When Dr. Samuel Richards and his wife Cheska bought their home in Tierra Verde a year and a half ago, they didn’t expect to be juggling a toddler, a flooded house, and a full family move—all at once.

“We technically moved mid-storm,” Samuel shares with a laugh. “Our original home flooded while we were already transitioning to Tierra Verde. That complicated things a bit.”

Since then, the Richards family has been gradually settling in. Half the house has furniture, the other half is a work in progress—but that’s all part of the adventure. With a two-year-old in tow, another baby who was just born in September, and three adults under one roof, their household is nothing short of lively.

Cheska’s mom, Cindy, also lives with them—a recent move from Austin, Texas. And she’s not your typical retiree. Cindy is a bronze sculptor, with over 150 pieces in the home, ranging from small busts to city-sized commissions. Her latest project? Taking shape right in their garage-turned-studio.

“She still gets large jobs,” says Samuel. “It’s great to see her working and creating.”

Cindy’s presence is more than artistic support. She’s also helping out with the growing family. With a new baby girl and two working parents, her help is invaluable.

Cheska, a PhD chemist, wears three professional hats at her job with a national lab—lab director, expert witness, and data interpreter in the field of toxicology. Her work involves everything from overseeing a large laboratory to explaining drug test results in court. Over the years, she’s transitioned from frequent travel to working mostly from home while raising their son Everett.

“She used to be gone for two weeks at a time,” Samuel says. Now, she does it all—from court Zooms and spreadsheets to toddler wrangling.

Samuel, is the founder of Burghealth Physical Medicine. He’s built a one-stop shop for healing with regenerative therapies, chiropractic, and physical therapy, along with cutting-edge therapies. 

The couple met the modern way—on Match.com. Their first date was almost a bust when they accidentally went to two different World of Beer locations. “Fifteen minutes of texting and 30 minutes of driving later, we found each other,” Samuel laughs. “We hit it off immediately.”

They were married at the Chihuly Museum, bringing together family from both sides—his from St. Pete (he’s a fourth-generation native), and hers from Austin.

Now two years old, Everett is a whirlwind of energy and curiosity. “He’s like a wild little engineer,” says Samuel. “Super sweet, incredibly smart, and obsessed with cars, trucks, gears—anything that moves.”

He started walking early, skipped the baby-fat stage, and has been in motion ever since. Whether he’s watching street sweepers or cruising around in his miniature orange Ford Raptor, Everett is all boy—all the time.

Samuel expects him to go into the engineering field, especially because he loves to work with his hands. But it’s probably too soon to tell for this action-packed toddler! 

While big renovations are on hold until their original house sells, the Richards are tackling smaller home projects—from landscaping (one of Samuel’s passions) to furniture shopping and backyard design.

“When I’m not working, I’m keeping up with our properties,” he says. Between a commercial strip center, their old home, and their new one, weekends stay busy.

Cheska unwinds with morning walks, evenings in the backyard pool, beach days at Fort De Soto,  and cooking new recipes and regional cuisines. Together, they enjoy brunches at Seaworthy and Shrimpy’s, the occasional concert, and quality time with Everett—even if SCUBA trips and four-hour golf games are currently off the table.

As a fourth-generation St. Pete native, Samuel is thrilled to be raising his family close to his roots. His great-grandfather, Hubert Rutland, moved to the area in the 1920s, and the family name is still familiar in local circles.

“We love it here. If everyone else is retiring in St. Pete, it must be a good place to hang out,” he jokes.

Looking ahead, the Richards hope to eventually add a mother-in-law suite for Cindy and make more updates to their Tierra Verde home. For now, though, they’re enjoying the organized chaos of raising a family, building careers, and getting to know the community.

So, if you spot a bright orange mini-truck zipping around a driveway—or a bronze sculpture taking shape in a garage—you’re probably near the Richards. Be sure to wave hello!