Christmas 2011

This Christmas was very relaxing for us, which is just what we wanted! On Christmas morning Jessica actually woke up at 12:30 am. So I had to yell at her to go back to sleep!! Who knows if she actually fell back asleep or was too excited and just laid in bed!! (By her attitude later in the day I'm guessing she was too excited to sleep:))

Just in case your wondering why I have so many pictures of Tori and not Jessica......Jessica won't let me take pictures of her so I get what I can! My Mom, Dad and Amber came over later to see what Santa brought. Then we went to my mom's for dinner and Josh set up TalkTime or skype (I don't know what ended up working) so we could talk to Andrew when he called at 6. All in all it was a great Christmas!!

It's been 258 days.....

It's been so long since my last post....I've thought about it but it's been a pretty tough year for me and I couldn't get to my happy place!!! If you can't say something nice than don't say anything at all! I didn't want to be one of those people that complains and can't find anything positive to say. Instead of blogging about it, I called my close friends and let them listen to me!!! (I'd like to give a shout-out to my friends for listening to all my issues!!!!)

Here are some updates of what has gone on with our family... in no particular order--

• We've moved again and again! (can you say GYPSY?!)

The situation we were in last year was not good which is why I have been in such a funk! So Josh told me to find a place to move--I found the first place that was for sale and I jumped on it. It was so much better than our situation we were in currently that I didn't see it for what it really was and it was a HUGE mistake! I've learned my lesson and I am not even going to discuss the place that we moved into for a month and half since it was such a bad situation. Needless to say we moved out to a home and we LOVE it. All the kids have their own rooms. So after all this time I'm finally getting my groove back and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

• I'm a Nanny!!

I started watching my friends three kids at her house. I LOVE it. I actually watched her little girl, McCoy, years ago when Jessica was a baby so it really feels like I've come full circle. Jessica and McCoy are best friends and we've missed her!! It also great that I can still be with my kids and not have to send them to daycare. All the kids all get along so well and being around kids all day it's hard not to have fun. I have Karson (7), Jessica (7), McCoy (6), Tori (3) and Ryker (1). This really has saved my sanity (as crazy as it seems) and I love doing it! My new nickname is Nanny Annie!

• Jessica started first grade

She started a new school and has made new friends. Her new teacher is Mrs. Alozian, she really focuses on having fun while learning. Jessica really loves school and oh course her favorite subject is LUNCH! She wasn't even nervous about starting a new school and having to make new friends....she is such a well adapted kid and can find the positive in every situation. I'm so thankful for her! She also turned 7 and had a spa party! It was so much fun and she and all her friends got makeovers! She also got her ears pierced--she's getting too old for my liking!

• Jayden started high school

Being in the house we're at now we're also closer to his mom's so the commute is easier and he spends a week with us and a week with her. His school is right down the street from us. He's taking french, guitar, and all the other normal classes.

• Tori is off the bottle and potty trained

I admit it was all due to my HATRED of public bathrooms that I put it off for as long as I did. Tori brings so much joy to our lives and seriously is the funniest kid.

• We a new kitty and a new puppy!

This is by far something me and the girls needed so bad!!! Josh did not want a cat (he's just not a cat person) so I did what I knew was best and hid it from him until Tori and I were so attached he would've had to break our hearts getting rid of him!! (I know, that wasn't the right thing to do but he was such a cute kitty!!) I can't tell you how many times I've done this to Josh in the 14 years I've been with him....I think 5 different times!!! I was honestly surprised he didn't see it coming but I can tell he loves the cat (not really--but he loves how much Tori loves the cat) Josh even named the cat, Lincoln, after his favorite car!!!

Jessica got a 6 week old Basset Hound for her birthday. We named him Gus after Josh's dad. He is the CUTEST thing I've seen. We are all absolutely obsessed with him. Potty training hasn't been the funnest thing but his cuteness makes up for it. I'll apologize in advance for how many pictures you'll see of him!

So Lincoln the cat is Tori's and Gus the dog is Jessica's! We love both of them so much.

A few other highlights.....

• Josh and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary
• Josh and I both had birthdays! I know they come around every year!
• Josh and I got a weekend to ourselves in Las Vegas--We did the zip line on Fremont St. and visited the Hoover Dam. (I told so many dam jokes it was pretty dam funny!!!)
• I'm no longer blonde....I'm dark brown and I LURVE it. I might never go back!

In closing I would like to thank all my friends that listened to my problems and gave me the support and patience that I needed! We are a much happier family than this time last year. We are still planning on building our house on our property in the mountains but we realize how important being happy is. If anyone needs or wants my address email me (annelucas577@hotmail.com) and I'll send it to ya! I will also be posting more pictures on this blog so look for regular updates.

I am also going to be working on the Richards Blog and posting some recipes on there. So in the next week or so look for that!

Much Love--Anne

I Got You Babe!!!!!

For some reason it's cutting it off a little--still cute!

Happy Valentine's Day!

If living in this.......

with these two crazy girls!

Doesn't prove my undying Lurve for you.......

I GIVE UP!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to my Favorite Dirty White Boy!

Update from the Trailerhood

I know I haven't updated my blog for a while! I feel like my life is completely a little out of whack at the moment and it's been hard to get into a new groove. I'm trying to get it together and hopefully it'll happen sooner rather than later--but don't hold your breath!

Zoo Lights

Before Christmas we went with the family to Zoo Lights. It sounds funner than it actually is--I think we saw a Tiger and all the bugs you could want. The kids expected to see animals and there were none but we still had a good time. We also had a DEEP FRIED S'MORE (again sounds better than it was)

Drake

Cheesy Tori

Jessica and Isaac

Lookin' at the bugs--gross

Isaac, Drake, Lexi and Rick

Jock and Tori

Rick as a turtle!
Lexi

Toribelle

Christmas 2010

Christmas was good. Jessica was up at 3ish but luckily was sleeping with Vicki so she kept her in bed til around 5! Jessica got a ton of Koala bear's and Tori got Toy Story everything. I've realized that right now I'm parenting out of guilt so I went overboard with the toys. All in all it was good we saw all the family and had a great time! My fingers have also healed from having to open all the packages of Littlest Pet Shops, Toy Story crap, and all the other toys they got. Seriously I'm going to write a letter to the President about that--something needs to change about overly packaging toys.

Hotel Monaco

Josh and I went to The Hotel Monaco for a MUCH MUCH MUCH needed night away. I had a perma-smile on my face--it was soooo wonderful to be away from the kids!!! We pretty much did nothing! (or nothing that I can blog about!!! **Wink, Wink**) We did go to the melting pot for dinner and then back to the room! Finally room service for breakfast. Check out time was noon and I made sure to stay there until the verylastminute! I wanted to enjoy being kidless for as long as I could!! The only thing I've been doing since then is dreaming of the next time I get a night away!!!! I've tasted FREEDOM and it tastes FABULOUS!

Our Room 1507!

Our view

We were actually having an uninterrupted conversation!

Fondue Date Night

In closing I would like to thank my parents and Vicki for taking the girls so that we could get away! Without you guys this wouldn't have been possible. I would also like to thank God for giving me kids without them (the kids) I would never know the pure joy of being able to be away from them!

Eye Exams

We had eye exams and found out Jessica needs glasses and I have a big ol' hole in my retina. When the Dr. saw it he actually said "Whoa". I was told there is a chance that nothing might ever come of the hole however my retina could detach, I said DETACH, MY RETINA MIGHT DETACH FROM MY EYE, and I'll need surgery. (Surgery that my Dr. told me I would not want! Fun Times!!) Being as paranoid as I am in general I'll just say I'm not the same person I was 5 seconds before being told about the hole-IN MY RETINA. One a side note--losing an eye has been one of my MANY MANY paranoias over the years. I've already confirmed with Josh that he won't leave me if I have to have an eye patch (it'll be pink and I'll bling it out with jewels!! I will also get a parrot and replace one of my legs with a wooden peg. If I'm going to be a pirate I might as well go all out. AARGH Matey!) On another side note I use humor to mask other emotions--I'm really crying on the inside!!! But strangley satisfied that I haven't wasted years of worthless worry--there is good reason to worry about random things.

Here are some pictures of Jessica getting her eye exam--she's so cute!

Tori--bored out of her mind!

Seriously isn't she the cutest girl in the ENTIRE world with those glasses on!

Pneumonia HELL

We were all sick last week and seriously didn't move or do anything for an entire week. There were several trips to the Dr's. office and lots of prescriptions filled. There was also one very painful shot in my butt that still hurts and a big ol' bruise to prove it! Both me and Jessica had pneumonia, Tori thankfully didn't get it but she was still really really sick. I would like to thank Josh for originally getting all of us sick! Jerk! We're still coughing but we're feeling better finally.

I promise my next post will happen sooner than this one did!