La Vita E Bella

The Vosslers in Reno

We have internet! Which has freed me up to spend some time updating my very lonely blog for a few moments this evening. We decided to take some family photos the other night. We really don't have many together, and the wonderful Emily Loftus agreed to meet us for an impromptu session in Downtown Reno. It was a lot of fun, and although I've only seen this photos and one other - I'm totally excited!!! Well, as a really quick update on our move.....last Friday (the 17th), our tenant moved out. She had only been out an hour or so before Trei and I were at Home Depot buying paint to do the kids rooms. Our goal was to atleast have their rooms finished and ready for action by the following Monday. Although our renter had left things in somewhat good condition, the carpets were in dire need of a good clean and every wall needed to be painted because of scuff marks and random marks here and there. Plus, she had cats - and our house didn't exactly smell "pretty". By Friday around midnight, we had completely finished Lucas's bedroom and were ready for our big move-in day on Saturday. Saturday morning, Trei and JC (a wonderful friend from Reno) went to pick up our things from the mover. I was met at our home by Jessica and Shauntaye, who helped with finishing touches in Lucas's room, as well as painting Olivia's room. It was a group effort which Trei and I appreciated more than we can explain. What a great way to welcome us into our place. Thank you to everyone who took their Saturday to be with us and help us fix things up.  We didn't end up spending our first night there until Sunday. Even though we had the carpets professionally cleaned on Saturday, we still had lots of cleaning and unpacking to do before we could settle into home for good. It had been a long weekend, and Trei and I were absolutely exhausted. Now that we've been here a whole 8 days - we couldn't be more happy to have settled into the home we bought 4 years ago as a newly married couple. It's the perfect size for our growing family and we have more than enough room to stretch our legs and breathe. Although we both will admit that we miss living with my family. The daily connection and conversation was a lot of fun - and it can be a bit lonely when you're home alone - but we know that things will begin to fall into place for us, and we know how much my parents were ready for their sanity back :)

Settling In

I know it's been far too long since my last post. The reason (as though moving out of state, cleaning and unpacking and watching two kids isn't enough?), we are without Internet, which makes it difficult to post. I'm typing this from my iPhone which is a difficult task in itself.

I uploading a few photos of the kids to Flickr, so check em' out and keep a look out for a new post.

Love, Me

Snow in October

I think I have super powers. You know that super hero who can control the weather. More specifically....snow? Well, I think I possess that ability - only I don't know how to harness it and control it. It just happens to show up every single time I'm in a state that can actually produce snow. Trei, the kids and I left the house this morning around 10:30am. It was 37 degrees outside and brisk, but sunny. I dressed myself and my kids with the little amount of "winter" clothing I packed for the week we were waiting for our stuff to arrive. Surprise.....no more than 20 minutes later - it started to snow. Hard. Something that is rare for Reno this time of year. It has snowed every time I've visited in the winter/fall time. In fact, when Trei and I moved here the first time - we experienced the "worst winter in 100 years". Let's hope that this isn't the "2nd worse winter in 100 years"! All I know is Lucas thoroughly enjoyed playing in the snow until his hands froze and he was crying "owwwwwie" to me. Poor guy - guess I should invest in some gloves :) We move into our place next weekend. Trei and his friend Matt will be moving stuff Saturday morning (so Reno ladies, if you know any guys who are willing to help, please let me know!!! We will provide pizza and beer!) Then we will officially move ourselves in Sunday. I am so excited to finally be back in our place. This is where the Reno ladies come in. I know many of you have offered to help, and I am more than willing to take everyone up on offers! Whether it's to help paint, or even go "garage saleing" with me :) Let me know! Well, time to sign off. Love to everyone. I'm feeling a bit homesick, but know that will eventually subside. Oh, and please pray for Trei as he continues to look for a job!!!

Love, Me

Traveling Family

As of 4:45pm today, The Vossler Family are residents of Reno, Nevada. The third time for Trei. The second time for me and the first time for both Lucas and Olivia. My emotions vary so much right now, and honestly the last two days completely wiped me out and I'm not sure I have it in me to explain. Just wanted everyone to know that we are here, safe and sound. I'll try and update tomorrow. Wish I had pictures of the move...but I didn't once think about my camera. So for now, you must feast your eyes of my lovely daughter.

Love, Me 

Fond Farewell

Last night I had the most wonderful opportunity to spend an evening with some of the greatest ladies I've had the chance to know as my sisters and friends (minus the few who couldn't make it!) Janea had arranged a small, intimate dinner for the few of us which ended up being more wonderful than I could have ever anticipated. The conversation was entertaining as we enjoyed great food and eachother's company. Once dinner was over, we headed back to my parents for cupcakes, drinks, more conversation, and a perfect present gifted to me by all the girls (I will take a few pictures tomorrow!) - along with thoughtful notes of love and encouragement for this newest chapter in my life. Honestly, God has blessed me with an amazing support system. A group of women that love me despite my flaws. That are genuinely concerned with mine, Trei, Lucas and Olivia's lives. I couldn't have imagined the evening spent doing anything else. It was a wonderful farewell, and I will undoubtedly miss these moments - but will look forward to having them each time I visit.

Thank you ladies for spending the evening with me. I love you all so much and am truly blessed by each of you. I will miss you more than I can adequately explain.

Love, Me

Crunch Time

Tomorrow morning marks just 3 days until we pack our kids into the car and move to Reno. Tomorrow morning marks just 2 days until Trei and I move all of our furniture and belongings and drop it off for a moving truck to bring to Reno for us (can you believe it was cheaper to have someone else drive our stuff up to Reno than it was for us to rent a U-Haul?) Tomorrow morning means we are just days away from a new beginning for our family. New changes, new adjustments and new opportunities. Trei and I were just telling eachother that this move really snuck up on us. It feels as though Trei was just starting his last semester of college, and now, 2 weeks a college graduate - we are preparing ourselves (physically, emotionally and mentally) to relocate our family and lives. This seems like such familiar territory (the moving part), yet so unknown (the making a new life for ourselves in Reno!). I have been spending a few hours each day packing up things. I'm not doing my typical "wait until the day before we have to move to pack the entire place up" packing routine. This time, I'm organized and have a plan of attack. Maybe it's the relief of knowing that we will be settled for the first time in our married life for longer than a couple of years that has me packing and preparing differently than I ever have before. Maybe it's because I don't want to waste my last few days here with my family furiously stuffing things into boxes. I want to relax, and enjoy, and soak in our time together before it becomes luxury instead of a daily part of life. My emotions are feeling mixed with every moment of the day. Ranging anywhere from excitement to guilt. You name it, I've felt it.

Youthful Spirit

It's a rare occasion I'm the one in front of the camera. So this afternoon when my husband asked me to hold Olivia and smile, I obliged. I felt less than camera ready, but I think I would enjoy a few visual reminders of myself about 10 years from now. I went with my mom to the DMV in Newhall this morning. She had to renew her license, so Liv and I tagged along. It was the same location I took my drivers license test over 10 years ago. It got me thinking. 3 months from this coming Friday, I will celebrate my 27th birthday. Umm, when did that happen? When did I get old(er). How is it that I've lived almost 11 years of life since I was 16? I'm being genuine when I say that I still feel like my teenage years were just days away. I see pictures of myself, and although my skin, hair and body are not that of a 16 year old - I still recognize so much of my youth that I don't think I look like "mom". Regardless of my loose skin, my wedding ring, my diaper bag and massive amount of responsibility - I still see myself as I was. Which is strange, because so much has happened since I was a carefree kid. So. Much. Has. Happened!