Tamara Comes to Visit

When I was in 7th grade, we were blessed to have Tamara come and live with us for about 10 months. She was an exchange student from Switzerland. She and I had a very close relationship when she lived with us and it has continued on throughout all these years. To me, she is just as much a sister as my other sisters. The last time we had seen each other was when her and her boyfriend flew out to visit the family in Utah 5 1/2 years ago. I surprised Tamra and flew out with Kyra to Utah for a few days.

Last year, Tamara flew to the US and was able to visit with everybody in the family and all of her friends (driving from Arizona all the way up to Idaho!). She also flew out to Texas to stay with us for about 5 days. The kids and I drove from Ohio on Monday, arrived late Tuesday night, moved into our apartment on Wednesday and picked up Tamara on Thursday. It was an eventful week!!  I was so excited for her to finally meet Justin (the love of my LIFE) and to meet the boys and of course see how big Kyra was now.

Went to the park to practice our new photography skills.
I have a long ways to go...

I picked up Tamara at the airport in Austin and we drove to New Braunfels and ate dinner and Golden Corral (one of my most favorite places to eat and where we'd often eat when we'd make trips up to Tucson AZ when she lived with us).

When we got to the apartment, the kids had a lot of energy and I was a worried that they were a bit overwhelming to Tamara, but she handled it like a champ and just let them love on her. Aunt Tamara was quickly welcomed into the family.

Teaching the kids how to touch their tongue to their nose. 

Nice, Tamara. ;) 

After the kids went to bed Thursday night, within 10 minutes Tamara had meal planned (grocery list and all) for the next 5 days. I was flabbergasted that someone could come up with meals for 5 days so quickly!! Tamara is definitely gifted with being organized and a planner (which is so opposite of me so I admire people like that!). She is the ultimate go-get-er.  That night we played our first of many games of Phase 10. We were addicted to that game and played at least once, sometimes two or three days every night (and that is a looong game).

I don't remember exactly everything that we did while she was here (I should have wrote this right after she left) but I know that we went grocery shopping, organized the kids closets (decluttered/unpacked/cleaned), played card games, had smores that were cooked in the microwave, went to a photography class put on my by dear friend Rebecca Evans, went and got a membership at a gym, went swimming at the gym with the family (Tamara and I did 12 laps in the pool. Who knew that swimming could be such a workout!? My heart was going to explode), took the kids to the outside pool at our apartment complex, saw a movie the night before she left.

Kyra dress Tamara up as The Mermaid while they were having quiet time together on Sunday.
Tamara walking with the kids to the swimming pool. 

I **loved** having Tamara around! It was nice to have extra help with the kids and to have someone else be in charge of the meals. If she didn't live in Switzerland, I'm pretty sure I'd hire her to live with us and help around the house. 24/7. I can see why some people like polygamy. HAHA just...kidding. A maid...yes...but not another wife. There is a huge difference (just..sayin).

Bedtime went so smoothly when she was here! We would lay the kids to bed

and they would basically go right to sleep without a fuss. I was tickled crazy about that! 

Tamara brought such a beautiful spirit into our home. I feel like I learned a lot from her just from observing her habits and how she would handle certain situations. Now I just need to be better at implementing those good qualities. Before she left, she wrote us a list of 10 things we can do to help make life easier and of course, when implemented, it really does make life easier! Now it's just a matter of replacing bad habits with good habits and being consistent.

It was really hard to say goodbye to Tamara when I dropped her off at the airport Tuesday morning. We were both a mess. I hope it isn't another 5 years until we see each other again. Now it is our turn to go visit Tamara in Switzerland. Maybe for our 10 year wedding anniversary next year!!!

Saying goodbye. :( 

Until we meet again!!! 

 -Enjoying sparkling cider
-Eating the yummy treat that Tamara made

-Tamara teaching the kids how to play UNO

-Our last night together. Went on a sister date and went and saw a movie.

-Enjoying microwaved smores. Not exactly the same...but I'll take what I can get!

-Selfies...hair up...hair down. haha

-Tamara put together the fruit plate (isn't that so pretty??). The kids love doing that now.

-The picture on the right was our last important "meal" together. The cookie dough

was the best part, next to Tamara's pudding she made. YUM.