Christmas Craziness

This Christmas really felt like our first "Mazotti Family" celebration. Every year we spend the holiday with our family, either in CA or at our home. This year it was just the 4 of us (well 6 of us really, including the dogs) and it was so much fun. Christmas Eve we baked cookies for Santa and Cienna helped me make luminarias for the tour in our neighborhood. Each year, the City of Albuquerque shuts down our neighborhood and allows buses and cars to drive up and down the streets, taking a gander at all of the beautiful lights. For those of you who don't know what luminarias are, you take paper bags, fill the bottom with sand and a votive candle and line your sidewalk, driveway, rooftop and walkway with them. Tony brought me to the luminaria tour for the first time back in 2003 and since then I had been obsessed with living in this neighborhood. It is truly magical.

Baking Cookies For Santa


Luminarias

Christmas morning started out weird. At 9am, neither of the kids had woken up and I went in to make sure that they were both breathing. Even AJ didn't wake up for his normal 5am feeding! I peaked my head in Cienna's room and she was lying in bed staring at the door. When she saw me she smiled and then realized that Santa had brought her a "princess canopy" for her big girl bed. She was so excited. Other gifts included a table & chair set with tea time accessories, a sushi set, watch, outfit, watercolor set, Tag reader, lip gloss and chocolate. When we asked her what her favorite thing was (assuming that she would pick the most expensive item!) she said "the CHOCOLATE!" Of course. The dollar store chocolate was her favorite. Isn't that how it always works?


Her Princess Bed


Tea Party Time


Sushi Anyone?

Of course my husband outdid himself once again. I had received a new bracelet before our trip to CA so that I could wear it to the family Christmas party. He designed it himself and I later found out that the bracelet was featured on a billboard off of I-40 the entire month of November! They ended up custom making 30 more and sold out in a week! On Christmas morning I was elated to receive a matching necklace and pair of earrings...also designed by the big T. What a guy!

My New Gems

After all of the presents were opened, Tony cooked the most beautiful prime rib roast that I have ever seen. And no...there was no bacon! (Jon, that was for you.) We ate, watched movies and played "restaurant" with Cienna.

The Roast

After taking the dogs for a walk, we put the kids to bed, watched the rest of a movie and I indulged in a banana split. Around 10pm I went to bed with a belly ache. At 1:45am I woke up with the worst stomach cramps. I popped a couple of Tums and attempted to go back to sleep. By 2am I was in excruciating pain. My back was killing me and I could barely walk. I was having trouble talking and breathing. I woke Tony up and insisted that he take me to the emergency room. I didn't know what was happening but I knew that it wasn't a stomach bug...I didn't feel nauseous, just pain. We called our neighbor Bill who graciously came down at 2:30am to stay with the kids while Tony dropped me off at the ER. To make a long story short it turned out that I suffered from a gallbladder attack because of the fat in the ice cream I ate before bed. An ultrasound revealed that I have several gallstones and it looks like I am going to have to have my gallbladder removed next week. Craziness! As I write this update I am still in pain. I hope that removing the gallbladder will finally give me some relief!
Never the less, it looks as though my fat eating days are over. My body simply cannot process the fats in food like someone with a healthy gallbladder and the only way to control the pain is to cut fat out of the diet. Talk about being forced into a New Year's Resolution!
I hope that you all had a fun, fabulous and non-crazy Christmas! Happy New Year!

The Most Magical Place On Earth

We arrived back in ABQ last night after our two week road trip and boy am I glad to be home. It is so nice to be back in our own beds, with the baby swing within our reach and a wider selection of clothes to wear!
Our trip started with a drive up to the Bay where we celebrated Christmas early with Tony's family and then a couple of days later with mine. Grandma Betty had her annual Christmas party in Napa, one that Tony and I have not been able to attend in years, and it brought back so many memories of Christmas' past. We had fun visiting with friends and eating too much.
On the 13th we headed down to Disneyland, which really is the most magical place on earth. Cienna had the time of her life, especially during her breakfast with Goofy. For those of you who don't know, Goofy is Cienna's best friend in the entire world. He is always with us, sometimes demanding that we turn the car around because Goofy forgot to jump in before we left. Something about him stuck with her when we went to Disney World and she has been obsessed ever since!
I have never been to Disneyland during the holidays and it was absolutely beautiful. The castle appears to be covered in icicles, the lamp posts blow snow after the fireworks and It's A Small World is lit up with millions of tiny lights. Their Christmas parade is awesome, with giant gingerbread men dancing and huge toy soldiers marching down Main St. I am so happy that we can take Cienna and AJ at such a young age, when their minds are exploding with imagination and creativity. At 30, I can only imagine what is going through their heads as they experience all that Disneyland has to offer!
AJ slept through most of the excitement but what he did see kept him mesmerized. His eyes were as big as silver dollars at times! We can't wait to take him back in a few years and see which character he connects with as well!


Cienna as Snow White...On Her Favorite "Seat"


With The Whole Fam In Front Of "Small World"


Meeting Mickey


Posing With Mimi and Daisy Duck


The Kids And I On Tom Sawyer's Island


Dancing With Her BFF Goofy In His Kitchen


Meeting Woody


Meeting Santa Claus (Cienna made it very clear that Santa could bring her toys but she did NOT want to touch or talk to him!)

Whew! Yum, Yum!

Wow, we had such a great Thanksgiving holiday. Tony's oldest brother Chris drove into town Tuesday with his girlfriend Wendy and her kids Brian and Breann. We spent Wednesday hiking at Tent Rocks, shopping, and visiting Santa Fe. One dinner at Buca de Beppo later and we were ready to hit the hay!

AJ's First Hike


Family of Four


Chris, Wendy, Brian & Breann


Top Of The Rocks

Thanksgiving morning Tony prepped the turkey, stuffing it with green chile and adorning it with bacon. We poured drinks, turned on football and got the pinball machine rockin. Moments later the Pyrex dish that we were using to catch the drippings shattered! An hour later (after we dismantled the stove, cordless drill and all) we were well on our way to a turkey dinner!


Our Beautiful Turkey....And Messy Oven


Enjoying A Beverage


Loving His First Turkey Day!


Killing Chris In Pinball

Dinner was served around 4pm. Turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, green bean casserole, salad and black olives. We blessed the food and thanked God for all that we have and the opportunity to spend the holiday together. It was such a great day!


Enjoying Our Feast


Cienna And Her Olive Fingers

We watched a little football and then tucked into bed early so we could get up at 3am to get some doorbuster (or as we used to call it in retail "butt bringer") deals. After dropping Chris and Wendy off at Wal-Mart, AJ braved the cold weather with Tony and I standing in line in front of Target. Two flat screen TV's and a new microwave later, we were back in bed by 6am! Chris, Wendy and the kids left around 9:30 this morning and I am relaxing on the couch blogging. What a perfect week!

Early Thanksgiving

While I am waiting until next week to celebrate Thanksgiving with the traditional turkey and all the fixings, I can't help but take the time a little early to reflect on how thankful I am for the life that I have been blessed with. Maybe it's the weather turning colder, or the shows that depict the lives of people who have lost their jobs and are stuggling to make ends meat. But every year around this time I can't help but feel fortunate for all that I have. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who works hard, loves me unconditionally and is not plagued with vices. I have two beautiful, healthy children who are smart and funny. My daughter tells me everyday that she loves me (even on the days that I think I yell just a little too much) and a son who smiles at me with two dimples everytime I look at him. I have two dogs who view me with admiration and would give their lives to protect me. I have family and friends who provide me with comfort, support, a shoulder to lean on and lots of laughs. I have a nice, cozy home that has all the ammenities and is located in an amazing neighborhood. Food is bursting out of my pantry and I have so much frozen goods that I need an outside freezer to store it all. Both Tony and I have a reliable vehicles with heated seats. I have many, many clothes and shoes, and they only contain holes if I bought them that way (a concept that my husband still doesn't understand.) My children and I have warm beds, with decorative items that give us comfort. We have money in the bank and a steady flow coming in with resources to keep it up. I have vacations planned for December, January and May already and don't have to worry about losing my job in order to take the time off. I am so grateful for everything that we have, especially when I know that there are so many people living in our country that are homeless and won't have enough to eat today. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and if you get the opportunity to assist someone who needs a little help, please do. Giving is much more fulfilling than recieving and your blessings will come back 10 fold!

2...Going On 22

We have fell into a nice routine these days, with our mornings filled with toddler activities and our afternoons spent either "futzing" around the yard or hanging out around the house. Today, which is story time at the library, I met a mom who has an 18month old daughter and a 6 year old son. We clicked immediately, an instant bond commiserating about raising two kids as stay-at-home mothers. Her husband is a police officer who works nights, and with my hubby gone two nights a week at the firehouse we could relate to each other in a lot of ways. Anyway, we have already made plans for next week which is very exciting.
Cienna has been a bit challenging the last couple of weeks and it is probably all my fault. Sometimes it is easier to let her do what she wants instead of fighting. As a result I have created a cute little monster. My two-year-old acts twenty-two, complete with a vocabulary anyone with a GED would be proud of and her hands appropriately placed on her hips. Sometimes I want to laugh, but mostly I want to cry. She is a handful!
As for little AJ, he is perfectly happy catnapping all day and being his sister's real life doll. She pushes him around in her doll stroller and pats him on the head telling him how cute he is. It is awesome!
While the routine is good, the battles with little Ms. Fancy Nancy Pinkalicious are fierce and exhausting. Hopefully that will subside shortly as we are expecting guests for Thanksgiving. We can't wait!

Cienna & AJ In The Bike Chariot


Pushing AJ In The Doll Stroller

Comparing Notes: Cienna vs AJ

Today was AJ's 2 month check up and just out of curiosity I decided to compare Cienna's baby book notes to what I wrote about AJ on his 2 month b-day. Very interesting for me...probably boring for you. But valuable documentation for the blog!

Cienna Elise

Height: 23 1/4"
Weight: 10lbs 13oz
Sleeping Patterns: "I started sleeping through the night on 2.26.07. I also like taking a morning nap until around 10am."
Eating Habits: "I still want to eat every 3 hours except when I am sleeping through the night."
New Foods I Liked: "I starting having some formula in between breast feedings. I love it!"
New Discoveries I Made: "I found my hands! I would hold my bottle, touch my luller and shove my fist in my mouth."
My Accomplishments: "I laughed out loud, smiled when I recognized people and held my bottle twice."
Baby Babbles: "Lots of noise this month but no words!"

Anthony Michael

Height: 23 1/2"
Weight: 12lbs 12oz
Sleeping Patterns: "Starting 10.17.09 I began sleeping through the night. I mostly wake up between 4&5am for a feeding and then back to bed until 8am."
Eating Habits: "Still on the boob...all day, everyday, whenever you want it!"
New Foods I Liked: "See above."
New Discoveries I Made: "I found my hands....and like to suck on them."
My Accomplishments: "I can smile now, focus on objects and sleep through the night."
Baby Babbles: "Not many noises coming out of my mouth yet...just burps!"

Happy Halloween!

This is the first year that I can remember that I am glad that Halloween is finally over. It used to be one of those holidays that just kind of snuck up on me. That was impossible this year with as many parties and events we had, not to mention how many times I had to get "Snow White" dressed. I am happy to report that last night was a total success, with Cienna experiencing complete candy bliss. She absolutely loved trick or treating, especially with her friends. We do have to work on it though, considering the first house we went to she didn't say "trick or treat" or "thank you", instead she waited for them to say "thanks for coming" and she said "your welcome." We had to explain to her that was not exactly how trick or treating works!
Our neighborhood was definitely the place to be in ABQ. There were literally hundreds of kids and parents walking the streets. A true Halloween experience!

Our Portrait At The Harvest Festival...Daddy Was Working


The Cash Register Cienna Bought With Her Halloween Money From Mimi


Posing With Baby Brother On The Couch


With Her BFF Michayla At The Little Gym Party


After Trick Or Treating...Had To Have The Cash Register In The Pic!


Cienna's Vampire Mickey Mouse Pumpkin!

Costumes, Candy & Celebrations!

Even though this is technically Cienna's third Halloween, this is the first year that she is really pumped up for all of the costumes, candy and celebrations that go along with the holiday. "Snow White" as she is now demanding to be called, attended her first Halloween party and Harvest Festival in the neighborhood. Just to give you a glimpse into her daily nutrition;
Breakfast - Had donuts with Dad while they went to the dump
Snack AM - Popsicle that Dad bought at the store
Lunch - PBJ & Grapes
Snack PM - Cupcakes & Candy at the Harvest Festival
Dinner - PBJ & Grapes, along with candy that the neighbors brought over
Did I mention that along with insisting that we call her Snow White, she also insists on PBJ's for almost every meal?
I know this is just another one of those phases...thank GOD she is asking for PBJ's and not a well done steak!
While I think that she will really love Halloween and Christmas, I am putting my money on Thanksgiving as her favorite holiday due to the fact that when the kid hears a bag crinkle she comes running. We will see though...she is already talking about Santa Claus!

Hugging Her Friends At The Harvest Festival

Decorating Cupcakes At The Halloween Party

On My Own

The kids and I made it back from CA last Wednesday with assistance from my mother-in-law, Marilou. After another week of visiting with great friends and our first trip to the Build-a-Bear workshop (thanks uncle Jon!) we were finally ready to venture home and brave life on our own for the first time since AJ was born. It has been a whirlwind of houseguests and traveling for 7 weeks now! Last week I was able to catch up with two of my great friends and softball teammates Cindy & Tiffany. Like all of my friends, they both have sons. Cienna got lots of practice having a brother, and just as I had suspected she really held her own!


Cienna With Ty & Damyn Vandevior (Tiffany's Kids)


Cienna & Logan Knapp (Cindy's Son)

AJ also had fun visiting with friends and family. He got to meet lots of uncles, cousins and second cousins and even pooped on some of them. He smiled for the first time and gained at least 3 lbs. Goodbye newborn diapers, hello double chin!


AJ with Pops


With Great-Grandma Betty


Smiling For The First Time


Happy As A Clam

After spending all day Thursday getting the house back in order (it is amazing how fast my husband can turn our home into a total bachelor pad) we made it a family afternoon at the pumpkin patch. And although we missed the hay ride, there was still plenty to do at the McCall farm. And they even gave us a pumpkin for free!




Our New Little Family


Panning For Colorful Rocks With Mimi


Super Dad


Pouting Because The Hay Bales Were Too Tall To Climb!

Marilou "Mimi" Mazotti spent the rest of the afternoon seeing what it is like being a part of the traveling trash family. She had to nap in the truck! She leaves this afternoon to return to "Pops" and I just want to say THANK YOU so much to both of them for all of their help the last 7 weeks. And THANK YOU to my mom for all of your help too! I don't know what I would have done without all of the support!