Fiesta Bowl

Anyone who knows me knows that I live for sports. So much so that the top of my bucket list consists of every major sporting event. Tony has had the good fortune to attend many of the sporting events that I would die for...The Olympics, The Rose Bowl, The Final Four (just to name a few) and I never let him forget it. So when the news came that the Fiesta Bowl was going to potentially be a better game than the National Championship, he decided that we would treat me for Christmas (so I would lay off him for a while!) 2 days after the holiday we drove to Phoenix to show the kids what big time college football was all about!

AJ Flexing Before The Game With His Nintendo Switch

We prepared to tailgate with corn hole, food and beverages only to be sidelined by raging flu like symptoms and artic winds. Not exactly the tailgating extraveganza we were hoping for. But it was the kid's first time seeing the Goodyear blimp and they had fun none the less!

We had great seats in the end zone and the crowd did not disappoint. The Ohio State fans might be the most obnoxious people in the world. But they sure make for some fun people watching!

Cienna with Tomato Head from Fortnite

In the end, the best team won...Clemson! And I can cross off the Fiesta Bowl from my bucket list!

Christmas 2019

This is our 3rd Christmas in the "new" house and our 1st Christmas that was more about quality than quantity. Both Cienna and AJ's lists were short, sweet and expensive! But with age and expense also comes sleeping in past 5am...something that I am truly grateful for. It was only when I became a parent that I understood why my parents had to make coffee before the present opening began!

Truth be told, I had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Usually on December 1st I am lugging all of the decor from the back storage area to the house, putting wreaths on everything in sight and pumping Christmas music throughout the house (and car.) 2019 was a struggle for me. And I think that the reality that my kids are not little anymore made me a little sad. Eventually I kicked it into gear though and I decided that we needed a real tree (2 weeks before Christmas.) Man are they expensive! The tree lot by our house wanted $120 for a 6ft tree! I don't think so! So we got our butts back in the car and went to Lowe's. $60 for a 6ft tree is more like it! Of course it would not be a Mazotti trip to the store if we didn't all disagree for an hour about which tree to buy, but we did it!

Ricardo, our life-size nutcracker, stood by the door per usual, and Diesel did too!

Tiny Quinn and Tiny QT came back for a month of mischief starting with Tiny Quinn barfing. Which was fitting because both Cienna and AJ had just gotten over barfing during Thanksgiving break.

By Christmas Eve we were ready for the fat man to make an appearance! The stockings were hung on the buffet with care with hopes that Santa would bring hundreds of dollars of stuff to the kids with care!

The smiles are genuine. Santa did not disappoint!

My final Christmas protest was not doing Christmas cards this year. I...just...couldn't...do...it. So this was a good as we came to an "official" Mazotti family picture in 2019!

Merry Christmas!

Halloween Hoard

We kicked off the Halloween season with our annual Pumpkin Carving / Costume Contest at the house. Each year it seems to get bigger and bigger, with more people and layers. This year it involved outdoor tables and heaters, a potluck and a newly added costume contest! And although I didn't win the contest (I mean, I didn't want to make any kids cry!) I thought my hauling job costume was totally tubular!

Like Gag Me With A Spoon Becky!

I know my trick or treating years are numbered. Being that Cienna is almost 13, I was pleasantly surprised that she still wanted to dress up and beg for candy from strangers. Of course this year she wanted to bring a friend and walk ahead of AJ and I, but I was happy just the same. Middle school has not broken her Halloween spirit!

Cienna as "Mermaid Man" from Spongebob Squarepants

AJ as "Dog The Bounty Hunter"

Unfortunately Tony had to work at the fire station and could not join us on our quest for the most candy ever. We ventured over to Tanoan (the ritzy gated neighborhood) where the legend of full size candy bars did not disappoint! By the time we made it back to the car my fingers were frozen straight and I could not grip the steering wheel. But it was worth it in the end. Each kid brought home at least 10 lbs of candy in their sacks!

After warming up by the fire, we capped the night with a viewing of "The Shining." It was a magically spooky Halloween 2019!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween has always been one of my very favorite holidays, and a few years ago we started the tradition of throwing a pumpkin carving party a few days before the big day. We started off simple...everyone bring a pumpkin, we order pizza, and walla! Your pumpkins are ready for the porch. Over time it has evolved into a semi-vicious competition, where everyone votes on their favorite pumpkin designs and prizes are awarded to the winners. Many of our friends have several kids but are only allowed ONE vote. You can see where it gets "fun." There have been tears from those who did not finish their design in time to be properly judged and some have even come with their pumpkin already scooped out and ready in order to be ready! Some just buy those wood designs that stick in the pumpkin because they would rather eat, drink and be spooky instead of spend all their time carving a pumpkin. While I generally do not enjoy watching children crying, I am secretly flattered that they think the prizes are good enough to cry about!

The bottom line is this: my most cherished memories of Halloween will be the way we celebrated creativity by officially judging it.

Next year I may up ante by making it a costume party as well (which of course will be judged!)

This year Cienna wanted to be a geisha (obviously she has not yet read Memoirs of a Geisha) and AJ wanted to be Chucky. I am always miffed with where he gets his costume ideas from considering he has never watched a rated R movie let alone a scary rated R movie, but his fascination with fictitious serial killers is slightly concerning to me.

One member of our family who would probably like to completely forget about Halloween is Diesel. After finally finding a costume that will fit a mammoth canine, we were so excited to parade him around the neighborhood. He on the other hand felt like a total wiener in his costume. The embarrassment was all over his face.

As we were walking around I reflected on my own childhood and remembered that 6th grade was the last year that I trick or treated as a child. I am hoping that Cienna continues as long as she can (and wants.) Halloween is one of very best things about being a child, and I hope that they have fond memories that they carry through their lives. Now Diesel on the other hand.....

Sweet & Sour

Another Halloween has come and gone and we can safely say that AJ has graduated from Disney Characters to Serial Killers in the costume department. Long gone are the days of Buzz Lightyear...hello Freddy Kruger! I am not sure where he comes up with these things since he has never watched a rated R movie, and I am praying that it is a phase. Knowing AJ, it is not. Cienna created her own character of Unicorn Girl which turned out adorable. We will call this the year of Sweet and Sour!

AJ as Freddy Kruger

Cienna as Unicorn Girl

Immediately following Halloween (and thanks to the dual language school they attend) we have to pay homage to those who have left this earth in body but not in soul with Dia de los Muertos or for you gringos The Day of the Dead. This is the day that we pack away the costumes and bust out the face paint to celebrate the dead!

Pretty Good Job If I Don't Say So Myself

The month of ghouls and ghosts is behind us and we look forward to the family holidays that we love so much. Playing dress up was fun while it lasted!

Best Birthday Party Ever!

Of all the crazy ideas we have had to celebrate our children's birthdays this by far was the EASIEST party we have ever bestowed upon ourselves! There was no noise. There was no mess. There were practically no kids! Yet we managed to make an 8 year old boy's dreams come true with a rolling video game trailer parked in our driveway.

2 hours of multi-screen gaming with all of the latest and greatest video game consoles and extra graphic and gore filled games that he can't play at home. With his best friends. I mean...not to toot my own horn...but this party was freakin' genius! As soon as the air conditioned trailer arrived AJ looked at us and said "I'll see you in 2 hours. I'm not eating, I'm not opening presents and I'm not using the bathroom." He and his friends ran off while us parents enjoyed ourselves at the first party that involved kids EVER. All I can say is #epic.

It Was As Though Jesus Himself Arrived At The Party

Completely Staged Photo Where I Drug Them Outside For 2 Seconds And They Almost Burned Me At The Stake

The Only Thing That Competes With Video Games Is Baseball

I'm Sure Wishing For The Trailer To Breakdown And Not Be Able To Be Moved From The Driveway EVER

Our baby boy AJ....Oh, AJ. At 8 years old you love:

Baseball
Video Games (Minecraft, Plants vs Zombies, Madden)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books
Graphic Novels
Beyblades
The Green Bay Packers
Flag Football
Your Friends
New Balance Tennis Shoes (Seriously...It's The Only Brand You Will Wear)
Math
Going To Lobo Football Games With Your Papa
Bruno Mars Uptown Funk
Stranger Things on Netflix
Five Nights at Freddy's
Your Best Friend Augustine
Cheeseburgers (Meat, Cheese and Bun Only)
Hooters Wings
Smuckers PB&Js
Green Gatorade
Lottery Scratchers (Which We Won't Allow You To Have Anymore After You Showed EVERY Sign Of A Compulsive Gambler The First Time We Let You Spend Your Own Money On Some)

They broke the mold after you AJ. Anthony. Antonio. AtotheJMaz. What other kid do you know that has 4 aliases by age 8? Happy Birthday!

Independence Day Celebration

Yesterday we threw our 1st party at the new house to celebrate the 4th of July! Although the house is still in disarray, we love a good party, and a great party is was. After letting the kids almost melt in the bounce house, we let them cool off with a water balloon fight as we gorged ourselves with tons of food.

We stayed cool as well with lots of liquids...

And rounded out the night with a hike up to the top of the dam where we could see fireworks all over the city! It was an amazing way to break in the new house with old friends. It was a happy 4th indeed!