We are back home!

Joshua and I had a very busy two weeks on the go to Texas and back. We traveled over 2,000 miles and are very happy to be back home. We were able to see the rest of my mother's living family 15 in all. It was great to see so much family most of which has been at least 5 years since I saw them last. It was a whirl wind vacation but we had a great time.

Here are some pictures along the way to Dallas Texas. We stopped in Springfield Co to see my Uncle and Aunt for dinner. Then we stayed the night with my cousin and his wife and had breakfast the next day with my Great Aunt. It was great to see them again. The last time I saw them was at their wedding 5 years ago. I don't think I had a conversation with his wife then so it was fun getting to know her. I hope to keep in touch with them until we meet again.

Once we got to Dallas I stayed one night with my friend, her family and new baby girl. Then I drove across Dallas to see my Cousin Stefanie, her family, my cousin Traci, and my Aunt Twila. We had a great breakfast. We stayed there for three nights before heading on to Temple.

Thank you so much Stefanie and family for having us stay at your house. We had so much fun and hope to see you all again in a year or so.

Sofia, Sydney, Joshua and Tyler. Joshua had a blast with everyone and hated leaving.




Joshua and Sofia feeling the need to be silly.


Sofia and Joshua. Joshua decided his head should lean in towards hers. I didn't have to ask him to get cozy for the picture.


More games.


Enjoying the WONDERFUL Texas weather at the park. We were spoiled while we were there. It was so nice most days we didn't need to wear a jacket. Notice he isn't wearing any shoes!





My second cousin Sofia and Joshua enjoying some games on the floor.


My Aunt Twila (Joshua called her Mimi) and Joshua.


Joshua the chef.


My Great Auntie J, My cousin and his wife, with Joshua.


All the windmills outside of Springfield. On just one side of the road I counted 30 of these. Then I turned my head and decided I couldn't count the rest there had to have been 90 windmills in this small area. They went on for as far as the eye could see. Way to use those resources.

2009. A New Year.

Wow I cannot believe it is 2009 already. This year has flown by. Just a little recap of what we have been doing all year. We started our new year in a new place on Custer St. We thought it was the best place for us at the time and enjoyed living there. In May we were able to see Michael graduate with two Bachelors from the University of Wyoming. We are so proud of him and are looking forward to the next stages of life. In June we found out we were expecting our second baby in February, we were very excited to be expanding our family and were looking forward to meeting that little baby. In the middle of June the three of us packed up the car and drove 19 hours to the Oregon coast. It is so beautiful there, thank you Todd and Maxine for inviting us to meet you there. I cannot wait for this years trip. At the end of June we experianced our first miscarriage, and pray that will be the last. I think it was the hardest thing for Michael and I to experience at just 4 years of marriage.

August found us moving to a new apartment on Palmer, we love the place we are in now and are very glad to be here. Joshua and I also went to Texas to visit friends and family. The rest of my mother's side of the family live down there so it was wonderful to see them all again. Michael started school in September for his Masters and has been very busy with that and work. He works very hard for our family and we are very proud of his hard work and accomplishments. He should be graduating with his Masters in May 2010. On May 5 we found out we are expecting another baby, and later found out it is a boy. We are so happy that God blessed us so soon after loosing our second baby. We are so excited for May to come but don't want to rush it too much. I want to enjoy the last 4 1/2 months I have with Joshua before another baby comes into the equation. I have been very busy at home being a stay at home mother, wife and house keeper. I have been getting our boy's room ready for the arrival of our new boy.

Joshua is as cute as ever. He makes the silliest of all silly faces, and loves to make us laugh. He has such character and I hope he will be able to use his abilities for God's work later. Joshua loves to pretend play. For some reason I am 'mommy ghost' and he is 'Joshua baby' or 'Joshua pirate' depending on the day. He loves cooking on his play kitchen and playing with his tools his Grammy and Papa gave him for Christmas. He is talking all the time and at times I'll have to ask him to be quiet for just a minute so I have time to think. Joshua is very excited for his baby brother to come and talks about him a lot. Since I am showing now he likes to come up to me and give my belly a hug and kiss. Every now and then he will point at it and talk about the baby. I love watching him experience this with us too.

That about sums up our year. It has been a very busy one. I hope you all have a great 2009. May God bless you all.

Baby Registry

I just wanted to let you all know we are registered at Walmart. You can look at our wish list at www.walmart.com (if you click on the link it will take you there right away) then click on baby, then registry. The names you can find our registry under are LEEANN LUCAS (no space in between Lee and Ann on this one) and MICHAEL LUCAS, due MAY 15.

If you have any problems please let us know. We really don't need a lot since we are having another boy but I know some people like to know where we are registered at so I thought I would update you all.

Our trip to Gillette

We had a lot of fun in Gillette but it is so nice to be back home. We left last Tuesday after my ultrasound appointment. The drive went well there and back dry roads all the way but there was a horrible wind on the way home. Michael was able to work in Gillette on Wednesday and Friday from his Uncles house so that worked well. Christmas Eve we all hung out at Michael's Uncles house, that night we went to the Christmas Eve service at our old church then went back to his Uncles house for a wonderful seafood dinner. There was shrimp cooked all sorts of ways and crab, there was a crab dip, and little smokeys. Someone brought a veggie and fruit tray and of course there were all sorts of sweets. Joshua liked the breaded shrimp and called it chicken, it was very cute. He had so much fun playing with Michael's cousins the youngest is four years old. They played ring around the rosie a lot, and gave each other piggie back rides. Joshua did get a very late nap that day from 3pm until 5pm so Joshua could survive the evening. People left their house at 11pm, way past Joshua's bed time. Luckily he did sleep in until almost 9am because of the late night.

Christmas morning was WONDERFUL. We all got up slowly Joshua, Michael and I were the last to get up. We visited ate a great breakfast of danishes then moved to the living room to open presents. Jannie read the Christmas story as in Luke. Then Paige passed out all the gifts and Joshua got started on his stocking. We wrapped all of his stocking gifts because he loves unwrapping everything. I have him on video for every gift he opened. He was thrilled at whatever was inside it and played with it for a while before asking to open another gift. Michael's Aunt and Uncle also got Joshua a couple of things, and he loves them thank you so much. They also gave Michael and I an electric griddle (now we can make hash browns the way they do, which we love). I didn't expect any gifts, it was a wonderful surprise. It took us a while to open gifts. Everyone was visiting and we took turns opening gifts. I loved that it didn't feel rushed like we had to open them all in 30 Min's. At 11:30 or so we were all finished with gifts and took showers.

At 1pm we drove over to Michael's Aunt's parents place. We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, a veggie tray and corn. It was so good, I am glad we were invited. I loved the company too. We get a long great with her family and we always have something to talk about. While we were there we played the Wii, and dominoes, and visited. It was so much fun. We were there until 7pm because Joshua needed to go to bed since he missed his nap. Michael and I had a great time that night for a couple hours just watching TV together while he was a sleep.

We had a ton of good food, as we always do when we visit them. I love going and cannot wait to go back to see everyone again. I miss the family we have in Gillette and the friends we have there too. On Saturday before we left town we were able to see a good friend of mine Shannon and her husband. Michael and I love hanging out with her and Michael gets a long great with her husband. I wish we lived closer so we could do more together. Maybe some day.

That is about all of what we did while we were in Gillette. We were constantly busy but it also felt like we had a lot of down time to enjoy our family. Thank you so much, Lyle, Marlys, Grant, Mitch and Paige for letting us in on your Christmas and for giving up one of your bed rooms. Thank you everyone else who took time to see us. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:1-21

It's A .......

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.BOY!!!

Everything looks great and he looks like he is growing well. We got to see him move around, suck his thumb, and yawn. He is very cute, we cannot wait to meet him.

Pistol Pete

Two posts in one day so keep scrolling down.

Last night we braved the weather to go to the Cowgirls basketball game. It was so cold and they don't have much close parking that is free so we had to walk a little ways. One nice couple stopped and asked us if they could drop us off at the door. That was so nice. While we were in the car Joshua felt the need to introduce us. While we were all talking he said "Me Josha" he was pointing to him self. Then he pointed to me and said "Mommy". It was so cute that he felt the need to introduce us. The couple enjoyed him.

While we were at the Game Joshua had fun but he did loose interest and said he wanted to go home after only watching 6 Min's of the game. His favorite thing there was Pistol Pete, he waved at him a lot. One time Pistol Pete was was walking in the crowd so I told Joshua he should wave to him and maybe he would come over to say hi, and he did.


Joshua enjoying the basketball game.


Pistol Pete


Pistol Pete saying hi to Joshua.


Pistol Pete is coloring with Joshua, he even signed his name.


Later Pistol Pete came over again so I put Joshua on the isle side so he could say hi one last time.