AJ Turns 1!

1 year ago today our little Anthony Jr. blessed our lives by entering the world and becoming our baby boy. It is such a cliche to say that I don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday and yet it also seems like longer than a year. All I know is that he has been such a joy to have in our family and our lives. He makes me laugh every day and brings a tear to my eye just thinking about his bright beaming smile. We love you our Mister, Mister. Our Man of Lamancha. Our little squeaker buddy back seat driver boy! Muah!

Our Big Boy!

Of course we had to throw the boy a party! Today we had about 10 kids over for hot dogs, Cheetos, macaroni and fruit salad and cupcakes. And even though we knew AJ would not really be able to use it we rented a bounce house for Cienna. Living across the street from a park she is tortured every weekend by all of the kids getting bounce houses for their parties. Unfortunately with her birthday being in January it isn't exactly prime weather conditions for an outdoor party. So we wanted to do that for her. Turns out AJ loved it too!


Custom Party Hats (Super Easy To Make!)


Gift Boxes


Cupcake Tree


The Jungle House


Cienna and her Posse


LL Cool AJ

And if you are curious...AJ inhaled the entire cupcake! He wasted no time making short work of a cupcake that never had a chance. Poor cupcake.


Going...going...gone!


The Party Goers Waiting Patiently


The Fam with the Birthday Boy

Lastly we opened presents. Not quite sure what AJ's favorite gift was because I think that he really loved each and every one. He has been enjoying his new "whip" that Granny bought him this week. I think the rest was just icing on the cake!


AJ in His New Ride


A New Book


His Very Own Dump Truck


A Fresh Pair of Kicks


His 1st Fire Truck

Well that is it. Sorry about all of the pictures. But I am under contract by the grandparents to make sure that they get all of the details!

Rhythms on the Rio

Another phenomenal South Fork weekend! We experienced Rhythms on the Rio, which is a music festival that features local musicians performing on a small stage right on the Rio Grande. Several local vendors also peddled goods, including an adorable bee dress that we could not say no to...



AJ, T, Cienna and BeauMeyer.com

While we indulged in beverages from the beer garden, we indulged Cienna in just about everything that she asked for. Glow necklaces and bracelets, snow cones, kettle corn and lots of dancing. AJ had a blast just hanging with dad in the baby backpack.


Sunday we tried a new restaurant and headed to the Pagosa Hot Springs which just could be our new favorite cabin activity. If it didn't cost so much every time we went it definitely would be our favorite activity. Speaking of favorite...I think I know why Cienna loves the cabin so much:

Giving New Meaning To "Close" Caption!

There was one thing that I will NEVER forget about this weekend. Coyotes! OMG. They were howling like heck (although it sounds more like high pitched laughing) the first night we were there. I was seriously shook. The only thing that would have scared me more is if I had been in a tent instead of a cabin when I heard them going off. Seriously. For real.

Only a couple more days until AJ's 1st birthday. Can't wait!

Back To School

Well not really back to school...more like the start of school! Cienna started pre-school today! For months I had been teetering between wanting her to go to school (for the break) and not wanting to start that path too early. While I have known for a year that she is ready for all that comes with going to school, a part of me was a little heartbroken that she is growing up so fast. Then I have my days where I want to scream and I can't wait for school to start...and so it continued, the cycle of wanting it and not wanting it. We decided to put Cienna in pre-school 2 days a week from 9am-1pm just to give me a little break. And based on the fact that I didn't cry today I think it was the right decision!

Our Big Girl's 1st Day of School


Exploring Her Classroom

With all of our free time this week we took a couple of trips to the zoo and the aquarium. I discovered that AJ really loves animals. His eyes get huge when he sees one and he tries to communicate with them in his baby grunting language. It is amazing to watch your kids when something just clicks. And animals really click with AJ.
Cienna wasn't the only one starting something new this week. AJ started Gymboree! Besides for being extremely athletic, he is definitely the loudest kid in his age group. Another Mazotti trait successfully passed down!


The Call of the Wild

In other exciting Mazotti news, we bought 2 snowmobiles this week! They are both equipped to hold 2 passengers, with seat warmers, hand warmers and they are touring models which means that I don't have to worry about going too fast on them. I can see us now...AJ in the baby backpack on my back, Cienna holding onto Tony, gliding through the snow trails in South Fork. Good ol' fashion family fun. I just may get excited for cold weather again. Now I just need a Camelback that holds hot chocolate!


OK, Not Us. But Similar.

And finally, I just wanted to update everyone on the traveling trash family reality show gig. So I sent the DVD to the producers and they e-mailed to tell me that the disk was blank. So I re-burned the disk and sent it...and they e-mailed to tell me that it arrived cracked. So I sent a final copy, overnight, to their office yesterday. I haven't heard anything yet. Now I wonder if I should e-mail her to see what she thought or just wait to see if she gets in touch with me. If you ask me our tape sucked. But maybe she knows how to spot chaos and craziness when she sees it. We will see!


Reality Show or Bust

Prince Charming

It is hard to believe that 14 years ago this week Tony and I began dating. We had quite the history prior to us getting back together the month before our senior year of high school and to be honest...I never thought it would last! But here we are 14 years later. Married. Parents. And still adoring each other. We have come such a long way from when we first began. We lived with our parents! He didn't have a driver's license! Crazy to think of all that we have accomplished.
As I was driving down the freeway this morning, my thoughts drifted to why I love Tony so much. My first thought was "Prince Charming." You know how in fairy tales the prince falls deeply in love with the princess and they live happily ever after? That is the way that I feel. I think it is easy to feel that way when everything that your Prince Charming promises you comes true. He doesn't just talk about big plans. He makes them happen. Nothing is out of his reach when he puts his mind to it. And that is amazing.
Often times Cienna wants to play "Prince Charming" with me. I am usually the prince and his name is always Tony. I don't mind sharing him with her for now...but I hope that when she grows up she doesn't have to kiss a bunch of frogs to find her Prince Charming too.

Summer Fun

Our house has felt more like a bed and breakfast these last few weeks with all of our California visitors that have been coming and going. Our 1st guest, my brother Jon, arrived on July 20th. For the first couple of days we just hung out around the house, ate at various ABQ hotspots, and he even helped Tony with a few hauling jobs. Then we headed to the cabin for a few days of relaxation. Tony, Jon and Beau went fishing, we went hiking and spent a day driving into Durango, CO. All in all, it was a very fun trip and I am so happy that my brother spent some of his vacaton time coming to see me and the kids.

Hiking Around Big Meadows Lake


My Baby Brother Jon

Once Jon left on the 30th, our friend Kara flew in on the 31st. Kara dates one of Tony's best friends named Mike. Mike had rode his motorcycle from the Bay to Gunnison, CO and the plan was to meet him at the cabin the following day. Sunday morning we all headed back up to the cabin. I have never experienced so much rain in a 5 day period as I did when we went back up to CO. Every day we would wake up, get started on our activity and it would dump rain buckets on us. But we still managed to have a ton of fun. We went rafting down the Rio Grande and in Big Meadows lake, a day at the Pagosa Hot Springs (with massages!!) and we taught them how to play Phase 10, which they are now addicted to.


The "Lost" Girls


Mike & Tony

I think that the highlight of Cienna's trip was getting her first ride on a motorcycle. Mike is the ONLY person that I would ever allow to take her and I hope she got her fill because it will probably be her last ride!


Hells Angel and Hells "Little" Angel


Easy Rider

I think AJ's favorite part of the trip was all of the rides in the baby backpack. He really enjoys the view from riding on someone's back!


Hitch Hiking

We caravaned back to ABQ on the 5th, where Mike & Kara cooked us a delicious meal and we attempted to watch Hot Tub Time Machine. The next day, Kara flew back to the Bay, Mike took off on his bike and my in-laws came over to celebrate Tony's dad's birthday. They were in town to close a real estate transaction so it was nice that we got back in town in time to say hi and celebrate. Cienna recieved her first pedicure....


Glamour Girl

And AJ grew a bubble Go-Tee!