Birthday Week

I turned 31 on Tuesday doing the same thing that I do every Tuesday. I dropped Cienna off at school in the morning, treated myself to a Starbucks and ran errands with my little guy. After naps, we went out to dinner at my favorite pizzeria, Village Pizza, where I loaded up on carbs and soda. It was heavenly. And I did it all wearing my new bracelet...designed by my favorite guy on the planet. It was a truly awesome way to spend my birthday!

Just A Little Something To Wear With My Sweat Pants

Friday I took possibly the cutest pictures of both AJ and Cienna that I have taken all year. First, AJ finally let me put a hat on him for longer than 10 seconds. Before he was born, I bought MANY driver caps, beanies, ball caps that I just knew he was going to wear. And then God gave me a baby who doesn't like hats. How could that be? I figured if I started him early enough he would love hats. But with the exception of 10 degree weather, I couldn't get him to wear anything on his head for any amount of time. In fact, I believe that he thinks that a hat on his head is just a game that we play. I put it on, he immediately reaches up, grabs it off his head while I am screaming "no!" and put it back on his head. He giggles every time we play the "game." So Friday after many, many, many, many times of playing his game, he finally got tired and left it on! And as a result I got the cutest picture EVER!

Who's Ready For A Round Of Golf?

All of the stars and planets must have been aligned that day. Because later that afternoon we ventured out to the state fair again to spend the same amount of money that we can spend at a day at Disneyland. Cienna asked to get her face painted like a bunny rabbit. And the result was the cutest picture of Cienna I have taken all year!

Our Funny Bunny

With everything that goes on day to day, I had completely forgotten that the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival starts next week. It is one of the many treats that this town has to offer and one of the reasons that I enjoy living here so much. Tonka on the other hand is a different story. I thought that the Russians were invading this morning with the way that she was freaking out in the yard. I looked out the window expecting to see some sort of furry animal running along the fence when instead I saw the real culprit....

Practicing For The Big Event

So that was my birthday week in a nutshell. So far my 30's have rocked!

Motivation

I have experienced a lack of motivation recently for posting the haps on my blog. Not that we haven't been busy...just the thought of documenting it all seems like a horrendous task. So please excuse the randomness of this post. I am just trying to share the cute pictures that I have accumulated.
The New Mexico State Fair is in town, and much like Disneyland, it is way cooler now that I have kids. Money all of the sudden becomes no object when your 3 year old is having the time of her life. She rode tons of rides, said hi to every cop that she came into contact with, and tried her first Navajo Taco. By 11pm she came so close to falling asleep in the swing ride that I was worried for her personal safety. At that point we felt it was best to call it a night!

Waiting For Her Corn Dog With Her First Of Many Sheriff Badge Stickers


Her Favorite Ride Of The Night - The Giant Slide

The next day we were invited by our neighbors to the Rio Grande Community Farm to visit a giant corn maze. It sounded way cooler than it was. We basically just let three 3-year-olds guide us around in the mud for a hour. But we had fun!


Our Tour Guides


AJ and T Getting Ready For Our Adventure


The Stroller Was Not The Best Idea

Last Saturday we had the privilege of meeting my father-in-law's cousin who lives in Socorro, NM with his wife. Turns out they live on a farm about 2 hours from Albuquerque and every year they roast their organic green chile at the Co-Op just up the street from our house. Who would have thought that there were more Mazottis in New Mexico? They were extremely nice people, who gifted us with a dozen organic eggs, eggplant, ochra, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, pablano peppers and our first bag of roasted green chile. What a treat!


This Is Like Candy To New Mexicans

That night we went to the Zac Brown Band concert with our friends Joe and Melissa. I believe that someone took pictures, however, I have not yet seen them. So you will just have to take my word for the fact that we had a great time indulging in several alcoholic beverages.

So that just about catches you up on the latest Mazotti memories. I will try to find motivation somewhere to update a little more often!

X

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of my father's passing which means that 10 years ago was the worst day of my life. It was 17 days before my 21st birthday, only 2 weeks into my first semester away at college and the day after I dropped him off at home after a fun Labor Day weekend. I was in my older brother's campus apartment when my mom called to deliver the news. My dad had died. I will never forget screaming out loud at that moment. Or crying the entire week that followed. Or seeing the look on my 8 year old brother's face when we told him.
My father was not a perfect man. Far from it. For the last 10 years I have actually been pretty numb to the fact that he is no longer with us. I felt he had a choice between life and death and he chose his fate. If only he had listened to his doctors. And those who loved him most. Instead of mourning the fact that he could not walk me down the aisle on my wedding day I was upset with him for not being there for me on the most important day of my life.
There have been many times when I have been holding my children and thinking to myself "look what you are missing out on." Instead of being sad, I have been angry. And I am finally ready to let all of that go today.
I will always miss my father. I will always wish he was still here. And I wish that my children could know him. He was a good father for many, many years. He taught me how to pitch, how to ride a bike, and told me never to get a tattoo because you can't improve on perfection. He let me stay home from school twice a year for a "mental health day" that consisted of fast food and Arnold Schwarznegger movies. He played classic rock trivia with me every time we were in the car. He bought me Garbage Pail Kids at the gas station, let me create fake "scars" on my hands with rubbing compound and treated me to A's baseball games. He took me camping and taught me how to catch crawfish with red licorice. And when I threw up at Girl Scout camp and no one wanted to hang out with me he came to camp and taught me how to fish.
Tony and my dad didn't get along so well. Their history went back to 1991. As the years passed he never really warmed up to the thought of his daughter dating Tony Mazotti. And even when he passed he was still struggling with the fact that he was going to "lose" me to Tony. I wish that he could see the man that Tony has become. I wish that he could see how happy he makes me and how well he takes care of his family. I wish that Tony could have the piece of mind (even if he doesn't need it) to know that my dad was wrong about him.
So today I am letting go. Of all of the hate and sadness and should have beens and could have beens. Instead I am celebrating the man that he was for so many years of my life. I miss you dad. And I always will.

AJ Turns 1!

1 year ago today our little Anthony Jr. blessed our lives by entering the world and becoming our baby boy. It is such a cliche to say that I don't know where the time went. It seems like yesterday and yet it also seems like longer than a year. All I know is that he has been such a joy to have in our family and our lives. He makes me laugh every day and brings a tear to my eye just thinking about his bright beaming smile. We love you our Mister, Mister. Our Man of Lamancha. Our little squeaker buddy back seat driver boy! Muah!

Our Big Boy!

Of course we had to throw the boy a party! Today we had about 10 kids over for hot dogs, Cheetos, macaroni and fruit salad and cupcakes. And even though we knew AJ would not really be able to use it we rented a bounce house for Cienna. Living across the street from a park she is tortured every weekend by all of the kids getting bounce houses for their parties. Unfortunately with her birthday being in January it isn't exactly prime weather conditions for an outdoor party. So we wanted to do that for her. Turns out AJ loved it too!


Custom Party Hats (Super Easy To Make!)


Gift Boxes


Cupcake Tree


The Jungle House


Cienna and her Posse


LL Cool AJ

And if you are curious...AJ inhaled the entire cupcake! He wasted no time making short work of a cupcake that never had a chance. Poor cupcake.


Going...going...gone!


The Party Goers Waiting Patiently


The Fam with the Birthday Boy

Lastly we opened presents. Not quite sure what AJ's favorite gift was because I think that he really loved each and every one. He has been enjoying his new "whip" that Granny bought him this week. I think the rest was just icing on the cake!


AJ in His New Ride


A New Book


His Very Own Dump Truck


A Fresh Pair of Kicks


His 1st Fire Truck

Well that is it. Sorry about all of the pictures. But I am under contract by the grandparents to make sure that they get all of the details!

Rhythms on the Rio

Another phenomenal South Fork weekend! We experienced Rhythms on the Rio, which is a music festival that features local musicians performing on a small stage right on the Rio Grande. Several local vendors also peddled goods, including an adorable bee dress that we could not say no to...



AJ, T, Cienna and BeauMeyer.com

While we indulged in beverages from the beer garden, we indulged Cienna in just about everything that she asked for. Glow necklaces and bracelets, snow cones, kettle corn and lots of dancing. AJ had a blast just hanging with dad in the baby backpack.


Sunday we tried a new restaurant and headed to the Pagosa Hot Springs which just could be our new favorite cabin activity. If it didn't cost so much every time we went it definitely would be our favorite activity. Speaking of favorite...I think I know why Cienna loves the cabin so much:

Giving New Meaning To "Close" Caption!

There was one thing that I will NEVER forget about this weekend. Coyotes! OMG. They were howling like heck (although it sounds more like high pitched laughing) the first night we were there. I was seriously shook. The only thing that would have scared me more is if I had been in a tent instead of a cabin when I heard them going off. Seriously. For real.

Only a couple more days until AJ's 1st birthday. Can't wait!

Back To School

Well not really back to school...more like the start of school! Cienna started pre-school today! For months I had been teetering between wanting her to go to school (for the break) and not wanting to start that path too early. While I have known for a year that she is ready for all that comes with going to school, a part of me was a little heartbroken that she is growing up so fast. Then I have my days where I want to scream and I can't wait for school to start...and so it continued, the cycle of wanting it and not wanting it. We decided to put Cienna in pre-school 2 days a week from 9am-1pm just to give me a little break. And based on the fact that I didn't cry today I think it was the right decision!

Our Big Girl's 1st Day of School


Exploring Her Classroom

With all of our free time this week we took a couple of trips to the zoo and the aquarium. I discovered that AJ really loves animals. His eyes get huge when he sees one and he tries to communicate with them in his baby grunting language. It is amazing to watch your kids when something just clicks. And animals really click with AJ.
Cienna wasn't the only one starting something new this week. AJ started Gymboree! Besides for being extremely athletic, he is definitely the loudest kid in his age group. Another Mazotti trait successfully passed down!


The Call of the Wild

In other exciting Mazotti news, we bought 2 snowmobiles this week! They are both equipped to hold 2 passengers, with seat warmers, hand warmers and they are touring models which means that I don't have to worry about going too fast on them. I can see us now...AJ in the baby backpack on my back, Cienna holding onto Tony, gliding through the snow trails in South Fork. Good ol' fashion family fun. I just may get excited for cold weather again. Now I just need a Camelback that holds hot chocolate!


OK, Not Us. But Similar.

And finally, I just wanted to update everyone on the traveling trash family reality show gig. So I sent the DVD to the producers and they e-mailed to tell me that the disk was blank. So I re-burned the disk and sent it...and they e-mailed to tell me that it arrived cracked. So I sent a final copy, overnight, to their office yesterday. I haven't heard anything yet. Now I wonder if I should e-mail her to see what she thought or just wait to see if she gets in touch with me. If you ask me our tape sucked. But maybe she knows how to spot chaos and craziness when she sees it. We will see!


Reality Show or Bust

Prince Charming

It is hard to believe that 14 years ago this week Tony and I began dating. We had quite the history prior to us getting back together the month before our senior year of high school and to be honest...I never thought it would last! But here we are 14 years later. Married. Parents. And still adoring each other. We have come such a long way from when we first began. We lived with our parents! He didn't have a driver's license! Crazy to think of all that we have accomplished.
As I was driving down the freeway this morning, my thoughts drifted to why I love Tony so much. My first thought was "Prince Charming." You know how in fairy tales the prince falls deeply in love with the princess and they live happily ever after? That is the way that I feel. I think it is easy to feel that way when everything that your Prince Charming promises you comes true. He doesn't just talk about big plans. He makes them happen. Nothing is out of his reach when he puts his mind to it. And that is amazing.
Often times Cienna wants to play "Prince Charming" with me. I am usually the prince and his name is always Tony. I don't mind sharing him with her for now...but I hope that when she grows up she doesn't have to kiss a bunch of frogs to find her Prince Charming too.