Easter

Easter was the holiday that just kept giving. Three days before the big event we did our traditional Easter egg dying party. Sounds like it would be a big extravaganza right? Not really. In fact, tips are welcome. Our eggs are always so pathetic!



Saturday began with clues left by the Easter Bunny to find some books and other miscellaneous items around the house. When that treasure hunt was over, we moved on to clues to locate their Easter baskets. Since Tony worked on Sunday, we put in a "special request" with the Easter Bunny to come a day early. We explained to the kids that special requests are reserved for families of firefighters, doctors, police officers and unfortunate retail workers. After their baskets were found they moved on to the backyard where they each had 33 eggs to find. Note to self - Don't buy so much candy. You are the one who ends up eating it when they go to bed, trusting you with their precious finds. Then it is nothing but guilt that you not only ate all of that candy but that you are lying to your children about where it all went!

After getting out of our jammies we headed over to the old folks home where they hosted a community Easter egg hunt in their development. The kids were each allowed 19 eggs and there were 3 golden eggs hidden for special prizes. Cienna was overjoyed when she discovered one of the golden eggs!



With so many people standing around, we even managed to sneak in a family picture which included Tony's middle brother Dominick and his son Niko who were visiting from California.



We then went back to Mimi and Papa's house for more clues to find gifts around the house and more eggs in their backyard! Like I said...it was the never ending holiday!



Speaking of never ending, my mom sent what she refered to as "just a few little things for the kids" for Easter. I decided to wait until Sunday to put them out so that they still had a little something to celebrate on the actual day. When I opened the box the night before I almost peed myself. This is what my mom considers "a few things!"



I hope that the kids are not expecting the same treatment next year. This was over the top!

Georgia

Last week we flew across the country for a very special Spring Break. In a strange way we feel like we got to know long lost family. And even after hanging with the Mazotti family for a week they still decided to adopt us!

Here is the back story. Joe Martinez was our employee and friend for many years until last October when he suddenly passed away. Over the years we had never met his mother, Irene, or her husband, Alex. Although we sometimes had contact via phone and e-mail we never met in person...until Joe was in the ICU. An instant bond was formed that week. And after we all said goodbye to Joe at his memorial service we vowed that we would keep in touch, starting with spending our Spring Break 2013 in Fort Benning, GA.

Joe touched our lives in a way that I cannot fully describe either verbally or on paper. He continues to do this through the wonderful family that he left behind. We spent the week telling stories, sharing memories and having the time of our lives. Irene, Alex and Joe's brother Gabriel were the most amazing hosts. They went out of their way to plan fun activities, awesome accommodations and catered to our every desire. It was a trip that our family will never forget...and without this guy, we would have never experienced it!



The trip started at Fort Benning, GA, where Alex is stationed as a Major in the Army. I have never been on a military base before and it was WAY different than I imagined it would be. First off, it was HUGE. Secondly, the family housing was like being transported to Beaver Cleaver land. All of the houses were neatly placed on serene streets where the kids played together, without adult supervision, until the street lights came on. It was such a different life from the one we live in Albuquerque. We visited the Infantry museum, where we learned about all of the American wars, got to do the Black Hawk and Humvee simulators, and dressed the kids up as little soldiers.



We spent the majority of the week at Uchee Creek, which is located on the grounds of Fort Benning but on the Alabama side. I was under the impression that a week on the Chattahoochee River was going to be hot and we would be spending lots of time in the water. Which is probably why I packed more bathing suits than sweat pants. Boy was I wrong.



Other than the alligators (and yes we saw one) it was a super fun glamping spot. You know, camping luxuriously.



We still managed to keep it rugged with wine in plastic cups and our favorite family game...Ghettopoly!



Another reason why this trip was so special was because the kids got to experience many things for the first time.


1st Time Roasting and Eating S mores


1st Time at Legoland


1st Time Fishing


1st Time at Disney on Ice - Front Row!

The adults also had some firsts. We visited a Confederate solider cemetery where we saw rows and rows of Confederate flags. Definitely a new experience.



We also visited Centennial Park, located in Midtown Atlanta and the home of the 1996 Olympic Games. Tony actually attended the games that year so it was only a 1st for some of us!



I cannot say enough how much fun we had getting to know our new "family." We left with smiles on our faces as well as some heavy hearts. I was thrilled to have remembered that I had taken video of Joe back when we were auditioning for the trash hauling reality show. To be able to tell a mother that she will be able to hear her son's voice again...when she never thought it would be possible was an amazing feeling. And they gave us a gift too....Joe's NY Yankees hat that we immediately came home and hung by the front door. It's our way of saying that he will always have a place in our home.




Alex, Irene and Gabriel

Superbowl & Sking

February 2013 has been a fun filled month for the Mazotti family. First, we kept our heads held high as our beloved San Francisco 49ers lost in the Superbowl. Fortunately and unfortuantely, we were surrounded by roughly 40 of our friends. Fortunate because they kept us occupied so I didn't have to see every agonizing play. Unfortunate because they are all Bronco and Cowboys fans!

Tony, being a true fan, agonized over every play until the end...and then it was over.

The highlight of our Superbowl party was our commercial break entertainment. It put Beyonce's performance to shame!


Two weeks later we headed up to the cabin for some family bonding time. It was a milestone weekend for a few of us. AJ because he learned to ski for the first time. Myself because I skied for the first time in 20 years! And after a day of practice I would say that I am slightly better than AJ! No way that I was going to let my 6 year old AND my 3 year old show me up!

Hey Cheeseballs! Say Cheese!

The last week of February we celebrated Tony's 34th birthday with a little birthday dinner, cake, and the promise of a new weapon for his arsenal. I am thinking bullets for our anniversary is in order. Hope he can wait that long!

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!