Welcome!

Little baby Oscar Alan Costa was born at 11:56 pm (Portland Time) on September 13, 2018.  He is a 23 inch long young man, weighing in at 7 pounds 15 ounces.  He was born at 37 weeks to a exhausted mom and dad, Teresa & Alex.

I got the text about this at 4:49 am my time, while I was walking into the library to start my work day.  I am filled with so many emotions right now, happiness and joy are the first two of course.  I know that even though my daughter had a difficult time with his birth (she's been in labor since Wed morning), she is overjoyed and knowing how happy and content she is right now makes me beyond happy.  She has been wanting a baby for many many years now - and she has done it....she has a son!

I cannot wait to see his little face, and hold him in my arms.  Smell his new skin, and feel his silky hair on my finger tips.

It is such an odd feeling not being there for such an occasion.  I will fly out in 12 days though, he'll already be two weeks old at that time.  Oh man, I am one happy mama and grandma.....

(PHOTO CREDIT GOES TO DADDY)

Read more

Gotta Catch em All!

Does anyone else think it's weird when you run across 40+ year old people playing Pokemon!?  Especially when they used to make fun of people who played the real Pokemon, aka cards..?  Hell maybe odd isn't the right word-Ironic maybe lol!  I just remember Gavin getting a lot of shit for playing Pokemon or Magic while he was a pre-teen & up into his teen years...hell, I think even Teresa got shit about it...Weston & Xander both play Pokemon too-cards that is.

Anyway, here is a much more adult version I guess I could maybe get on board with, lol!  Enjoy & Happy FRIDAY!

xoxo, Lela

Read more

Teresa's Birthday

Today is this beautiful young ladies 26th birthday.  She was born to a single mother of only 16 years.  Luckily this mother lived with a great mom of her own & a very helpful little sister.

She was born premature, three months.  She was only 2.2 pounds & the first week she was born (as most babies do) lost some weight & so at her lowest she was 1.14 pounds.

But she was strong, strong inside and outside.  She only had to use a breathing tube for five short days.  She was in the hospital however, for 2 1/2 long months.  But that gave her plenty of time to grow & get stronger.  When she left the hospital she was almost 5 pounds.

She has always been a unique soul.  Born into a century that probably wasn't hers.  She has been a bit old fashioned, clairvoyant and brilliant.  She used to pretend she was a horse, among other animals & she wished we could have her "fixed" so she never had to have kids-because her younger brother Gavin was such a pain to her.

There are so many things I could say about this girl, I could go on and on....but mostly I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DAUGHTER-I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!

Read more

Summer Time

Well, the kids sure are growing.  Summer sure did get here fast too.  The boys, well they have seemingly grown out of all their summer clothes from last year & so has Miss O of course.  I just filled her closet & dresser up with cold weather clothing-now, it's time to get the bathing suits & shorts for the Sunshine State weather it's known & loved for.

Mom called me yesterday on my way home from work to let me know that the pool was ready for swimming & we were welcome to come over and swim (even if they are not home) with the kids.  Tomorrow is my last day at work before spring break & so we are probably going to take her up on that sometime next week (maybe daily).

We have not decided what we are going to be doing during spring break.  We don't want to spend to much money, so we'll probably do day trips & eat out a lot instead of traveling to a resort for the week at the beach (though I would love that).  Xander has put in that he wants to go to Wild Adventures & Weston wants to go skating and bowling.  They BOTH want to swim.  Xander even mentioned renting a water slide and inviting a bunch of friends over & having "a bunch of good food cooked by you"....I guess the boy likes my cooking.  All really fun ideas, wish we could do all of it.  Wonder how much it costs to rent a water slide? LOL!

Gavin is doing great, called me yesterday while I was at work to just tell me he loved me & that he was loving the training he was getting in the army.  I am proud of him.  He's going to be going to Alaska for a few years after he's done with AIT.  He isn't sure that he wants to go there, but you know he doesn't have much say when it comes to that sort of thing, lol!  He'll learn that quick.  Heck he should have learned that while in basic training ha. Teresa is doing good, working a lot & not really enjoying the dreary weather in Portland.  I think she longs to come back to Florida for a nice long hot beachy visit. I wish she would come for a long visit, I miss her like crazy.  Alex and her want to buy me a plane ticket out to Oregon for my birthday & mothers day (how sweet is that).  I need to figure out some time I can make that happen.  Weston & Xander are both in the mist of playing Spring Ball.  Weston is steady on first base and Xander is playing short & has been doing some pitching as well.  So far we have won both games.  They will have a tournament coming up in May (three days of baseball) fun fun.  Olivia has been living with us four days a week now (yay) and so she is at every game as well & has surprisingly done very well.  The only complaint I can make is that she eats ALL THE SNACKS, or tries too.  I guess she gets bored and wants to eat haha.  Baseball isn't for everyone haha.

I have a two page list of "things to do"....wonder if I'll ever get them completed?  Uggg.  So little time, so many things to do!  Well I guess on that note, I need to get to it!  LOVE & BE LOVED!

Read more

Christmas 2013

This year, Christmas came and went way to fast.  The kids are in their rooms now, playing with the new games, and gadgets & I am sitting alone in my office trying to write a clever blog post.  I think I'll just share a few images taken this month & hopefully they will tell the story.

Above is a photo of most of my moms grand kids.  Teresa & Olivia were not with us on this particular day.  This is Teresa's first Christmas away from home.  She couldn't fly home for the holiday, so she is in Portland this year with her boyfriend & his family.  Olivia, well this is her first Christmas & she is with her mom & her mom's family.  We will be celebrating again when she comes home on Saturday.

I tried to get individual photos of each of the little kids, but only one was serious and willing to pose & do exactly what I asked & that was Brice (my brother Bruce & SIL Colleen's little boy)  He did great, didn't he?

If you'll notice, in almost all the photos-Layla really has no interest in being with Gavin or on the ground by herself for the gate shot-lol.  Poor baby-she just wanted her momma.

When we celebrate Christmas at my moms house, we do it with steaks not turkey or ham.  Yum!!!  Fresh from Ward's in Gainesville FL.

Random acts of cuteness ;)

Read more

blah blah blah & a blah blah blah

Well, 10 more days and my first born will be flying out to live in the beautiful state of Oregon.  She's been staying with us for a few days, and now we just have a little over a week left together.  Who knows when we'll see each other again.  She was only living an hour away, and due to her schedule (very busy student & full-time worker) and my schedule we didn't get to see each other but a few times a month.  I'll miss her to say the least.

Her visit has been different.  She hasn't lived at home for so long, getting back into a rhythm has been challenging.  The boys, especially Weston has enjoyed having her around however.  Gavin works during the summer, so he's away a lot.  Billy has never lived with her, and I feel like he has some struggles with having another woman in the house as well.  But we're all managing alright.

Today, Weston and I are alone.  Billy sadly had to work, Gavin is at work as well.  Teresa went into town with a friend of hers for a brunch, but should be coming home soon.  Weston and I are watching WE BOUGHT A ZOO!!  Enjoying some quiet time.  I love this mixed up crazy family!!

Read more