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!

Billions of Babies

I have officially been home in CA for one week now and all I have got to say is there are billions of babies out here. It seems that almost everyone I know has at least one child, or one on the way, or one with one in the oven. It is play date crazy town out here!
We have had a blast catching up with friends, visiting with family and eating more meals in one day than the sergeon general advises. I mean come on...I can't come home and not eat at the Cheesesteak Shop...or Salvatore....or El Tapitio! And if that means starting early and ending late so that I can fit in all my favorite retuarants and friend's houses than I am committed to doing it. Tony returned to ABQ last night while I continue my quest to reach one billion baby play dates by the 14th. Here are some pictures from our outings so far:


Cienna & Landon Cook At The Inflatable Slide Play Area


AJ & Sophia Oberbruner Born Just 2 Days Apart


Jake & Grant Mazza with Cienna & AJ


AJ, Keane Irvine & Nicholai Schmidt (Second Cousins)

My brothers got to meet AJ for the first time. It appeared that he liked uncle Jay...


But was a little scared of uncle Jon...


And absolutely LOVED hanging out with dad at the Oakland Zoo, where people were more interested in oohing and aahing over Tony and AJ than the zoo animals!


And big sister Cienna had fun acting crazy!


It has been a whirlwind of a week with lots more to do, people to see and meals to eat! I will catch you up next week!