The Holiday Sprit

Last week, after another bout of the flu hit our home, we headed up to the cabin to enjoy all that Colorado in the wintertime has to offer. The beginning of December is a perfect time to go because there is some snow, but not a ton of snow. In other words, I can enjoy the holiday feeling without being miserable!
Friday we (when I say we I mean Tony) decided that Cienna should take her first skiing lesson. I jumped on Wolf Creek's website and saw that 4-year-olds could partake in group lessons for a half day, and if the teacher thought they could manage it they would be allowed to stay for the full day for a little more money. We got everyone bundled up and headed to the slopes. On our way there we prepared Cienna for the fact that even though she was only 3 still, today she would be 4 if anyone asked. Great parenting, I know.
As we watched from the Wolf Pup cabin, Cienna hammed it up on the slopes. By lunch time she was already on the chair lift, making sure that everyone knew that she was having the time of her life. By the end of the day she knew every employee at Wolf Creek's name, giving them high fives and big smiles. I would say that her first day skiing was a success!





This is the look of a VERY proud father


AJ's Entertainment While He Waited For Sister

The following day we headed into Durango, CO with one of Tony's co-workers and his wife and son. We spent the day doing a little shopping, having a great lunch and then getting on the Durango / Silverton train for the Polar Express. It was a magical experience for the kids!


At The Train Station


The Palmer Family


View From The Station


That Is AJ's Look Of Sheer Terror As The Train Went By


Cienna Meeting "Santa"

Sunday we all hopped in the truck and made our annual drive through the Colorado forest to find our Christmas tree. Those of you who have never searched for a Christmas tree in the wilderness probably think that it is a simple task. Turns out that most trees you see while driving in Tahoe or Colorado are actually 2 or 3 trees growing together to make a perfect looking tree. To find 1 tree by itself that is decent is no walk in the park. But after about an hour and a half of driving and hiking and searching I spotted The Mazotti Family Christmas tree 2010. Then I sent Tony to do the hard work!





After the tree hunt, it was time for some FUN! We got out the sleds and let everyone play in the snow. AJ perfected his army crawl, Tonka discovered the joy of burying your head in the soft powder and Cienna participated in a snowball fight. A fabulous way to end the day.










Weekends like this make me so happy that I let Tony talk me into our cozy little cabin. The memories just keep stacking up!


Happy Holidays!

Blessings

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving if I didn't acknowledge what I was thankful for this year. So before I go to bed early to prepare for my 3am wake up call, I want to take the time to note my many blessings.
I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that my mom came to visit this week and helped me wrap all of my Christmas presents. I am thankful that she likes to shop as much as I do and that she has the patience to do it with children. And I am thankful that she was here to celebrate turkey day with me. I am thankful for my husband who works hard and loves me even though I am far from perfect. And I am thankful for my two little nuggets who love me even though I am far from a perfect mother. Besides my wonderful family, I am also thankful for having a roof over my head, a functioning vehicle, food to eat and my health. And my dogs Zeus and Tonka. Love them too.
This year, we spent our 1st Thanksgiving at the fire station. Only having to make one dish meant that I could enjoy my morning, drinking mimosas and watching the parade in my jammies. It was heavenly. Another reason that I so enjoyed the fire station dinner was because I got to try new recipes made by other people! My favorite was White Castle stuffing. Mini cheeseburgers mashed up into stuffing. It was delish!

Playing Catch Up

After a fabulous 2 week vacation, I am playing catch up. Catching up on laundry, opening mail, housecleaning, and my blog! I feel like there is so much to share with everyone!
Prior to leaving on the 25th, Cienna and AJ had the opportunity to try out their Halloween costumes at the neighborhood Harvest Festival. It is a really cute event that the neighborhood association puts on, with little games and prizes for the kids. I was really impressed with the parents this year. It seemed that everyone had a homemade costume, which either means that the economy has finally taken it's toll on Halloween or we have some really creative parents surrounding us!


Cienna Before the Big Event


AJ as a Greaser

The next day we left for Disneyland. Cienna had no clue that we were headed there...until we arrived. It was such a special surprise for her! She was even more surprised when she heard that her Mimi and Papa were joining us the next day. Talk about a happy camper! Since our last visit, she had grown tall enough to ride all sorts of new rides such as Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Soarin' Over California. Her favorite by far was Splash Mountain, although on our very last ride she got so soaking wet that she immediately stood up and yelled "that's it! I am never going on this flippin' ride again!" AJ had a good time too, although he was scared of most of the characters. On some of the rides you could feel his little legs tense up when he was uncomfortable. But all in all, I don't think we scarred him for life or anything! And now for some pictures!


1st Ride of the Day


With Mimi and Papa


Where Does She Learn These Poses?


Splash Mountain!


AJ was Fond of the Petting Zoo


And Not So Fond of Woody


Ending Our Trip With a Trip to Goofy's Kitchen

After 3 days at Disneyland, we were ready to head up to the Bay for Halloween. On our way, we stopped by my grandmother's house in Studio City so she could meet her great-grandchildren for the first time. She was thrilled, and that made me happy.


Great-Grandma Vi

Saturday we did pumpkin carving at Tony's brother's house in the AM and then went to a Halloween party at his house in the PM. Both were fun. I preferred the party though.


Tony Gettin' Down to Business


AJ Gettin' Bored and Giving Me a Heart Attack


Tony and his Prized Pumpkin


Tony and I Dressed as Chris & Wendy 1987 Prom

By the way, that was funny. For those of you who don't know, Tony's oldest brother reunited with his long lost high school love a couple of years ago. I had seen their 1987 prom picture many times in the Mazotti closet...and laughed my ass off! Totally 80's. Pink bow tie and cumberbun to match his dates dress. I always knew who Wendy Walkley was because of the picture but it wasn't until a few years ago that I actually met her. So this year we decided to dress as them for the Halloween party that they were throwing and boy were they surprised! Happily surprised thank God!

Halloween night my mom and Tony's mom went trick-or-treating with the kids. I am sure that Tony would have preferred to be watching the Giant's in the World Series, but he was a good sport and came too. If there is a recession going on in the United States it is definately not effecting Walnut Creek, CA. Cienna raked in the candy!


Cienna and AJ at the 1st Door


More Candy Than a Candy Store

The rest of our trip was relaxing, fun and much needed. Tony and I got to catch up with all of our friends, we spent a night at Artie's (a dive bar that we love!) acting like young, carefree, childless adults, and we celebrated my little brother's 20th birthday the night the Giant's won the World Series. It was a great time to be back in the Bay, with Giant's fever running rampant and everyone in a great party mood.

Part of the trip was bittersweet. It was our last trip staying in Tony's childhood home, as his parents are moving to NM (VERY EXCITING!!) after the 1st of the year. I have so many memories at that house, which include high school and junior college days, a "couple" of parties that his parents may or may not know about (smile), Tony's going away party when he got a scholarship to UNM, our surprise engagement in the backyard and the house that I lived in the 1st year of Cienna's life. Tony says it is just a house...but to me it will always be a very special part of my life that I will look back at with great fondness!

A Dose Of Reality

This weekend my friend Elizabeth and her son Brody came to visit from Lubbock. Very often we are confused for sisters and our children are mistaken for siblings. And we always have a great time!
Friday, while Elizabeth was on her drive to ABQ, I received an e-mail from the reality tv show production company asking if Tony and I could meet with the VP of Development over the weekend. WHAT? We went from not hearing anything for 2 months to having a meeting in person?
Saturday, while the kids were napping, we had our meeting. It went really well. Really, really well. And we learned that we are not only being considered...but we are a front runner! Now the real dose of reality comes. Can we handle being on TV?



That night we headed back to the Balloon Fiesta balloon glow. We had an amazing time! The weather was great and the balloons and fireworks made for a perfect evening.


Sunset


Bumble Bee


Glowing


Cienna & Brody

Sunday morning we made the 40 mile drive to the best pumpkin patch ever! Upon arriving, you take a hay ride out to a vast ocean of pumpkins...big ones, and little ones, tall ones and fat ones, white ones and green ones. It is a pumpkin frenzy! After picking out your perfect pumpkin, you ride back to the farm where you feed farm animals, bounce on an in-ground air dome, climb hay stacks and go-cart race. After indulging in everything our little ones could desire, we left, completely exhausted. A great way to wrap up our weekend!


Cienna & AJ Trolling For Pumpkins


The Whole Group

Walking

It is official...AJ is walking! This past weekend he started the drunken baby walk...you know, a couple of steps, a stumble, a couple of more steps. It is the cutest thing! So now I really have my hands full! We took a trip to the Dixon Apple Farm, which is located about 45 minutes north of Albuquerque. Boy what a waste of time that was. After spending half a tank of gas, taking a rock to my windshield and one huge bag of just-ok apples later I vowed never to return. But at least all of the kids had fun.

The Fam with Meadow


Barrels of Apples

Tony's parents and brother Chris came into town for a visit this week. We had fun going from festival to festival around town. First we started with the Greek Festival on Sunday afternoon, followed by my birthday facial courtesy of my fabulous in-laws and then we rounded out the day with the Balloon Fiesta Sunday night!


Just Us Again


AJ and Uncle Chris


Mimi and Papa


Fireworks


The Mazotti Family

And in very unexpected news...the reality show dream is still alive! I was contacted last week by a member of the production office and they requested more video of Tony and I. I had not heard anything from them since we submitted our casting tape, obviously assuming that we were no longer being considered for a show. But out of the blue they wanted more interviews AND to know what happened to my forehead! Kind of embarrassing (I used to be much more self conscious about it) but it must have contributed to setting us apart from the rest! I will keep you posted!