From previous posts you will know that Tess was here with us, and now she is gone.

We miss her.

She left a bit of void, so to speak.

Tess was becoming part of the family, blending in with the furniture, it was starting to feel like she was meant to be here – ya know?

Anytime Millie mentioned something she was going to do – mail letters, write a song for, pinch bottoms of etc. she would mention that her plan included doing this for/to Mom, Dad, Clara and Tess.

The night she said good-bye to Tess – she did it like it was no big thing, as if like she was some cool, untouchable teenager. I was surprised that she wasn’t more emotional.

Ah, the emotions were there, just under the surface.

They began to bubble up as we were going through her evening routine.

While brushing her teeth she asked:

“Mom why does Tess have to leave?”

I did my best to explain that Tess has a life (a pretty cool one, in fact) that exists beyond the one she shared with us for the month that she was here.

Millie then said, “Mom, remember when Esme left?” I nodded yes. Then Millie just looked at me with sad eyes, “That is how I feel again.”

While she was praying:

“Please bless me not to be too sad that Tess is leaving. Please bless Tess that she will be safe flying home.”

My all time favorite was when I went in to her room to turn off her reading light. She woke up in a half awake/ half asleep state and said, “Mom, I gotta tell you something…Tess needs snacks for her trip.”

You are loved here in Madison, NJ.

We miss you.

BUT

we are also very excited for you to hit BYU in your NEW WARDROBE!!!.

While Tess was here we spent most of our free time shopping for new clothes, for HER.

We know you have a lot to think about and because you are so loved by your big sister,

B E H O L D!

I have made you a FASHION CHEAT SHEET. When you wake up in the morning (and it’s quarter to one) think about having fun and leave the wardrobe decisions to your big sis. Here are a bunch of different combos that work. These are subtle difference here – sometimes the addition of a necklace can make all the difference.  From this point forward please refer to me as Anna Wintour, suckaz!

I call these “variations on a navy blazer”:

with the flower                 blazer, pink jeans, white shirt, anthro necklace

same deal but with purple gingham shirt (w/ flower and necklace) and same combo only with pink shirt and dark wash jeans.

Variations on the banana republic skirts:

Gap stripe sweater          J. Crew staple sweater & button down white shirt

Staple items – black t-shirts and your back cardigan, that go with almost anything

(you get the idea)

Navy Cardigan extraordinaire:

With this outfit you could interchange with any of your button down shirts, or do a white t-shirt for example.

Old hoodie (with attitude), new scarf:

Millie suggests these combos:

I think she is on to something with the necklace as a crown – it is very Never Ending Story, don’t you think?

We already can’t wait for you to come back.

Until you do- have fun at school and don’t be afraid to look totally and utterly fabulous.

RA, ra, ra, ra, ra! Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra! Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Tessy!