We Be Jammin

We decided to return to Country Jam in 2016 because 1. We felt there were still things that the kids did not see that we could use to initiate conversations about how not to act when they are out in public and 2. We borrowed a camper! 2015 was fun, hot, adventurous, eye opening and HOT! 2016 was fun, hot, dusty, adventurous and DUSTY!

We arrived early on Wednesday and set up camp...which was easy because we didn't have to pitch a tent, set up sun shades or blow up air mattresses. We immediately got to work on firing up the generator and getting that AC pumping through the camper! The generator (which came from a hauling job and Tony assured me that he got "all dialed in" at the fire station) started right up and although it was insanely loud (which should have been my first indication that something wasn't right) it started charging the batteries and doing it's thing. After we fired up the AC, the generator made a funny sound and black smoke started pouring from it right before it shut off completely. Well ain't that a bitch. After numerous attempts to fire it back up, neighbors offering shims and oil and unsolicited advice followed by looks of pity, we came to realization that we would not be glamping it like we had planned. Even with a camper, no AC is no AC and no AC in Grand Junction in the middle of June is like vacationing in a place I can only imagine is similar to hell. But like all Mazotti Family vacations, we made the best of it.

One of the best parts about Country Jam is having the same neighbors year after year. As soon as we arrived, the people behind us started yelling "Run Everyone! Those crazy I-talians are back with their Fireball!" in their thick Texas accents. We felt the love. Our childless neighbors beside us were gracious as always and we made great friends with the couple across the isle from us. Because we were the poor old family with no AC everyone around us pitched in to make sure we didn't go postal. The neighbors across the way would bring us frozen margaritas at 4:30pm everyday because they knew we were dying (and their fancy bus thing apparently had ice AND a blender), the people beside us made sure we had citronella candles because we were being eaten alive by mosquitoes, and the people behind us (who really know how to do this Country Jam thing let me tell you) basically fed us every single day. We were definitely the charity case of quiet section K row 3!

Since our wood paneled wagon was such a hit last year we decided to spiff it up a bit by sanding down the boards and re staining them, repainting the sides and adding red, white and blue LED lights to the sides. Red, white and blue is BIG at Country Jam, so while we were trying to keep with the theme of the event when we put on the lights, we were mainly trying to keep drunk chicks from trying to climb into it after the last concert when our kids were asleep in it and we were dragging it back to camp. I sure hope I wasn't as oblivious as most of the girls at Country Jam are when I was drunk and their age. If I was and you saw it first hand please don't tell me. The idea that I have always been observant is the only thing that is keeping me going these days.

The headliners this year were Lee Brice (boo! He really sounded horrible!), Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton (his 40th birthday none the less and he brought his little girlfriend Gwen Stefani out to sing a little diddy) and The Zak Brown Band. Other favorite performers for me were Trace Adkins, Tyler Farr, Neil McCoy, Big & Rich and Joe Nichols. Truth be told I think that Big & Rich (along with Cowboy Troy) were my favorite performers of the weekend. Oh and Cienna and AJ did a pretty good job of entertaining the crowd as well!

When the days got too hot we ventured back to our favorite lake nearby to cool off. Until the day that so many people showed up that they closed all roads leading into the state park and only let a car in when a car went out...so much for our secret little cool down spot!

All in all it was a good time had by all with great music. I mean don't get me wrong...there were at least 10 times that I vowed never to come back again with all the dust and all the heat, but as I have learned, I am a glutton for punishment and I don't ever know when to say when! Campsite renewed!

2000 Miles

Our 2000 mile summer vacation began a day before school officially let out. We made it to Legoland in 12 hours, which for us is like super easy. Considering we had just been to Legoland in October, I did not have high expectations that the kids would still be in love with it, but boy was I wrong. Lego Friends room and all!

We met up with our very good friends Jason & Lindsey and their 2 boys Landon & Logan. We let our kids do what they wanted at the park and then met at the hotel for dinner and swimming. It was awesome to have the time to catch up with them as well as let the kids catch up too!

With Legoland behind us, we traveled up north to our "hood." I was so excited to see my brother Jonathan, who recently exited a 14 month rehabilitation program. When I last saw him he was in a bad way...and I can't express how grateful I am that he not only had the courage to enter a long term program, but also the finess to work his way into an extended stay knowing that it was for the best. I am so proud of how far he has come and I am excited to see what the future holds for him and our relationship. He was able to join us at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose which was a childhood favorite of mine and the kids felt the same way!

Memorial Day weekend we spent in Calistoga to celebrate the wedding of Tony's cousin Andrew and his fiance Maggie. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing my favorite boss who made special time for Tony and I to drink, eat and watch the Warrior game! We had a blast reminiscing about the time that Tony showed up at Nordstrom while we were working in his camo gear and started to reach into his special "duck pouch" to show me all of the ducks he just killed on a hunt. It was a blast catching up with her and spending a weekend without the kids!

Memorial Day we spent at Tony's brother's "slough life house." It's hard to fully explain what slough life is. If you grew up in the Bay Area you definitely have an idea. For us it means sketchy water, sketchier people, family and lots of beer! We were blessed with so many friends and family who made the trip out to the house for a BBQ, fishing, floating, sports watching and drinking. One of my best friends from middle school, Lindsay, was able to join us and we had an impromptu baby shower for her and the twins she is expecting in October. It was a fantastic day. The only thing missing from the day were t-shirts that either said "Mazotti Family Reunion" or "All Star Camp Reunion!"

It is not often that I leave CA with sadness in my heart but this trip was especially difficult for me. It is hard returning to a place where you have a memory on every corner and the people who you grew up with know who you truly are without you having to say a word.

On our way back to ABQ we just had to stop by Disneyland. It is one of my favorite places to vacation and even with the kids getting older it is still a magical place. For instance, the kids got super lucky when we just happened to be in the right place at the right time...and they were asked to be in Star Wars show that parents wait in line days in advance to sign their kids up for. We didn't even know that the show existed, but after stumbling upon it and asking some questions, being told that we were the only people at Disneyland that did not know about it and being put on an eternal waiting list, we got a tap on the shoulder and asked "we have exactly 2 open spots this morning and you guys are here so if your kids want to...." Such luck!

As if having a one on one light saber battle with Darth Vader was not enough, they also got to meet their future nannies (also known as Storm Troopers.)

But my absolute favorite magical memory of all was when we were standing in line for California Soarin. A little quarrel transpired between the kids in line and I remember saying something to AJ about it to the effect of "did you think she did that intentionally? If not, did you really need to come over and tell us hoping that she got in trouble?" I can't quite remember exactly...but out of the blue one of the ride attendants says "You! Come here. Yea you! Come over here." He was so direct I thought that I was actually in trouble and it wasn't until he told me that I was not in trouble that I walked over to him. He opened up the barricade and told me that he was so impressed with the way that I handled the situation between my kids that he was going to let us go to the front of the line. I felt like I had won an Oscar! I even started to tear up! All these years I was absolutely convinced that I was doing it wrong and finally the validation that not only was I doing it right (in this very gruff man's eyes) but I was being rewarded for it in the best way possible! Not having to stand in a long hot line at Disneyland!

And we rewarded the kids for misbehaving and allowing me to have my moment of greatness with a trip down Splash Mountain!

Oh yea...and we also rewarded them for good grades with a trip to Downtown Disney and Build-A-Bear Workshop and Ride Makerz. Cha-Ching!

I still love watching the magic in my children's eyes when they see their favorite character or are amazed or terrified by a ride and although they are getting older they have not lost that innocent way of looking at the world as if anything is possible.

It was an epic 2000 mile road trip that I will never forget! Summer 2016 is off to a fantastic start!