Papi Family Winter Vacation

This January, we were able to spend a weekend up at Tenaya Lodge in the snow thanks to Mimi and Papa. We had so much fun with Hannah and Logan making snowballs, swimming in the pool, sledding and just spending time together.

If Time Could Stand Still

I know that most of my posts seem to have the same theme....I am so sad at how fast the boys seem to be growing older. But, a friend sent me the following You Tube that again reinforced my fears that these seasons are passing way too rapidly for my liking. Watching this video, I began to wish that I could stop time right here and right now.

Don't get me wrong, I have loved every season we have been blessed with!! I adored having babies- holding, cuddling, nursing, feeding, tickling, rocking. I also loved the toddler stage- watching each of the boys develop into their own little person, temperament, will and all. I also loved the pre-school stage (even having three boys under the age of 4- three boys in carseats and 3 boys in diapers). I loved giving them rides in the laudry baskets, making bubble bath beards and mohawks, and laying in bed reading book after book.

But, right now is more fun than I ever expected it to be. I love being able to have real conversations with my boys and still have them enjoy being with their mom. I love it that they want to go to Starbucks with mom all by themselves. I love it that they still want me to tuck them in at night and that they remind me any time I forget to pray with them. I love it that they still climb into bed with me in the mornings and that they still give free hugs and hold my hand. I love being Nick's mom. I love being Cody's mom. I love being Brett's mom. I love watching them play basketball, soccer, baseball, and even cross country. I love baking cupcakes for their class parties or game snacks. I love slicing oranges and taking pictures at every event.

At times like this when I think ahead to the days when I won't have these same things to look forward to, I guess I have to trust that God will fill those days with blessings all unique to those seasons. I guess I do look forward to seeing how God grows these boys into young men and what lies ahead for them in their future. But, I do know that some day I will look back at these days and miss the times I am living right now. It is my goal this year to take more pictures, not of just the sporting events, holidays and school performances, but also of the game nights, movie nights, lemonade stands, and even the wrestling on the floor and video game playing in the playroom. One day I am sure it is even those sounds that I will miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSyCLJU3O0&feature=player_embedded

Merry Christmas

Welcome, friends and family to the Castro Family Blog. I started this blog this year as an attempt to chronicle our lives as the seasons seem to be changing ever so quickly. Now that all three boys are in school full time, I have become so much more aware at how fleeting the moments are that we have together and I try to cherish all of them. As life blazes by it is my desire to keep this online journal so that I don't forget all of the precious moments we are blessed with.

For those of you who we do not get to see or talk with as often as we would like, this is my way of sharing a bit of our year with you. It is more fun for me to do this than a Christmas letter, because I like to include pictures.

This year as I mentioned, we started a new chapter with all three boys in school full time. Nicholas is now in 4th grade, Cody in 3rd and Brett in 1st. They all love school and all of the activities that come with it!! The boys are all three very active in any sport that we will let them play. Nicholas even tried cross country this year and really enjoyed it! All three look forward to the day when they are old enough to play football, but daddy is still holding out on that one and making them wait until 5th grade.

Neil is in his 5th season as the head coach of the FPU Tennis teams and now has a National Championship ring to show for it. Last spring his mens team took the national title that had slipped through their fingers the previous 3 years. The women took 2nd once again but are looking forward to this year!

I am still working part time at Cooper Middle School and wake up every morning happy to go to work. I am blessed to work with a great staff and even better students!!

It is our desire that you all have a truly blessed and joyous holiday season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. We also pray that in the chaos that this season can bring you take time to cherish the moments with family that can slip away so quickly and have time to reflect and appreciate the true meaning of the season!

Love always-

The Castro Family

Disneyland

This year we were very blessed to be able to take a family trip down to Disneyland. We love to go during the holidays to see all of the Christmas decorations and see it snow down Main Street. Although we had a great time together, Neil and I came back more exhausted than ever. The boys were ride maniacs. We were in the park for 8 1/2 hours on Sunday and almost 10 hours on Monday. They never slowed down and never wanted to stop going on the rides.....the scarier the better. Even Brett who is always up for Dumbo and the Merry go round traded them in for Matterhorn and Indiana Jones (but, he still holds out on the upside down roller coaster and often closes his eyes through most of the scary rides).

What happened to the days when we used to take pictures with the characters, stop to watch every parade, and go back to the hotel for lunch, a nap and swimming??

I did make the boys stop to watch one parade and two shows (which they enjoyed) and I refused to leave until we took a family picture with Mickey. They boys could not believe that we would wait in line for this!! Thank goodness the line was not long or I don't think my wish would have come true.

I must say the best part for me was having all three boys hold my hands as we walked down main street or back to the hotel. I very rarely had an empty hand and I cherished every moment of it. I hope they never outgrow that one!!!

Halloween

This year we had fun spending Halloween at the DeManby's. Although we missed Hannah because she got sick we still had fun and got lots of candy.

Nicholas dressed up as Tim Lincecum- complete with extensions glued to his hat.

Cody dressed up as Hip Hop Cody- he loves the show Hip Hop Harry, but we could not find one of those costumes.

Brett dressed up as his favorite football player- Troy Palomalu (you think Daddy had any influence on that one??) We even found a wig that looks a bit like Troy's.