Sleepovers

Not sure what the rest of the world does at sleepovers but at our house we....

 

Play BeanBoozled.

Have mock presidential campaigns.

Make pancakes.

And slime.

And superhero capes.

While wearing wedding dresses.

Halloween

The best part of Halloween this year is we got to hang with our girl, Audrey. Her mom had an appointment that lined up just right with our Halloween Carnival at school so Emmy got the best treat ever in taking her. That was a pretty sweet banana and bee!

Vow Renewal

John and I didn't have a wedding when we got married and it drives Emmy nuts. Because this was our 15th anniversary and she wanted to plan it, we renewed our vows this year. It was lovely. We had a food truck and a photo booth and lots of friends to celebrate. My Facebook post for the event really sums up my thoughts better than I could say any other way:

Fifteen years ago I married this guy at the Mall of Memphis on a Wednesday.  Partially because it was his day off work; partially because I was afraid if we waited to plan a wedding, he might change his mind. Tonight we renewed those vows in our home, with our friends and the best coordinator ever, Emmy Ruth. He has loved me when I didn't deserve it and sacrificed some of his dreams so that I could achieve mine, both personally and professionally. In 15 years, we have buried all four of our parents and had one amazing kid. I'm so glad I have him with me on this ride.

I surely do love this man. I am so lucky to have this life.

Once Audrey arrived, she was the guest of honor.

Audrey's welcoming crew was in the front yard waiting....

What would I do without the best planners ever?

Papa Richie

Emmy lost her last grandparent, Papa Richie. For my entire life, as much as I will mourn the fact that I lost my parents so early and that Emmy has lost her grandparents, I will be grateful they each went quickly with little suffering. It is without a doubt one of the greatest thanksgivings in my life that they did not suffer for years like my Grandma Ruth. That is one of the only things I can hold on to as I struggle to understand the why.

I was always a daddy's girl. Momma and I were close and we talked daily but when it came to problems or decisions, I always turned to Daddy. He was a quiet man--I would do well to mimic that from him sometimes. I catch myself so often saying things that were his phrases and I smile. He was a smart man.

"When you work, work hard; when you play, play hard" is one of my favorites. We play hard in our family but we have to work hard to do it.

"When people think of Tara, they should always think of someone who wouldn't say anything bad about anyone else." That is a tough one sometimes, even now.

"Because we are Christians." I'm just gonna let that one sit there and be what it needs to be when it needs to be something.

When I think of my family and what I want Emmy to remember, it's the things that he showed me. Two stand out more than anything.

1. Always have a family dog. They will always love you and they will never tell your secrets. And isn't the way that Emmy cares for our dog a glimpse of how she will care for me one day? Gosh, I hope not.

2. Always take a family vacation. The most vivid memories I have as a kid are from vacations. We only have 18 years to live together in one house. I have to make every single one count.