Christmas Blessings

I find my peace in preparation! With that being said, we start preparing for Christmas right after Thanksgiving. You know... decorations up, shopping on black Friday, and hopefully presents wrapped by the end of the 1st week in December. If we follow that schedule we have alot of down time to enjoy Christmas festivities and reflect on the true meaning of the season!

WARNING: Since, it's becoming a trend that I don't update but once a month this blog is picture packed and full of stories, pre-Christmas Day!

Our little apartment tree is so special to me, it's part of the first birthday present Adolfo got me while I lived in Abilene. This year he surprised me, and the night we decided to decorate we went shopping for new decorations!!!! This made me so happy, I loved our gold balls and red bows, but I've always wanted a more rustic tree, with berries and pine cones, and that is just what my wonderful husband gave me!

Our new rustic themed tree, Castro Christmas Tree 2010

We enjoyed my firms Christmas party, and enjoyed a night out on the town with friends! No night out is complete without a Ropollo's pizza run!

We celebrated our cousins, Heather's pinning ceremony and Darnell's Birthday!

This Christmas, I organized our firms first Adopted a Family program. This was such a special and humbling experience. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of all the wonderful people I work with, and because of their big hearts, we were able to provide a beautiful Christmas for a family right here in our own neighborhood. This program was different than any I'd ever participated in before, because I actually got to deliver our presents and meet the family. They were so sweet and grateful, and it made it all 1000 times worth it. I can still see the Mom's big smile and feel her hug as she welcomed me into their home!

Just a little of what they found under their tree....

And a little bit more.....

More!

More, continued!

All wrapped and ready to deliver! Christmas morning, as I sat with my family ready to share in our special day, I couldn't help but be excited thinking about their big smiles, and how special Christmas morning would be for each of them too! I know Christmas isn't about things, but just the fact that we got to create that special family memory for them made my heart smile! He were able to give them a harm meal, more than they wished for, and tons of family date nights! I am truly blessed to work with such AMAZING people, and that I have a job that allows me these creative opportunities!

Our office had a cube decorating contest the last week of work, before I went on my 2 weeks vacation! Here is my homemade Christmas wreath, I LOVE it, it smells like Cinnamon!

This December, Adolfo and I have definitely had our fare share of coffee dates :)! One night we got Starbucks and enjoyed the Macy's Tree and strolling at the Domain....

Another night he surprised me with Starbucks, Christmas carols, and a trip to see 37th street! This was my favorite house....

My first official day of vacation started off in Albert, TX. My little sister and I had a date to see our cousin's band, Hilltown, open for Kevin Fowler!

Tay and I with our cousins, before their big show!

Re-uniting with old friends....

Hilltown!


And Kevin Fowler, of course! He was awesome!

This year, I got to attend my Grandparent's restaurant Christmas Party for all their employees and their families. My Grandparent's have owned Janie's Mexican Restaurant for over 30 years, and employee over 30 people, alot of them working their for over 10 years! I love seeing the beautiful family environment they've created for their employees. It is such a blessing to share in moment's like these with them, and see how much their employees respect, and care for them.

Each year, my cousin host's a cookie decorating party. This year was awesome, it's always fun to see how everyone steps up their game each year!

Christmas Cookie Party, 2010

Sisters, sporting our aprons...

My little sister, making her own colors!

Can you see the concentration?

My sister's first year to participate, we never knew she was such a wonderful cookie decorator!

cousins...

Why do all Tay's aprons turn into capes?

Waiting on Chica!

Finally, The reigning champ!

So, out of all the cookies we decorate, only one can be entered into the contest. On Christmas Eve, our Grandma picks her favorite, and then it's bragging rights until the next year, cookie decorating is serious business in our family!

WOW, I can't believe all this took place between Thanksgiving and Christmas week, no wonder I am not having any problem going to bet by 10 this week! No matter how hectic, and activity packed this time of year is, I wouldn't change it for the world. The most precious gift to me is my family, and the one thing I can give them is my time, to create beautiful moments like above. I am so thankful for times like these, it reminds me everyday, how truly blessed Adolfo and I are in our lives.

I promised a Christmas post, but I'm going to have to break it up! Hope you enjoyed part one of our Christmas festivities, to be continued - Christmas Day :)!

Wait, what happened to November?

November always brings so many festivities into our lives. I guess if we had to chose "Our month" this would be it! For us, this month is the gateway into the most beautiful time of year. So, where have The Castro's been for a whole month? Hmmm, well let's see.....

We've celebrated our 28th birthdays! Adolfo and I are only 3 days apart so our birthday celebrations really do tend to last a good week!

He always has to start a little early, and I get to drag mine out with him, lol!

On my actual birthday, my family came into town and treated us both to lunch at a new Mexican restaurant we've been wanting to try FOREVER, haha! They spoiled us way too much, and my Aunt even made me my own personal birthday cake!

The Castro's, Cheers to another year of growing old together!

My sweet little sister and cousin joined in on the celebration!

We've also been preparing for hunting season! For Adolfo that means a great deal of work, for me it means beautiful drives to the hill country, quality time with family, and playing at the ranch! Adolfo actually took me out with him one night to just watch the feeders and I saw a nice buck! It was the quietest, most still I had to be! I love spending that time with him, it's so peaceful, my heart just raced! I don't know how someone can get that excited, and still focus! Side note: He's already got his first buck of the season, and I am patiently waiting for dried sausage, YUM, my favorite! I love my hunter man!

Our firm helped sponsor the Capital Area Food Bank, Empty Bowl Project again this year! Since it is November, Adolfo get's to skip out and Tay has always been my date to the preview party! We had a great time getting to try new gourmet soups and pick out our own special bowls, then she and I enjoyed a fun little sister bonding date night!

My special bowl, 2010, I just love it! It's so tiny, perfect for any type of spice!

We celebrated Thanksgiving in Austin this year. Adolfo always has to work on Thanksgiving, so I just spent the AM sleeping in, talking with family on the phone, and then preparing dessert for an evening Thanksgiving dinner with Adolfo's family.

We had a very low key, super relaxing Thanksgiving full of great food, family and football. I definitely fell asleep during the Cowboys game! To me, that's how you measure a successful Thanksgiving!

I hit the recliner, and I was out, haha! It's been a very busy and trying year for the Castro family, so it was special that we all could just slow down and be together.

For the past couple of years, my mother and I, have started our Christmas Shopping on Black Friday! More just to jump into the Christmas spirit and see if we spot any great deals. This year Claudia and Tay joined us, and it will definitely be an experience full of memories we will never forget! There is nothing Tay's little red hot can't handle!

The most special tradition on Thanksgiving weekend for my family, and probably every family from JC, is Light's Spectacular. I always feel like I grew up in a Hallmark movie this special weekend, every year! It's full of fireworks, funnel cakes, tamales, hot cider, parades....you name it, it's probably there! It's when Santa comes to town, and our city turns into blocks of LIGHTS! Nothing more special than Christmas, Hill Country Style!

This year Adolfo and I ran in the 2nd annual Lights Spectacular 5K. I am so proud of us because we did it! I beat my goal time by one minute, and Adolfo got 3rd in his age group! It was way more challenging than anticipated. I am so glad we did this together, love you babe!

After the race, hanging with the family, waiting for the parade to start! Our legs hurt, I couldn't stand, and he couldn't sit, haha.....

Our weekend ended relaxing at our cousin's house! I am so grateful they now live in Texas.

They spoiled us with hot cocoa at their new outside kitchen....

And s'mores and a bunch of other goodies at his new fire pit!

Chica is our s'mores queen!

And after a November like ours, at the end of the night all we wanted to do was sit by the fire, with our feet up and just be with our family, doing absolutely nothing but catching up and sharing stories, it was perfect! Oh, but note to self, don't keep your shoes by the fire too long, or the glue on your soul will begin to melt!

November never let's us down. It is always full abundantly full of all the things we love! I am so thankful for my family, and the gift of time. Time to just slow down, and surround ourselves with the most important things and people in our lives. We are so excited for what December is going to bring! So now, here we are, I am currently enjoying 3 days off of work to just re-energize, get caught up, and get things in order for all things Christmas!

Next blog: Christmas festivities, be EXCITED!

~ The Castros

October was fun, but I LOVE November!

I LOVE this time of year. The season is changing, I get an extra hour of sleep, but life just picks up! Since I work in the public sector, my busy season has begun. It's that time of year I just hold on and try to get things done in great anticipation for the holiday season.

Adolfo and I get to spend the next two weekends in ATX, and are super excited. We are just getting things done, and planning our birthday celebrations. We can't believe we turn 28 next week, AHHH! A little scary, but I am so ready for the next chapters of our lives and all God's little blessings He has in store for us in 2011!

So where have we been?!?! Celebrating family! We surprised our Mom with Tickets to a UT football game for her birthday, LOVED IT! I know, I know, the Horns aren't doing so great, but no matter what, we are Longhorns, win or lose. We are faithful fans, good or bad, we got your back Mac! View from our seats, getting pumped!

In all honesty, October was a complete blur, ha! I don't know what we spent our time doing now that I look back on it! So, I think I will just share pictures.....

Loved being back home and relaxing with the family! I missed my Chica, so grown up, we finally got to meet her "Friend", lol! Really makes me feel old!

We carved pumpkins at Heather's. I can't remember the last time I did that, and I don't ever remember it being that challenging, but I loved the end result so completely worth it! Tay, with such focus!
Gerald doing the dirty work, Heather getting the seeds!

The finished results! H&G's mummy, my Trick or Treat, and Tay's monster....

We all got together for one of our cousin's 15th birthday celebration....it was fun to all be together, FAMILY PHOTO OP!

So there you have it, October was a blur. I am making it a point to enjoy November and just SLOW down! I am counting down the days till our birthdays, a little time off for Thanksgiving, our first 5K, Lights Spectacular in the hill country, and BLACK FRIDAY. That's right it's Christmas Shopping Time....budget made/shopping list prepared.....SWEET NOVEMBER!

C.

I'll give you 6, can't think of 10!

Life is pretty much in control these days at the Castros. We love the Fall, but this time of the year seems to always be the busiest for us with work, school, family, celebrations, but I love it! I seem to be falling behind, but I hang in and enjoy the pictures and I will bring you to date :)!

Adolfo has been pretty busy with school these past few weeks/weekends so I have stepped away on the weekends to get out of his hair, and let him concentrate on his classes, and it seems to be working because his grades are awesome, and fingures crossed he will be starting at Texas State this time next year!

So what have I been up to you ask?.....

1. Baby N's 2nd Birthday Party!

2. Adolfo and I signed up for our first 5k Run over the Thanksgiving Holiday...and I am so happy it is in my hometown, during my most favorite time of the year!

3. Participated in the American Heart Walk 2010 with my Mom and Tay. PEC raised 53K for this event, being the biggest Corporate donor! Glad I was asked to be a part of it, it was a beautiful Saturday Morning in ATX! More importantly I got 2 new FREE t-shirts...the things we take for granted from college!

4. I had a movie date night with my Grandma, we went and saw Secretariat and I LOVED it! Don't know what Grandma loved more the movie of the popcorn.

5. Attended my cousin's baby shower, Eliana should be here within the next 2 weeks. Babies everywhere these days!

6. And last but not least, I finally got to go see the progress on my Grandparent's new house. My Grandparent's home has always been our little hill country retreat, and I couldn't believe that it burned down, but God is faithful, and with their continued hard work.... sit back and enjoy the tour!

Front view...beautiful cedar posts that wrap around half the house to the patio!

Here is the view standing at the patio looking towards the front of the house...

Standing in the breakfast nook, looking into the living room...LOVE the ceiling!

View from the kitchen, I love all the natural light they will have...directly outside those windows will be the pool/patio area!

Breakfast nook!

Kitchen, and entry way... I LOVE the arcs everywhere! See those 2 little windows in the back?

Formal Dinning! Those 2 little windows will be access to this dining room where my Grandma will have a buffet, so she can push food out of the kitchen! Can you tell she owns a restaurant, lol?

This is kind of blurry, but this is the hall form the nook to the formal dinning room, 1st door is where we will have storage, wine cellar, and ice machine....then it is a wet bar, and then a pretty snazzy washroom!

The Castro's room! Claudia and Jaime's is exactly the same but on the other side!

My Grandparent's suite.....

View from the patio, this is why I love this place...so peaceful! That pile will be moved!

So there you have it, that's life in a nutshell, haha! I am so grateful for these moments, I hope yall all have a beautiful week! And I hope to be back sooner, rather than later :)!

C.

Where did September go?

Life has definitely been moving too quickly lately, so I will share a little bit of what's been going on here with the Castros, kinda random!

I got off early from work a few weeks ago, and got to see Chica play volleyball, and we went to H&Gs and hung out a little bit....hadn't seen them in awhile.....

Wedding season is picking up,

I am working on to wrap up little projects, I'll share the finished project when I'm done...

My sister convinced me to get into the spirit! I've always LOVED fall, it's the BEST time of year, but I never really decorate, because I don't have storage, and clutter would just stress me out! But I caved in, Adolfo and I spent Sunday afternoon shopping purchasing a few little treasures!

My pumkin, and sign!

I LOVE this hurricane, that I can use all seasons! The pumkins smell like cinnimon! Haha, I know I didn't go overboard, but I thought they were cute to start my collection, so it begins....

So that's about it, October is nothing short from eventful so hopefully I'll have more to share. It's just school and the beginning of busy season, just trying to stay ahead....and so excited it's been cold because I've been getting to enjoy this......

You know, just an extra pep in my step. Have a great week!

C.