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

Bedtime thinking....

It has been a crazy start of 2016.  Rough I could even say. I have had stupid Strep that won't go away. Kids that have tested all boundaries. Mondo working 5 days in a row and just overall a bunch of ugh double ugh ugh. 

Now I am trying and trying to push through smile and move on and fight forward. No matter how horrible the day has been. Each night I have been able to cuddle with either Caleb or Brody and watch TV in my room and fall asleep. And each night they hold my hand or put there arm over me while doing so. Makes me feel like all is right in the world. At least for an hour <3 

I will be sad when this is no longer... But till then I will suck up every hug, cuddle and kiss....

Winter Break

Remember being a kid and Winter Break was awesome! No school, no homework, play video games all day, sleepovers. Christmas Morning, playing with all your new cool stuff. Good times!
Well let me just say as an adult I love it even more! Sleep in, no rush to get the kids to school. No schedule. I am one that likes to go with the flow. I don't need a schedule. Actually I have a hard time planning anything. Mostly because of Mondos work schedule. We are so lucky that I can be home and we can work around him. But I am even more lucky when he is home and we all are free to do whatever that day.

As a kid I didn't go anywhere. Now my kids still play video games and chill, but they get to go to fun places too! And as adults  we get to have fun holiday parties take the kids wherever we want to go or think they would enjoy to make them happy. Whether it be Disneyland, movies, museums, Geo Caching cool new restaurants, Kings games.  They even get to go to Mammoth. Spoiled for sure but that is not how we look at it. It is amazing family times and memories made that they will always remember. This is what really matters the most.

My brother has been so generous on getting a cabin every year for  a family Mammoth trip. we get the same cabin every year and it is awesome.This may not last forever but we sure take in every moment and memory we are there. It is something that each year a new memory is made.  We did not do this stuff growing up. I don''t ever remember visiting snow but a couple times a year when a friend let me tag along. As for Mammoth my first time was a few years ago with my brother. I didn't really know anything about Mammoth lol. I thought Mountain High was awesome,  Yeah definitely not Mammoth. We are so very grateful and lucky!
This is one thing we wipe our calendars clean and Mondo does trades or what not to get these days off if he is working.




This year we stayed for 3 nights. The cabin is beautiful and the kids love it cause they take over the loft with there blankets and sleeping bags and now Phone Chargers.

First night we were there was Kristi's birthday! We surprised her with a beautifully lit cake :)

The weather was pretty damn cold yes but  it was absolutely gorgeous as always. The kids boarded for one day and Brody took his first all day class. He did awesome and by the way I am keeping his chart.

 Mondo and I tend to just kick back and hang but I think I am going to get back into it next year and ski. I can ski, well I used to be able to and looking back that was like 17 years ago holy crap! LOL As for boarding not my thing! I have tried twice and both times a total fail. But thats ok. I don't mind hanging in the warm lodge with us non skiers and taking pics and watching the kids come down the mountain. I mean there is always beer and convo and as you all know that is more my pace.

Nicky and Jacob took Caleb a couple times up and down the mountain. Then we pawned him off to my sister so he could board with her and his cousin Conor. The teens love it cause then they get to go on there own on the mountain. But have to stay together. Well they are reminded to over and over.  It is great for all of them to get together and do this. I love it. They play games together board together play pranks and they fill the cabin up with lots of laughter. Cousins are the best!

Day 2 the snow was coming down like crazy it was so awesome. We decided not to go back up the mountain and instead we slept in ,hung out, kids sled and we went to lunch at Gomez'. Mondos and my absolute favorite restaurant up there. With the tastiest Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita! After that we took the Gondola up for something to do and everyone but myself and Kristi well maybe Lee too had an hour long snowball fight every where we went  it was pretty hilarious. Wild monkeys on the loose is what it looked like.  All 14 of us squished in the Gondola, and Ashleigh had a huge snowball that we kept throwing on the roof to make a snow shower. Kids gone wild here I tell ya!
And then bowling and Pizza for dinner.

 This was actually a really cool fun chill different day than hanging in the lodge and all enjoyed it.

Then the dreaded morning of packing up and heading home, There was a lot of snow and ice on the road.

But we made it with a stop at Indian Wells Brewing Company/Rocket Fizz. They were bottling Root Beer and gave us all a free one freshly bottled. That was a fun little ending to our Annual Family Winter Vacation.

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MORE..My New Years Resolution

Happy New Years!! I am starting off this year with a bit of a hangover and a lot of love. I had a couple friends and family members over last night, and I gave them all a chalkboard pen and asked them to write there New Years Resolutions on the Wall. I started off with "Walk 500 Miles." Let me just say I think these things are lame, and unrealistic but silly and fun at the same time. And I love that people do make Resolutions and work to complete them. I for one know I never finish anything so why even start. Yes I am pessimistic and yes I am alright with that.  Anyway I wrote that because I actually do I have a goal I set with Mondo that I would get out and walk/run a lot this year so I was gonna set that for 1000 but I decided to be real to myself.  So I set for 500 but I also wrote that on the wall because I in case you don't know think I am pretty funny. So with that being said sing with me.... "Aaaand I would walk 500 miles, and I.."Get it. Haha yes I know I am the only one laughing here but that's ok :) you are now stuck with that song in your head for the day as well. So there it was my one little goal.
This morning I came to the wall and was reading every ones resolutions and thinking of them and how they will probably all do these and they were all pretty realistic and as each person wrote I could see them thinking about yes I need less stress or I want to do this to make myself proud, and then I realized it might not be such a silly thing but maybe good motivation and at least positive thinking for the moment right?

That's when I looked at mine. Yeah haha and yeah I am going to do that goal, but what do I really want in my own life? I want MORE.. not more money not more materialistic things but just more good. More things that make me feel good.. I want to..

Cook more...less eating out because I enjoy new recipes and having the kids taste test and having my neighbors taste test as well. I also love that the kids help and learn with me.

Blog more...I love the feeling of getting stuff out of my head onto paper or the computer. I love sharing things with others I love keeping a journal of wonderful memories and some maybe not so wonderful but the writing has gotten me through it.

Breathe More.... I spend so much time angry on edge stressed out unhappy for no reason. I want to just breathe for a bit and do that often and let shit go.

Get out more....oh boy I love love love love nothing more than sitting in my home doors closed shades drawn. Does it make me feel good? No it never does. When I do finally get out I am so much happier, I need that for myself.

Love more... I think I am a pretty lovey dovey person but I am also an asshole at times too and can be selfish. I don't know why I am like that but its not very nice. I love hugs. I love loving people. I love telling people I love them so why not love more?!

Listen More... This is a biggie this is one I may have the hardest time doing. I am not going to lie.  Mondo is my best example as are my friends I am sure. I interrupt I constantly give my advice when I should be just listening. I want people to listen to me so why do I feel the need to do this to them. This is something I just want to do because I do love listening and I want to be there for everyone but I need to realize I cannot fix every situation for everyone like I think I can. So I must really listen more.  My kids my husband and my friends need that from me.

Give More....I think I am a giver but I feel like maybe I could give a lot more. More time, more help more anything, more love.  I just know that life to me giving has always made me feel so much more happier than getting. And I really want to give more.

Bring on 2016!