Summer Bummer

No, this summer has not been a bummer. . . I use the word bummer to describe myself as one who bums. 

I have spent the last month successfully doing almost nothing. I am not proud of this statement. 

I finished my Junior year at BYU and moved into a cute house with Lauren. We decided to stay here in Provo. 

I just BARELY got a job at Jos. A Bank. Still haven't started working. I have never been so broke in my life.

I have spent my days cooking pies, stir frys, and cookies. 

I also sewed some new items. I plan to post pictures of those items soon. 

I just got back from a trip to Oklahoma for Megan's graduation. I can't believe she will be here at BYU in the Fall. It was great to be home for a few days with the whole gang, and the sno cones were legendary!

I just spent the last 4 hours changing my blog layout and I am sick of sitting at the computer, so until next time.

Look forward to posts about cute outfits, cute nieces and nephews, and a cute boy! 

I am the Lamest Amos

it is 9:30 on a Saturday night, and I am sitting in my apartment-ALONE-being a lame homework do-er. 

(at least trying--I am sick of genograms for the rest of my existence)

Please remember that I am here by choice, not because my life is as lame as it appears in the given situation.

Anywho--I got bored sitting here connecting lines and drawing squiggles

so I started looking through my old photos and I found a couple that made me both happy and sad

I miss all of these girlies so much, and I don't enjoy life as much without them.

When they are around there is

laughter.

silliness.

embarrassment.

excitement.

play.

happiness.

tears.

(from laughing my guts out)

I just love them and I am so grateful for there sweet faces :]

James Marsden

So James,
I saw you at the airport . . . and then you were on my plane.
Did you have a good time with your family in Oklahoma?
I was a little concerned when you apologized for your child
tripping over my sewing machine.
I was not concerned about the tripping, mostly concerned
about the child. . . and the other child that seems to belong to
you. O yeah, I forgot, and YOUR WIFE. Pretty sure I dib'd
the title of MRS. JAMES MARSDEN when I was like 12.
I was just waiting for the wedding to become legal.
Meanwhile, you get married and have 2 adorable little children.
If I had known that I was talking to you, then I probably would
have fallen over in the presence of your hotness. So good thing I
responded to your unnecessary apologies and then looked
unknowingly into those beautiful eyes. That is when I almost fell
over in shock and awe.

O, and James, if you are reading this. Thanks for sitting 4 rows
in front of me preventing any chance of me sleeping on the plane.
You stood up 3 times to get food out of the over head compartment
for your children and walked past me once to throw something away.

The lack of sleep was well worth it :] Stay beautiful

There is somethin' about Oklahoma girls!

Oklahoma girls are just a little bit different than most. .

They have the cutest best friends ever

Jena being the cutest best friend ever!

They have adorable little sisters, like MEG!

They have silly-wannabe redneck friends to go to football games with!

They know how to rave under a black light :]

again, with the cute best friends! they are not easy to come by!

They get smashed by pole-vault mats, just to make the cover of the Purcell Register. YEA-UHH!

I am just missing you today, Oklahoma!

Oh (Photo) Shoot!

Today was my last day to keep the girls. They gave me the sweetest note ever! They drew a picture on one side, and they wrote me a letter on the other. It said

"Hey! T, You are the BEST! thank you for taking us to the splash pad and swimming. You are the best babysitter ever. and thank you for taking us to the mad-scientist.
Hannah and Haven
The End. I'm going to miss you."

They are so sweet! I promised to give the girls "big girl" makeovers, so I brought them to my house to curl their hair and do their makeup. Hannah didn't think her hair would curl and loved it when it was done, and Haven was crazy about the face glitter that I put on them. It was so fun to dress up, so we did a little photo shoot in the backyard. They are just so sassy! Here are some photos of their BEAUTIFUL makeover :]

Pretty Little Ladies

So I was browsing through some old photos from Senior year and stumbled upon this picture of Abbey and I. She was in Mrs. Allen's class where I volunteered for Students Out Serving. She is such a doll! I miss all of those kids so much, they always made me laugh, and they have the sweetest spirits and testimonies of love. I watched them learn and grow, and I learned so much from them too! Abbey was always waiting to greet me with a big hug and a "Hi, Miss Tara, I like-a your shoes, and your neckwace, and your bwacewets, and-uh your hair and uhh.. can I wear you bwacewet??" Then when I said yes, she would jump up with more excitement than I have ever experienced in my 19 years of life! She was the sassiest little thing in the class, and I just adored her.

...And speaking of adoration, I was just chatting with Sydney Woodfield on facebook, and I just love that girl. She is so sweet, and it is suuper fun to have someone look up to you!! I met Sydney in April when Lauren and I surprise visited her family. We all went to the beach together and chased seagulls away from our snacks. We ate tons of fruit, and picked every last orange from her Grandma's orange tree. I am so glad that Lauren and I are such good friends, and that I was able to spend a few days with her family, and her pretty little sister, Sydney!
This is Sydney and little Serina :]

Dear Elders

Happy Fourth to all of my wonderful Blog readers! I did not have time to post yesterday, but I celebrated Independence Day with some of my favorite people! Shelly Orr and Ezra came to the house along with the Hamilton Family. It was nice to be a hostess to such a successful event. We grilled and I ate way to much of Rosie's yummy dip.

Today after church and a much needed nap, I decided that I was going to set aside some extra time to write a few of my most favorite missionaries serving around the world. I was so excited to see a group of Elders from my Freshman ward at BYU, so I "borrowed" it from Elder Braden Bolton.
I received letters this last week from Elder Tanner Tolman serving in North Carolina, Elder Mully serving in San Jose, California, and Elder Zach Williamson serving all over the place in Virginia!
I am still waiting patiently for letters from friends in Bulgaria, Spain, and Thailand. They are few and far between, but definitely fun to read when they do come.
They are such wonderful examples of dedicated servants of the Lord. O, How I long to be a Sister Missionary if the opportunity arises!!
Almost all of my former "Family Home Evening brothers" are currently serving as missionaries, or are putting in their papers very soon. It is such an exciting time in their lives, and I love to read of their spiritual endeavors.

Laughter

A Rainy Monday with Haven (3 years old) and Hannah (7 years old)was exactly what I needed to start my week with a full serving of Laughter. . .

At lunch today Haven decided to be a mean grouch to Tara; she thought her sassy replies were appropriate. I beg to differ. .
I warned the extremely adorable, big brown-eyed, long-lashed girl that a timeout would be served if she continued in her blatant disobedience. This was her reply. .
No, I not goin' to timeout. I will jus' come back and watch T.B. wiff Hannah. And I will hit you if you try to sickle me! (Let it be known that no tickle threats were made). At this point I am fighting back laughter; not sure why a 3 year old telling me off is funny.
While serving her time, Haven fell asleep and was out for at least 2 solid hours!!
She said she was sorry when she woke up (We learned that word in our last timeout session.

We ventured on to the Post office. I ran in with the girls to purchase two stamps! After waiting in line for ten minutes justice was finally served. When we were just on our way out the door - Haven exited with pride exclaiming "I TOOTED BIG, AND IT WAS GROSS!!" I couldn't help but laugh to myself as she taught those slow post office ladies a lesson in quick customer service. Someone had to pay the price.

Inspired

I must say that I am a terrible blogger, but with some much needed inspiration I have decided to post only about significant pieces of my life. I am currently home in Oklahoma with Uncle Mike, Aunt Jen, and the girls. It has been such a peaceful summer; quite literally full of Peace. I have been able to explore new hobbies and interests and learn from children; after-all, they are my favorite teachers. I find strength in music that invites the Spirit of the Lord to envelope me. I have never been happier to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I strive to learn from the testimonies and examples of others. I am overwhelmed by the love that surrounds me when I am able to spend time with my family. Home is my favorite place to be. I am so grateful to Aunt Jen and Uncle Mike for teaching me how to function on my own and in a home. What a blessing it will be to spend time on vacation with sixteen wonderful relatives next month in Cozumel; a full 7 days on the beach with all the cousins. We have been anticipating July 25th all summer long and now we are just under a month away!! I went ahead and posted a photo from the cruise last summer to get me pumped up for Cozumel.