ROAD TRIP!

Last week we got back from our epic adventure of 2011. Slugger and I took a road trip to MT to see my grandparents. We had the best time on the way and instead of describing everything to you I will give you a "photo journaling" tour of our epic adventure. :)

View from our hike in UT

Grand Tetons

Camping in Yellowstone

Spasmodic Geyser

Idaho Falls

Old Faithful (ps he isn't faithful anymore)

a mere glimpse of the beauty that Yellowstone holds

A few friends we made.

Our trip to MT was beautiful! We seriously had the best time!

I never got along with my dad. Kids used to come up to me and say, "My dad can beat up your dad." I'd say, "Yeah? When?"

(Just so you know I never did this)
Dad, Father, Pops, Dude are the select few that we hold in reserve for those key men in our lives. Usually for Slugger and I it is something like pop-pop (we get it, you don't have to). Anyway I never really got Father's day and Mother's day. I hated the fact that I felt as if I was forced to be nice to my parents for a whole day. This concept was incredibly lame and selfish to me (and I usually screwed it up by fighting with the Turbos).
Don't mistake this as I don't appreciate my parents because I do. But it really annoys me that the world sees it as one day a year.
But of course here I am conforming to the worldly wisdom of one day a year set aside to honor our parents.
I don't share our personal feelings often but it is important that you know the two great men that are our fathers. (Two you say? well with marriage we both immediately inherit another. BONUS!).
Shakespeare is my (biological) pops. He is quite the guy! Not much I can or want to say besides that he is my friend He is and was and will always be there for me.
The Comedian oh he is different from Shakespeare (in the little things). Granted having only been his daughter for a year there is still a lot to learn, but this guy has some serious skills. He tells jokes and stories like nobodies business, and they are really funny! On more than one occasion it has brought me to tears.
There are so many similarities between each. Both serve faithfully in their callings and in their families. The love which each has can be seen in their eyes and the respect and love they have for their wives could not be hid even if they wanted to. The love, compassion and service that Slugger and I have learned from these two men is to say the least immeasurable. Pops you guys deserve more than one day a year (I guess that is why you have birthdays-- only kidding :) )
Love, Slugger and Student

This Guy

That Guy

You got mud on your face...

Mudders or Mudding is the act of play in mud. Is it? No I made that up but that basically sums up last Saturday. Now before you become distraught with the thought that Slugger and I are not actually grownups and that we like to play in the mud let me put your mind at ease. First we are the most ungrownup grownups around and second just Slugger played in the mud last Saturday.
Slugger's company participated in the Camp Pendleton mud run and that was exactly what it was a mud run. The course was a 10K and had a huge hill (like most courses in CA do) but in addition there were mud walls and a 6ft river they had to cross and at the end a mud pit(started out as a water pit and slowly turned to mud). It was disappointing to me that I couldn't see the course except for the mud pit but it was entertaining.
Having participated in more races than I can count over the years I have never watched one. It was different to be a spectator but different good in that I could ease drop on conversations occurring around me. Slugger did great! I am so proud of him! Oh and guess what kids. You'll never believe it. No really guess. ok I'll just tell you... I took pictures. That's right I (meaning Slugger) remembered the camera! So here you are! Eat your heart out!

This was before the runners went through.

Slugger crawling through the Mud Pit. He is in the upper right hand corner.

Slugger with his team.

Slugger and his team running through the finish line.

I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes.

Yet again TCR and I failed to take any pictures. On Monday after yet another forgotten camera night I said "I have no pictures to post on the blog!" (shows all of you doubters my renewed dedication to our blog doesn't it). Anyway... we have no actually pictures but I have decided to include some fake pictures, that I will just pretend I took.

So as you can tell we did go to a Padre's game last week and we had FANTASTIC seats! Thanks to TCR's second mom our seats were so great! Thanks Rodeo Queen! Anyway the game was entertaining and the Padre's lost (no surprise there).
We did have the chance to learn a little bit about the trolley's of San Diego. If you feel a story coming on you would be CORRECT! Ok so TCR and I decided we were going to take the Trolley, and me with my OCD wanted to make sure that we knew every detail. But not wanting to have that responsibility I delegated (another one of my many talents) to TCR. We get to Qualcomm and we get the tickets and we wait. And the trolley comes and we both decide that it can't possibly be OUR trolley because it is two minutes early and so it leaves. After about five seconds we realize oh hey that was the trolley and we totally just missed it. By the end of the night we had pledge to give our first born child to the city of San Diego Parking.

This is what the trolley looked like pulling away from us.

This is what we did when we realized what scubs we were.


Softball tournaments are LONG. TCR (who will from here on out be named Slugger)played in a softball tournament with his cousin B and Scary Larry last Saturday. This is the second tournament which he has played in and I have decided that I will cheer for family to do well but I can cheer for the team to not do their best. Sorry but i'm burnt, hungry, and my butt hurts!
Slugger wanted to slide- his left leg now looks something like this-->

but worse.

Slugger in the second tournament looked something like this


The goal is to have some real pictures for the next post... but if I were you I wouldn't hold my breath.

YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

haha think again, because the student (that's me) pwn3d (yeah i just did that) the past semester! Summer vacation is here everyone. Except for all those that have real jobs that require real work. That's ok I forgive you! :)
Well for starters let's discuss the new year's resolution. You all should have known when I said I made it my new year's resolution it was never going to happen. :) Sad as it was we are back and coming to you with a vengeance. Oh yes a Richey family coming to a computer near you! (sounds like an excellent film title- quick ramble: the movie would be excellent full of violent beatdowns and the like. Just kidding the beatdowns are a lot of talk not so heavy on the beatdown am I right Nicki?)
As a side note for all those grammar fools out there- I either use very little or too much punctuation and I won't apologize! (Not worry pops I always edit my papers before I turn them in)
Man! All I do on here is update, so instead here is a fudate (a future update). I have been a Richey for almost a year! (yes big round of applause everyone thank you thank you!) It is awesome! The best part is having brothers I always wanted brothers (i thought I would do well with brothers too) Sisters are fantastic but you always want what you don't have right? Before you feel bad for my sisters because of my slander (well i guess libel) they have always wanted a brother too! Ask them! Anyway it's great but like I was saying the best part of the best part is Grandpa O asking me every time I see him, "didn't know what you were getting yourself into did ya?" I am still trying to determine if I should be frightened or excited, maybe the family is secretly zombie killers and I haven't been initiated yet. I am ok with that though because after watching Zombieland that is a great skill to have.
Anyway TCR and I are planning an epic trip across the north here soon. We will be able to see lots of good friends and loved ones and boy are we stoked (especially since the last road trip we took was terrible (our honeymoon)) Before you think I am a terrible wife he agrees and stated it first!
BTW did you see the blog spiffy right? I know I am on vaca and don't feel like doing anything but fudating my new blog.
That's all for now!
EXCEPT: OUR NIECES (AandK)ARE RODEO EXPERTS! They are AWESOME! Roping, sheep riding (i forget the technical term) and BARREL RACING. They are pros! And little nephew E going to be a pitching superstar! Just don't stand too close when he goes into his windup.

Slackers...yeah we know we are but what are you?

OK OK OK sorry we know we are not the best at the whole posting thing... (Don't worry it's my new years resolution). We also both are completely terrible at taking pictures.

So here is your update or THE update, eh whichever. :)

So Troy started his job. HURRAH! It is fantastic to have some mulah coming in. (Old news but new to some)

I quit my job and I am doing school, but am now looking for a new job. I also got accepted to San Diego State University, (another hurrah!) and will start there in January.

Thanksgiving was spent at Mom and Dad Steed's it was WAY fun. Dad and I ran a 10k (let's not talk about that part) in Topanga (Boy meets world anyone?) National Forest. It was absolutely the most dreadful and wonderful run at the same time. It was fantastic! We both ate a lot and stayed for about a week.

Then we had the Christmas time start almost immediately. :) Troy's work party and finals and shopping all made December go by very quickly. It was such a great time though. Troy's work party was a lot of fun (he works with the coolest people!). My finals went well (thanks for asking :) ) Aced both of my classes, therefore I have been promoted to balla status.

Then came the Christmas parties and oh did they come. This past week Mom and Dad Steed and sisters (plus cousin) came down to San Diego. We went to the beach, and the temple and had overall a really great time. Then we went to Mom and Dad Richey for Christmas and it was a lot of fun as well. We got to talk to Elder Richey, and eat (more than I should have) and spend good time with family. Christmas at the Ott's was the next day and again more eating and tomfoolery. Then that night Troy and I drove up to LA and spent Christmas with Mom and Dad Steed and the fam. It was also fantastic. Eating and tomfoolery. Troy and I enjoyed church at the Stevenson Ranch Ward and went home later that day. Finally we had our Christmas. It was a lot of
fun, full of legos and movies and again more snacks. This whole week although it was quite the whirlwind of adventures was a lot of fun.

The week after Christmas is always full of exciting adventures as well- We will have to wait and see what it brings but it will be something we won't want to miss. This season is filled with a lot usually, and we can easily forget the "true meaning of Christmas" but something I realized through all of events and fun and traveling, is this; How in the world could I forget Christ when I see my family who is sealed together for time and all eternity around me. This would not be possible without him. Family is the greatest gift we have received this year. The expansion of more people we love.

Oh and all that food, sure did leave me a little gift too... extra work this week and for the rest of the month. (And it won't get better for awhile).

Underwater Camera 2 -The Adventure Continues

As the shark seeth...