GO SPURS GO!!!!

Published by Elaine under Family on October 31, 2007

Ok so like I had to make this my title!!! You don’t know the SPURS until you’ve lived in SA, so the saying goes. It’s so true, man this city goes all out, its an official holiday every time the SPURS play. I have to say I’m loving it!!! Solomon went nuts watching them play for his first time. He and his cousins had little Spurs fans, they would scream and raise them high everytime the SPURS scored. Isaac and I are side by side working on our computers, I of course blogging, he is web surfing and watching the game. SPURS just won…yeah, 106 to 97 was the score.

Well we have been a busy bunch. This past weekend my mother-in-law, Ofie came into town with Michael’s mom, Bunnie. It was fun. We woke up early Saturday, had a good breakfast and then headed out to a local pumpkin patch with the kiddos. Here are some pics, enjoy.

 

Alright so I am a picture freak…oh-well! After a fun time at the pumpkin patch we headed out to do the tourists thing with the fam. Visit Isaac’s blog to see the sPoOky pics of the Spanish governor’s palace in downtown SA. Thought it would be fun considering Halloween is right around the corner.

Later that night we went shopping for last minute costume items…so fun. Can’t wait! I will post more pics of our Halloween fun. That’s it for now.

Vida Loca!

Published by Elaine under Family on September 22, 2007

It has been a while since I last posted. Life has had me busy for the past couple of weeks. My little Solomon started school with his cousins here in SA. They love it. I am so impressed with the school district, they are so up to date, technology-wise, nothing compared to CCISD. His teachers are awesome, thank God.

Little Benji is still running the house, that little one is super tough. This one is going to be my football player. Yesterday Isaac was lounging in the living room watching T.V, when little Benji comes running out of nowhere and body slams Isaac on his side all together causing back pain….yeah those were his kidneys. While Isaac was recovering from the slam, Benji then picked up a hard toy and whip-lashed Isaac on the head! Talk about a little body-builder in the making!   My Benji-poo!

Things are going well with my job. I have become acquainted with my new co-workers and they seem to be a great bunch. We had lunch the other day at TGI Fridays…that was fun. My new supervisors are pretty cool and extremely helpful. Isaac is keeping busy with his business, as usual  (very handsome) . We are so loving all his weekends off and being able to spend time as a family. If he’s not working in his office, he is wrestling with the boys or bar-b-qing or watching “the Office.” By the way, our favorite show is going to air this week…”Heroes”, I so can’t wait!

Today we celebrated my neice’s B-day, she (Skye)  is 8 now……my how the years have flown by. Denise, Isaac and I had lunch at school with her today. Solomon joined us and so did Olivia. We also celebrated later in the evening by eating at Chris Madrid’s, an incredible burger place. We then came home and ate some birthday cake.

We also came across an old friend of ours who lives here in SA. I am glad we reunited. He (Javier) has been over to our house a couple of times now. Isaac is actually doing a website for him. He is such an awesome person, extremely talented, bien amable. Can’t wait to see the site!

Move Accomplished.

Published by Elaine under Family on August 15, 2007

I think we are all settled in, except my brain! It’s been one crazy ride that’s for sure. I am completely exhausted from the move, yet anxious to get back into a routine, for the kids sake of course. Lots and lots happening…all good, thank God. Isaac became a member of the chamber of commerce here in SA and will most definitely link up with other business owners, thats a given. We have run into several people already needing business….God again. Talk about from Best Buy(someone he met there) to 5050 Broadway (a delicious burger joint by the way) to somebody wanting to start a golfing business and not to mention a company here in SA wanting to contract Isaac out. It is mind-blowing! I know he will do fine, it is only a matter of time until he establishes himself.

Meanwhile I want to give a shout-out to

“Last Minute Movers“,   the company that helped us move (by the way, Isaac , my husband did their website). They did a terrific job, I would recommend them to anyone. Thank you so much Frank, his lovely wife, Natasha Tingle, and all your guys, you all rock. I pray that God blesses your business and family ten-fold. Thank you so much for your encouraging words, believe me they were heartfelt.

Here are some pics from the move:

   Ready for the move. Blury, but too cute not to include.

 Their little faces can be interpreted so many ways, my baby boys.

  Can’t believe we’re actually moving!

   Filler up.

   Isaac driving truck, following behind with kiddos and family.

  Getting close to San Antonio.

       Oh so so tired and so so precious. My motivation and inspiration for everything.

Also, thank you mom, dad, Ofie, Brandon and his sweet wife, Renee  for helping us with the move up here. Renee thank you so much for keeping the kiddos entertained, you were awesome. By the way, I hope your foot gets better.  And thank you for the card, that was so nice of you guys. You all are welcome up here anytime, we mean it. 

Well I am taking vacation starting Thursday, August the 16th. I will start fresh on August the 28th except here in SA. I’ve already been in contact with my new supervisors and they seem pretty cool. The day of the move I received a call from one of them, they wanted to test my Spanish skills…well I passed with flying colors…so go-figure, I will be getting paid bilingual salary! Now, I will be honest, coming into this job I did not speak it at all. Now I understand it very well, however I did not speak it. Yeah that sounds weird, but growing up my parents spoke to me in Spanish and I responded in English, so I guess there you have it. Well I set a goal for myself to pick it up. There was a time that I had to attend numerous Adult Day Care enrollment events for my job, so I made it a point to sit with the Hispanic Senior Citizens and to chat about their lives. Boy, did I learn it quick, Spanish was the only way we communicated, I had to or I would not be able to complete my tasks. I have great respect for our elder population. You can sure learn a lot, that is where wisdom lies. I also saturated myself in the Spanish/English dictionary. Not only that, but when my biological mother lived with us in Corpus, all we spoke was Spanish. Now, moving to San Antonio gives me a whole different perspective on my culture. I feel honored by my origin and love who God made me. I am proud to be Hispanic, I absolutely love it.  Whatever God made you, be proud of your roots and know that God does not  make mistakes. “He does not called the qualified, he qualifies the called” (a mentor of mine, emailed me an inspiring story and at the end of that story was this quote). So true! Can’t wait to post more about our journey.

Having fun!

Published by Elaine under Family on July 12, 2007

Today was an awesome day. Isaac, I and the boys spend the day at Cole Park. The boys needed to get out of the house and have some fun. Little Benji is fearless. He saw a slide and immediately ran to it and slid down.    Doesn’t matter how big or tall the slide is…he knows what a slide is for and he is determined to do it without any assistance. Benji, Benji, your smile lights up a room. Your giggles are so cute. I am so priveleged to be your mommy. 

My little Solomon is a protective big brother, always making sure little brother does not get hurt.  He is definately my eyes and ears when I am not present.  He is so structured and considerate. His little phrase right now when I ask him if he is my baby is, “I’m your first baby!” I can’t help but to squeeze him and shower him with lots of love and kisses.

Daddy was teaching the boys how to make rocks skip in the water.    

Here are two more pics of the boys having fun with Daddy.      Benji being sneaky!

All that running around sure did build up an appetite. We found ourselves at Whataburger by the bay eating upstairs. We then decided to head over the Harbor bridge, where Isaac took beautiful pics of “The Blue Ghost”, or the Lexington. While Solomon helped Daddy position tripod, Benji and I decided to take a stroll on North Beach. He did not want to feel the sand or water, he refused to be put down and clawed his little but sharp nails into my shoulders. I carried him for the stroll and he was a happy camper. There were so many people at the beach…ahhh summer!  We called it an evening, went home, bathed the boys and they were out like cold logs. In my book, thats called a successful DAY!

Family Time

Published by Elaine under Family on July 11, 2007

Family time is so important in the Castillo home.  Tonight before bed time, Isaac and I played with the boys in their room.  Wela (my mother, Spanish for grandma) was even entertained with the toys. Oh, yes my mother lives with us. She is an interesting person. Funny thing, she hadn’t been a part of my life for years, but now I can’t seem to be without her. It really does help to have an extra set of hands around here, especially when you have a four year old bouncing of the walls and a 19 month old standing on top of the dinner table yelling, “mama, mama!!” Oh yes, the joys of motherhood! My honey is in a transition with his job so in the meantime he has been hanging out a lot more….kind of like a vacation….yes I like that! He is such a helpful husband and father, I thank God for him. I really don’t know what I’d do without him, he is truly an answered prayer. Someday I will tell the story of how we met and how God clearly spoke to the both of us affirming that we were meant to be.  I love it! In the meantime, here are some pics from my beautiful family.

  My honey

  Look at those adorable smiles!   

  Father’s Day. We had a bar-b-q… of course!

  Just me and my boys!

   Enjoying a cute little park off of Ocean Dr.