tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83299122798597554592024-02-19T08:38:34.565-08:00the simple life.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.comBlogger763125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-40497619825583082832016-02-08T09:31:00.001-08:002016-02-08T09:31:23.725-08:00Franco's a Doctor!He did it!<br />
<br />
We're so, so happy. And relieved. And happy.<br />
<br />
He had one more section of boards to pass, part 2, and then he could receive his license. He was working at Lenscrafters in Ventura, a job he found while searching last August.<br />
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...anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-60639860853239325782015-08-26T00:08:00.001-07:002015-08-26T00:08:05.250-07:00"Clarkie Boyo"Clarke has been changing lately. I heard someone once say, "Terrible Twos or Terrible Threes don't exist. They become terrible whenever the next baby arrives." Now that Everly's older than one and she's becoming much more independent and interested in Clarke's things--namely, toys--he's definitely found his angry side. Though I shouldn't call it "angry" more than "temperamental" or "touchy" or "argumentative" side. He's still obedient, but only after fighting both his parents and saying "No!" a lot, sometimes even adding a threat to the end--"I'm going to throw this..." or "I'm going to hit you with this..." etc. It seems like it just came out of left field one day, it's really caught me off guard. I usually ignore it, because arguing does nothing. It's all about that "power struggle" thing, right? Toddlers should not think they won an argument! And Clarke is quite the master negotiator! I tell him to eat his food. He says, "How 'bout..." and adds a series of options neither acceptable or in any way implied in whatever I had just told him to do. I'm afraid! I know it's probably only a phase and that he'll grow out of it, but meanwhile, I feel so nostalgic for my perfect angel! On top of it all, we had to cut his hair really short a couple of weeks ago because we found lice in it (NIGHTMARE) and gone is my handsome angel boy, in his place is an angry, frowning, foot-stomping bully with the haircut I swore I'd never give him. It makes me want to cry, and I do, on the inside.<br />
<br />
I know the answer. I know the only way to get through this phase without losing it too many times is love. I love him with all my heart. I know I love him because I would get up earlier than I had planned to get up because I hear him whisper, "Mama, I peed in my pants," get him out of bed, bathe him, change him, wash the bedclothes, and pretend it didn't happen. I know I love him more than anything because when he is happy and his smiling eyes are shining at me with this secret twinkling in them it fills me with wonder that he's my son, that I am his mother! I know I love him because something inside melts over and over when he and his sister get close, hug, kiss, and go Hmmm...and it's something I can't even explain. I know I love him because Heavenly Father loves him, and my heart aches and I can't even think what I would do if anything happened to him. I would rather endure this hard phase every second of the day than the alternative...life without my Clarkie boy...it would take a piece of my heart away.<br />
<br />
I don't mean to be so negative. Of course I don't dwell on things like that. My boy is perfect. He's perfectly amazing--and I can learn so much more from him than I could ever teach him.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-88730187290539800272015-08-25T23:46:00.001-07:002015-08-25T23:46:08.043-07:00"Everlise"walked her first steps on purpose on August 3rd, right after Papa left to Pomona to take his Boards Part 1 again. She pulled herself up on my shirt, walked a step, then let go and walked two steps toward Tia Ruth and threw her arms around her!<br />
<br />
Then just a few days ago, she started getting up to a standing position from a sitting position all by herself! She does this over and over to get applause and Hoorays! from anyone watching, and giggles to herself all the while.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-7636308585764144192015-07-19T22:01:00.000-07:002015-08-25T23:47:00.737-07:00Returning to FaithSascha Bramwell spoke today in sacrament meeting. There was a point in her life when she had low-self-esteem and was comparing herself to her husband's success in career and life. Then, this scripture came into her mind: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) Words to live by. She found strength and personal revelation in scripture.<br />
<br />
Returning to Faith<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.”</span><sup class="noteMarker" noteref="9" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/returning-to-faith?cid=HP_FR_7-10-2015_dPTH_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng#9-12565_000_42wixom" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-size: 9px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9</a></sup><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Archbishop Périer responded: “God guides you, dear Mother; you are not so much in the dark as you think. The path to be followed may not always be clear at once. Pray for light; do not decide too quickly, listen to what others have to say, consider their reasons. You will always find something to help you. … Guided by faith, by prayer, and by reason with a right intention, you have enough.”</span><sup class="noteMarker" noteref="5" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/returning-to-faith?cid=HP_FR_7-10-2015_dPTH_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng#5-12565_000_42wixom" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-size: 9px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5</a></sup><br />
<br />
Some other wisdom from scripture reading this week:<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (</span><a class="scriptureRef" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/16.32?lang=eng#31" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Proverbs 16:32</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (</span><a class="scriptureRef" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/eccl/7.9?lang=eng#8" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #0091bc; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ecclesiastes 7:9</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">President Hinckley:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Little flaws are magnified into great torrents of faultfinding...</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">It is the cycle which is repeated again and again in thousands of cases. It is tragic, and, as I have said, it is in most cases the bitter fruit of anger.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and</span><a class="no-link-style" href="http://www.mormon.org/values/family" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: none !important; color: #2f393a; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;">family</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"> relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">(</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/slow-to-anger?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/slow-to-anger?lang=eng</a>)</span></span><br />
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<div class="" id="p10" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/general-conference/1971/04/be-slow-to-anger.p10">
Because a wrench slips and we bruise our hand is no reason for throwing the wrench halfway across a wheat field. Having a flat tire on a busy downtown street will not be remedied by a tirade of words.</div>
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Anger against <i style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">things </i>is bad enough, but when it is directed against people and it flares up with white-hot fury and caustic words, we have the makings of tragedy!</div>
<div class="" id="p11" style="background: 0px 0px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/general-conference/1971/04/be-slow-to-anger.p11">
<span style="line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Even in our families, situations may arise that could cause irritations. It is then that parents must be calm and exemplary. The man with an uncontrolled temper is like an undisciplined child—he expresses his emotions explosively or by sulking, and disregards the feelings of those about him. In the home, anger should be controlled and love should abound. When, in his most impressionable years, a child experiences ugly situations that result from uncontrolled tempers, when he hears unkind words exchanged between his father and mother, and when he sees contention crowd out an atmosphere of kindness and mutual respect—when these conditions make a child’s environment, what chance has he to become refined and noble? The minds of children are like the sensitive plates of a photographer; they record every incident, good and bad. Our children may forget what is said, but they never forget that which they are made to feel.</span></div>
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“Parents may tell</div>
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But never teach</div>
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Unless they practice</div>
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What they preach.”</div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">Frustrations often offer us the means of progression, for by overcoming them harmoniously, we grow and become more Christlike.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;">(</span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 30.6000003814697px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1971/04/be-slow-to-anger?lang=eng">https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1971/04/be-slow-to-anger?lang=eng</a>)</span></span></div>
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anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-72970976655450161312015-02-25T23:14:00.000-08:002015-08-25T23:49:02.839-07:00Clarke's Funnies"Don't roll anymore, ok, carrot? You fall off and bonk your head!"<br />
<br />
Before saying our goodnight prayers: "Papa was born. Papa is alive. He is a father. Jesus loves me. Belito loves me. Tia Ruty loves me. Tio Lev loves me. Mama loves me, too."<br />
<br />
3-11-2015: "Look Mama." Clarke shows me the piano music for The Corpse Bride with the main characters, Victor and Victoria on the front. "Oh wow! What are they?" I ask. He says matter-of-factly, "Oh, they're probably just robots."<br />
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"What kind of cake do you want for your birthday?"<br />
"No cake for you. Only carrots and vegetables." -sometime before his 3rd birthday<br />
<br />
During our walk, Clarke was sitting in his stroller acting like he was grabbing things out of the air. "What are you doing?"<br />
"I'm catching cars."<br />
<br />
After Papa came back from living in San Diego for a few months, Clarke offered this in his prayer: "Grateful Papa doesn't have to go to San Diego anymore..."<br />
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4-16-15: "Be careful with the dragon, he might burn your shirt."<br />
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7-6-15: "Where (How) does Mama grow? Do you have seeds in your belly?" "Seeds? What kind of seeds?" "People seeds!"<br />
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7-7-15: "Can I have some cereal Belita?" "Is it okay with Mama?" "No, but it's okay with Belita..."<br />
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7-13-15: "I don't love crabs. They're sneaky."<br />
<br />
I want a gorilla bar.<br />
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8-25-2015: Clarke says any phrase, whether it be "Are we going to the park" or "Is this cup of milk for me" and tags "or something?" at the end of it.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-43524679164679304452015-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:002015-01-07T11:55:53.836-08:00zion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>When through the woods and forest glades I wander<br />
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,<br />
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,<br />
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:<br />How great thou art! </i></span></span><i> </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPimy8BegBkiWiv2Y_DCaO1r9aVyybuWIlz1fFoN7CgimJClFHZsW1SDh9F2BsYdynMbWjsV_3tut_mYVGfyZ7Uq-UKXO4Nl6JJQqsO_r2ZRsVuC10GMpMEtHYDhErCB1pIoS8iXoOSXEp/s1600/IMG_7583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPimy8BegBkiWiv2Y_DCaO1r9aVyybuWIlz1fFoN7CgimJClFHZsW1SDh9F2BsYdynMbWjsV_3tut_mYVGfyZ7Uq-UKXO4Nl6JJQqsO_r2ZRsVuC10GMpMEtHYDhErCB1pIoS8iXoOSXEp/s1600/IMG_7583.jpg" /></a></div>
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There are just no words to accurately describe Zion National Park. But I can try:</div>
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Majestic. Grand. Breathtaking. Intimidating. Exalted.</div>
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We were there a few short hours but still got to take it all in. We're grateful our friends Sarah and Brandon Jade and their two kids were our tour guides. When we first arrived, we were following the Jade's car through the entrance, but we didn't see them turn right into the visitor's center. So we continued forward. For about an hour and a half. It was a beautiful, scenic drive--we basically made it halfway to the Grand Canyon, when we realized maybe they were back in the canyon. Anyway, we found them, and hopped on the tour bus which took us into the park where vehicles couldn't drive through. We stopped at the very end and saw some deer, and then hopped back on to our stop at the Emerald Pools. I think we made it to the second pool and were there maybe ten minutes when we realized the light was fading so we hurried back down. I had Everly in a wrap and Franco carried Clarke in the Ergo carrier. The weather was perfect. We didn't even need any jackets which was impressive for November in Utah. I wish we would have had more light, as the winter sun set around 5:45pm. But I couldn't have asked for a smoother hike and first experience. I honestly had no idea how it was going to be--so glad to have the Jade's and actually Shantel Andersen gave me some tips as she and her family had visited a few weeks earlier.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-74163629971755769442015-01-07T11:05:00.001-08:002015-01-07T11:05:30.366-08:00Everly 7 Months + Christmas Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's begin the new year with this cute face. This is Everly Claire at
seven months old. Since she turned seven months on January 1st, it's
fitting to begin this new post with her.</div>
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At this time, Everly is a little lady with fierce determination and a smile that will melt your heart! She started rolling from back to belly on November 8, 2013, while our family stayed in a hotel near Bryce Canyon in Utah. A few short days later, she learned to roll from belly to back. Since then, she's been gaining strength in her back to sit up, though she still tends to lose balance occasionally and bonks her head on the carpet when we're not paying attention.<br />
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We just spent two weeks (basically) with family visiting from Utah, Arizona, and Oregon, so both Clarke and Everly were spoiled with attention! I'm pretty sure Everly misses it. I am hardly out of her sight when she begins to cry. She's also probably sensitive because her teeth are coming out. Right now she's at two, and I'm sure within the next month she'll get one or two more.<br />
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<b><i>On Christmas Break</i></b><br />
Franco, Clarke, Everly and I spent a leisurely Christmas Eve and Christmas here in Guadalupe, Ca last year. We decided not to travel on those days for a few reasons. One, we felt the need to begin our own family traditions in our own home, as the last seven years were always spent with family in their homes. Two, we knew we were going to travel to Camarillo for New Year's, so it didn't make sense to make two trips in two weeks. Three, we refrained from participating in gift exchanges this year, including Christmas, in order to refocus on Christ during the holidays and share experiences, rather than things, with friends and family. I'll write a post about that a little later. Our Christmas at home was low key but special. We also got to video call with Elder Mosiah Castrejon that morning. We used Google Hangouts on the iPad and conferenced in the Porters and Elder Castrejon in Montreal. What a treat! Mosiah shared some key experiences and he marvelled at how much the girls and Clarke had changed. He also got to meet Everly for the first time.<br />
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Everly contracted her first illness the day before Christmas Eve. We were in Santa Barbara spending time with the Castrejons when her fever started. It wouldn't subside but with the holidays we couldn't take her to the doctor. I am afraid her first Christmas was pretty miserable. Finally on Friday the 26th I was able to take her to see the doctor here in Guadalupe who diagnosed a throat infection and prescribed antibiotics. Little by little she recovered both her health and her strength, and thankfully by New Year's she was back to her normal cheery self.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-77554290071496041482014-09-29T01:46:00.001-07:002014-09-29T01:46:42.023-07:00september in utah.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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last night thunder rolled so loudly through our open window that it woke us all abruptly from our sleep. then a sound like a million tiny metal balls hitting the sidewalk began soon after, and a clean, crisp whiff breezed through the screen. bursts of light every five seconds made me wish i was witnessing nature's electrifying show, but instead franco and i, grinning in the dark, leapt out of our bed and cuddled up next to our 2 1/2 year old son clarke on his mat on the floor. for a good fifteen minutes clarke commented during his first real thunderstorm: "it's daaaark outside." "whoa, did you see that? that was an orange light!" "boooooooom!" were some of his endearing descriptions. all the while in my mind, i was singing along with julie andrews, "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..."<br />
<br />
+ real thunderstorms like i hadn't experienced in years.<br />
+ morning walks around <a href="http://www.livedaybreak.com/Places___Spaces/Oquirrh_Lake.htm" target="_blank">a nearby lake</a> and observing the ducks.<br />
+ the sound of children playing happily while catching up with life-long friends.<br />
+ majestic "big piles of dirt" (what clarke calls mountains) showing patches of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=fall+in+utah+valley&biw=1860&bih=1007&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=8xYpVI2nHpb-yQTy44LQCQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=fall+in+utah" target="_blank">yellow, orange, and red.</a><br />
+ lengthy and animated conversations over empty plates after dinner with family.<br />
+ waking up before the world and nursing everly and feeling like we're closer than we were when i carried<br />
her a mere few months before.<br />
+ walking out of <a href="https://www.lds.org/church/temples/oquirrh-mountain-utah?lang=eng" target="_blank">one of the most sacred buildings on earth</a> hand in hand with my husband and eternal partner, franco, rejuvenated spiritually and a thousand times more thankful i have him by my side.<br />
+ listening to the quiet breathing of my slumbering family while i stay up way past my bedtime to write this post.<br />
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these are a few of my favorite things.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-27131769405375577962014-03-06T23:34:00.001-08:002014-03-06T23:34:04.309-08:00i think i forgot how to blog.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One night last week, we played around with the camera timer to try take a photo together. This one turned out decently. I think we need to do that more often. We barely have any pictures where we're all together.<br />
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I still take a lot of pictures with my "real" camera--I haven't yet migrated to a phone camera as most people seem to have done--mostly because I still have the same ol' smartphone I've had since <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2009/12/big-difference.html" target="_blank">December 2009</a>. It takes dismal photos, so when Franco's not around with his iPhone 4s, I prefer using the better camera.<br />
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So, it's not the lack of photos that's kept me from blogging. It's also not a lack of memorable or notable events--there have been <i>plenty </i>of those since last August, believe me. And it's not because I've been particularly busy, though raising a toddler is a full-time job. I guess I just didn't feel like blogging for a bit. Maybe I wanted to see what would happen. Would I miss it? Would I choose a better way to spend my time? And then when more and more time would pass, I just felt guilty for leaving it alone for so long, like I broke up with my blog and didn't know how we could stay friends.<br />
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Sorry, I'm being a little melodramatic, aren't I? It's the mood I'm in right now. I've been having rollercoaster mood swings lately, maybe because I'm almost 7 months pregnant? I'm almost always at home nowadays because I'm too lazy or tired to actually get ready and go somewhere.<br />
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Also of note, a very exciting note, is that Franco will be taking boards in two weeks! The Board Exam is the Bar Exam of optometry--the I Ching of exams, the Big Kahuna, the BIG One! I will try to sum up the last several months of preparation in one sentence: my husband is almost nonexistant. Ok, that might be pushing it. It would probably be closer to the truth if I said it this way: While Franco is still an integral part of our family and household and continues to perform his husbandly and fatherly duties very well, we have had to shift around a lot of things and have had to sacrifice time spent together <i>quite a bit</i>. But this is for the greater good--he has to study, which he does, day until night every single day except Sunday (I am a witness to this daily since he basically only leaves the house for class, clinical rotations, church, or other important meetings relating to school or church.) We had a glorious two-week break during Christmas and New Year and I savored each moment together. It's like, he's here--if I look over my shoulder right now I can see him, studying away--yet he's not really here. It's taken a while to get used to, I'll admit. I used to interrupt him often to ask a simple question like, "Any requests for dinner this week?" or to ask him to do a small chore...but I have learned to refrain and to save stuff like that for mealtime or at night or on Sunday. The boy needs his study time! So dedicated, that man. I love him.<br />
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It's been quite the learning experience. But just think what will come out of it! When he passes Boards, which I'm confident he will the first time (I keep telling him), he will officially be able to practice as a Doctor of Optometry! It's like we can finally see the light at the end of this never-ending, 7-year-long tunnel. I'm so, so proud of him.<br />
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So, our life the last seven months summed up in seven words: baby, Boards, growing, planning, living, praying, loving.<br />
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And that's what we'll keep doing. Good to be back.anelieze castrejonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02172660662862243573noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-87005906488827822862013-08-05T22:38:00.000-07:002013-08-05T22:49:55.038-07:00fiesta.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a few years since we went to fiesta in Santa Barbara (past years <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2008/07/fiesta.html" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2009/08/fiesta-2009.html" target="_blank">here</a>). It's always the first week of August, starting on Wednesday and continuing through the weekend. We saw the Spanish Days parade on State Street and chased each other with <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2009/08/fiesta-2009.html" target="_blank"><i>cascarones </i></a>in hand. Clarke took a while to understand what was going on, but once he noticed the dozens of horses trotting down the street, he didn't stop pointing and opening his eyes wide with awe. It was more fun watching him watch the parade than watching the parade itself! Being Clarke's mama is the best.</div>
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After the parade and some lunch, Franco and I caught the new Wolverine movie at the <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2009/08/arlington.html" target="_blank">Arlington theater</a> sans baby while Tia Marta babysat. We only had a day to spend in SB, but it was a good one.</div>
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p.s. I finally got some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AIWVOT6/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DW7A8YQSZIQ2" target="_blank">saltwater sandals</a> and now my feet are happy. That is all. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-49129697024489418702013-08-05T22:19:00.000-07:002013-08-05T22:19:09.058-07:00continued...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I dropped off the radar for a while there, didn't I? I have to say, I misjudged bloggers who blamed instagram for killing their blog...welp, now I understand and am also a guilty party. Also, I didn't have a camera there for a while, besides my old ipod and Franco's iphone. I didn't deem a lot of those pictures worthy to be displayed on the web! =} Go ahead, call me a grainy-and-blurry-picture snob.<br />
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So, summer. Goodness, where do I start? It's been a glorious and easy month and a half. We made a few trips up the coast to visit family and meet friends in fun places, but mostly we have stayed up late, slept in, explored, watched a bunch of movies, and really, truly relaxed. Some days I would feel guilty because I felt too relaxed, as if I should be doing something actually productive? But then I would remember how hectic life gets when school is in session and how I should enjoy this while I can, and so I'd go back to lounging on the couch with my love or catching up on past season's tv episodes.<br />
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In and around all that lounging and relaxing, we did manage to accomplish a lot of the things on our summer bucket list, most of which I've documented on <a href="http://instagram.com/anniecastrejon" target="_blank">instagram</a>. Here are just a few:<br />
<ul>
<li>watch a movie at the drive-in (Despicable Me 2)</li>
<li><a href="http://instagram.com/p/arYD0Dym6E/" target="_blank">blow bubbles</a></li>
<li><a href="http://instagram.com/p/a_eihfSm34/" target="_blank">pick berries at a farm</a></li>
<li>go to the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/b7pusvSm9m/" target="_blank">zoo</a> (in Santa Barbara, with our friends the Stotts)</li>
<li>fun park (<a href="http://instagram.com/p/cUCnHwym2R/" target="_blank">Disneyland</a>=Me & Six Flags=Franco)</li>
<li>make lemonade from scratch (multiple times.)</li>
<li>sleep with the windows open</li>
</ul>
Franco starts school in a few days and we're soaking up every last second.We had family over a couple weekends ago to celebrate my brother Charlie's birthday. Isn't family time the best? I think so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-48335121198169921522013-04-03T11:20:00.000-07:002013-04-05T15:47:11.841-07:00Oh Hello.I don't want to get too wordy on this post, so I'll highlight the last few weeks (or few months...has it been that long?) in bullet points, with a smattering of photos to break up the monotony of text:<br />
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life as a wife, mother, friend, designer:</div>
<ul>
<li><i>playing </i>constantly with Clarke, who is now 11 months old and has <a href="http://vine.co/v/bw2xdh7110B?fb_action_ids=10151485668614183&fb_action_types=vine-app%3Apost&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582" target="_blank">no shortage of energy</a>. God bless you mothers with more than one child.</li>
<li><i>cleaning</i>. Every day. It never ends.</li>
<li><i>teaching </i>Clarke sign language--his favorite sign is "more," no surprise there.</li>
<li><i>planning </i><a href="http://blog.thefoodnanny.org/" target="_blank">two-week meal calendars</a> and buying groceries every two weeks. Life. Changing.</li>
<li><i>keeping up</i> with a birthday calendar, for once--this year I designed and printed birthday postcards and when I see a family member's or friend's birthday coming up on the calendar, I write a short message and pop the postcard in the mail. Easy, simple, effective, personalized, and inexpensive.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml" target="_blank"><i>jogging</i></a>. That's right, three times a week!</li>
<li><i>dating </i>my husband regularly.</li>
<li><i>designing </i>logos, labels, invitations, business cards, t-shirts, book covers, posters, certificates, you name it.</li>
<li><i>serving </i>at an ever-growing capacity in the <a href="https://www.lds.org/callings/primary?lang=spa" target="_blank">primary</a>, and learning more than I ever thought possible. </li>
<li><i>weekly </i>piano teaching, a new job I started last year. I have two wonderful, dedicated students!</li>
</ul>
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<br />
life as a family:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>waiting </i>until Franco gets home from school every day so we can all play and laugh together.</li>
<li><i>traveling </i>to and from Camarillo and/or Santa Barbara as much as we can swing it.</li>
<li><i>looking </i>forward to pizza Fridays.</li>
<li><i>attending </i>the <a href="http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/losangeles/" target="_blank">LA temple</a> as often as we can.</li>
<li><i>taking </i>walks around our beautiful neighborhood.</li>
<li><i>going </i>to Disneyland in the rain or shine. Literally.</li>
<li> <i>spring-breaking</i> at museums in L.A. (and seeing the <a href="http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/Exhibits/AirAndSpace/endeavour/endeavour.php" target="_blank">space-shuttle Endeavor</a> up close--magnificent!) Soaking up the sun in Camarillo and Santa Barbara.</li>
<li><i>contemplating </i>where Franco's fourth year of externships will take us...do we want to stay local or travel around the country (and world) every three months? Definitely calls for many pro-cons lists.</li>
<li><i>encouraging </i>Mosiah, Franco's youngest brother, who will serve a two-year mission to Montreal, Canada starting May 1st. (!!!)</li>
</ul>
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So that's what we've been up to lately. I totally neglected to take any pictures on Easter, mostly because we were having such a good time that I forgot to pull out the camera. But we had a great day, well, great week, actually, for Franco's Spring Break. That's what I love about working from home, I can vacation whenever I want!</div>
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Happy April!</div>
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<i>* Instead of waiting for the rare post on here, you can follow us on <a href="http://instagram.com/anniecastrejon#" target="_blank">instagram </a>and <a href="http://vine.co/v/bw2xdh7110B?fb_action_ids=10151485668614183&fb_action_types=vine-app%3Apost&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582" target="_blank">vine</a>. We'd love to connect with you through those awesome apps!</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-19605315859118802082013-02-28T11:21:00.000-08:002013-02-28T11:21:37.123-08:00Spring follows even the harshest of winters.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not sure if it's a real saying, but it felt true enough last Sunday afternoon as I took a walk around our neighborhood to clear my head. I've had some struggles off and on of the personal and spiritual sort, mostly having to do with <i>balance</i>, that ugly seven-letter word, where I found myself getting exasperated much too easily. Exasperated around my family, my friends, even a stranger who offered a well-meaning piece of advice about motherhood. Because we mothers know how much we <i>love </i>unsolicited advice, right? Well, everything just got to me, I'm sad to say, and I knew that if I didn't do something about it, I'd just crack.<br />
<br />
So I took a walk. In my head, as I walked briskly (it was chilly), I prayed. I implored. Sometimes I would mouth the words and I remember thinking that I probably looked like a madwoman talking to herself, walking so fast down the sidewalk. After several minutes of silently asking, I slowed down a little and looked around me.<br />
<br />
Trees. Flowers. Birds chirping. Sun shining. Smiling neighbors. Calm.<br />
<br />
And then I felt something wash over me. <i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>Gratitude</i>.<br />
<br />
How could I forget to <i>thank </i>my Heavenly Father for what He's shared with me so willingly? The blessings which have been poured out of the windows of heaven, so many that I don't have room enough to receive them? My breath caught in my throat and I should have felt ashamed but surprisingly I did not. Because He'd already forgiven me; another thing to be grateful for. All of a sudden my struggles seemed like a pittance, not because they didn't matter but because I knew then how I needed to deal with them. The way was so clear it was as if the fog lifted and I could see the road again. I felt incredible <i>peace</i>.<br />
<br />
I then looked up at a tall tree and saw a beautiful sight: on just a few of the bare branches, blossoms. I smiled and let out a breath, almost like a new breath. A beginning. I was reminded once again that I'm not alone. I felt sad for an instant that I had to be reminded, but at least I hadn't forgotten completely. I will work hard to never forget again. I thanked Him and haven't stopped thanking Him since for speaking to my heart so tenderly and reminding me that <i>spring follows even the harshest of winters</i>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-45409888175370435632013-02-17T00:33:00.005-08:002013-02-17T00:35:03.345-08:00something old into something new, and two photos in which i look terribly chubby.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Because I suffer from acute indecisiveness when it comes to web design (<a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-new-portfolio-website.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2012/04/out-with-old-in-with-new.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-header-first-ever-lwtc-blog-poll.html" target="_blank">here</a>, to name a few) I had to yet again change up my personal blog layout, name, etc. But I really like this one, so maybe it'll <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-look.html" target="_blank">stick longer than a year</a>? We shall see. I always get antsy and change things around this time every year, at home as well as on the web...why is that, I wonder?<br />
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I recently updated my <a href="http://alittledesigneveryday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">design blog</a>, too. Though I have yet to commit to regular posting. And! I almost forgot. I started another <a href="http://paralaprimaria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog </a>last month, too. <i>(What? <b>Another </b>one, Anelieze?? You can't even keep up with this one!) </i>Well, it's a <a href="http://paralaprimaria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog </a>dedicated to well-designed resources for primary in our church. It's in Spanish, though, and I've only posted five times yet, but I have high hopes for this one! It's called: <a href="http://paralaprimaria.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Para La Primaria</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh, and <a href="http://lifewiththecastrejons.blogspot.com/2008_02_10_archive.html" target="_blank">this little blog turned five years old on Tuesday</a>. Huzzah<span style="font-size: x-small;">! Hey<span style="font-size: x-small;">,<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span>thanks for sticking around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photos above from Thanksgiving, 2012. I took so long posting them because I just look so chubby.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> But <span style="font-size: x-small;">we don't have any pictures together since then, so these will have to do for now..</span></span></i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-6529901558880723212013-01-29T09:42:00.002-08:002013-01-29T09:42:15.991-08:00Dinner at Bruxie, All Kinds Of Fun Ensued.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New Year's Resolution #3: Plan more dinner dates with friends.<br />
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I didn't waste time--we had our first dinner date a couple of weekends ago with our friends Amberie and Sam at <a href="http://bruxie.com/" target="_blank">Bruxie</a>, where they make delicious waffle sandwiches. Our stomachs were content and our hearts were happy because we got to spend time with this fantastic couple and their 6-month-old, William. Let's not talk about how Clarke is almost 10 months old and is smaller than his little buddy W...genetics, ugh. Sorry, Clarke! ;) Cheers to dinner with friends! It's like spending time with family away from home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-12569780893240466092013-01-13T23:23:00.000-08:002013-01-13T23:23:04.635-08:00Christmas Advent Calendar List- 25 Activities for Decembering & RememberingSo, not surprisingly to me, I failed at posting the rest of our Christmas Advent calendar activities last month. Partly because we skipped a few of them or I didn't take photos, and partly because I just got busy and was too lazy to post. But the unfinished series was still bugging me almost halfway into January so I thought I'd do a comprehensive post and just list our daily activities, whether we actually did them or not.<br />
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If we skipped a day or two, we combined them into one or left it for a more convenient time. (The Christmas lights, for example, we left for a relaxed Sunday night.)<br />
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Our family is LDS, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and therefore a few of the items on this list refer to things or places relating to our church. However, they are open and available to all Christians and all other faithful people who need spiritual enlightenment in addition to fun-filled activities during the month of December. In the paragraph below the list I link to more information about a particular item on the list if it relates to our church.<br />
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Feel free download this list and save it for later this year. Because we all know December sneaks up behind us before we're ready for it! We looked forward to opening the little white envelope each day and it truly did change our attitudes during the Christmas season. We focused more on what we had rather than what we thought we needed. Health, family, and a handsome boy to keep us feeling young! That's all we needed.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">2. The <a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/christmas-devotional/2012/12?lang=eng" target="_blank">First Presidency Christmas Devotional</a> is always held in the late afternoon on the first Sunday of December. Our prophet and his counselors speak about Christmastime and Jesus Christ and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir graces us with beautiful Christmas music.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">5. <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/tg/jesus-christ?lang=eng&letter=j" target="_blank">Scriptures about Jesus Christ.</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">13. <a href="http://www.lds.org/music/library/search?lang=eng&query=christmas&x=0&y=0&clang=eng" target="_blank">Christmas Hymns.</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">14. <a href="http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/" target="_blank">LDS temples.</a></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">25. <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng" target="_blank">Luke 2</a></span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-51272606778059162382013-01-01T22:45:00.002-08:002013-01-01T22:45:43.871-08:00Ring In The New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We feel so blessed to have spent another year together! It's possible we are more in love than ever. And now we have another little soul with whom to share our everlasting love. Too many blessings to count. </div>
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Happy 2013 to you!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-22587775812155947802012-12-29T23:13:00.000-08:002012-12-29T23:13:46.615-08:00Yuletide With The Castrejons, Part III<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christmas day with my family was so relaxing. We had a handmade Christmas gift exchange, and it was so fun to see the thoughtfulness each family member put into their gifts for the other person. I was able to build my dad a <a href="http://www.juanzurcher.com/" target="_blank">website </a>for his music, and had business cards printed for him to pass out at conventions and shows and stuff. After enjoying a delicious breakfast while listening to <a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng" target="_blank">Luke 2</a> (the Christmas story in the Bible), gift-exchanging, and game-playing, we took a quick family portrait because my eldest brother Charlie had to work at Golf-N-Stuff. Boo. But otherwise, it was a beautiful day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-80029920062990682002012-12-29T18:01:00.000-08:002012-12-29T23:02:24.958-08:00Yuletide With The Castrejons, Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christmas with Franco's family is always fun. Our three nieces are smitten with Clarke and don't seem to care one bit that he's a boy. They share their play food with him, serve him pretend tea, and give him their dolls to hold. I loved watching Clarke enjoy his first Christmas. In the future, I hope to be able to host festivities in our home, but for now, I have loved the traditions we have started with our families. I'm grateful to live near both our wonderful immediate families and share these memories with them.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-27936345194673777922012-12-29T17:02:00.000-08:002012-12-29T23:02:41.103-08:00Yuletide With The Castrejons.I am alone (with a napping boy) for a bit at my parent's house in Camarillo right now, after everyone else left to do this or that within a half hour of each other. A good time to catch up on the past few days of merrymaking, I told myself, so here it goes. Let's see how far I get.<br />
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Christmas morning (on the 24th) at our house before heading to Camarillo for the week!</div>
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Finally made Clarke's mini stocking. ^^</div>
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Now THAT's an expression of an excited boy opening his gift. ^^</div>
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(He could tell it was legos from the sound the box made when he picked it up.)</div>
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Next, Christmas Eve at the Porter's with Franco's family.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-36265537022272087902012-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:002012-12-25T00:00:09.689-08:00Merry Christmas, from Franco, Anelieze, & Clarke!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-81777449713399631752012-12-11T09:49:00.000-08:002012-12-11T09:49:12.835-08:00Christmas Tree Bokeh ShapesI've always wanted to do <a href="http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh" target="_blank">this</a> and tried it out on our Christmas tree one night. It was fun cutting out little shapes out of paper and holding them up to the camera lens to see what would happen. The lights on the Christmas tree created hearts, triangles, and squares through the little holes once I opened the aperture as big as it could go and switched it to manual focus. It explains how to do it step by step <a href="http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-50268850057209132772012-12-10T09:58:00.000-08:002012-12-11T10:02:38.098-08:00Christmas Advent Calendar: Day 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDR0idZP6fd56MhDV0c2gcbOfpLiO_gt9dsqnQBkQWBJVIGQx6oHY-bHTz4KK7FuUuXMMGcalR9QfmS4Ujw5FR33jO4aa2rpQyKgU1vauAeALs9z_tAP69vjPtg40EDlo10QzbmA0t4Pq/s1600/abuelita-hot-chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDR0idZP6fd56MhDV0c2gcbOfpLiO_gt9dsqnQBkQWBJVIGQx6oHY-bHTz4KK7FuUuXMMGcalR9QfmS4Ujw5FR33jO4aa2rpQyKgU1vauAeALs9z_tAP69vjPtg40EDlo10QzbmA0t4Pq/s1600/abuelita-hot-chocolate.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wSJ4F8-hcX4_lt6jyEMymkHwFYr23CmfJ46jVhddfdqz5ii2Nolbjjnij0PVV6DEWjCvh_JKWIJnFEvCREtKJbxzoq5aaXMO4Pe9YVfYVZr1OfYUgG-LGlHX3I7s13Krzp-oSZsqlg5p/s1600/pumpkin-empanada-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wSJ4F8-hcX4_lt6jyEMymkHwFYr23CmfJ46jVhddfdqz5ii2Nolbjjnij0PVV6DEWjCvh_JKWIJnFEvCREtKJbxzoq5aaXMO4Pe9YVfYVZr1OfYUgG-LGlHX3I7s13Krzp-oSZsqlg5p/s1600/pumpkin-empanada-02.jpg" /></a></div>
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Make the best hot chocolate in the world. Enjoy with some sweet treats.</div>
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For us, the best hot chocolate is <i><a href="http://www.nestleusa.com/Brands/Baking/Abuelita.aspx" target="_blank">chocolate Abuelita</a>. </i>We drank some with the pumpkin <i>empanadas </i>I made on Sunday. Yuuuuum.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-61592545750786202652012-12-09T23:49:00.000-08:002012-12-11T09:51:38.874-08:00Christmas Advent Calendar: Day 9Write and mail out Christmas cards to far-away family and friends.<br />
I had to limit it to only far-away people to make it easier on myself.<br />
Otherwise it would never get done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38_YN8EfJIwEND1bZmtHPhqvYyJVbbD4KlttJL_thVppwgfcetTXao4kDbtoZuRFx4ZbePGHo8BdPJ1UmzIBXxx1US8QHM8rTUETzRxEz5gAsKnNjQiE0Loz3MsV5hhD1qoREeTbL7oWN/s1600/clarke-christmas-hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38_YN8EfJIwEND1bZmtHPhqvYyJVbbD4KlttJL_thVppwgfcetTXao4kDbtoZuRFx4ZbePGHo8BdPJ1UmzIBXxx1US8QHM8rTUETzRxEz5gAsKnNjQiE0Loz3MsV5hhD1qoREeTbL7oWN/s1600/clarke-christmas-hat.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8329912279859755459.post-64958414755761802712012-12-08T23:43:00.000-08:002012-12-11T09:50:55.560-08:00Christmas Advent Calendar: Day 8We were originally going ice skating, but then we were invited to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party at Franco's school-friend's house. We bought our ugly sweaters at Goodwill, set up a babysitter, and had us some delicious dinner and fun with fellow classmates. Yup. Much more fun than paying too much to ice skate in a tiny fake rink in the middle of Southern California.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzSIgnOgPigt62XQgPWPQACDfhRb37YTFGbSQUpD_EMWfj1JYy5mH3aOKR0EhRclWdhoXxECY-819WWMpz-M3VZ-HNePnfb8h8h8FPFGTyQ5iMESKC1gLuavgrvsaTWZMJZM-IZvmpOUx/s1600/ugly-christmas-sweater-party-2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzSIgnOgPigt62XQgPWPQACDfhRb37YTFGbSQUpD_EMWfj1JYy5mH3aOKR0EhRclWdhoXxECY-819WWMpz-M3VZ-HNePnfb8h8h8FPFGTyQ5iMESKC1gLuavgrvsaTWZMJZM-IZvmpOUx/s1600/ugly-christmas-sweater-party-2012.JPG" /></a></div>
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{instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/p/TASWEASm0z/" target="_blank"><i>@anniecastrejon</i></a>}</div>
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