Here We Go Again

The end of summer as we know it has come and gone and the new school year has begun. Just when I thought that I couldn't take one more day being a stay-at-home mom, my mom rescued me by coming to visit and watching the kids for a few days while Tony and I got some alone time near Breckenridge, CO. I must say, upon my return not only were my kids acting better, but I think that I actually loved them even more than when I had left. Funny how just a few mornings to yourself can really change your entire perspective on things!

Tony and I drove up to Silverthorne, CO where my bestie Jenny has a condo. We had anticipated the same weather that we had left from...hotter than hell. Instead, our teeth were chattering by the time we arrived and we determined that we should have packed more rain gear. It wasn't exactly the outdoors extravaganza that we had envisioned it would be but we made the best of it by shopping, going to the movies, eating out and hanging with Jenny and Justin when they came up. It was so nice to be able to sleep in. And go to breakfast. And just relax!

When we returned from our hiatus as parents we turned right back around and drove up to our cabin. My mom had not been there since 2009 so she was surprised to see all the changes that had taken place at Chateau de la Mazotti. We hiked, rafted and went to Rhythms on the Rio, an outdoor music festival that takes place every summer. It was a blast!

The Fam Bam

Granny and AJ the Goofball

Picking Wildflowers

Tonka Maria

When we returned to ABQ it was time to start school. Cienna started 1st grade on Tuesday and chose to show her Mexican pride by wearing her fiesta dress. I guarantee she was the only girl not wearing a Justin Bieber t-shirt and that made us happy. It also thrilled us that when it came to school supply shopping, Cienna chose items with puppies and kittens on them...not the Biebs. There is a God!

AJ started pre-k (x1) on Wednesday. He chose a Planes lunchbox and his favorite superhero t-shirt. AJ continued to just be AJ. And we were happy about that too.

After some measuring and planning for the kids Halloween costumes this year (Cienna will be Annie and AJ will be Daddy Warbucks) my mom was gone as fast as she came. But not before one sad goodbye to Tonka Maria, her very first granddaughter. There were lots of tears, lots of pets and lots of great memories that she will take with her back to CA. Even though Tonka is still hanging on...my mom knows that the chance of seeing her again is slim so she wanted to say goodbye one last time with her fuzzy butted, crooked teethed, limping little girl.

Summer went out with a bang! We are looking forward to the fall, which brings cooler weather, roasted green chile, the state fair and football! Whoo hoo!

Summer Is....

Hanging With Friends

Road Trips

Cabin Time

Sibling Love

Lemonade Stands (Or If You Ask Cienna, Agua de Limon)

Good Food and Music

And Great Drinks!

Summer 2013 was amazing, full of family time and fun activities. What summer is all about!

Quick Getaway

Last weekend we were invited back to our friend's timeshare in lovely Las Vegas. Either they are a glutton for punishment or they really enjoy laughing at our family...either way we were honored to be asked to vacation with them again! It was a short and sweet trip: Travel day, we don't remember much day, shopping day, catch up with friends day, travel back. My kinda trip to Vegas!

Travel Day:

Are We There Yet?

Don't Remember Much Day:

Shopping Day:

Fremont Street Experience

Catch Up Day:

And We Out!

Tooth Fairy

It took 4 months, lots of wiggling, tons of praying, more patience than any 6 year old should have to have and a little "help" from our family friend Debbie Carter...but Cienna FINALLY lost her 1st tooth! Who would have thought that a tiny piece of dental floss wrapped around a very loose tooth was all you needed to make a day better than Christmas for a little girl?

Before

Our Hero

Mission Complete!

Cabo San Lucas

The end of June was a very exciting time for the Mazotti clan. First, our beloved home away from home, South Fork, was evacuated because of a raging forest fire. Within days I went from "a fire will never happen in South Fork" to "it might be headed our way but it is still WAY far away" to "holy crap, they are evacuating the town?" to "they said that they are going to have to let the whole town burn!" to "whew, that was a close one! Times like these make you take a step back and realize that life can change in a moments notice. While we were fortunate that the cabin is not our primary home...we have many friends who live in South Fork full time who thought that they could lose everything. Scary times. But Chateau de la Mazotti lives on!

In the midst of all the chaos, we left for a 14-day trip to Cabo San Lucas! My mom came with us for the 1st week of the trip which was filled with sun, swimming and cervezas. We spent the majority of the first 7 days poolside by day and dining out with our friends DJ and Melanie Brown at night. DJ and Tony have been friends since high school and Melanie and I...well we would be friends even if our guys couldn't stand each other!

The Boys With Their Boys

The Classiest Ladies At Squid Roe (Trust Me!)

This Picture Really Captures The Personalities

One of the highlights of that 1st week was my mom meeting her new boyfriend...err...I mean...well the pictures say it all!

Arriba!

Another highlight from the 1st week was Tony and I celebrating our 9 year wedding anniversary (and 17 years together and going strong!)

We knocked something off my bucket list as well. Swimming with dolphins! I don't know what it is with me and animals...I always imagine that it is going to be an amazing experience...that ends up with me freaking out because the animal has manhandled me in some way. This time it was when the dolphin literally stuck it's tongue down my throat when it was supposed to be giving me a peck on the lips!

It was nice to have my mom with us. Not only were we able to catch up with each other and she with the kids, but if Tony and I wanted to get away for an hour or two she could hold down the fort for us. I forgot what freedom is like!

The 2nd week was all about family time. AJ was the king of the pool with the fellas and the ladies. He had a bevy of beauties around him at all times, massaging his feet, splashing him with water, retrieving toys for him, and gushing over his tan. The guys taught him how to play "pool pong" which is a floating beer pong raft with water. I forgot to thank them for that. And he taught himself to swim! Cienna made lots of friends, practiced her freestyle form and learned how to order virgin pina coladas by the boatload. A true lady!

Cabo...you will be missed! See you in 2015!