Ant Anstead Remembers Decade of 'Insane Lows and Exceptional Highs': ‘I Made a Load of Mistakes’
Ant Anstead had one heck of a 2019 — and he’s thankful for all the “exceptional highs” and “insane lows” that came with the past year and decade.
The Wheeler Dealers star, 40, took to Instagram on New Year’s Eve to share his thoughts on the arrival of 2020, posting a series of photos of himself and his wife of one year, Flip or Flop’s Christina Anstead, and the five kids that make up their blended family: Their son, Hudson London, 3 months, Christina’s kids Brayden James, 4, and Taylor Reese, 9, whom she shares with ex Tarek El Moussa, and Ant’s son Archie, 13, and daughter Amelie Rose, 16, from his previous marriage.
He also posted two photos side-by-side — one of himself as a young man, which he jokingly captioned, “No idea,” and one from 2019, which he captioned, “Still no idea!”
“Kinda weird taking stock on New Year’s Eve!” wrote the father of three in the caption. “It’s been one heck of a ride!”
A post shared by ant anstead (@ant_anstead) on Dec 31, 2019 at 10:21am PST
The gallery was accompanied by a heartfelt message: “In the last 12 and a half months I got married to the most amazing woman I’ve ever met! We had a son and I turned 40! I completed my 12th TV show and wrote my third book and so so much more!” wrote the British TV host. “I’ve worked with some of the most amazing people and made new friends. So much has already happened and there is more to come…..!”
RELATED: Christina Anstead and Husband Ant Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Their Blended Family
He also shared a screenshot of his Instagram story, which had a message about his ups and downs this past decade: “WOW…. end of a year…. end of a decade! Damn…. I made a lot of mistakes! It’s been a mix of insane LOWS and exceptional HIGHS! I’ve made some of the worst life decisions ever and then some of the best! My failures stand out. I’ve learned so much about so much! I don’t trade in negatives! I choose to focus on positives! As I have SO MANY!”
This decade saw the end of Ant’s first marriage to ex-wife Louise, who he divorced in July 2017. Talking about himself and Christina, he told PEOPLE in January 2019, “We’ve both had challenges, but ever since we met it’s just been an instant connection.”
“I am incredibly grateful to have met her,” he added at the time. “She saved me.”
In his New Year’s post, Anstead also looked ahead: “I end the ‘twenty teens’ realizing how much I’ve changed and how lucky I am to live right here, right NOW!!… I have plans for 2020 that a younger me would have laughed at! Be crazy and ambitious! Forget about timing and opinion! Whatever that thing is, do it! Do it now! Before another decade passes you by!”
The car expert also shared on Instagram that he and wife Christina rang in 2020 with their blended family — all decked out in matching pajamas.
In a photo the pair both posted, they posed in their backyard in front of huge letters reading “LOVE.”
“Happy New Year from our family to yours!!! !!” Christina captioned her post. “What are your 2020 goals? Mine are traveling with the fam, exercising (I know basic — but I really need to lol) and launching wellness remodel and a furniture line. Going to be a busy / fun year!! #LOVE.”
Alongside his identical photo, plus a bonus video of the family playing a friendly game of soccer, Ant wrote, “Woah … this happens to be my 1,000th post … on New Year’s Eve at the end of a decade! That’s pretty cool! Of course it ended with a girls v boys football game What a year! 2019 you have been a blast! Loads of love from the Anstead and El Moussa clans! And wishing you all happiness in 2020 Xx .”
RELATED: Ant Anstead Says Wife Christina “Made Him Whole” on Anniversary: “Two Years Ago I Was Lost”
The New Year’s holiday was also full of fun family activities like nighttime swimming (with the kids taking turns jumping into the pool), playing with toys and trying to help their baby brother learn how to roll over.
RELATED VIDEO: Christina and Ant Anstead Celebrate Closing on Their House
Last week, Christina and Ant celebrated on Christmas Eve with Hudson, Brayden and Taylor. Amelie and Archie joined them a few days later for an Anaheim Ducks hockey game.
El Moussa, 38, and his girlfriend, Selling Sunset star Heather Rae Young, celebrated with Taylor and Brayden on Christmas Day.
Christina and El Moussa, who still star side-by-side on the 9th season of their HGTV series Flip or Flop in 2020 (El Moussa also has a solo show, Flipping 101 with Tarek, coming to HGTV in 2020), have been amicably co-parenting since they split publicly after seven years of marriage in December 2016.
