Seven

Where has the time gone? How is it that my baby girl is now 7 years old? It seems like yesterday I was still picking out your outfits. Now you wouldn't be caught dead in anything I would chose. You have become a beautiful, funny, smart and talented young girl. You are kind and sweet but would not hesitate to stick up for yourself if you needed to. You are no push over. Sometimes when you talk to me I have to keep myself from smiling because you sound EXACTLY LIKE ME. You use hand gestures to get your point across and use big words that are applied correctly in your arguments. You are way more awesome than I ever imagined you would be.

We began the birthday celebration with a party with 12 friends and classmates at "It's A Zoo In Here", which is like Build-a-Bear but better (if you ask me.) It was important to you that stuffed animals be involved in the party (which gives me hope that you are not growing up too fast) and you chose bright pink, purple and smurf blue for your party colors. Everyone that you invited came (which also gives me hope that you are a good friend) and everyone that came were so polite and cute! Each child got to pick an animal body that they were able to stuff, put a wish inside, sew up, pick an outfit for and name. After they were all complete we had a dance party, presents and cupcakes to celebrate you turning 7 years old!

A couple of days later we celebrated your actual birthday with sushi delivered to you at lunch, followed by presents after school and a round of miniature golf. Then a few days after that we celebrated with a formal tea at the St. James Tea Room with Mimi. Then a day after that your package arrived from Granny. It was truly the never-ending birthday celebration (just the way we Mazotti girls like em!)

At 7 years old you love:
American Girl and Barbie dolls
"Chapter" Books / Reading
Math!!
Singing Karaoke (Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood)
Hula Hooping
Jump Roping
Cheerleading and Gymnastics
Swinging on the Bars at School
Doing Kartwheels
Speaking Spanish
Riding Horses
Loosing Teeth for the Tooth Fairy
Drawing, Writing, Playing "Olympics"
Your Best Friends Are: Nadia, Olivia, Amelia, Payton, Makayla and Elia
Your Favorite Colors Are: White, Purple, Black
Your Favorite Movie: Monster University
Your Favorite Song: All American Girl by Carrie Underwood (you call it you and daddy's song)

Snow Days

Skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, snowshoeing and now ice skating! The Mazotti Family is rapidly expanding our winter sports bag of tricks. Although we would love to be on the mountain every day, sometimes you just need to mix it up. So this year we strapped on some ice skates and tried our luck at staying upright. We will just say that some one of us was lucky. And one of us did not give up. One of us threw a fit and pouted. And the other one couldn't find skates to fit his huge feet! All in all it was a very good time. Even AJ found a way to make the best of it!

Hey How Did That Get In There??

We all had better luck with sledding. And most of us looked damn good doing it too!

Diesel didn't try sledding. But he still looked damn cute!

Viva la Snow Days!!

New Year, New Resolutions

A new year does not always mean new resolutions to me. In fact, I probably have not "promised" to do anything new in at least 5 years. I think that is because as a new mom I was just trying to get through the year. Hey, if cussing helped me do that than why take that away from me? This year I felt that I was ready to take on some resolutions. Make some changes. Reinvent myself. Well maybe not reinvent...but attempt growth!

So, without further adieu....my resolution list for 2014 and beyond!

And it feels so good. You should try it!

Read at least 1 book a month. I can't remember the last time I read a book. Magazines, yes. Blogs, yes. Newsletters from school, yes. But a book? Hmmmmm. Nope. Can't remember. Books are awesome!

I admit it. I am not a perfect person let alone a perfect mom. Even the thought of trying to be perfect genuinely exhausts me. I mean, how could I possibly keep the floors spotless, win every game of Words with Friends AND plan meals for my family? But this year I am going to try the meal planning thing. Stay tuned. This is the only resolution that I am a bit concerned about keeping!

Happy New Year Everyone!

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