath, trying to sink to the bottom and throw a sharp spear at something that is moving like crazy. Uhh   no thanks!

View from our second house.

 We rented a friend's house for the week, but it wasn't ready until Tuesday. So the first house we stayed at had a breath taking view of the water! The second house had a great view of the 18th hole of the only golf course on the island.

Never seen a beach so pretty

  After being on the boat for 2 hours cruising around we stopped at this amazing restaurant on the water called Firefly. I took the boys over to a grassy area to run around because we had to wait for a table. After 20 minutes our table was ready. The mom asked what I would like to drink. Water I responded, I was working. "Tara, what do you want to drink? You have earned yourself a cocktail!" The words "margarita on the rocks, extra salt PLEASE" rolled off of my tongue so easily. My drink was well worth the wait! The boys were great the whole day despite 20 minute power naps (they usually nap for 2 hours) and lunch 3 hours late. This was a day a typical vacation day.

  We, better yet I, packed everything up that night so we would be ready to leave the house at 9am and be in the air by 10am. Sand and all, bags were packed with minimal things to do in the morning. It was unreal how we were home by 1pm eating lunch in freezing cold Greenville. Once we got home the boys went down for their much needed naps, the nanny and I unpacked the car, washed all the clothes and tried out best to get the sand out of the toys.

Nothing says vacation like a bowl of fruit loops.

View from the first house.

Yes, I am petting the lobster.

Hello my friend! How I've missed you.

Oh my gosh, I completely forget. We drove a golf cart all over the island. The boys LOVED it. Every time we went over a speed bump they would scream "SPEED BUMP". It became the joke of the week.