I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!

Thanksgiving is definitely one of my very favorite holidays! It is about all of the right things...family, love, gratitude, tradition, and fun. Oh, and there is always the great food too! It is probably the purest holiday left without commercialism. One great thing was getting to have Michelle down from BYU-I for the entire week. This year we went with the Watt family for the day and Marvin and Ruth were such wonderful hosts. I was especially touched by Marvin taking a moment to welcome us all and remind us of how incredibly blessed we are, particularly when compared to people in other countries of the world. And then he offered the most humble and amazing prayer. He thanked Father in Heaven for being able to turn on a tap and get clean running water, for being able to turn on a stove to cook dinner, and so many other things we truly take for granted. The irony is that his family has struggled more financially than anyone else there, and yet he was probably the most grateful. Thanks for teaching me so many lessons Marvin, and especially about the true meaning of "Thanks Giving".

Thanksgiving Eve Tradition Renewed

When our kids were little we had a Castillo family tradition of going to Grandma's house and making little gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. Each child would decorate their own and then the Dads would judge them and award each one with a medal made of canning lids. Of course everybody got one! The tradition evolved when June's hubby made permanent wooden houses. Since the cousins have mostly grown up or moved away it has been several years, but Michelle decided she wanted to resurrect this wonderful memory, so Rafael worked very hard to make new wooden gingerbread pieces and we met Ana and her kids for a fun night of creativity. Aren't they so much fun?!! I think the tradition is here to stay with our own grandkids now, and they can have their own memories to cherish!

What Are You Going To Be On Halloween Night?

I was so disappointed because for the first time ever I actually bought part of my costume and then I didn't get to wear it! Bummer! My department at work decided to all be Harry Potter characters, and I decided to be Hagrid. I bought the perfect wig and beard, and then I got sick and didn't even go to work. So sad. But...we did still have our favorite little treak-or-treaters over! Easton wore the cowboy hat and boots Jen and Shelly gave him last Christmas and was a darling cowboy, and Averie was the cutest little bunny. We had a fun Halloween because of their family and were so glad they came to visit Grandpa and Grandma!

Smiles from Averie

Averie has started smiling, cooing, and especially blowing bubbles, but it doesn't usually last long enough for me to get my camera and actually get a picture. Here are a few of my favorites though. Isn't she so stinkin' adorable?!?!?!?!

The Castillo Castle

So...I just had to post a picture of the cute little castle that I made for a customer service contest at work. I spent WAY too much time on it, but it was fun. And they tell me I won the prize...whatever that is! I decided on a castle since "Castillo" means castle in Spanish, but I just thot of the slogan that morning where it says, "Where you are treated like royalty!" Pretty fun, huh!