Makin the List

Christmas season kick off with writing letters to Santa. Zo informed us that she is both Naughty AND nice....at least she should get some points for being honest.

Working hard scribbling

Ri informed me there wasn't enough room on the space provided to write a letter....so she had to unfold and flip over to squeeze everything in.


Concentrate...don't. forget. anything.

Bia...and me...pretending to write Bia's list...but more likely making one for myself.

Next day Riley making sure Santa got the letters.

WOOT WOOT!! Postal Elf delivers yet again. Took the letters and left candy canes as a symbol that he received them.



Bia got a candy cane despite her lack of effort writing the letter.


Christmas magic sparkly in little Zo's eyes. I love it.

Glitter and Gold-Christmas pt 1.

"Hello. My name is Shea; and I'm a Christmasaholic."

"Hi Shea"

"I have no intention of giving up my unruly behavior during the Christmas season of becoming too giddy, excited, and down right childlike. I will forever buy too many gifts, put up too many decorations, and plan too many Christmas activities. I will eat absurd amounts of Christmas frosted cookies and continue to watch for Santa on norad.com. I will forever make a Christmas list and hope that I have been nice. I will consistently seek out cute nativities that I want to display and blast Christmas music too loud starting in November.
I will spend too much money.
I will puff paint men's tube socks.
I will cry reading a story about a little Angel.
I will go "shopping" at malls only to hope and find a performing group singing in Santa hats.
And I will never stop because that's how I was raised. Thanks to my mother and my Grandfather I will never kick my addiction. So bring on more bells, carols, and hallelujahs. Read more stories about the birth of our Savior and play more games around the table. If you have kicked your habit I am sorry for you.
That is all."

Gobble Goiter

1 of my favorite words is Gobble. Cuz it's super fun to say. And it's even funner to say if you say Goiter after it...10 times fast....Gobble Goiter, Gobble Goiter..... go ahead....try....no ones watching.....



Things I am thankful for:
My husband
My children
My parents
My siblings

Everything else is the fluff stuffed into each one.

This year sister Damon called me 2 days before Thanksgiving and told me her and Mr. Schmelz were coming last minute for Thanksgiving!!!

This made my soul happy. You see, it's like a tradition to have her here. We decorate for Christmas immediatly following Thanksgiving ; and she is usually here (usually by coincidence).
The girls were also thrilled to hear they were coming. I think Riley has a crush on Uncle Jeff.....

We ate dinner at my Uncle Steve's house cuz all the cousins and big scmogisborg of people were there. (ok, not ALL the cousins, cuz that is about 8 million.). It was a mini family reunion.

The food was fantastic. The company was better. And I was all kinds of giddey cuz Thanksgiving officially marks the Holidays.

She found the chocolate. Gross.

Sister Damon and Me. Love.

Riley a little too thrilled to decorate some ornaments.

Caught in the act.

The hubs. He's so good.

Jeff and Damon. We love you guys!

Zo's turkey.

The Birds and The Bees

I'm a wee bit strage in case you havent figured that out by now. Initially for Halloween I wanted Berns and I to dress up as 2 birds. Then I wanted the 3 little munchkins to dress up as little bees. "The Birds and the Bees". However, my husband refused to dress up as a froofy bird (why?!) and the eldest munchkin (Rooster) refused to dress up as a bee. *sigh* So being that all my my glorious plan was RUINED my two tiny ones got to be my guiny pigs. (usually).

So I pulled out the trusty sewing machine and whipped out a colorful fantastic bird for zo--it suits her quite well. And fashioned a Bee costume for Beee-a. They were the birds and the bees. And quite fantastic if I must say so myself.

Riley was persistant on the fact that she wanted to be a cowgirl. She gathered up all she could and came up with a purty cute lil outfit.

My fabulous parrot-birdy-thing.

Fuzzy Bumble Beeee-a.



She had one thing on her mind the whole time.

Little Claire and her poodle pooch. She's scrumptious.

Ride em cowgirl.

Enjoying the Halloween Chili cook off at our church. Pretty sure Bia is just eating asfault.

Lil Claire and poppa Niels.

Kinnsi and her little strawberry Raija.

uh, I'm not too sure what's happening here...your guess is as good as mine.

Zo and her best bud Preston. 1 same person in 2 bodies. They are crazy and fantastic.


Trick or Treat!

Harvesting

Halloween wasn't THAT long ago... *insert shake-head-in-shear-disappointment here*...well, ok, However I'm still gonna write about it cuz that's what I do. Late Schmate.

Every year us Costa's start off the spooktacular festivities with a pumpkin carving party. Riley looks forward to the "Goblin Goo" (sprite with lime sherbet) the most. Zo just likes the fact that there is limitless amounts of goodies to devour. I love to throw get togethers and shindigs--so whatever the occasion is, I enjoy it.

Berns?! He just goes with the flow...He's a good one....

Bia? Who knows where she was all night. Most likely stealing peoples treats.

So proud of Ms Suz. She actually came with her game face on and carved a pumpkin this year...I lied...she carved one the first year we lived here too--but that's just cuz she wanted to impress us--huh Suz ;)

Never mind the fact that she conveniently "forgot" her pumpkin after working so hard to carve it....

Partners in crime.



Avery wins the prize. Apparently this pumpkin deserved what was coming for it. Poor fella.

Riley had the idea to "design" hers before she cut it out. I tried to explain to her that cutting out what she had drawn would be tedious, hard, and time consuming....she didn't seem to mind.

Claire. The little beauty of the evening. I love her. End of story.

Zo socializing with all her buds. I'm not sure she even knew there were Pumpkins there.

The besties.

Riley digging into brain surgery.

My girls are the best. Again, however, Bia was no where to be found. No fears, we did eventually locate her...just not in time for a picture.