Chairs and a Taste of Summer Fun

Dearest Castillo Children,

Hello, my lovelies! This week we had the opportunity to experiment with our Summer Schedule, which I am super excited about. On Tuesday we swam in the pool at the clubhouse, Wednesday went to Pilate's class and Thursday went to Story Time at the library. I am really excited to try all these awesome activities with my sweet girls. Now that Annalise is starting to get old enough to drop her morning nap we can actually go out and do some fun thing together! Our Summer Schedule will goes as follow:

Monday - Summer movies with Tylee with popcorn (For Nora only)
Tuesday - Work day (do chores...laundry...) & Swimming
Wednesday - Pilate's
Thursday - Story Time at the Library & Swimming
Friday - Swimming or time with Daddy on off Fridays

So the best part of our week had to be the giggling that I hear everyday. Annalise and Nora are really starting to get along and play together. They were playing with the toy strollers and running around chasing each other and ramming into one another. It was the funniest thing I had seen in a long time.

We also got to do our first swim of the year. It takes forever to get two little people ready to go swimming! Getting the floaties together, getting towels, snacks and juice, putting on sun screen and swim suits. However, Nora was so excited to go swimming. I had told her on Monday evening that the next day we would go swimming. Man, sure enough, the first words out of her mouth were: "Is it time to go swimming!?" Then came the hour of "let's swim!". I told her she had to eat all of her breakfast and then clean up the playroom before we could go anywhere. She hasn't been eating much lately unless it is something she really likes. She ate all the breakfast AND cleaned up the playroom all by herself. Wow. We might be swimming a lot this summer for that reason alone!

At the pool the girls were so happy! Annalise and Nora both have a floatie they sit in and I push them around the pool. Annalise especially was so delighted by they water. She kept giggling and saying "weeee!".  She liked it when I would pick her up on her floatie and then drop her in the pool. The floatie would make her bounce in the water and she'd get a little splash. Loved it! Nora wanted to wear sunglasses like Mommy so she got her own pair to wear. I wish both of my girls would wear glasses and hats but they keep them on for  a second so I don't even bother most of the time. We were so exhausted after the pool that I decided to just go get some food from Burger King, which I never do. Mostly because it's such a drive for any fast food that I'd rather just make something at home since it'll take the same amount of time. I took dinner to a friend that night who's husband has been out of town and she really seemed to appreciate it. I'm glad that I am able to help serve my friends.

Wednesday we went to Pilate's and my girls got to play with some friends while Mommy exercised. It is so nice to get a chance to exercise! Now that it is getting hot it is getting harder and harder to go for walks! I started waking up earlier so I can go for a walk with Tebow with the girls. It makes my day go SO much better. Wish I had done this last summer. Plus I have gained a few pounds thanks to my baked goods obsession (grr...Cake Boss) so I REALLY need to walk in the mornings. Tra, la, la...

Thursday we went to library but we went a little too early for story time. Oops. So I took you to the Retirement Community to get some paperwork for our HOA. Man, everyone loves my little girls! Everywhere we go there is someone who stops us to let me know that my babies are beautiful. Yeah...they're also brats sometimes. It's a good thing they are cute! :) We did story time and Nora loved that. We'll have to try to do it again next week. I also had a church activity about being a better woman and how to improve in different aspects. It is just nice to be around other women.

Friday Daddy had off of work so we went swimming as a family. It was kind of cold because the wind was blowing like crazy. Daddy couldn't find his swim suit anywhere so we had to drive to Wal-Mart to buy him a new one. How did he lose his suit? We have no idea. Ahhh...just wanted to go swimming up had to go find a suit instead. It worked out fine since we went to get some lunch from Taco Bell while Daddy bought his suit. We had a great time at the pool. We ate lunch there before we went swimming. The 30 minute rule is a lie, by the way. Don't believe people when they tell you that. The wind was blowing so hard that the last bite of my lunch got blown away. Oh, well, I guess it was a special treat for some birds. Nora was so happy in the water and even though she was shaking and super cold she kept asking to stay in the water. Finally I had to call it and we went home. We were all exhausted and took a really good nap.

Saturday your Dad was so nice! He finished covering my chairs for me and then we spent the afternoon grouting the glass tile that we put up over the Easter weekend. Now we just need to seal it and it is done! So happy to get that checked off my to do list. I feel a little bad since my projects meant he couldn't work on finishing restoring the piano. It was be beautiful when it is all done. Someday. Finish the night off with babysitting a friend's kids and you got yourself a tired Momma.

Today, Sunday, was super busy. I woke to make cupcakes for choir practice, had choir practice, drove to another practice for Stake Conference, got ready for church, prepped the Temple Prep Lesson, went to church, came home to make dinner, had friends (Jeffe and Mary) over for dinner, had Home Teachers over and now blogging. That's pretty typical though. We like to be busy on our day of rest. :) For the month of June I'll be singing I Need Thee Every Hour twice...is the Lord trying to tell me something? Hmmm...

I am so tired from our week that I am going to sign off and maybe next week I can share more thoughts a feelings. I can barely keep my eyes open. :) I hope you know that I love you and you are my first priority. Our Home Teacher tonight said if we put the Lord first, family second and career third we'll lead a happy life. My family means the world to me and I am grateful that my career also happens to be my family.

With All My Love,
Your Mother