Trip of a Lifetime

I am just a little behind on posting this blog, but better late than never right?!  Rich completely surprised me with a trip to Cancun in April!  He called me on a Tuesday evening and asked if we had plans for the weekend?!  I said I didn't think so.....he replies with..okay we are going to Mexico! 

When we got married we didn't go on a fancy tropical honeymoon...we took a road trip to Minnesota which is a very special place for us both!  We had a blast but always wished we would have gone on a trip like this before we had a child!  I left on Wednesday and drove Lucy Jane to my sister and Josh in Oklahoma City!  I knew she would have a blast there and be perfectly content while we were away!  Poor Tee Tee was just a few months pregnant at the time and I know Lucy Jane gave her a run for her money!  Here are a few pictures from our trip! 

The first day we got massages underneath a little hut right on the ocean!  Great timing before we got sunburned!  So relaxing! It started to rain and I think we both fell asleep! 

We spent everyday, all day, in the pool or in the ocean! It was so relaxing.  We truly were able to just enjoy each other and have zero stresses!  Soooo nice!  The view was amazing!  I think couples need to make a point to make time for themselves as a couple sometimes and remember where it all started. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day routines and forget to cherish your spouse.

I tried to facetime with Lucy Jane each day!

She was having lots of fun with Tee Tee as you can tell! :)

My handsome hubby!  He got us a ship all to ourselves to go deep sea fishing for the day!  It was so much fun and we both caught 100 lb. fish!  It was quite a workout, but memories were made!

We had such a great trip!  We ate some great food, relaxed, and remembered where it all began!  I can't wait to go back again!  Thankful for a spontaneous husband that enjoys surprising me!  :) 

Miss Social makes a Friend

Lucy Jane received the Miss Social award at Kid's Day Out! So fitting! Our neighbors at the campsite had a little girl a month older than Lucy Jane! They loved playing in the water puddles and especially with the puppies!

I want Lucy Jane to always have a friendly personality!

Here are a few more pics that were on my phone! :) sweet memories!

Crazy Campers!

As I am typing this I am sitting on the couch in an rv we rented as rich drives us down the road! Yes, I said RV! I love that my husband is crazy, adventurous, and spontaneous! I am typically not...so he brings out the fun in us all!

Here's how it started! Over Memorial Day weekend he decided he wanted us to get a tent and go camping as a family! DISASTER WITH A 2 YEAR OLD! (atleast with our 2 year old!) she hated the tent! We drove dirt roads at midnight to get her to sleep and were up at 4 with her screaming for us to get out and go home! She won!!! By 6:00, our campsite was empty and we were on our way home!

Somehow we managed to get lost on the way home and found ourselves on a 10 mile dirt road! It was called, "Hilltop Road"! Ended up with a flat tire! Icing on the cake for the trip! Needless to say, Rich was bound and determined to take us camping!

Tuesday, I'm getting my hair done in fort smith. He calls and says he's rented an RV and we are headed to the beach! For those of you who know my child, it is impossible to keep her in a carseat for a trip to Target...much less a 12 hour drive to the beach! Sounded fun and I was super excited about having him all to myself for a week!!

We packed up Big Betty (32 foot camper) and headed out of town! I had my first experience sleeping at a truck stop, too! Oh ya, we have our two toy poodles with us too! This just adds to the experience, right?! A few bruises and one bloody nose so far but we have survived! (all from being slung around while driving) haha

We are on our way home now and truly had a blast being together! However, we all decided next time a condo would probably be a better idea! We met some sweet people and went to some super fun places!

Top things I leaned on this trip:
1. I will never take indoor plumbing for granted again. (NEVER)
2. Staying in a 'truck' for a week definitely makes a family closer.
3. Walking through the sand carrying a 2 year old and beach toys definitely proves how out of shape I am.
4. Puppies are not meant to go on family vacations.
5. Make sure you get all sand off of you before crawling into a small bed...impossible to remove.

Pictures coming in later post!

Welcome Toby and Buster!

Rich and I got a wild hair and decided I surprise Lucy Jane with a puppy for her 2nd birthday! She LOVES babies, so we thought a baby puppy would be great for her! My soft heart wouldn't let us leave with just one puppy....we have two! The one person who doesn't even like animals has three dogs INSIDE her house! The funny thing is...I am loving every second of it! :)

Here are a few pictures to show how LJ is adjusting to her new babies!!!

Best Title Ever.... Mommy

I've been called daughter, sister, friend, teacher, and wife...but I must say that the sweetest name I've ever been called is Mommy! By no means is being a mom an easy job but by far the most humbling and rewarding!

My sweet little monkey will be turning two in a few short days! As I look back o we the past two years I am completely overwhelmed at how in love I become each day! There are days where the testing and trying temperament of a strong willed, independent girlie girl are difficult but at the end of the day I realize just how blessed I am.

I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to show Lucy Jane all the things that are really important in life. I want to show her that loving the Lord is the most important and that when you decide to live for him you have complete happiness no matter your circumstances. I want to show her that being kind and respectful will get you far in life. I want to show her how to have a grateful heart toward others and show compassion to others.

To me...being a mom is so much more than changing diapers, feeding meals, and scheduling play dates. It is developing a lady with character and integrity that grows each day to be a positive light in this dark world. I try to remember in the stressful times to focus on what really matters and not let the small stuff ruin a day.

Feeling sappy due to her birthday coming and can't stop thinking about how important my job as mom really is. To all my momma friends, I thank you for the wonderful examples you are setting for young moms and am thankful that I have great models to look up to in this journey!

Sure do love my sweet baby girl!

Quick Trip Down The Hill

Today, Leslie and I took Lucy Jane and Annalyse to see Mamaw and Papaw Richardson! We only had a short amount of time because they had a funeral to attend and we had to get back before school was out, but it was a sweet visit!

Rich's grandparents have always been a huge part of his life! I remember when I first met rich he texted me a picture of them having coffee together one morning! He told me they were 2 of the most important people in his life!

They are in their 80's and have been married since she was 15 years old! They truly are a perfect example of love and a Godly marriage! Rich and I have always looked up to them and the example they set! Before we moved from ft. Smith we would go over there on Sunday nights, all in our pajamas, and just hang out! Lucy Jane loves going over there and visiting with their dog Mandy!

Leslie, me, our girls, and Mamaw and Papaw grabbed a quick bite to eat at La Huerta before we headed back! Such a fun day! So thankful for my friendship with Leslie, the girls friendship, and sweet grandparents to spend the morning with!

Easter Weekend!

We had a fun weekend for Easter this year! Lucy Jane is at such a fun age where she is loving holidays!!
Friday afternoon my sister and josh picked up Lucy Jane to take her to my moms for the night! I sent her, puppy, nite-nite (blanket) and her diapers but managed somehow to forget any of her clothes and shoes! Momma moment!!!
Thankfully, I called Crystal at Baby Chic to pick out an out outfit and my dad went and picked it up! She even hooked her up with a big pink bow!! Haley went and grabbed her some shoes and it all worked out!!
Mom took her to the Easter egg hunt in Lavaca on Saturday morning and she had a ball!!
That afternoon they all drive up here to spend the night! We ate and played and enjoyed our time together!!
Sunday morning we went to church, hunted eggs, and ate lunch! Then naps for all!!! Rich got baptized at church this morning! It was a perfect Easter Sunday!
Rich's sister and the kids came over to hunt eggs that afternoon! They played outside and got filthy! :) Lucy Jane loves plying with her cousins!
So thankful for family and the true meaning of Easter! We are blessed!!!