Fall Break Feats and Felicities

If not away on a vacation, Fall Break is a great time to get some things done around the house!  Starting with something easy, here are Frank and Frankie, ready to welcome Bartlett Place trick-or-treaters.

 

 

We finally bit the bullet and decided to upgrade our television downstairs, where let's face it, the majority of TV viewing is done.  Another fact to face, the RCA was never going to stop working to give us an excuse to buy a new one!  So while shopping around to find the best place to buy it, we dismantled the entertainment center that Rob and Grandpa so expertly wired.  Here is what it looks like all cleaned out and ready for an upgrade.

 

 

Here are the new purchases, 50" flat screen from Costco, surround sound and DVD player from Sam's Club.

 



While Rob was at work Spenser and I opened the boxes and got as much as we could pre-wired.

 

They really don't make surround sound systems like we had before, so we went with a soundbar.

 



 

When Rob got home the installation process began. It was not an easy task, as the new technology came with more intricacies.  But I had faith in Rob, and although it took longer than expected, it works and is WAY BETTER than what we had before.

 



Here is a daylight shot
 











 and an evening one.

 

A neat thing about the unit is that it is a SMART TV.  Basically it can act like a computer, so yes we can check Facebook on it, stream Netflix, and watch YouTube too.  Take my word for it - the blog looks awesome on a 50 inch screen!

 

That was a pretty big shock right?  Well if you think that's big.....WAIT FOR IT.........

WAIT FOR IT....

 

WAIT FOR IT!!

 

SURPRISE!  Spenser got braces!

 



It took about an hour in the chair to complete the transformation.

 



 

He's excited!

 



And he still looks as cool as ever!

 



 

 

 

 

Birthday Weekend

Spenser's birthday weekend started with dinner at The Olive Garden.  He had fettucine alfredo, chicken gnocci soup, and breadsticks.

 

At home we had cake

 



and he opened presents.

 

The next day around 5pm his buddies started showing up for a sleepover.  Here's how they knew they were in the right place.

 

 The next day we took the boys to Peter Piper Pizza for lunch and games.  It was a great weekend

 

 

and it's definitely been 13 years of awesome!

 

 

 

Enjoy our bilingual version of the Happy Birthday Song!

 

 

 



45!

Today the man of the house turns 45!  His distinguished gray hair along the sides of his head may show his age, but he's still young at heart, working every day, and dreaming of race cars and rock shows.  Unfortunately, my surgery has made it difficult to celebrate the special day to the extreme it deserves.  His day started by waking early to check on me, and take Sienna to Perry for practice and her Evaluation Show.  He brought McDonald's home for breakfast, and then we thought a trip to the mailbox was in order.  His bright idea?  Ride his Schwinn down to the mailbox, like the little boy he used to be might have done!

Here he is coming back from the mailbox.

 

In that stack of mail was a gift from his parents!  TA DA!  It's Dewey's birthday!

 

In addition to a card, fun pictures, and a whole lotta cash, he also got a new bag for his bass and a much desired Bon Jovi Songbook.  Thankfully I ordered him a couple things before my surgery and they arrived just in time! Whew!

 

 



 Happy Birthday Dewey, Rob, Daddy, and Daddiss!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Return of the Schwinn

Every young boy in Rob's generation had a Schwinn bicycle and to keep that tradition, Rob's dad shipped out Rob's original bicycle.

 

Here is Spenser, sitting on the bike that little Dewey once sat on. 

He's getting ready to take it for a spin......

 



I hope he remembers to ride a bike, it's been quite a while since he was on one!

 

 

Whew!  It looks like he does!

 

Thank you Grandpa, for making this boy smile today!

 

 

 

Love Jones Part II

In the previous Love Jones post I shared some videos, and now it's time to share some photos.  The family gathered Friday night for rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  After the practice, it was time to chat and rekindle relationships.

 Here is my dad talking to his good buddy Chad, Laura's youngest boy. 

Here is Aunt Marina, Eleanor (my dad's sister), and Ryan, the handsome groom.

 

Ray likes to socialize, so here he is giving an earful to Kelsey, Laura's youngest and only girl.

Uncle Richard (my dad's brother) and his wife Barbara join the party.

After a fun wedding-eve party, it was time to rest up for the big day.

Here is the clan at a pre-wedding photo session in the lobby of our hotel room.

 

 

I had to get in one too!  Good thing for a self-timer and a tri-pod!  My dad isn't pictured because he was still getting spiffed up!

 



 

Once at the wedding site I was able to grab a pic with my dad!

 



Had to get a pic of this updo - I never wear my hair like this!  Thankfully no headache!

 

Waiting for the ceremony to get underway.

 

Signing the guestbook.

 



 

Snapping a pic of my lovely parents.

 

 

Ceremony begins with Chad walking Eleanor to her seat.



 

Laura escorts her son and groom, Ryan, with his dad Gary following behind.

 



 

Then Ryan awaits his bride's arrival.

 



 

And here she comes!

 



 

In a beautiful dress!

 



 Rings and vows are exchanged...

 

 

and now they are husband and wife!

 



 

Laura is beaming!

 



The grandmas are happy too!

 

Aunt Barbara and Laura chat -

 



and I join in too!

 

Snapping the youngest of the Jones' clan - Chad and Kelsey.  They are adorable!

 



Uncle Richard and Aunt Barbara pose with the happy couple.

 

And so does Kelsey.

And I had to pose with the cutie pie as well!

 A blessed event full of love!  So glad to have made the trip!

Love Jones

August 31st was a very important day in the lives of Ryan Jones and LaTavia Gutierrez, as they became husband and wife in front of their family and friends under a beautiful Oregon sky.  It was also a landmark day for reuniting the extended Castro family after years of living in separate states with sparing visits over the years.  Thank you Ryan and LaTavia for finding each other and giving the rest of us an opportunity for a family reunion!

The event was so big it even got my parents on a train along with Aunt Marina, Aunt Barbara, and Uncle Richard!  They all piled on the "party train" to make the long trip to attend Ryan's wedding, and to also see their beloved sister Eleanor.  It sure was neat to see them all together again!  I bet Grandma Lucy would have enjoyed it!  I had to get in on the action too, and hopped on a plane to a state I've never been to.  Boy am I glad I did!

Even though I hadn't seen the children since they were babies, and Laura since she moved to Oregon, I still felt the love as we made up for lost time.  Laura never ages, and the kids have all grown up to be the most beautiful men and young lady. 

 

The wedding was a sight to behold and a wonderfully warm memory I will treasure forever.  I took many pictures and a few videos, as I always like to document such lovely occasions.  I am going to share a few of those videos with you now.

 

 

A grand entrance for the bride....

 

 The vows...

 

 

Live music during the Sand Covenant and Communion.

 

 

The now married couple celebrates down the aisle!

 

 

 

 

Ryan shares his happiness by "busting a move!"

 

 

 

Congratulations!

 

 

 

 

BDay GDay

It's kind of weird to be blogging my own birthday but I wanted to share the big news of the newest member of Samour Sounds.  It's not a person, but her name is Taylor!

 

I mentioned to Rob that I was thinking it was time for me to upgrade my guitar and off to the races we went.  We spent almost an hour in Guitar Center and two whole hours in Sam Ash and finally decided on this one, bag included.  It is a Taylor guitar, one of the best acoustic brands.

 

 

 

Here she is at home.  I call her "she" because her name is Taylor, but actually that's a misnomer since the creator of the company is a man.  But of course I'll refer to it as a "she" since it's a pretty guitar that has the name Taylor on it, and let's face it, it's hard not to picture Taylor Swift with all those signs!

 

 

A little bit closer.

 



 

So Taylor came a week premature to my birthday - she just couldn't resist - and neither could Rob!  I couldn't resist posing with it either!

 

Guitar-me!

 



 

Do you want to hear what she sounds like?

 

 

That is "Easy" by Sheryl Crow, a song Rob, Spenser, and I have been working on.

 

 

Today, on the actual birthday, I took Sienna to practice at 6:45 a.m. and then had a nice breakfast at Mimi's Café. 

 

 

For dinner, we all went to Chili's and then it was time for cake!

 

 

If you're not sure how old I am just check out the numbers I'm holding up!

 

 

I'd say that was a great birthday!