Go Giants....

This week we were able to make a quick trip up to San Francisco to catch a Giants game and make a stop at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Thank goodness for eBay...we got unbelieveable deals!!


My boys are crazy Giants fans, thanks to their Papa. Cody wakes up every morning, checks the Sports page to read their stats and sees what their standing is in the NL West. Then he checks the TV to see what time the game is that day. So, to be able to see the Giants in person was a real treat for the boys and we could not have asked for a better night. Their favorite pitcher, Tim Lincecum was pitching and he pitched 15 strike outs. For those of you non-baseball lovers, that is remarkable, so the boys were very fired up. We had the first row seats in centerfield, so the boys went home with 4 balls that they caught between batting practice and the game. (Of course, I am sure you figured that we got to the ballpark at 5:00 for a 7:15 game just so they would not miss batting practice!!!)

This is Nicholas after catching a ball tossed to him by Andres Torres.

For any of you who have not been to Discovery Kingdom, I highly recommend it. It was formerly Marine World Africa and now has all of the bonuses of the thrill rides of a Six Flags. We all loved it because it had many animal exhibits and shows that were fun to watch and educational at the same time. Nicholas and Cody loved going on every scary roller coaster they could find....the more upside down loops, the better. And Brett preferred the more gentle rides and bumper cars. It was a Win Win for everyone.




It was a very quick, but fun get-away for the Castro family and we are so thank ful to have opportunites like this!!

Counting my seasons....

I once did a Bible study that encouraged the participants to figure out if you lived the average life span, how many days you had left to live. It seems a bit morbid, but the point was to make you realize that we cannot take our days for granted. Last night, Nicholas played his last game of our 2009 baseball season. While part of me is excited that we get some of our week nights and weekends back and we can live a sane life again, another part of me is sad. I realized yesterday that IF he plays baseball in high school, we only have 9 more baseball seasons to enjoy watching him play. This all-star season he was moved to first base and his confidence really grew in that position. He made some wonderful plays as he dug balls out of the dirt as players were crossing the plate and stretched out his little legs to beat the runners. He made his mama proud. Nothing beats the big smile that filled his face when he glanced to the stands knowing he had just made a great play. Although he still has yet to hit one out of the park, he came very close in the Bullard tournament, falling short by about 5 feet.

Our season came to a close last night....in Hanford. Nicholas's team played 3 games in 110 degree heat, but all five of us could have thought of no where else we would have rather been. Cody and Brett enjoyed the games as much as Nicholas because they got to play "pickle" with all of the team's younger brothers and eat snacks after the games.

Well, we will enjoy about 3 weeks of rest and peace before soccer season begins. But, there will be no complaining in this house....we are counting our seasons with gratitude and loving every minute of it!!

My Girls...

I love my boys with all of my heart, but there are two other little ones who have stolen my heart in a whole new way that I never thought possible. My two neices are the cutest two little girls to walk the face of this Earth and they both bring an instant smile to my face and joy to my heart. I think this may be what it will be like to have grandchildren because although they are not my own, they definately hold a piece of my heart. I don't know if it is because I don't have girls of my own or just because, like I said, they are the cutest girls I have ever seen, all I know is that I love being around them.

The top picture is my neice, Logan (2) with my sister, Katie and the bottom pic is my neice, Hannah with my brother in law, AJ. Hannah was holding on to daddy's shoulders for dear life.

They are very fun right now because they are both developing their speaking skills. Hannah came to watch Cody play baseball and walked up to every kid with a baseball hat asking me, "Dat Cody?" Any one else without a baseball hat, she greeted with a huge smile and her trademark, "Hiiiyyyee." She melted everyone's heart there and I love the opportunities to brag and let everyone know that she is my neice.

Logan is now talking in complete sentences and she amazes me at what comes out of her mouth. I know she definately has a much more extensive vocabulary than my boys ever did...must be a girl thing. She cracked me up at one of Cody's games when she told me, "Auntie Nini, that girl has the same shoes like me." I was amazed at the perfection of her grammar and at the fact that at two she is already checking out other girls shoes....must be another girl thing. :)

Bretty and His Bike

This year, we were blessed to be able to spend the 4th in Santa Cruz with my parents and the Mulligans. One of my favorite moments of the trips was going on a long bike ride with Brett down West Cliff Drive. With Brett beginning first grade this year, I cherish every moment I have with him alone. Brett is my one son who is always ready to take a walk or go for a bike ride. He asks to go for a walk almost every night after dinner and anytime he finds out I am going for a run (which is not very often), he runs to grab his helmet. I must admit, I don't always jump for joy when he wants to go with me on a run because he does not shut up for the entire two miles and because I don't run often enough, I do not have the stamina to talk and run at the same time. Those thoughts disappear quickly enough when I realize that I only have a limited amount of time before he is not going to want to go with me anymore, so I have suck it up and I do not always make it as far as I want.

My Big Boys

As I mentioned before, my boys are growing older at a much more rapid pace than I ever thought possible. Nicholas, the oldest, is now 9 1/2 years old. In August he will officially be an upper grader- 4th grade. Cody will be in third grade and my baby, Brett will be in school for a full day as a first grader. I have no idea how time flew by that fast. Presently we are in the thick of baseball season. Nicholas and Cody both made their all-star teams and Brett is the best bat boy you have ever seen. (Since Brett is only 6, he is not yet allowed to play all-stars...he cannot wait for next year!!)

Although times are crazy with two kids playing...Neil and I are enjoying every minute of it. There is no better way we could think of spending our weekends than sitting back, chewing seeds and watching our babies do what they love to do. We know that this season will pass just as quickly as the one before it, so we are cherishing every game. Because of that, I take hundreds of pictures!!

Yippee!!

I love having two little sisters....they keep me current on all the new trends. I know blogging has been around for a while, but I am way behind and I am so excited to get started on this new journey. As the boys are growing by leaps and bounds right out of my arms, I look forward to having a place to chronicle all the excitement that comes with my three boys!! Thanks WeeWaa and DeeDee!!