Christmas in Colorado

Christmas 2013 was a little different for the Mazotti family this year. Instead of decorating the house to the hilt, hauling home a fresh tree and hanging lights we opted for a more subdued version of the holidays due to the fact that we are in the midst of a master bedroom addition. We had anticipated that the construction would be farther along and we would be subjected to dragging all of our worldly goods out to the living room by now...but you know how construction goes! Albuquerque had seen quite a bit of snow in the early part of December which continued to delay the project but was wonderful for lifting our Christmas spirit.

We stuck with plan A which was to spend the holidays at the cabin with good friends and family coming and going throughout our stay. One tradition that did not change was our annual visit from Tiny Quinn, our personal concierge for the big man Santa Claus. And as if 2 kids, a new puppy and construction going on at the house wasn't enough, Tiny Quinn decided that he was going to be a bit naughty this year too! I swear....I can't catch a break!

We arrived in South Fork on Saturday the 21st with Jenny and Justin there to greet us. The first few days were spent testing how fast the toys could go!

Once we bid adieu to the Meyer / Golden duo we welcomed Mimi and Papa for the Christmas festivities. It was an amazing feeling to create new traditions while embracing old. From baking cookies from scratch pre-made dough, leaving out carrots and lettuce for the reindeer (and some cheerios for Tiny Quinn), decorating our 2ft tall pre-lit tree with rustic ornaments to singing Christmas carols drinking egg nog with brandy (yes, even Marilou!), watching A Christmas Story marathon and schooling the grandparents on the ins and outs of Ghettopoly. It was a good time had by all!

Santa and Doganta found South Fork just fine and Christmas morning was a success!

Mimi and Papa left on the 26th and then we were joined by the White family for a little fun on the slopes. AJ is getting better each and every day, but continues to excel in watching TV.

Cienna rocks at skiing and at 6 years old she is navigating down double black diamond runs. She even coaches me down the intermediate runs telling me "now don't look down the mountain. Look side to side so you don't freak out. Gather yourself. Gather your thoughts!" You can't help but stop and laugh. She is an amazing little person!

As the year comes to a close it is important for me to be thankful for all that I have, including those who love me and support me through the ups and downs of life. Without my family and friends I would not be able to live this amazing life. Thank you!

Happy Holidays 2013

For Real Keepin' It Real

As Christmas card season came barreling down on me I realized that I was running out of time to get an "official" family photo done in time to use the money saving stupid Groupon I had bought 3 months prior. I guess it serves me right for trying to skimp on Christmas. Any hoo, I decided to chose the happiest pictures I could find of the kids and I included one of those dreaded "updates" that everyone so loves to get at Christmas time. You know the ones...everything is wonderful, life is good, we are so blessed, the kids are intelligent little angels, yada yada yada. After the response I received from all our friends and family I came to the conclusion that a) I have surrounded myself with people who think that I am funny (I only keep the good ones around!!) and b) I needed to memorialize it for future generations to read in the blog book. So here it is. The Mazotti Family Christmas Update for 2013.

Dear Friends and Family,

2013 has been an amazing year for the Mazotti family! Instead of debating on where to begin…I’ll just start.

Cienna turned 6 years old in January and recently began the 1st grade. Since beginning dual language school she has been infatuated with all things Mexico. In fact, over the summer she told us that she loves “Chihuahuas, mariachi music and tacos” and “hopes to be a Mexican when she grows up.” Poor thing. I am not sure what is going to be harder. Telling her the truth about Santa Claus or explaining that she won’t be a Mexican. I guess we have a few more years before we need to cross that bridge! Aside from her relentless criticizing of my pronunciation of every 1st grade Spanish vocabulary word, she is just a gem. We have even widdled the battles over what she is going to wear down to only 6 days a week (whoot whoot!) and she is finally starting to talk about getting a job and moving out (hallelujah!)

AJ…oh AJ. He turned 4 in August. He has a great grasp on how to use cuss words at very inappropriate times and still occasionally enjoys pooping his pants. He has an amazing arm (the neighbors can attest to this) and he loves to launch all of his new toys over the fence into other people’s yards. He has also discovered his “weenie.” And now so have the rest of us. Good times.

Tony continues to live by the slogan “I’ll sleep when I am dead” being that he is a firefighter, trash hauler, recycling business owner and parking lot attendant. He swears that 3 hours of sleep a day is plenty…although the police officer who cited him for speeding in June was not buying his story that “the faster he drives the more he can get done!” But on the bright side Tony was able to further explore his passion for learning in driving school and even found time to do some community service. He is always giving back when a judge mandates it.

I continue to be a stay-at-home mom. A homemaker. A housewife. A lady of leisure. My other friends who are “kept women” don’t get why I have to leave our coffee dates early to meet a stranger from Craigslist to sell them a used mattress from a hauling job. I try explaining to them that I like my financial independence and I don’t want to have to rely on a man for money. They still don’t understand.

Well I certainly have enjoyed telling you about our massive accomplishments in 2013. I would like to end by saying that we haven’t been to any Christmas parties this year, because none of you have invited us. We are literally free every weekend in December, including Christmas morning. Our address is on the outside of the envelope. But just in case you already rolled your eyes and threw it away upon opening our Christmas card here it is:

The Mazotti Family
1611 Kit Carson Ave SW Albuquerque, NM 87104


I am so happy that many of you found great pleasure in reading our newsletter. Writing it was very therapeutic embarrassing for me but on a positive note, I know what to get a majority of you for Christmas. Depends. It seems most of you pee your pants when you laugh. Well really just the ladies. If you have not had kids and you are peeing your pants try kegel exercises. If you have had babies you will need the Depends. If you happen to get a "discrete box" delivered to your porch with your name on it, it's from me. You can thank me later.

Ho, ho, ho! Happy holidays everyone!

Diesel

God has blessed us with another four-legged furry friend. I can't quite express how much I / we needed him. The timing was perfect. After all the decisions, choices, setbacks and events it is very apparent that everything happens for a reason and Diesel was meant for us.
He arrived Monday the 25th in a bassinet on our doorstep via Delta airlines all the way from Virginia. He did not make the trek from the motherland, South Africa, like his brother and sister before him. That must have been the reason that he was too scared to come out of the crate when we picked him up from the airport. Zeus and Tonka had been traveling for like 14 hours so hell, it could have been anyone standing outside that door when they arrived. They were outta there! Diesel could afford to be choosy, as his flight was only 8 hours. He was scared of us. Downright refused to come out of the crate. Refused to be coerced or enticed out of his safe place. Looking back, it may have been that we were a tiny loud when we first saw him. Not me of course, but definitely AJ. And Cienna. And Tony.

Within an hour of him being home he had cristened the hallway rug with a golden shower and a landmine on the living room floor. I kinda forgot what a pain in the ass having a puppy is! Just when I got my kids potty trained...err wait...AJ pooped his pants today. Never mind. Diesel may be potty trained before AJ!

Guess who locked himself in the crate the next morning? Guess who left him there for a good 5 minutes so he would learn his lesson?

Diesel is docile and loving. He sits when he eats, he sits when he gets nervous, and he gets the hiccups after every meal. He will do ANYTHING to have human contact including crawling up on your lap when you are in a chair or trying relentlessly throughout the night to climb onto the bed. He loves to play with AJ. His favorite place to sleep in the entire house is on top of my Ugg boots...or on my leopard print Snuggie...or anywhere else that he can make himself comfortable.

Well Make Yourself At Home Diesel!

Diesel is going to be very surprised when he grows up to be a big boy. He has himself convinced that he is a lap dog, part of which I am enjoying. I don't think I have ever gotten a pedicure with a warm dog on my lap!

When Daddy's Away Mama and Diesel Will Play!

He is an absolute joy. Even with the waking up 4 times a night, cleaning up the messes and everything else that comes along with him. Just like with kids I would do it all over again. And again. And again. They just leave footprints on your heart...

Tonka

Where to begin? Tonka is gone. My dog is gone. After weeks of wondering, analyzing, researching and praying about the slightest changes in her behavior, Thursday it slapped me right across the face. It was so sad to watch such a stoic, brave, loving dog deteriorate right before my eyes. To know that she no longer had the capability of enjoying her life. To know that it was probably breaking her heart to show us her vulnerable side. She protected us for so many years. She attacked anything with fur or feathers and every vacuum she ever came across. She made us laugh. She watched TV. She barked viciously at Tony when he put his arms around me. She avoided the kids like the plague. She showed us pure, undeniable, loyalty and love. She was amazing. I will never forget my crooked teethed, bug eyed, arthritis limping, furry butted big girl. Ever.

Shhh...Don't Tell Zeus But You Were Always A Better Swimmer From The Start

Literally Swimming Laps Around Zeus in Dallas

My Sleeping Companion When Daddy Was At The Fire Station

The Only Way We Could Repay Her For All Her Love Was To Hold Her Until The Very End

RIP Tonka 5.3.05 - 11.22.13

Goin Back To Cali

Last week we made a much needed trip back to our homeland...California. No trip to California would be complete without at least 3 trips to In-n-Out Burger and 1 trip to Disneyland. Thankfully we were not disappointed!

Because Disneyland was not our top objective, we did our shortest visit there...2 days. It was a whirlwind of fun, especially since AJ could ride all sorts of thing that he couldn't before (I really need to stop feeding him). I think that Tony, Cienna and I had the most fun seeing the look on AJ's face when we took him on rides like Splash Mountain and Hollywood Tower of Terror for the 1st time. We are so evil!

People often ask me why we do Disney so often. This picture says it all. When was the last time anyone saw a true, genuine, loving life smile on AJ's face? Priceless!

Dancing Like No One Is Watching

Yea...They Look NOTHING Alike

I would live there if I could. After visiting with our good friends Justin, Tamara and Cameron Stallings we headed out of southern California but not before going to see my grandma in Studio City. She showered me with Christmas presents including (I couldn't make this up if I tried) a leopard print Snuggie and eye wrinkle cream. Some things never change!

We headed up to the Bay where we visited many of our friends and family who continue to graciously let us drop in at a moment's notice, mess everything up in their homes, and then disappear for another 9 months. A true testament to the ones we love!

Tony and his Grandma Betty

The Family with Auntie Marion (who despite the fact that she was nursing a broken hip was running things in the rehabilitation center!)

Sadly, we received shocking news when we were in California. Our good friend Joe's (who passed away last October) only sibling was killed in a single vehicle car accident just outside Albuquerque on his way from Georgia. 13 months after he said that he did not think he could go on without his brother, he joined him in heaven. Rest In Peace Gabriel. There truly are angels among us....

Less Is More

I have come to the realization that when it comes to blogging...less is more. I realize that the less I blog means the more that my days and nights are full of family fun. October has been a fantastic mix of festivals, sporting events, and weekends packed with family time. In fact, there are so many thing happening that I am not sure how we are keeping it all together!

AJ began the month with a field trip with his preschool class to daddy's fire station. You might think that AJ would be beaming and on his best behavior. Not the case. AJ was naughty and kept asking when we could leave. I guess when you spend Christmas and your birthday at the fire station the novelty has worn off. My mistake.

The Start of the Pouting

Tony Getting a Group Hug

AJ Got It Together!

Our first soccer season started in October as well. My observations are: Cienna is afraid of any sport that contact may happen. She likes sports where glitter is incorporated in some part of the uniform (i.e. cheer leading / gymnastics). She can run fast, but soccer does not appear to be her thing.

AJ could teach a seminar to professional soccer players on how to sell an injury to a ref. He is the king of flopping on the ground and writhing in pain if the ball gets taken away from him. Once we gave him a pep talk he turned it around and surprised us with total domination on the field.

He's #1 In Our Book

October also brought the Balloon Fiesta and as a result, lots of family visits. First we saw Tony's Uncle Tim and Aunt Donna. Cienna and Donna quickly became besties...

Next came a visit from Tony's brother Chris, his lady love Wendy and her daughter Breann. It was total awesomeness!

We rounded out October with the neighborhood Harvest Festival (which aparently I am now completely in charge of!) with little orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks,

trick or treating on Halloween night with Annie and Spiderman,

and a Dia de los Muertos celebration!