If I'm gone, you'll know why...

Okay, I may be putting all my "Tara Time" into an area other than blogging the next few weeks. Here is reason #1:



It came out yesterday, and I have been looking forward to it for about a year now, ever since I heard that it was coming out! It is a role-playing game, which is my favorite game genre. There aren't too many quality RPG's that are out there, but NEXT week, another awesome game is coming out!

I reserved my copy, and got this game case, which had a music cd and a poster inside! Not that I hang posters anymore, but it's still neat. The same game studio that created Oblivion (the whole reason I bought my 360), also did this game. The rumor is that Fallout 3 is Oblivion with guns and nuclear war, woo-hoo!!! Two endless RPG's in TWO weeks! Sigh. I am such a dork. :-) Thank you Mike for loving me anyway!

If anyone else has a xbox live, my gamertag is OblivionGirl. Hit me up, and we can play Fable II together!

Love, T.

Two wonderful years

October 14th was my 2 year anniversary with my wonderful husband! Mike has already blogged about what we did on our special day here, so I thought I would just talk about our wedding day memories instead.

We had been dating for three years, when we decided to get married. It was a pretty low key decision, and because we wanted to get married in the fall, my favorite season, we only had a few weeks to plan! We had always been interested in a glass cathedral in Eureka Springs, so the same weekend we decided to get married, we took a little trip to visit the town and the cathedral to make sure that was what we wanted. Sure enough, we had a great time; Eureka is SOOO charming, and the church was absolutely gorgeous! We checked on availabilities, and it turned out that the only available date was just over six weeks away! That didn't leave us a lot of time, but it felt so right, that we didn't care. I booked the church, then Grandma and I went back to Eureka a few weekends later, to check out reception sites, photographers, florists, and a baker! Once those were taken care of, I found a dress, Mike found a tux, and I printed all our invitations on my home printer. I had to tie bows on every single one, so that took awhile, but believe it or not, we all pulled it off in time!

We picked out the rings (I actually didn't want a wedding band, just the one ring, but I didn't even get that until the night before the wedding, so I didn't wear it until I was married!), and my sister Lindsey and I headed off to Eureka two days before the wedding so we could be there in case something needed to be done.

Of course, everything went off without a hitch...well, except one. My sister, bless her heart, was supposed to have brought Mike's ring to the church, but she forgot it back at the honeymoon cottage! She didn't realize it until during the wedding, when she frantically tried to find a replacement ring for me to slip on Mike's finger! I ended up putting another of Mike's ring's that he wore on the other hand, on his ring finger. My aunt Glenna went to the cottage to get the ring after the ceremony, so he could wear it for the reception. It was extremely stressful, and I was so disappointed, but things happen, and everything turned out all right in the end!

We had a beautiful reception in an old hotel in downtown Eureka. We danced, ate, and had a lovely time visiting with our friends and family that made it down. All in all, it was a beautiful wedding, but more importantly, I have a WONDERFUL marriage, and isn't that the point?! I love you baby. Happy Anniversary!!!

Here are some of my favorite photographs from our wedding day.



My sister Lindsey and I, Charlie's Angel style!


My dress.


My amazing grandmother.





My sister and matron of honor!



My handsome soon-to-be hubby cheesing it up!



Mike and his best man, Jason.



Thorncrown Chapel. Isn't it amazing? If you look closely, you can see us at the front of the church getting hitched.


Our flower girl, Kayden. She is so precious!



Walking to the church. What a beautiful and exhilarating walk that was! I was so excited!



Daddy's Girl forever!


There's no turning back now!



It's official!!!

Us waiting to go into the reception...Glenna had just given Mike his ring. He's putting it on in the photo!


I love this picture...we look so happy!

About to walk in the reception hall as man and wife!

Our first dance.

Toasts.


My cake was gorgeous, but even better, it was THE BEST cake I had ever eaten. If you are ever in Eureka and need a cake, email me and I'll hook you up with this guy! Ours was red velvet, chocolate and lemon.

Dancing with daddy!


Mom and myself.

Amy and Ryan, friends from college.

Lindsey's son Kolton, and our ring-bearer.


My brother Ryan. He's special. :-)


Chris and Shelley (my cousin) and their beautiful daughter Jordyn!


Mike doing the "man dance".

Dancing with the girls.


Our bubbly exit!

I love looking back and remembering this day. What a lucky girl I am!!!

Love, T.

Hubby has a blog!!!

Mike started his own blog! Everyone check it out...he's already posted about our anniversary. He beat me to it! Check it out here.

Love, T.

A very busy couple of weeks...the post that never ends!

I've been absent the past week or so, because I've been on vacation! This past week was my family's annual vacation in Hot Springs, so we just hopped down there from Little Rock. My dad, stepmama Glenda, aunt Glenna and uncle Don all played golf every day except one, so we were left to our own devices during the day. Here are a ton of pictures from our days in Hot Springs.



This is behind BathHouse Row on Central. That white building is an old bath house and spa.


We think Roman looks like a rabbit in this one!


He can't say many words, but he talks back with baby talk!!!


Sitting in front of one of the "hot springs". The steam was making my back sweat!



We are trying to teach him the word "hot". This was a great example!


My handsome little man, running around in the park.


Thirty pounds of stink!


Thirty pounds of sweet!


Horsing around behind BathHouse Row.


Checking out a courtyard park in downtown Hot Springs.



He always has at least one car in his hands!

Look at those lips!!!


Here Roman is at the mall. He almost fell out of the fire truck when it started moving! I know I'm biased, but isn't he the cutest thing??


This is my dad's motorcycle. Mike's dad had one all through his growing up years, so he knows how to ride one. He only killed it once! :-)


Roman and PaPa playing at the park.

Roman thought PaPa would like to eat rocks. He was wrong.


Pushing the stroller.





He kept trying to climb UP the slide. He had it all backwards!




Walking around by Lake Catherine.


Throwing rocks in the lake. Roman would just laugh and laugh when they plopped in!

A rock in action. I think this pic is so neat!


Cousin Blake, being such a good Roman-sitter!


Yup, he is ALWAYS talking!

My grandma and I at the dam at the Lake.


Every year, we go to a seafood restaurant that sits right on Lake Hamilton, Fisherman's Wharf. We always sit outside, and this year, it was raining. The rain sounded so wonderful beating on the metal roof; it was such a neat atmosphere. Here's Blake and myself by the water.


Pa-Pa and Roman.

This was so sweet. I love this picture!



Some of the fam at our table.


This little duck was taking the brunt of the rainstorm, and was just hanging out, waiting for table scraps!



Blake has always been obsessed with cars, and Roman is following very closely in his footsteps! Blake set up all of Roman's small cars and then took Mater and Lightning(thanks Kris!), and wound them up until they smashed all the small cars, and made them fly in all directions! Blake thought it was pretty cool, and Roman has now learned that he can use his cars to destroy things. Greeeaaaaat. Thanks, B!





Okay, after a million pictures, I'll just say that we had a great time. It was so good to see all my family, and get to spend some time with them. It ended too quickly for my tastes!

Love, T.