Pre-Cruise Prep

Dearest Castillo Children,

My dear little ones, it has been pointed out (by your father, of course) that I start the letter to you and then switch to speaking about you in a third person. I do that because it is easier to talk about each of you when others are reading this as well. So, basically, sorry if it bugs you but that's how I like to do it. Love you!

The first week of April was a blur since we had booked our Mexican cruise and we needed to prep a lot of stuff before we left. My mom VERY generously agreed to watch my two little sweethearts while I enjoyed time alone with my big sweetheart. :) The week consisted mainly of grocery shopping, schedule writing, car maintenance, insurance covering, freezer meal prepping and of course, cleaning. All while I was also taking care of my girls. I felt a little overwhelmed at times getting everything ready but I kept my eye on the prize, so it were. I knew we would on a peaceful, fun cruise in only a few days and I could take on any little stress that came my way.

The only day I have a clear memory of, since I was in a haze of to do lists, was Thursday. It was Nora's Preschool field trip and I decided I wanted to go with instead of sending her with other parents. The went to the Post Office Museum to learn about how the mail works.

 

Nora's PreSchool Class (Nora, Isabel, Chase, Lincoln and Skylar)

 

 

Annalise loves field trips since she gets to go to Preschool too!

 

 

They all got to color and send a postcard in the mail.

 

 

They got to help stamp their postcard before it was processed.

 

 

They talked about how the mail system was when it first started and they pretended to get mail for their post box.

 

 

Nora was very proud of herself.

 

 

They sorted through old stamps from all over the world.

 

 

And even got to keep some.

 

 

Nora loved learning about where all the states were, and of course, Arizona was the best! She also impressed the ladies there by showing them that she knows all her letters and their sounds. I think she might be ready to start learning how to read, she already is starting to blend her sounds together.

 

 

Afterwards we got Chinese food and walked past a really pretty church. I decided to take some pictures and the girls decided they wanted to use their chopsticks like drumsticks on everything.

 

 

I should have taken them away if I wanted sweet pictures. But I kind of dig these.

 

 

Love random pictures

 

 

 

 

After the field trip we spent an hour at an oil changing place since Todd didn't have time to change the oil in the car before we went. I distracted the girls with coloring books, stickers and toys, but all Annalise wanted to do was dance to every song that came on over the radio. She made me laugh, but the other (grumpy) customers barely cracked a smile. I think they did very well because waiting in a place like that is hard on me too!

 

 

On Friday afternoon Grandma came and the following Saturday we left before the girls got up to head out to San Diego. I'll share in my next post all about our AMAZING cruise and hopefully get my mom to write out some of what happened at home while I was away. She shared some really cute stories and quotes from the girls. Man, they make me laugh!

 

 

I love you, my girls, even if I abandoned you for a full week. Apparently I was never missed but now that I am back I have heard about how much Grandma is missed. I see how it is! :)

 

 

With All My Love,

 

 

Your Mother