Miss us???

Its been forever since I've updated the blog...here is a recap since my last post.

We had a great summer! I was pretty much working from home for half of the summer which allowed us to swim almost daily at the cabana club down the street from our house. We had such a great time and we all got so dark. Then I took a new job and the last half of the summer, the kids spent with their Tito Joseph who continued to take them swimming and to local amusement parks. The summer was great and I will never forget the quality time I had with the kids. Hoping that next summer I can spend some QT with the kids too.

Zoe started kindergarten and Ethan started 2nd grade at the same school (goodbye 2 pickups and 2 drop offs!). So far they are loving it, especially Zoe who was lucky enough to get the same kindergarten teacher as Ethan.

John started a new job as well which sent him to Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana on a one week business trip. Luckily though, he is home more often because he doesn't work in the city anymore.

We spent Halloween at Disneyland which was fun since we haven't been there in a while. Here are some pictures from there:

Movies edited by Ethan Castillo

Ethan has just learned how to edit videos. He did these all by himself! Here are the first two he created...Enjoy! I must say I am impressed...but then again, I am biased.

Kindergarten...here she comes!

Our little Zoe graduated from preschool and will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. Although she is so excited to join her Kuya Ethan at his school, she is also a little sad to leave her old friends and teachers. She has been with Ms Trudi since she was 2.5 years old and has known her for even longer, since Ms Trudi was Ethan's preschool teacher also. She has only been out of school a little over a week now, and she is already saying she misses her teacher and wants to visit.

Check out her little preschool graduation ceremony. Look how supportive and loving her family is-they all came to watch little Zoe get her 'certificate'.

Ms Trudi and Zoe
Her BFFs, Mia and Ava

Zoe gets her 'certificate' at around 1 minute to 1 min 10 seconds - around there somewhere...sorry for the long video...

James and Allan's visit

In April, my brother James and cousin Allan came for a little visit. We packed in a lot of stuff considering they were only here a few days... We went to Napa, SF, and hit up a few San Jose favorites. We did a lot of eating as you'll see in these pictures...

Goofing off at Falafel Drive Thru:

They made a new friend at Jollibee:

Of course we had to get some In and Out burgers:


Comic Convention - nerd stuff...


Zoe posing for the camera in SF:

James will always be my baby brother but I guess this little couch is just too small for him:

Sharks Game...

Visiting LetLet in SF

World Famous Henry's Hi Life BBQ

Ethan's first grade performance

Ethan performed with his first grade class and sang his little heart out. He is in the front row with the orange 'tiger' hat on. We had fun watching him and the other kids sing and dance. Soooo cute....

Enjoy the pictures and videos too

Here is another video...sorry about the shaky camera...



A little video of the last song where he is extra cute because he is singing a song about how much he loves us! Then the kids go into the audience and hug their parents (or in Ethan's case, his grandparents, and aunt and uncles too).

Zoe's Ballet Recital

Zoe had her very first ballet recital last Friday. She was so excited to perform with her cousin Isabelle in front of the family. It was also her first time wearing makeup and wearing her special costume. She was so excited to wear makeup - probably even more excited than the actual performance. Here are a few pictures and one very raw video. I will post the official video (and more pictures) when I get them. Enjoy!

Zoe is the smallest one on the right side.

Zoe is in the very front on the right side...

Ballerina

Zoe started a new ballet school with her Tita Sheeree. Last Saturday was Zoe's last class of this first session so her Tita Sheeree made a quick dance so the girls could perform for us...