Riley's Encore Audition

Dear Durango Performing Arts Company and Mrs. Hagemeister:

Riley would like to be considered for a place in Encore. Here is her audition video. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

Its true folks...I willingly chose to marry him....

It was Nevada reading week a couple weeks ago and I volunteered to read a book to Riley's class. The teacher told me to choose any book I wanted. So I read Skippy John Jones (our family FAVORITE). This children's book is fantastically wonderful. Its about a Siamese cat that thinks he's a chihuahua and ventures down a lonesome Mexican road to fight off a bad bean eating bumble bee (you're making plans to go out and buy it huh?). Well, I get a bit carried away when I read it. Mama Junebug Jones has a deep southern accent....Skippy and the other small chihuahuas have a mexican accent....its got little songs to sing and clap with...honestly the coolest book ever....ANYWAYS
When I told Berns I was going to Riley's school to read it, he decided to come......dressed up.....like Skippy John Jones.....and then when we got there he proceeded to sit on the floor in the midst of all the kids and listen as I read it....
I have no excuses for him...he is the way he is....and I think its fantastic.....

Sure Makes Everything Else, Seem So Small....

I listen to country music once in a blue moon. I like it, but my husband does not and its not my "favorite"--however, I think Country music generally has the best messages. I was listening to a Carrie Underwood song the other day that brings light to troubled times. (Im not having "troubled times..but its got a good message...)

The chorus says,
" Sometimes that mountain you've been climbin is just a grain of sand,
and what you've been out there searchin for forever is in your hand.
And when youve figure out love is all that matters after all,
it sure makes everything else, seem so small....."

Job well done good songs. I love my husband and his silly quirky personality and his drive to support and carry our family through life. I love my Riley and her pixie dust and fairy tales. I love my Zoie and her curious eyes and sweet spirit. I love being able to stay at home with my family. It has made me realize that being mom is the most important thing I could be doing right now.....and everything else just seems small....

Family Night....Costa Style

Us Costa's are not....normal.....

Because of this us Costa's dont do a typical movie night or day at the park......

Us Costa's do things like THIS for family night....






We walked past this hat store in a shopping center and it looked to fun to pass up. We did however do something "normal" and went out to eat after. We took the girls to the Rainforest Cafe. If is quite the cute restaurant with a jungle theme that has thunderstorms every few minutes and "life like" animals. The food was good but slightly overpriced--nonetheless it was a super fun night. Who would like to join the next Costa Family night--who knows where we will end up next time...

For the last few weeks Zoie has decided that she hates her crib. Because of this, nap time has been quite the struggle....she REFUSES to sleep. I have let her do the whole "cry herself to sleep" thing and that doesnt work. --30 minutes later she is still screaming. However, the other day I saw light and this dumb no sleep tunnel. I left her in her crib to take a nap. After about 5 minutes of her yelling at me I heard nothing but silence. SUCCESS!!! I peaked in her room just so my eyes could believe my ears. And THIS is what I found:
The poor peanut feel asleep like this--sitting up doubled over with her head resting on the side. I felt bad for her so I lied her down in a normal way. When I came back to check on her she was back in this position. Apparently its comfortable.
This however was not the end of it. Another day she wouldnt sleep. I was trying to pick up--but she was throwing a fit (cause she was so tired). I put her in her horse jumper....and few minutes later THIS is what I saw: Oh well...atleast she slept....

Movin on up

Definition of Princess: "any woman or girl regarded as like a princess, as in being: graceful, accomplished, or outstanding in some way( from yourdictionary.com)

Definition of Diva: The basic sense of the term is "goddess". (wikipedia).

I do believe it is official folks. Riley has gone from being our little princess...to the diva....ai ai ai...watch out world.

Pumpin Iron

Our little Zoie is a peanut. Any of you that have see her can attest to this. I took her in for her 9 month wellness check last Friday expecting to have to deal with getting the poor little thing some more immunizations. They first thing the nurses do is weigh her and measure her head and how tall she is. Our little peanut weighed in at 16.6 lbs this time around.
Zoie has been consistant about gaining weight. She stays about the 25% for her age--but she has been staying on that curve, so they weren't concerned. Well, little peanut dropped off her little curve down to the 10%. It didnt throw a huge red flag to the Dr, but he became a little concerned.
SO on top of the immunizations they did a little heel poke on her to run a hemoglobin on our little miss to check her iron levels. For those of you that arent familiar with what a hemoglobin is or medical terms he was basically checking for signs of anemia (wikipedia it if you dont know what that is either). My mom has anemia, so does my sister (and hers is to the point that she has to get iron injected via IV in her body every so often). Zoie's hemoglobin was a little low--but again not enough to go crazy and test more.
I explained to the doctor that she is also a picky picky eater and does not like her greens.
So--Doc told us to start supplimenting some iron into her diet and we will test her again at her year check up:

Conclusion:
Zoie either

1) needs to be force fed spinach

2) is anemic and gets to enjoy the lovelness that genetics bring along....

keep your fingers crossed that its #1.