Spa Day

Ahh...a spa day. Sounds relaxing right? Not when your doing all the pampering for 9 kindergarten-aged girls! But such is a day in the life of being Cienna's mom.
When you arrived at Cienna's Spa you were greeted by the butler, AJ, and immediately escorted to the nail polish selection station. After choosing your favorite color or colors, you then slipped on a pair of new pink flip flops that you could decorate with ribbons to your liking and take home with you.

We had several fabulous beauticians working that day. Tony's mom, one of her friends and our neighbor's teenage babysitter. There was no need to wonder who was a worker and who was a guest. We made it easy.

We even had a very handsome smoothie maker. Word on the street is that he is very hard to get at your spa. Good thing we know some people who know some people.

After everyone had their 10 little fingers and 10 little toes painted (including AJ!) we moved on to a light snack followed by a heavy lunch of pizza and birthday cake!

After more squealing, running around and present opening we bid adieu to our spa guests with some swag that even the mom's wanted to steal.

A fabulous party for a fabulous 6 year old girl. We love you baby girl!

6 Years Old

It is hard to believe that our baby girl turned 6 years old this week. The reality that life is quickly going by is not lost on us. Having children will do that to you. Every birthday that they celebrate is a concrete reminder that your time with them as little innocents is getting shorter. I do my best to savor every moment, which is easier as they become "easier." And I am all to aware that I will miss these days before I know it.

Cienna began her 6th birthday with a special treat...a 2-hour snow delay for school. Fitting, considering she was born on a snowy Dallas day back in 2007. We decided to brave the slick streets and treat her to breakfast hot cocoa. A perfect start to the day.

After school, Mimi and Papa picked her up and took her to It'z, which is like Chuck E Cheese on steroids. Games, prizes and food fit for a princess. They arrived home around 6pm to open gifts and have some cake. A perfect ending to a perfect birthday.

In just a few short weeks we will celebrate with a party at the house...stay tuned!

At 6 years old:

-Love animal print anything
-Are quickly learning Spanish and will make up words that you think sound like Spanish
-Are learning to read...but not quite yet!
-Your favorite toys are your toddler Disney princess dolls
-You can't sleep without your "B" and your cruise ship Minnie Mouse doll
-You love gymnastics, cheer leading and now want to learn archery (thanks to Merida)
-Your best friends are Nadia (from school), Payton (from preschool) and Amelia (next door)
-You are working on getting along with your brother
-Your favorite places to eat are Mariscos, Buca di Bepo, and sushi
-You love spending the night at your grandparents house
-You still believe in fairy tales, Santa, and Tiny Quinn
-You can't wait for your first tooth to fall out
-Your favorite books are any Frog and Toad or Fancy Nancy, but you also love to go to the library and pick out new books every 3 weeks
-You use big words
-You are absolutely the most beautiful, loving girl I have ever known
-You sometimes cry and tell me that you just love me so much

We super love you Cienna Elise. Happy 6th birthday girl!

Happy New Year!

Hello 2013! I am so happy to see you! Not that 2012 wasn't great...but a new year means a fresh start and fresh perspective on life. It is a time to party like a rock star on New Years Eve, regret it the next day, and then vow to never do it again by the 2nd. Maybe not for everyone...but definitely for us!

See...Rockstars

We headed up to the cabin the day after Christmas and spent some quality family time snowmobiling and pushing each other into snowbanks. We had a blast freezing snot against our faces with the wind (mostly) at our backs.

Showing Some Sibling Love

The next day Tony's brother Chris and girlfriend Wendy arrived to join the festivities. In their luggage they packed a 5 lb gummy bear that was to be spiked with the cheapest liquor that money could buy and enjoyed on New Years Eve. (Don't worry...we made a virgin version for the kids to ingest.)

The tale of the gummy will be one for the history books. It started out so cute and cuddly...

But then he was sliced...

And diced...

And doused with libations and then, when we tasted the masterpiece...

It was totally disgusting. Big disappointment.

Now I know what your thinking. We threw it out. NOT! Never ones to be quitters we forged ahead with the gummy bear and the night!

Say What?

The kids were also in a festive mood. Cienna felt very grown up sipping sparkling cider out of a wine glass and AJ, well he had fun destroying his party hat and waving sparklers in the sky!

The remainder of our time in Colorado was spent building snowmen, sledding and visiting the hot springs. A perfect end to 2012 and an amazing beginning to 2013!

Happy New Year!

Season's Greetings

Another Christmas has come and gone and now it is time to (regret)reflect on the holiday season. Christmastime with kids is like being a kid again. Except you have to pay for everything. And you have to hide the damn elf every night. And bake tons of cookies. And create "holiday magic" for 30 straight days. But other than all of that....it is EXACTLY like being a kid again.

Cienna starred as a Christmas angel in her first school play. She was adorable and Tony was able to bring the truck down to school so he could see it too. We were proud parents! (I think AJ was bored.)

AJ also made us proud when he made the front of the newspaper after Christmas dinner at the firehouse. An ABQ Journal reporter was there to do a story about how firefighters spend the holiday...and AJ stole the show. The reporter was enamered with his bubbly personality and roll playing...he was arresting firefighters with his new handcuffs and hauling them to "jail" for hitting "foxes".

Christmas Eve we drove out to the old folks home (aka my in-laws lovely retirement community) where they hosted Mrs. Claus and a gingerbread house event. The senior crowd sure knows how to throw a good party! They decorate as if it were a competition and they go crazy when it comes to the gingerbread house supplies! It was super fun for all!

We then brought the party back to our house where we had a house full of holiday cheer and tamales for our bellies. A quick trip around the neighborhood looking at the luminarias and we were all ready for Santa to deliver the goods!

One thing that we were all counting on was Tiny Quinn (our Elf on the Shelf) coming back Christmas Day. You see, AJ didn't treat Tiny Quinn very well this year. He must not have been able to hear the threats of receiving no presents from Santa as he swung the tiny little elf all over the house insisting that he "liked it." Tiny Quinn didn't come back for days...and Cienna cried, prayed and begged God every night in hopes that he would stop punishing her for her brother's indiscretions. Well I guess he heard her prayers because he finally came back Christmas Day with a message...

Christmas 2012 was a hit with the kids and adults alike. Santa brought all my favorite labels (Lilly Barrack, Gucci,Starbucks), Tony got more weapons that he can't "legally" possess and the kids were spoiled with (almost) everything their little hearts desired. Even Tonka was thrilled with the giant hedgehog Doganta left for her under the tree. An all around success!

Woof!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

It has been an usually warm December in Albuquerque which has thrown my Christmas radar off. I can't hardly believe that it is just 6 days away even though we have been prepping around here for weeks. First, with some gentle persuasion, I convinced Tony to put up Christmas lights on the house. He really got into it...and I must say, I think our house is the merriest one on the block!

Next, we went hunting for a Christmas tree. In the last few years we have driven around for hours in the Colorado forest wasting time and diesel gas searching for the perfect tree to chop down for only an $8 fee. This year we drove right up, paid $40 and picked the perfect tree in 2 minutes flat. And we didn't have to drive home for 4 hours with it tied to the top of the car! Mission accomplished!

Speaking of Christmas trees, I couldn't resist taking a picture of Cienna's tree-picking outfit. When I told her that she needed to get ready to go this is what she chose...

She takes her fashion seriously people! I love this about her. Unless it is 7:45am and she is hysterical that her tights don't match her shoes.

AJ enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa during our tree outing...well sort of. I am pretty sure only about 2 sips actually made it in his mouth. The rest was spilled in a dramatic fashion all over the ground. He hasn't quite gotten the concept that when you bend down you need to keep your cup up!

AJ and his hot cocoa in happier times

We also had fun decorating gingerbread houses at a neighbor's house. The kids actually shared a house...and decorating responsibilities equally. I was so proud! There is hope that they will get along!

I have been blasting Christmas music, baking cookies and making the house a winter wonderland. Only 6 more days until the fat man comes! Here's to hoping I am still on the nice list! Happy holidays from our house to yours!

Thanksgiving

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving with our family and friends in California. It was a whirlwind of a trip (when is it not?) and by the time we got home we needed a vacation from our vacation!

I love CA. I love the trees, the shopping and all of the memories. I could drive down almost any street in the Bay and tell you about something that happened there. It will always hold a special place in my heart!

During our trip we traveled to Napa (twice!) to visit Tony's grandmother and his uncles Ray and Mark. We dined at my favorite restaurant, power shopped with Dena at Broadway Plaza, and Christmas shopped for presents with Granny at Lakeshore Learning Center. We saw Tony's brothers, my brothers and lots of great friends. We ate too much, spent too much, and had a great time doing it!

Loving Granny

Cousin Niko

Thanksgiving Day we went to my mom's house. I volunteered to try a new recipe...White Castle Burger Stuffing. It turned out AMAZING, despite the fact that I realized the following day that I didn't use all of the ingredients that I had bought. Oops. We had a traditional meal with traditional bickering and by the time we ate the only thing that we were thankful for was that the meal was ready. But that is family for you. Or is it just my family for you?

Further Proof That I Am The Best Looking Sibling

The most interesting part of the evening was listening to my brother describe how he is not "technically" engaged to his live-in girlfriend. He bought a ring...that she knew about...had it sized...which she new about...and then brought it home, put it on the kitchen table and told her to "go look at what was on the table." She said she was hoping for food because she was starving. Instead she got a solitaire diamond ring that she wears on her ring finger on her left hand. It is the strangest thing I have ever heard of. But then again...it's my brother. Strange is his middle name. Just look at this picture!

Welcome To The Family Monique (I Think?)

There is the recap of Thanksgiving 2012. A very interesting experience!

Halloween 2012

My favorite time of year has arrived and I can't help but feel happy about life. When I think about being a mom, holidays are what I live for. Making memories for my children that will last them a lifetime, and hopefully creating some traditions that they will pass down to their own children. This for me...is what life is all about.

We began October with a trip to the pumpkin patch. It was fun to see the process...AJ picking the 1st pumpkin he came across and Cienna looking at every single one to ensure that she was making the best decision. Both were very proud of their choices and both needed help carrying them to the cashier!

If There Is A Will There Is A Way!

With Daddy And Her Perfect Pumpkin

Time For A Hayride

If it weren't for AJ being bit by the mini pony it would have been a perfect day at the pumpkin patch. Poor kid. It even broke skin!

Our next great October adventure was the Balloon Festival. This year we were joined by Tony's parents along with Debbie and Pat, who were visiting from CA. The weather was beautiful, the balloons were amazing and the company was fab. Another reason that the fall is my favorite time of year!

The Whole Gang

The weekend before Halloween was full of fun kid events...first Goblins in the Garden at AJ's school, followed by The Harvest Festival in our neighborhood park. Cienna and AJ had a blast running around with friends, playing ghoulish games and stuffing as much candy and sweets in their mouths before I could catch them. It was fun for all!

The grand finale of October was celebrated with Halloween. My mom created another masterpiece for Cienna...Alice in Wonderland. AJ was Scooby Doo. They had a blast walking door to door, patiently standing in line (yes...in line!) for candy to be tossed into their buckets. Our neighborhood is the most popular in all of ABQ. Each year, thousands of kids (and their chain smoking parents) flock to the country club area to get free candy. Last year both Tony and Cienna were featured on the news...Tony was shown passing out candy at our house and Cienna was shown trick-or-treating. This year, I was the lucky one! They did a small interview about how many trick-or-treaters we have every year and showed me opening up the door. Next year we have vowed to go to a different neighborhood on Halloween to avoid the craziness...and the lines!

Memories...What Life Is All About!