New Traditions, Hamburgers, and Family..Christmas 2009

Christmas time YAY..Time for Family, Friends, Presents, Love, Happiness, And Jesus. Who does not love this time of year. I was about to say yes. it was a very rough Season for me but I made it through like I always do, and in the end I am blessed....

Some new things for our family this year we did and even a couple new traditions!

This year was very important for us to make special especially for my brother and my nieces, but as usual special turns into crazy but full of laughs with us...

We all as a family went to the North Pole Train in Fillmore when I say all I mean The Ramirez party of 6, Team Mackinnon ( my sister's family including Ian), and then Lee and the girls. We even ran into my cousin and his wife and kids very cool. It was definitely an experience..The kids were soooo excited they thought it was the best thing they got a pre-wrapped cookie and chocolate milk while us adults were wanting Hot Cocoa and Homemade Cookies. Bless there hearts they were so excited to see Santa, and sing Christmas Carols. It was an experience I can't really begin to explain it, the kids loved it and us adults laughed at all the things wrong with the whole picture but hey it was definitely a memory that will surely be in our heads forever.

Not sure if anyone does or has heard of Elf on the Shelf but this was a new tradition we have started in our house. We have little mini elf who the kids named "Mark". Mark is a magical Elf. He flies to Santa every night and gives a report on our home if all are in the Christmas spirit and if all are good or naughty. Then in the morning he returns but is located in a different area then the night before.. The boys so enjoyed finding Mark every morning. Such a great cute fun idea and really did help alot. Mark was I will admit used as a threatening tool to the kids now and then, but I really believe they did what they could to please him and Santa. He will be returning 2 weeks before Christmas next year.

I have to say we do not have very many ornaments at all on our tree, much less any real traditions. So this year I decided to take the boys to pick out an ornament, and we will do this every Christmas. Then when they move out they will have a starter set for there tree. The boys loved going to Hallmark and choosing a ornament it was alot of fun as a family to do this and I really look forward to next year.

The night before Christmas I let the boys make and decorate cookies for Santa. They had so much fun!



Then it was here. Christmas morning! Mondo worked the 2 days prior so I was really looking forward to him coming home that morning. he got home at 6 a.m. I woke up and we hung out for about 45 minutes till Nicholas came down. It was so neat to be the first one up for a change. We had Nicky go wake up his brothers, and then it began. I have to admit the boys were very good with opening and appreciating there gifts this year.

My brother and nieces came over after they woke up and we opened gifts with them. Then they went down to there house and we got cleaned up while we waited for them to come back and my Sister and her family to come over. Paul and his boyfriend Hemley came over such a joy to see them on Christmas Day.

This year we changed it up and decided to do Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. HAHAHAHA Weeeeellllllll... they came out fine after we had to go buy Propane, and I guess I bought the wrong cheese, that I think Lee will throw in my face for a long time! Then I forgot to cook the sides umm yeah so my wonderful family Christmas was kind of a disaster, but hey we were all together and we all still were smiling and hey I did bake so we had sweets :D The kids had a wonderful time all the cousins played with there new toys and just had a fun time together. I will be more prepared next year but I don't think they will allow me to have Christmas again......

Water..Beach..Fun!! Brody turned 1!!

Could not believe how fast that first year went by... My baby turned 1. I have to admit his party was really cool too. Too bad he won't remember it! We did a Beach theme and I had all the kids come in there bathing suits, and the first game we played was Cold Potato ( with a water balloon and a slow leak) yes nice wet game! The kids really had a great time with that....We played another game where once again they all got soaked...Kids love water it was so fun to watch them all have a great time. From there the kids had unlimited Otter Pops, and we did a craft where they glued stuff on a real starfish...yes I still have every ones starfishes too......I need to get those back to all..After that we did one final thing. We had a tarp and put 50 lbs of sand on it and placed starfish and sea animals( plastic of course) inside. I gave all the kiddos mini pails with there names on them and let them dig. I was so worried this would be crazy but every single kid was so good in the sand. They all got in the sand and dug so carefully for stuff it was such a cool experience to see tons of kids all calm and having so much fun. Brody loved the sand that day and then for a couple weeks later till we finally had it all gone. Now we can't forget about the cake that one of my friends made. She did awesome! The cake is adorable isn't it?!?!? Best part it was Red Velvet...It was delicious!

I also had cupcakes for the kiddos as well.... I feel that all the kids and adults had a great time... I know Brody did! WE are very blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family in our life. And I am so very thankful to all that made it we had friends come from California City that was so cool with there beautiful newborn Gabriel...and there were some that weren't able to make it and they were missed. I can't forget to give credit to Lisa who took pictures for me, she is so wonderful! She is a wonderful photographer and a wonderful friend. Look at these pics?! Aren't they great? There are soooooo many more! Such a fun happy day that I will remember forever..... Happy 1st Birthday Brody!

Family Vacay to OC

We needed a easy quick getaway, and the kids have been asking to go to Legoland, and we love the OC fair it is clean, and we feel more comfortable about letting the kids on the rides there LOL!
So our first stop was the fair..We did not let the kids know about any of our plans we kept it a surprise the whole way. When they saw the rides they knew we were going to the fair. There faces were so lit up. We knew this would be an amazing day.

We ate like we weren't counting calories and we rode rides and just overall had a great time Caleb was fascinated by the chicks and bees...The boys got to play games...



























And Caleb even gave Brody his winning Hat! Such a fun day!














The boys did not want to leave (of course, weren't we all that way as a kid?). So we explained we had a even bigger surprise for them tomorrow!
After we got all settled in the hotel for bed that night (which I must say is so crazy! The first night in a hotel is insane with the boys they think that it is a playground!) Anyway Mondo and I knew we wouldn't get much sleep but hey the getaway was for them not us.
So of course they woke us up bright and early...once we got all together and in the car we drove and of course the whole way you heard "Are we There Yet?" I think we need to ban that saying from out car next time. When we get off FWY the boys saw the signs and we kept telling them sorry guys but we can't go there it is closed. I know we are mean like that, but it is so much fun!
We get into parking lot and they are screaming with excitement cause they knew that we were kidding. Well wow this place had changed there was so much to do I couldn't believe it! The kids had so much fun!
Caleb got his drivers permit......







Brody got swallowed by a Lego Shark...


the boys did alot of exploring, and just saw some pretty cool things made out of Legos...
Jacob loved the Indiana Jones lifesize Lego....












Nicky rode a Lego Horse....














They shot water through Cannons on a Pirate ship.....


The fire truck was probably one of the faves though..We can't wait to go back there....














We drove home the next day and on the way we decided to go to Balboa Island. Mondo and I had never been before, and we didn't want our vacation to end....
Such a neat town gosh big dreams we now have on moving there! Hey maybe when it is time to retire....Everyone told us you must get a Balboa Bar or a Chocolate Dipped Banana. Well Jacob chose the banana...




But Nicholas and Caleb wanted something more original...

And that ended our trip it was back home from there.. What a great little getaway for us.....

Brand Park...

So today I decided I needed to go somewhere I felt like home. So much craziness lately, and each day I feel as if I am forgetting who I am. I really need to get me back away from all the sadness that has been going on for the past 2 months. I needed to go way way back! So I put myself back to Nicky and Jacobs age.

When I was there age I used to go to Day care and in the summer it was the best because we always went places and did activities. So many great memories. I loved going to Brand Park each week. We would walk up to the park and have our sack lunch. Then we would go swimming in the children's wading pool, play in the playground. And when all were good we would go to the Japanese Tea house and see the Koi fish (this was a treat!)

So today I tell the boys we are going to do what I used to do on Mondays in the summer when I was your age. They were so excited something "new"for them. Which has made me decide we are going to have weekly schedules I am making my own summer day camp for them! I want them to have fun and have great memories of summer, and I want to share them with them.

Before we go to the park I take them down my old street, Thompson Ave. Wow that street was not as small as I remember I remember just crossing the street seemed like forever. Nope I passed it! LOL Well we went back and showed them. They asked if we could move there. I said no but maybe we could by a house further up if they begged Daddy. They thought that was cool. we arrive around 11 a.m. at the park no one there. And the worst that I feared had happened too, The wading pool wasn't open today. They were OK with it, but made me promise to bring them back one day. I am more than happy too.

So next thing thing to do play at the playground. Man it has changed def not like before. It used to be wood with these huge bridges! So much fun! Now it is like any other playground. They would have loved the bridges. Oh well :(

We had lunch unlike I had planned. I was hoping to lay the blanket out and have a picnic HA! Caleb was hungry after 10 minutes of playing so I gave him his sandwich. Then the others followed and we kind of just ate sitting on the bench. Oh well we ate lunch. Remember this!

They played a total of maybe 40 minutes. From there I said are you guys ready for the special treat? Oh yeah they were now I had to warn them it wasn't food and it wasn't super exciting it was just something to look at and to please not be noisy.

So we got in the car and drove across the parking lot to the Tea House. We went inside and they were so happy to see the big Koi and on top they have turtles now! I do not remember these turtles. So cool! We were there for about 20 minutes. Walking back to car they all said thank you mommy for taking us here. it was so nice. They really enjoyed it it wasn't much but it made me feel good because they enjoyed my memories.

So I told them next we would drive by my school Balboa Elementary. What a sad site one of the blacktops with the playground was now full of trailers. Still loved seeing the old school though.

I told them ok one last stop where my mom would always take me. We drove to McDonald's I pulled in and they said mom can we go inside. I said yes since today was a special day and I used to with my mom. They always want to go inside I never do. To my surprise remodeled too. Much nicer but alot smaller. Now remember we had lunch already?! Well I let them each get a Happy Meal. They all ate them except Caleb it was ok.

We had a good time being together. It was a such a easy flowing day with them no fighting no crying. This is another reason for my summer camp with them. They enjoy exploring and learning new things, and I really enjoy hanging with them. I needed today very bad. They did too I think. Thank you my 4 little monkeys for being such wonderful boys today. I love you!

Starting Summer Fun!

Our first visit we had no idea what to expect. All I knew was it was 2 and 3 dollars to get in, you have to be there early or you wait in line, and that they had a 0 entry pool , and a waterslide. Well we decided to go with our friends the Paits and it opened at 11, well we ended up getting there at 11:30 after we had to stop at Babies R us to get Swimmers lol



We arrive and as we all get in we are the cut off for capacity wow talk about timing!

The place inside is great they have the 0 entry so we can just sit and let Brody hang out, and then they have a playground , and a huge water slide not too mention the other side with a pool and diving boards.

All the kids loved it including all the grownups such a great place. Nicholas got to go on the big kid slide. I had separation anxiety because he could go all by himself :(

Jacob played I barely saw him, and Caleb he was in HEAVEN!!! Jumping into foot deep water he thought he was so great!

Brody enjoyed himself too much! He would crawl into the water till it got in his face, such a fun site to watch, he continued to do it over and over.

All of us took home one thing...a Sunburn. Especially Mondo. But we definitely look forward to the next time. I highly suggest going it is super cheap just get there when it opens. The line got huge FAST!