First Race!

After several months of being "weekend warriors" so that Cienna could train, she had her first official downhill race last weekend at Purgatory Resort in Durango, CO. Thanks to our good friends Nick and Sayoko, we had world class accommodations which turned the weekend into a mini vacation for us. Since the race was Sunday, we decided to keep things low key Saturday and "hang by the pool." It was a pool unlike any other...

Why Yes, That Is A Ski Lift In The Background

We went to bed early, ate a hearty breakfast, were the first to arrive (see above re: world class accommodations), and Cienna was ready to OWN THE MOUNTAIN.

After taking the world's longest chair lift in near white out conditions, then having to shuffle (not ski) 100 yards to the starting line we waited anxiously for our little ripper to rip down the mountain.

This was it. The moment of truth. She was quick out of the gate. She flew past us, faster and more confident than any of the kids before her. She was navigating the course like a seasoned professional.

Going for it 110%, she approached the 5th switchback and disaster struck. As she described it, "I hit an edge and then my skis started to vibrate like crazy and I tried to turn but I couldn't and I just yard saled!" For those of you who are not familiar with the term "yard sale" it is when you lose most of your equipment and it is strewn about the mountain like items at a yard sale. After skiing to the bottom, taking the world's longest lift to the top, shuffling 100 yards and getting back in line for her 2nd run, she was told by the organizers that if she lost her ski again she would be disqualified from the race. She turns to me and says "do they think that I tried to crash? I couldn't help it if my ski came off!" She was pissed off. And I liked it.

After backing off for her second run, she was disqualified for missing the last gate. She took it like a true champion... by asking if we could warm up in the lodge!

Tony and I could not have been prouder of our little ripper. She truly gave it her all, showed no fear, and after crashing hard she had the determination to get back up there and try it again. I told her that crashing on her very first run of her very first race made us more proud than if she had taken first place. She left it all on the mountain last Sunday and came out the winner in our book!

Last Year of Single Digits

Ms. Cienna Elise Mazotti turned 9 years old on January 15th and with that I promptly realized that I can't possibly be old enough to have a 9 year old. I simply cannot be old enough to have a child who is almost in double digits. It is not possible.

After coming back to reality, we had to "negotiate" her birthday festivities. Cienna has been very excited about being part of the Wolf Creek Ski Team (Mom! Everyone has like 3 sets of skis!) but she did not calculate that sking every weekend during winter also meant no free weekends to have a birthday party. After "negotiating" for a spring time celebration we are hoping that she can finally put her friends, presents and cake behind her and focus on RIPPING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN this weekend in her first race in Durango, CO.

Speaking of ripping down the mountain, here is a picture of Cienna doing just that while sledding...

And AJ faceplanting while sledding...

So, back to the birthday girl. You are amazing. At 9 years old you love:

Lego Friends
American Girl
Target gift cards
Talking about the day that you might need a "trainer bra"
Liv & Maddie
School supplies
Vacationing
Ski team
Gymnastics
Riding your bicycle with gears
Taking showers every morning
UC Berkeley

You do not love:

Braces
Chores
Knots in your hair
Eating your dinner

We love you more than any words can say. You are our reason for being. You are our pride and joy. Thank you for being our baby girl!

Happy New Year!!! And Other Such Things....

Happy New Year! The Mazotti family welcomed 2016 "redneck style" complete with Fireball, Frito Pies and fire!! We spent the evening with the Webb family and their new, beautiful home in South Fork. With the construction on their house just completed and a large vast piece of property dubbed Rooster Tail Ranch, they had a pile of construction debris that needed to be "dealt wit" and that meant a chain saw and gas! We roasted like hot dogs in the -5 degree weather, while watching "kamikaze cottontails" douse themselves in water before running into the fire to rescue their babies who had been calling that debris pile home for the last several months. I know what you are thinking...those people are SICK! It was very sad indeed. But one helluva way to celebrate the end of 2015!

After achieving all of my goals / resolutions for 2015, I decided to give myself a break this year and pick something frivolous to focus on.

My goal / resolution for 2016 is to learn how to do a cartwheel. That is it. Boo yea!

My kids wanted to get into the spirit as well but they chose something that I AM SO NOT DOWN WITH. A cuss jar. They would like to hear less profanity in their household. I would like to have them in boarding school. We don't always get what we want. As of today I am "throwing the party" with $32 in the jar. I expect that I will not be successful in their resolution but as a lady I wish them the best of luck in their quest for a profanity-free universe.

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2016!