The World of Disney

Now that I feel like a reasonable amount of time has passed since we returned from the "Happiest Place on Earth" I have decided to post about our trip...sans the chip on my shoulder. Don't get me wrong. I love me some Disney. But this trip was at least one day too long and as a result I experienced what Tony pinned a "magical meltdown."

We arrived in Disneyland Monday afternoon and immediately rushed over to the park to get a jump on our 4-day parkhopper passes. Holy lord I did not know that many people could be crammed into the grounds in the middle of summer. Don't they have capacity rules and regulations? Where is the fire marshall when you need him? In one word, the lines at Disneyland were RIDICULOUS. Smile!

We Can Do This!

Granny came along for the trip and she was able to eek out a few smiles as well. If it weren't for Tony's "magical pass" that he appropriated I am pretty sure she would have jumped ship and flown back to the Bay early. It was that RIDICULOUS.

The next day we treated both Cienna and AJ to makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Cienna became a princess for the day and AJ became Sir AJ the Knight. I am pretty sure my mom started wondering where she went wrong as a parent at this point. She kept leaning over to me saying things like "your children are spoiled" and "you never did anything like this when YOU were a child." I felt like a bratty teenager again when I gently whispered in her ear "see mom...money really does buy happiness!" and then sat back and watched her eyes roll permanently into the back of her head. Hahaha! Nothing like messing with good ol' mom to keep things lively!

The rest of the trip was full of fun, sun and magical moments. Even though I threw a tantrum of a lifetime, I would go back again in a heartbeat. After all...I love me some Disney!

I say "Till Next Time Disney!"
Tony says "If There Is A Next Time Disney!"
Granny says "Lord If There Is A Next Time Please Don't Invite Me!"
Cienna says "I Love Disneyland!"
AJ says "Are We Go There Tomorrow That Disneyland?"

Lake Powell

Last weekend we took a kid-free trip to Lake Powell with my best friend from high school, Jen, and her husband Justin. True to form with every road trip we have ever taken, Tony and I wanted to kill each other before we even got in the car. Eventually we both managed to relax and enjoy the almost 7 hour drive to the lake, even though at times it seemed that we were on a road to nowhere...

This Is About The Time That We Would Have Run Out Of Gas Had We Not Packed Gas

After arriving in Halls Crossing, UT, we were greeted by a huge windy storm front that almost knocked us off the dock as we were trying to cart our goods to the houseboat. I was really hoping that this was not a sign that we had made the gods of the lake mad in some way, considering we were about to board a boat with 4 people we had never met before for the next 4 days. It could make for a LONG weekend.

The storm passed, Jen and Justin arrived after baring the brunt of 2 flat tires, and the festivities were underway. It was one long first night...
The following morning we awoke and tried to be good. You know, coffee, water, shower, food. That didn't last long. Before I knew it we were picking up right where we left off the night before. And that is the way it remained for the next 3 days.

Thank God For Boat Beverages Being Served At 7am

Ditto

Experienced boaters Jen and Justin showed us what wakeboarding was all about. They made it look easy, while Tony and I made it look really, really hard. I got my butt kicked by that lake and I have the bruises to prove it! I look like I was in a high speed car accident and my arms have never been so sore!

I Prefer This Seat On The Boat

As Hank Williams Jr. so cleverly sung, "the hangovers hurt more than they used to." I would add to that by saying "next time I will show some self control." But then again, what fun is that? Hell, it was worth it!

Our Very Own Jay-Z Video

Absolutely Breathtaking! We Will See You Again!

Conquering Colorado

July 5, 2012 I began my exploration of a Colorado lifestyle. Could I do it alone? Could I survive the long days and very dark nights? Would one of us die? The answer turned out to be yes...and no!

Our trip began great. The kids and I arrived with Tonka on a Thursday evening, unpacked and went to bed. I was so exhausted from packing and driving that I didn't have time to be scared of the dark. We woke up Friday morning and I strapped shoes on everyone's feet and we headed up the mountain. We had fun, looked for cool rocks and found what I told them to be "airplane parts." I don't know what it really was but they wouldn't stop asking and it was the coolest explanation that I could come up with.

Saturday we headed to the Colorado Alligator Farm for their annual Eggfest. We bought gator chow, fed alligators with names like Elvis Presley and King Kong and even got to see some giant tortoises "wrestling." Funny...they wrestle just like giant humans do. Or so I've been told.

After Seeing This Sign I Asked If They Needed Any Year-Round Help On The Farm

BW - Before Wrestling

Saturday night I took the kids to their very first rodeo. They saw mutin bustin and bull riding. AJ decided that he wanted to be a cowboy with a horse and a hat when he grows up. Cienna decided that rodeos smell but the rainbow was pretty.

Sunday was a go to the park, go on timeout, go for a walk, go on timeout kinda day.

Monday Cienna went into Del Norte with her friend Skylar for a day camp for kids. AJ and I had a chance to do some mother-son bonding by the river. He is so cute when he is doing something outdoors with all of my undivided attention!

God He Is Just Like His Father

Tuesday we ventured out to the Great Sands National Park just outside of Alamosa. We had high hopes that it would be a day of great fun and excitement. Instead what we found was 100 degree heat, sleds that don't slide on sand and a 2 year old that completely melts down when he doesn't want to walk anymore. I think I was crying by the time we made it back to the car.

This Is What Happens When You Tell A 5 Year Old and A 2 Year Old To Say "Cheese"

Wednesday. We all spent the day on timeout.

Thursday we went for a hike around Big Meadows lake and looked for ducks to feed. We walked for 3 hours and didn't see one damn duck. AJ decided he didn't want to walk anymore. I begged someone to carry me. This was the beginning of the end.

Friday. After being awoke for the last 3 days by being punched in the face by AJ I decided that I could no longer do it alone. I needed to remind AJ that he had a father and that his father was more than just a voice on the phone threatening bodily injury if he wasn't nice to his mom and sister. I threw in the towel and drove home.

Not quite the 2 weeks that I had planned but hey...that is why it was a trial run. Next year I am going to bring more rope and duct tape.

8 Years

Yesterday Tony and I celebrated 8 years of marriage. Throughout the last 16 years we have managed to avoid the dreaded "as we grew up we grew apart" that you hear many couples talk about when they get together so young. Instead of growing apart we have managed to help each other get through different stages of our lives with patience and lots of laughter.

Back When 30 Seemed So Old

I believe that Tony is my soul mate. I knew it from the first time I laid eyes on him in the 6th grade. I couldn't stand him but I couldn't get enough of him. He is not an overly emotional guy. He doesn't tell me every day how much he adores me. But he makes me aware every day through his actions. He has always provided me with anything that I have ever said that I wanted and he breaks his back to get it. His friends tell me that he is hopelessly devoted to me. And every year he gets me a mushy card that he misspells every word in, just like he did back when we were 17.

My Mushy Card (That's Supposed To Be Me On The Left)

To celebrate, we decided on a "staycation" at the Sandia Casino and Resort here in ABQ. We enjoyed a little time by the pool and a 2-hour dinner free of spillage and tantrums. Do you know what a treat it is to enjoy a 2-hour dinner? To actually taste the food that you are putting in your mouth and have a conversation about something other than telling your kids to take another bite? It was amazing!

The Sandia Mountains From Our Room

I am so lucky to have Tony as my best friend and husband. I look forward to our future and many, many years of happiness to come!

8 Years Down...Forever To Go!

15 Seconds of Fame

Last weekend, I was awoken around 2am by a loud BOOM coming from the front yard. Knowing that anything that can happen does happen to the Mazottis, I immediately woke Tony up to investigate.

From the front porch we could see and hear nothing. Pitch black. Well that is strange. Then Tony noticed that the metal trash can across the street from our house (for the park) was "blinking." He asked me to grab a flashlight so he could go look inside. As he approached the can a strong odor of smoke could be smelt in the air. I immediately thought my house was on fire. The trash can must be a separate thing....something blew up in my attic and my house was on fire...I just knew it! But no. There was no smoke in the house. One of my neighbor's houses was on fire! I knew it! But no. That was all just me being dramatic. The garbage can was on fire. Well, smoldering really.

Once Tony determined that the trash can fire wasn't going to spread we headed back in the house and Tony went back to bed. I stayed up, rewinding video footage from the security cameras that we had installed on the house last year after our 4th vehicle theft. Sure enough...at 1:56am the video showed someone dropping something on fire into the can, run off, and then 10 seconds later a huge boom! I made Tony watch the video and call the cops. We told them that the trash can was still smoldering. Then we went to bed.

The next morning Tony was leaving for the fire station. On his way to the car, he decided to take one more look in the garbage can. He saw a piece of pvc pipe and a large amount of marijuana stems inside, which usually has pizza boxes and remnants of pinatas. He called the police again to report a pipe bomb in the can and went off to work.

About 30 minutes later they had the entire street blocked off in every direction. The bomb squad was on the scene because all of the sudden, after a civilian had done his own investigation, they were concerned about everyone's safety. Apparently they weren't concerned at 2am when we called them saying that the garbage can had blown up and was still on fire. But now that a pvc pipe was found it was like priority #1. Ridiculous if you ask me.

After holding us captive for an hour while they did there "investigation" I was ready to go crazy. I put the kids in the stroller and was just leaving my house when the Channel 7 News van pulled up. A man got out and told me that he heard that I had video of the incident that happened there this morning. I told him I did. He asked if I would be willing to give an interview and show him the video. I said sure. While Channel 7 was there doing there bit, Channel 4 pulled up. I told them no more interviews. They begged for 30 seconds. I said ok. The whole time not telling them that I had video because Channel 7 had begged to have the exclusive rights to it. I should have charged. After all of the hubbub and after my run, I was back in my house when Channel 13 came knocking on the door. I didn't answer. This was getting absurd!

That night I was channels 4 and 7 at 5pm and 10pm. Then I was on the next morning. Then the next night. They were playing multiple clips from the interview. Every time I watched it was something different. They led with things like "she is afraid that something like this will happen again" which I never said. Totally sensationalized the whole thing. My perspective on news agencies has certainly changed.

Then the text messages started. "I saw you on the news." "Nice shorts." "Great interview." "Now everyone knows where you live!" "Can I have your autograph?" Then I ran into a firefighter at the gym. "Aren't you Tony's wife? I saw you on the news!" Then the UPS driver..."wasn't that you on the news?" Ahhhhhhh! I was ready to set my own pipe bomb across town just to take the heat off of my story! It's on You Tube for God sakes!

So that is the story of my 15 minutes of fame. I am no longer signing autographs. My hand is tired. And if I see you on the street, I most likely am not going to make eye contact!

Preschool Grad

Last week our baby girl graduated from preschool. Some may wonder...what exactly does it mean to graduate from a place that your parents pay for you to go to and is not required? Well I will tell you.

It means that you can write your name better. And you now know that you aren't just Cienna, or princess, or fancy pants. You are Cienna Elise Mazotti, born January 15th. You live at 1611 Kit Carson Ave, your mom's phone number is 991-2838 and your dad works at Station 3, Squad 2!

Graduating from preschool also means that your drawings have evolved. At the beginning of the year our family had no arms and really no bodies. Just one long torso and some legs (two if we were lucky!) Now, graduate, you not only have all the parts on the page but you have learned to accessorize mom with a broom and you with a flower bow in your hair.

In preschool you have learned to share with others, listen to your elders and be a good friend. Your teachers tell me that you are always looking out for others and eager to help with any and every task in the classroom. In fact, they say that you are so organized that you could actually teach the class! Much to my dismay, you do not yet think that boys have cooties. Instead, you ask me about once a week when I think you will meet your husband. You had the affection of many boys in preschool, always leaving things in your cubbie or inviting you to their parties. It pays to be pretty on the inside as well as the outside. My heart swells when I think of you. I worry that now that you are entering elementary school that the years are going to fly by. I worry that I won't be able to capture every moment. That I won't appreciate you and all that you bring to my life. Being a parent is the hardest, scariest, most wonderful thing that I have ever done. I am so proud of you today, and every day!

My New Toy

Last week I randomly woke up and decided that it was time for a new camera. I have several at the house, none of which can actually take a picture within 30 seconds of pressing the shoot button. This has come to be a problem, since my 2 year old only has an attention span of 2.2 seconds. So to avoid having to have conversation with AJ later in life as to why I have no pictures of him from the age of 2-5 I decided that it would be best to consult with my "photog" friends about what kind of camera to buy. The response was overwhelmingly the Canon Rebel. Since I do everything in my power not to buy anything new, I immediately jumped on Craigslist, waded through the potential serial killer ads, and found a Canon in my price range. After a few white lies about having a budget, I finally haggled the guy down to a price that I was willing to pay. Once I picked it up, I immediately snapped some shots of the kids. It was AMAZING. I could take 10 pictures of AJ within 10 seconds...which meant that I was bound to get one that he was actually looking at the camera! I was so impressed that I wondered what the hell took me so long to get one. I feel like a whole new world has opened for me! Below are some of the awesome pictures that I shot the first week!

AJ just "loved" this little slug a little too much. About 5 minutes after this photo was shot he brought it back to me in 3 pieces!

Who knew AJ could wink?