Day: September 18, 2011

Go Big Black! – Azusa Raiders

/ Sonia Castaneda / 3 Comments
No Raider Hater Here
Some history: I do not like the Raiders football team. I do not even like football so dont think Im a raider hater either lol. When I was younger I used to be a cheerleader with my sisters for the Azusa Raiders. We cheered for a couple of years and we had a lot of fun doing it. We even came in first place in one of our competitions! Woot woot! (Im the one to the left).
Any how my two sisters and sister in law are now coaches for the city team and their first game was today. It was a ways from my house but I wanted to come out and show my support. I got there a little late due to traffic and under estimating the traffic…but I made it. My god daughter is also on the team so I was excited to see her do her thang.
 There she is, one of the loves of my life, Denise. My daughter from another mother lol…my twin actually. 
 The staff: I dont know the first two but the middle is my Twin Christina, my sister in law Lizzie, and my younger sister Marina.
 Me and my bunny. He was in the middle of saying Cheese! Haha. It was soooo flippin hot out. All of the parents and other smart people were all behind me under Easy-Ups. 
 After the game, Jude was hanging out with all the girls and sharing a drink with his cousin. They kept calling him cute. *Eyebrow raised* they better back up! lol.
Proud Team: The Azusa Raiders Mascots Squad 
After game lunch, where else but Mc Donalds would kids want to go to? We grew up going to the same one, so it was kinda nice taking our kids here…the next generation. 
Jude with his super cute cousins: Bubba aka Little Mikey

The two princesses of the family, Emily and Denise. Since moving away from home, like 35-40 mins away haha, I miss my family so much! I used to live down the street and around the corner from all of them, but Jude and I love where we live now. We need to cherish all of the time we spend with people who matter most…family. 
 I LOVE YOU GUYS!
*Latina Kisses*

Under the Sea

/ Sonia Castaneda / 8 Comments
The Aquarium of the Pacific
Random thoughts brought us to the aquarium in Long Beach, Ca. I’ve been thinking of places that would be fun and educational for my little Judy and this was one place that was highly recommended. I think maybe Jude was a little too small to really learn anything but colors and textures of the sea animals. 
The Aquarium of the Pacific is located near the Queen Mary, so that’s next on our list. I was excited to see more than just a huge fish tank up in here to be honest. Admission is $25 per adult (thank you honey) and kiddos under 3 are freeee! If you have a 3 year old, they can pretend to be 2 for the day lol and say you $12. They are open from 9am-6pm everyday, we got there a little late, so we rushed through it.
They had black lights in the tanks and it made them all glow, it was beautiful.
Jude wanting to push his own stroller…my little boy is getting so big!
The out door exhibits were my favorite. I wanted to touch everything!
Touching starfish and sea cucumbers among many little water creatures. I was showing Jude that they were nice because he was really apprehensive. I would have been all up in that stinky water if they let me haha.
Jude checking out the Sea Lions.
CHEEESE!!
Jude quickly got brave when it was time to touch and see the jellyfish lol. I had to hold him back from falling in! They feel surprisingly thick and slimy. 
I felt like we got to touch everything, here is Jude next to sharks. YIKES!
Sting Rays!! I was harassing them because they kept going up to other hands. Ryan was laughing at me because I was almost elbow deep in the water trying to touch one. Jude had more luck. I was so excited!
More tank action : Eels and huge Lobsters.
BEAUTIFUL!
Im not sure what Native American holiday they were celebrating but there were tons of people dressed up, even little ones. Look how precious this little Indian Princess is. *hugs*
Life’s like a box of…
personally I would prefer Mexican candy over a box of chocolates, but anyway…we had lunch across the street at Bubba Gumps. This restaurant’s theme is all on the movie Forest Gump. Hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Yummy!! Ryan with a big ol’ smile, he was starving. 
We started with the Shimper’s Net Catch. Its a lot of work but so worth it. Its a must order when I go. 
Jude Isaac reading over a couple of new books I got him at the aquarium gift shop along with a flashlight.
I loved the display of the kids meals. Jude had the Macaroni and Cheese plate. Came with french fries, jello (that he shared haha, and orange slices)
Hes in a booster feeding himself now 🙂
This was a long post full of pictures, we had so much fun and if you have time on the weekend, I would recommend you check out these places. 
Have you been to a huge aquarium like this? Did you like it? Which other places would you recommend mothers take their small children?
*Latina Kisses*