Holiday Crash

Oh the Holidays! Decorating. Baking. Hot Cocoa Starbucks trips with the kids.  Fire pit nights. (OK time effort and thought of trying to get those together this year. We tried). Shopping. Wrapping. No School AKA kids home 24/7.  Keeping them a little busy.  Meeting up with family and friends. All the Christmas stress that comes along with it. Money. Keeping in contact with all. Christmas Cards (takes me 2 days somehow). Getting everyone looking good for holiday get togethers (ok that's a lie my kids choose what they want to wear and they haven't had hair cuts since the summer). Having everything baked and what am I gonna bake. Can't forget to decorate cookies and gingerbread houses because if I didn't I would feel I neglected my children somehow from something they absolutely love the "thought" of. Then we pull it out it and in just 5 minutes they are done. But all worth it right? I mean we do it every year can't stop now!  And lots and lots of wine to keep up with all that comes along with Holiday Craziness. That's the easy part considering I have never forgotten to buy a bottle of wine when I go to the store. On the list or not. I have forgotten eggs, tampons, prescriptions. and why I even went into the store in the first place. Never wine. I feel pretty proud of myself. Wow that's an emotion I haven't felt in a while.
OK OK back to the blog...

After all that what are you left with? Memories, Happiness, Love.. yes. But also Holiday Crash as I call it.

What leads to this crash? Hmmm.. Let me tell you how it starts for me. Starts with is it time to clean up the decorations? Is too soon when is too late?  How are my neighbors and friends gonna view me because I wanna keep up the tree year round? It's my only JOY right now. The pretty lights with my coffee in the morning. The happiness it brings to play games underneath at night with it all lit up. I just really love my tree. The holiday hype is over and I do need to start decorating for Valentines. But I spend a lot of time putting up those Christmas Decoration and Tree up and I wanna get the most out of it.

Holiday crash is...Have I even done the laundry since the kids have been on vacay?! Cause they literally haven't changed there clothes as often as usual. Wait a second thinking about that. What does my house smell like? There sheets? OK let me make a note in my phone to do there sheets today. I am pretty sure I'll forget by the time I'm done typing this I am sure. Just glanced over at my kitchen sink. Dishes again?! I just did 3 cycles yesterday. Wait when and how did I even let that many pile up?! Holiday Crash. It has hit me! The holiday emotions of joy, love , and excitement have been replaced. The reality of hello you somehow ditched all your scheduled daily chores and to do's for 2 months and now it has become overwhelming with all that you need to do to get caught up and back on track. Kind of makes you want to go back to bed until next November right?! With a Mimosa in hand of course.

Holiday Crash! You have got the best of me this year. But I'm gonna put my big girl panties on(oh wait let me check something. OK my granny panties will be just fine ;). Preheat my Keurig and get my s%&$t together and myself put back together.  Oh wait umm I think there is a new episode of 90 day Fiance' on. Hmmmm. OK in an hour. Or maybe better yet, tomorrow.

It’s just dishes..

As I was unloading the dishwasher this morning. I immediately thought, there are too many forks in that part and why are those cups touching. Then I also thought. Why am I complaining!? 

I have 4 boys. 5 if you count the 37 yr old cause I mean let’s be honest. Boys will be boys ( yes I am using that saying. So go ahead and bash for that I don’t care. It’s true!) In my house chores aren’t enforced. Sometimes when we really feel these kids should be doing more or I really need the help. I enforce them. Well I am not the clean neat freak that I would like to be in any way. But having kids sure does keep me running around picking up more than if it was just myself and Mondo. 

I complain I have no help. I complain they need to clean there room. I tell them they aren’t done and there’s still more. I say please take out trash. Do the dishes. And I must remind them that they need to replace the trash bag and put away the clean dishes before adding the dirty ones. I’m a mom. This is my life. 

I complain they don’t help around house enough. It stresses me out. And then as well cause I am so upset. I’m on them about the wrappers all over. The Soda cans. The water bottles. The empty glasses. The paper plates, oh the paper plates. Because the trash is just too hard to get to I guess. But it’s still an ongoing battle. 

Back to this morning and the dishwasher. I just told myself “why do you need to be upset about the way they loaded the dishes so much?!” I think I worry about there wives telling them “Oh your mom never showed you?” And I know I care about the stupidest things. Pretty sure no matter how much I show or train these boys. They will do it how they feel is right in the long run. No matter what it is. And they will be in trouble with there wives just like there Dad. 

How important is the damn loading of the dishwasher anyway. I mean seriously. Who cares. Why did I. Why have I for so long!? I should be thanking them! They helped out. They loaded without complaint this time. As much as I may hate to admit it this. I really can use the help no matter how much or little it is. 

This is the important Are the dishes clean? Yes. Did the kids help? Yes. Does the forks going one way make them a bad person? No but they need to learn lol. Why was I so worried about that. Next load I can kindly say make sure the forks don’t nestle into each other. 

The past couple months I have been working on more focus less stress and this morning was a test over stupid dishes! 

I am thankful they help and I am going to accept the help much more I’m pretty sure life will suck when I don’t have 3 loads of dishes everyday along with chaos, loudness and yelling. People are always telling me “Your gonna miss this”.

What I think I’m getting at for least for myself. Is my boys are growing so fast and I don’t want to spend the time nit picking everything and sounding like a crazy woman. May be too late already LOL. So thank you boys for helping and just keep helping. Make sure the middle is clear and the forks aren’t nestled into each other and you will be just fine. 

Sleep Less. Worry More..

I don’t sleep much anymore. Most my night is guilt, worrying, cuddling, and sitting around thinking is everyone ok. There are a few scenarios in which I do sleep. One being when Mondo is home and not snoring. Something about the comfort of him and maybe cause he is my natural heating blanket. 

Currently it’s 4:30 am. I am awake because Brody. And I just heard sirens. So I checked Pulse Point (an app to track my hubby) ok it’s really to track calls and where fires and medical calls are located, but I just use it to track Mondo in the middle of the night. He’s on his way to a medical call it says. Which now my head goes to what if it’s a tough call what if it’s one that will wear heavy on him and his partner. Then I hope that it’s just a quick call and they don’t have to follow to hospital. Because I know he’s tired and has been working straight for 4 days. But I’m also happy he will be home finally this morning at 8. This is when I have guilt that keeps me up. When this happens at 1 or 3 am. I just can’t go back to sleep. Cause I feel extremely guilty in this big bed where I can sleep all night (even though I don’t) and he is taking calls and losing sleep. I feel bad and usually just don’t sleep cause of that. Alot of times we text when he is up at night cause he can’t sleep. And he doesn’t realize that I can’t either knowing he can’t. 

Brody is currently in my bed right now. This is one of my favorite reasons why I can’t sleep. He’s 9 but still the baby. He will always be the baby. He is currently babbling some gibberish. He also has an arm and a leg over me. The hand and arm may be over my throat slightly chocking me but that’s ok. I still love hearing him breath holding him and cuddling him. Cause I know this will not last so I will take it and stay up for it as long as I can. 

Caleb sleeps in my bed too sometimes when Mondo is gone. He holds my hand. He’s 12 and I know that is gonna fade away even sooner. I have lost the cuddles and warmth of sleeping next to Nicky the 16 yr old and Jacob the 14 yr old. Man I miss the days they would all crowd in my bed and I couldn’t sleep because of no room. 

Worrying. Oh my goodness. Worrying. It’s non stop day and night but during the sleeping hour it’s the worst. Cause there is nothing going on. Just time and stillness to continue to worry. I worry about death about life in general. About my kids growing up. About Mondo and his job and the struggles he goes through with it. I worry about my kids graduating and becoming respectful people in life. I just want them to be happy and successful in there own self. I worry if I will make it to all there high school graduations. Or there weddings. Oh good lord. Weddings. No. No no no can’t even think of them not living under my roof! That just can’t happen. Will I stop worrying about them? 

I wake up when all are home and think I’m so lucky we are all here. No need to worry my babies are all sleeping and safe and Mondo is finally  getting the rest he deserves. And then I usually turn over and either smile and hug Mondo. Or grab his hand or put my leg over his and stay awake thinking how lucky I am. If he starts snoring then I get mad and can’t sleep cause then I am busy pushing and kicking him. But I am so happy he is home at the same time. 

I have those nights a lot too where I just feel something  bad is going to or about to happen. Those are the worst. I can’t shake it and I feel nauseous. This happens more often than not and usually something comes out of it. No I’m not saying I’m psychic. I’m really just saying I’m probably crazy lol! 

That and when my kids sleepover at friends are the worst. I don’t mind them going. I love them doing that but the older they get the more I wonder what the heck are they doing. Will they be up all night and will it affect our day tomorrow. Or is my 16 yr old anything like I was at 16. God I hope not! I wonder if my mom went through this? Man I miss her. Ok wide awake on that as well. 

This is nightly. I’m pretty sure or hoping that a lot of moms can relate. I have a lot of kids to worry about here and not enough time in the day to worry and love on them. So my quiet sleeping hours are much needed. 

My sleep schedule seems to be bed at 11 ish wake up at 2 back at 5 ish and up at 6:30. Although tonight was really good to be honest. Bed at 11:30 light sleeping cause of Brody’s mumbling and moving around.  But I actually wasn’t wide awake until 4 AM.  Wow! Sorry Mondo I wanna feel guilty but but lookiing ar Pulse Point it looks like we might have had the same amount of sleep for once!

Now time for some more cuddles and coffee!

Hockey..San Diego..Disneyland..Labor Day 2016

So as most of you know Nicky has been super lucky enough to get on a the all new Valencia High Hockey team. When I say lucky I mean lucky! He has been trying his hardest to push himself which he has and which he needs to continue. This is his first time playing in a full contact league, which he is definitely learning by just going out there and doing it. Best way to learn is to be thrown in there right? LOL Did I mention it's The Los Angeles Kings High School Hockey League? I know I know its all about playing hockey but connected with the Kings could he or I ask for more?! We are all so excited!  Go Vikings! Nicky #97 (His parents graduating year) gotta love it!
     

So over this Labor Day weekend. The team played on a tournament down in San Diego. We have never played together as a team and a few of our kids have never played full contact. I have to say I think everyone did great! These kids are ready for this in there hearts and they want it. Great group of kids, and I really saw them getting better and playing more and more as a team just over weekend. There were some really scary hits taking for a couple of our team members. But updates are looking good and they will hopefully be playing again really soon! Nicky came back with a couple bruised ribs and some huge bruises one from a skate to his side and the other a puck to his stomach. He thinks its super cool. We are now officially purchasing rib and stomach protection :P I am very proud of Nicky and everyone on the team and I honestly cannot wait to watch this season and watch the progress of it! I keep telling him the theme song will be "Started From the Bottom Now We're Here" He either didn't get it or he didn't like my dance move that went with it. Either way I thought it was funny. They played against some teams to really give them a taste all around on whats to come in the league I think.

One thing I learned about this weekend is "Hockey Mom Stomach" No joke about that its everything you think it is. I needed Starburst for every game. Which I recommend for nervousness. You got your mouth and your hands working to eat those darn things!

The one thing I am so upset with myself is I didn't take pics! Call it nerves call it talking too much to the other parents I don't know. But as you know I love taking pics!! Bummer! Thank god some of the other parents did so I can screen shot those and save them. Thanks Suey! I did get a couple  but not enough. Note to self: Take more pics woman!

Coach looking a little worried? or confident? You tell me...

I did get this lovely vid of a little check on Nick (look in the back)..

All the action slowed down for a sec to snag this pic...

We stayed a bit a ways from the Ice Rink which worked because we were super close to Old Town. Literally a block away. I loved being close to somewhere to walk and hang out, and I loved that it was just our team in the hotel. Boys had full access to the pool spa everything it was awesome!

What was not awesome for me was Nicky's freedom. I let him go places and do things here at home but he really had some added freedom! Especially when I was in Old Town and next thing you know your child is outside of a window waving at you when he should be in his damn hotel room. That took a bit to get used to, but overall it worked out really good. And I think it was good for the team to just have fun and be together. I think he needed that bit of freedom and team bonding/goofing off I don't really know. But I survived, and he's still on the team so all is good. 

The team Managers and all the parents are great! I am so excited about that! It was so nice to get to hang with them and at the games our team I feel had the best support from the stands! I am very thankful to have such a good team like this to start with for myself and Nicky.

You all know Mondo, and when we go anywhere he turns everything into a vacation. We had some free time and we got to go to Liberty Station and eat at such a fun 50's Restaurant named Corvette Diner. The kids got Balloon animals. 

A Hockey Stick and puck for Caleb..

Bow and Arrows for Jacob and Brody....

 We also finally finally finally got to go to Stone Brewery's gardens! It was amazing! I cannot wait to go back there.

                                       Thank you tournament for being in San Diego!

I was able  to roam Old town a few times which I just love! From dinner, drinks and chats  at night with the parents at Cafe Coyote. To just heading to get homemade tortillas. It was nice that I got to spend some alone time with just Caleb and Brody. We never really do that. Mondo and Jacob went with the team to the beach so the littls and I headed to Old Town to explore and Caleb said " Mom I like this just us" It was easier that's for sure!

Brody and Caleb ate Churros, made candles, and learned a bit of history. 

Cant forget the down time of games with dad at the Hotel..

On our way home we had to make a stop at Disneyland. Come on now. It was the last day for 60th celebration and we got to meet up with my sister and the boys!

Great end to a great weekend. What a mix of things going on too. But that's how the Ramirez family rolls. Multitasking all adventures in life. LOL

The Tournament Championship game was Monday and although we did not play in it but we played hard this past weekend. I think this season is going to be full of learning, a bunch of fun, and a bunch of kick ass kids playing hockey! First game is Sept. 17th in Burbank! We can use a lot  of support so if you wanna catch a game local or help us out with our fundraising or just give Nicky or the boys a high five or great wishes on the game let me know!

                                                               

GO VIKINGS!!

Cabin Fever started our summer...

Is it even summer yet? I mean I don't know cause it feels like a scheduled school day if you ask me. I am taking Nicholas everyday to Lacrosse practice between 12-2 which is hard to do much but man I am loving he is really dedicated and learning a new sport. I think even he is getting burned out doing this in the heat though and during summer break (it's almost over though).... So is it summer yet? I mean we have only been to the beach once, the pool once as a family. The only way I can get Jacob to go is by himself with his friends but I'll take it though. No water balloon fights, no water parks no nothing really. Well I guess we have been sleeping in (I mean the kids have been). I can't sleep in during summer. I think my body only wants to sleep in on school days when I need to be woken by an alarm. As for them sleeping in we have also all become super lazy. No one wants to go anywhere. The usual moans and groans go something like this..It's too hot..but do I have to...I'm playing online with my friends!. We have been  home A LOT and that is totally bringing on Cabin Fever!
                                                                           

We are more bitter with each other. I think they are making bigger messes, they think that I am being harder on them.The common ground here has been lost!! And my throat hurts from yelling and breaking up stupid cap that goes on over and over and over. I feel I have lost it with them and myself. So that was it! I searched google for interesting things to do in LA and came back with some interesting and not so interesting places so I made a plan. I let them sleep in then had them slowly get dressed and ready no rushing you know because it is summer and we have time so let's just chill (Plus I don't want the attitudes either that follow the rush).

Our adventure begins.. Now the key to getting my kids to do anything or go anywhere is it has to be something new (I guess I am the same way as also is Mondo)...
In the car.."Where are we going?" They are not good with surprises anymore so I tell them..First stop Galco's Soda Shop! "But what do we do there?" Really kids...just Buckle up!

We pull up to  Galcos None of us have been so we have no idea what to expect. Looks like an old grocery store from the outside. We go in and there is tons of different sodas and beer and candy (a lot of old fashioned ones). I tell them go ahead choose a drink to go with your lunch. Well Jacob spotted an area where you can make you own bottle soda. SCORE!! I knew something cool had to come out of driving all the way there. So they all made there own sodas and then bottled them. It was super cool. Made the experience worth it. I didn't get any pics. I am really bummed about that. Guess we will have to go again!

Next stop... The Old LA Zoo.. now this really got my attention. It's free, there's a picnic area, and they can run and climb and act like BOYS. Win win! So googled this in maps got there with no abandoned zoo in site but noticed picnic benches and stairs. So we all decided to have our lunch first then seek out.

As we get up the stairs we see rocks and cages and we go straight to the cages. The kids were able to go in and climb on.
                                                                 

So much graffiti but that made it all look even more cooler honestly.
The kids and I want to search pics of the zoo when it was up and running.  We just kept exploring wondering what animals were in these cages.  We went up in the back and found even more cooler areas. It was hot but there were shady spots.



 I was kind of freaked out about snakes I must say. I did see people posting pics of snakes while searching about this place, but it was the risk we took right? Made it even more creepy.  Over all we had a fun time exploring hiking and also Geo caching. It is a place we must take Mondo back to. Cause I see him being like a little kid going in and out of the cages. We really needed to get out and do something active like this and together. The kids were getting along and playing with each other. I just smiled... This is summer!! Well the place is not huge and we were over it after about 40 minutes of that.                                                                      

So next stop.. Merry Go Round! Yeah it wasn't a planned spot but why not we were there already. Nicky and I stayed back while the others went and I bought the boys Churros. They even got there own cause they were only $1 (yes my kids share Churros at Disneyland when we get them) Sharing is caring LOL ..

Now with a little sugar running through there blood off to the next stop... Griffith Observatory.. They did not want to go here. They cry "We have been there" It's boring" "Can we go to Pink's!?"  I told them "Did you just eat a Churro that I bought you?" Good then be quiet and let's get back to enjoying our day."PARKING LOT FULL" umm well we aren't hiking up there. So it took us about 5 minutes to get a spot in the "FULL" lot as it always does.

As we walk up the kids want a picture with The Hollywood sign.

We get inside its totally packed yeah maybe this was a bad idea I started thinking but whatever let's breeze though it all I mean we have been here before and we have seen it all right? Well... Jacob hears over the loud speaker "Free Show"I like the sound of that!

 So we go even with a grumpy one who doesn't want to. But I am just ignoring the grumpiness at this point. Well the guys were funny. We learned stuff and also how to make a comet (which we will be doing tonight it looks like). That was a win and something new in my book! We also got to see the Tesla Coil go off. Everyone thought it was way cool! If you go find out what time they do it at.

The boys ended up having a great time.

 I loved watching Caleb reading things and rushing over to tell me about. I do hate when they ask me questions and I don't   know the answers to though. After that we decided to check out a couple more things we missed and headed out. Went to dinner at our fave..Red Robin.. and walked around the Galleria..
The boys kept saying how much fun they had and kept thanking me for taking them. We really needed this day, and I think we all ended up agreeing to that at the end of the night. It was nice to go home and get ready for bed and go to bed without the chaos that the day had built up.. The older these boys get the harder it is to do things we all enjoy... But we all seem to have a great time no matter what we do..Now just one week till Bass Lake! Cannot wait! I think we can be lazy and fight with each other till then...

Homework meltdown #45133054

We all go through it I am learning if you don't or didn't with your kids I am calling Bullshit and or you have forgotten. My kids I feel are really great overall about homework (as I laugh to myself) But it depends on the age,  the work, and I wanna say the time of month (yes even with boys) Well my little perfect child who smiles and never gets mad or complains for the most part had a meltdown yesterday. It was over his Reading Log (ugh even I hated those damn things!) I really feel for him but he let it back up. Again. So this is one of those "on you dude" kind of things. Instead of just spending an hour and a half working on it last night when it was brought up and completing he decided to moan, groan, cry, an basically do diddly squat. When I asked him why he was acting the crazy way he is. It all came down to "cause I don't want to do it!"  Oh boy yeah let me tell you everything I don't want to do Caleb...Then 2 days later... haha! Just kidding. But really I mean we all have these days right even the kid who rarely does.

So my advice was ok don't do it now but you will be doing it over the weekend and turning it in late. No if and's or buts!

So this morning he had asked me if he could go into school late and finish his work. Yes I let him. I again asked why not turn in late. He said he was worried about losing tickets for not having homework in on time and what his teacher would say. Well at least I know he does care about his teacher and getting it done. Not all hope is lost   And he has been doing his reading and writing all morning with a smile on his face. I would much rather him work under these conditions than last nights episodes. Don't know if this is the right thing to do or not but it is working. This whole parent thing can have its up and downs, but in the end as long as we are surviving and smiling I think all will be ok. And if not then oh well!

Horse Racing fun... on a family budget but not really...

        When Mondo is home as most of you know... We must go somewhere. Now with a big family everything seems pricey when you times everything by 6. So we are always on the hunt for deals and what not.  Well The horse races had '"Dollar Days" Which means $1 sodas, $1 beer, and $1 hot dogs, and $1 wagering.  We can do that! I hadn't been since I was like 6. Mondo had been a year ago with the boys and a friend and said the kids enjoyed it so let's do it!

Now we ended up not doing the cheapest route but we had so much fun and was well worth the extras we put into it.

So I guess kids were free for admission, and you can get in for 4$ but we decided to go to the club level at 10$ each for Mondo and I so I guess we could have saved, but we did already by kids being free right? Walking into the main bathroom there was like being in the 50's to me with the room of vanities. Yes its older but was pretty cool and made me think of the older days when everyone would go there dressed up powdering there noses (or so this is how I picture it). A small highlight for someone like me who likes silly things like that. Ok enough about the bathroom. 

Well Mondo had previously came and his friend already had the box seats so we didn't really know what the cost would be. There were not many people when we had arrived so we could have sat in the seats included in our ticket but we thought let's check it out.  Well we walk over to the box seats area. and find out it's 10$ a person even the kids. Mondo about died and said ok let's check out the free seats. I mean it is dollar days and we do wanna keep our cost down. So we walk past all the box seats again on the way back to the free seats, and we all are like let's just do the box. It's the experience and we can spread out and not worry about kids being in ones way. So back to the lady. 

We got 2 boxes side by side which was so well worth it! Definitely worth the price. If it was just Mondo and I we could have done without, but the space was needed with our ginormous family.  We could set our stuff down leave it there. It was perfect.

Now for the fun! We just did cheap bets we were not there to win, Just wanted to have fun. So each race we all picked our own horse to win. Would go down and see the horses before a couple of the races. I wanted to do this every race but my lazy children were like nah lets just stay in our box. But let me tell you if they wanted another hot dog or soda they would get up.  So we all had about 3 hot dogs each lots of beer and soda! It's dollar days after all! Gotta use that deal up! 

So let's talk about our horses we picked. We most of the time went by odds, Even after we realized that wasn't doing well. I was supporting the girl jockeys. No luck there. Nicky would vote against the odds. It was so exciting to be jumping up and down as the horses were racing.  Everyone was doing it! Mondo I think was yelling the loudest. I had to tell him to tone it down a couple times LOL.

For the last race we decided to go down to where you could stand and watch by the finish line. We all put our money on one horse and........ we lost. 

At the end of the day Brody is the only one who made out with 23$ We won't talk about how much was lost/spent because we had a day of fun no meltdowns, and we all can't wait to go again! LOL So lucky to  have these days with Mondo and the boys. We are very lucky with his schedule for these days,  Even if it meant he had to work 5 in a row which led me to lose patience, my hair and my voice during that time from some amazing not so perfect parenting.  These days make it all worth it.

Thank you Mondo for giving us a great memory for the books.

 #Makingmemories2016