Some Ancient Architecture

Shortly after we moved Vovo Ceriz and Vovo Gui came for a visit. Since Mesa Verde was now just in our backyard we decided to take them for a quick field trip up the mountain to see the lovely ancient ruins.  Wouldn't you know that it was Berns' first time visiting too--crazy since he lived there since he was 18! Silly old man.

It. was. hotter. than. acid. Times 10.  And for some ODD reason I tend to only go to Mesa Verde when I'm pregnant...in the dead of summer. (note to self. Be smarter.)--Last time I went was with the Browns in the dead of summer 1 month before I had Bia....seriously need to stop doing that!

The in-laws and the girls all enjoyed the trip despite the heat and it was so neat watching Riley try to imagine what it would have been like living in the side of a mountain. Not gonna lie--it would be kinda cool to camp there.--Think about it Mesa Verde park rangers....it could be fun.

Coming Soon.....

Another little miss. You're welcome world. Costa girls are quite fantastic.

Love me some fireworks....or lack there of.

4th of July is always a treat to celebrate--only because it gives us an excuse to BBQ, play in the water, and listen to some good ol country songs about being proud to be an American.  I would also say that it's a fun reason to sit and watch some lovely displays of Fireworks--however, Colorado banned them this year due to all of the fires.....oh, right...Colorado....

Back up....slow down....rewind.....

We moved back to good ol Colorado. Yup, we suuuuure did. Berns had been searching high and low for a new career opportunity.  We had been searching since September and started getting really frustrated. There was a split second that we thought his best bud had a position for him in southern California (I totally fit the House Wives of Orange County type don't I?!)--but that fell through. After months and months of searching and praying-Berns and I finally decided we wanted to go back to {my} roots and head on back to the lovely state of Colorado. Durango seemed to fit swell.
So Berns looked for jobs there and landed one with the Durango Herald....not really his field of study- but it was a good starting point.
So in June, we packed up what we have called home for 4 years and traveled the 10 hours east to find a new home.
We parked our belongings at my mom's old house (She moved to Manti when we moved to Durango...I say it's because we stink....but she said our timing was just bad). and unpacked the crazy Costas.

SOOOOOOOO, with that being said, 4th of July was spent in lovely, beautiful, Durango! Little Miss Riley Roo was with her father, so we missed celebrating with her cute face- But the 2 itty bitties, Grandma Nisey, Berns and I spent the day playing at the river. Despite the fact we had to miss fireworks (yup, they were banned since the entire state of Colorado seemed to be up in flames)- the girls had a grand ol time. Grandma Nisey seemed to enjoy herself just as much as the littles. It's nice to be back in a place where the girls can wander and play outside and enjoy the amazingness that nature has to offer. 

The power of some Gatorade and Nutrigrain

When I grew up field day meant "Track and Field". We trained for the whole second semester and learned how to triple jump, long jump, and run relays, 400 meter dash, and the mile. it was intense.
From there we would go to the city track meet--and it was always at a high school--Rocky Mountain High School-- and when I got to go I felt soooo cool. When I would win in an event at my school and got to go to the CITY TRACK MEET--I was pretty much the bomb. --It was right when Nutrigrain bars came out and I felt even cooler when I sat there waiting for my event sippin my gatorade and snackin on a Nutrigrain bar. I. Was. Cool.--Totally. legit.

Now, fast forward 20 years and you have Riley and her field day...which consists of NOTHING that I remember. If I said "triple jump" to Riley she might jump up in the air 3 times *sigh*....
Field day in Vegas consists of waterballoons and chair races. While that sounds all fun and dandy- I am pretty bummed my kiddo didnt get the chance to chug her Gatorade and snack on a Nutrigrain bar.....you get the point.
However, she had a great time and I guess that's all that matters. The two itties and I packed up some water and trekked it down to Riley's school to watch her in all her glory as she participated in relays and races to see who could put the most water in a cup or squeeze the most water out of a sponge. Being that field day is the end of the year and by then in Vegas it is 15 million degrees, I totally understand the need for water games.....and lets be honest, I was so hot I wanted to participate. The longer I was there the more the water games looked a lot more valuable than my silly triple jump anyways.

 One of my favorite pictures of all time. I dunno why...can't explain it...I just adore it. I'm gonna frame it....10 times.

 Bia felt the need to start doing yoga or something during the activities. I think the heat was making her crazy.

 Someone was super excited to be there....can you tell?

Work It Girl

Let me introduce you to Ms. Riley Aspen- a remarkable photographer who has an incredible eye for a beautiful picture.

Let me also introduce you to Ms. Zoie Bicalho- an up and coming model who knows how to strut her stuff down the runway and work that camera good.

Together the two of them are dynamite. Take a look for yourself.

"Nots Berry Far" {Knotts Berry Farm}

"Season Pass 69.00-- Daily rate--$40sum"- It only makes CENTS (moohaha, I'm punny) to buy a season pass to Knott's Berry Farm even though we lived 3.5 hours from it.

Berns and I decided that our family trip for the year (Spring Break 2012) should be to spend the week with the girls down in good ol Southern Cali soaking up sun and riding some rollercoasters. Being that Disney costs eleventy billion dollars, we decided to head on over to the land of Snoopy and Charlie Brown. The girls ate. it. up.  They loved every little bit of it!

I think one of their favorite parts was staying in a hotel. We are baffled by the fact that they get so excited to go back and just chill in the hotel--but then I remember when my dad would take me to a hotel and recall getting all kinds of giddey and excited too. And let's be honest- I'd kinda like to live in one- you leave and when you come back the entire room is clean and beds are made! Thats the life!

Zoie loved riding Snoopy's Letter ride...I don't recall what the name of it was- but you basically sat in a little seat that bounced up and down. Riley loved the roller coaster..she's getting so big that she's finally to the age that things like that are "So totally AWESOME!"

We were also lucky enough to have our lovely family friends The Brizzee's come along for the fun ride- the girls loved it because they each had a little buddy to hang out with for the week. Riley enjoyed being a tween with her buddy Hailey. Zoie and Preston got to be partner's in crime like always, and Bia and Alyssa enjoyed eating snacks....like always.

I, of course, took WAAAAY too many pictures- in which you get to partake of now. So enjoy--cuz we sure did.