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!