Disneyland: If the VIP Badge Fits…

I am fully aware and so grateful for the travel opportunities I have had in my life. My parents taught me that it doesn’t matter how much money you have–you can always travel. My childhood was spent exploring the most glorious lakes, mountains and campgrounds and I have wonderful memories.

Well, mostly. Except for the time Mom and I were so badly sunburned at Priest Lake, ID we blistered and spent the rest of the trip cursing the boys’ olive skin.

Travel isn’t just a part of my kids’ life, it has become an important part of who they are. Always in question is “where are we going next?” and an adventure, even if it’s in our own backyard, is always on the horizon. About 95 percent of our life is pretty normal; that 5 percent is awesome and we get special access to some really cool things. I’ve found out this can be good and bad.

A couple of years ago, we were invited to Keystone’s Kidtopia and the kids wore “VIK” (Very Important Kid) badges. Apparently, that left an indelible imprint on normally-humble Bode.

When we were at Disneyland for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, families were given “guest” badges to wear, which gave them access to the special events. When we were waiting in line for the Jungle Cruise, someone asked Bode about it.

“Oh, it just says ‘guest’ but I really wish it said ‘VIP.’”

Big head much?

Whether he was  VIP or a guest, this kid had the time of his life at Disneyland as was evidenced at the end of each night.

P.S. Just pretend Luigi is Mickey.

Disclaimer: I was invited to attend the 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. The conference fee I paid included discounted lodging and park tickets for my family and sponsor swag. The runDisney fun run was included as a part of the conference and I was not required to blog about it or any sponsors.

The Second Grade Pumpkin Expert

The school year is winding down (or would that be up?) at a frenetic pace and these next weeks will be chock full of piano recitals, school plays, violin concerts, chaperoning Hadley’s three-day class camping trip and so much more.

On Thursday we had Bode’s final parent-teacher conference of second grade and he proudly escorted us around the classroom playing math games and showing off his Power-Point-knock-off slideshow presentation about cobras (the horror). Though we weren’t thrilled about his teacher at the beginning of the year, Bode liked her and thrived in her strict classroom. It’s called brown nosing and he’s really good at it. Case in point: when we walked in, a little girl was sitting there with her dad and raved, “That Bode, he’s the best boy in class!”

Guess he’s been sucking up to the ladies, too.

I was feeling pretty good about Bode’s year until he brought out his conference portfolio and showed us his first published book: “How to grow pumpkins.”

Jamie, of course, was thrilled.

I, on the other hand, want my (public school) money back.

 

Frozen

Sometimes I just want to freeze time. Every phase my kids go through these days is a favorite and these childhood years are slipping away so fast.

This morning was one of those cherished moments. Usually I go to boot camp from 6:30-7:30 a.m. but I hurt my neck yesterday and took the day off. When Bode woke up, he crawled into bed to snuggle up to me. “Tell me some stories of when I was little, Mom.”

And since I have the long-term memory of an Alzheimer patient, I turned to this blog’s archives, reading him his birthday letters I’ve written every year in July since he was born.

When Hadley woke up, she curled in next to us and we read her May birthday letters. “I can’t believe you’ve been doing this every year!” she marveled.

We teared up a bit as we laughed our way through our adventures long forgotten. I reiterated how privileged I am to be their mom and the pure joy they bring to my life every single day, despite the fact that sometimes this motherhood gig is really overwhelming.

Even though I’m so behind and busy these days, I’ve recommitted to writing their treasured stories because someday when they’re grown and gone, I’ll look back and realize how truly choice, golden and blessed these years are.

And I don’t want to ever, ever forget it.

 

Laughing

Bode’s computer consulting business

Still digging myself out of being sick and getting caught up. I was gleaning my archives and realized I never published this post I wrote once upon a time.

I often joke that my children will be much more technology-savvy than I.

Last week, I realized just how true that is when I brought out my old laptop for Bode as I worked. I turned on the power button and waited.

Me: “It’s just booting up, Bode.”

Bode: “That’s wrong, Mommy. It’s loading, not booting.”

FYI, hardware boots, software loads.

Bode will be available for computer consolations in a few years.

P.S. This picture is of my sweet boy snuggling all his stuffed animals at bedtime. He’ll later itemize each of them on a spreadsheet.

The magic forgetful fairy in Waterton Lakes National Park

I think I’ve mentioned the amount of stress I’ve been under lately, which has been waking me up at 4:15 a.m. Since I’m not coherent at that hour, I’ve been doing non-essential things like airing out my blog’s draft folder. Here’s a funny post I wrote a few summers ago but never published it.

(For background, you will need to first reread this post whereupon Bode, after a day of camping with The Boys, declared he liked musicals better than camping.)

Setting: Several months later, camping in Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada a.k.a. my favorite place on earth in July 2011.  We cruised the bike paths adjacent to Waterton Lake on Surrey bikes, hiked Bear’s Hump with awe-inspiring views that peered into the United States , played in in the water at glorious Red Rock Canyon,  snuggled up to the ranger’s campfire chats in the evenings and camped a stone’s throw away from Cameron Falls.

I’m aching to go back.

Princes of Wales Hotel

Hiking Bear’s Hump

Riding Surrey Bikes

Navigating Red Rock Canyon in Waterton

Boys will be boys at Welch’s Chocolate Shop

Prince of Wales Hotel

During the midst of our outdoor utopia, Jamie turned to Bode.

Jamie: “Bode, do you like camping or musicals better?”

Bode: “What are musicals, Daddy?”

Jamie: “That’s my boy.”

The win-lose game of motherhood

Costco funny: “Johnsonville Brats”

My kids are making me drip with sentimentality these days.

Too often it’s easy to poke fun of all the drama of parenthood but my gosh, our latest phase (and that’s what it is–a phase) is full of kindness, funniness, obedience and hard work. I couldn’t love them anymore and I’m so honored to be their mom.

On Saturday, I marveled at how good they’re being lately.

“I have to give a shout-out to Hadley and Bode! We’ve had a busy day and you have been wonderful. Hadley did her chores without being asked, there was no complaining during homework and you both did a great job at volleyball and basketball. I have to commend you on your wonderful attitude lately.”

They beamed as Jamie chimed in: “Yeah, but mine sucks.”

You win some, you lose some.

The High-Five Squad Meets Superstar Denver Nuggets

High-five Squad at the Denver Nuggets game

The kids are both involved in YMCA sports this winter. Bode is playing “Junior Nuggets” basketball and Hadley is in volleyball. Hadley is developing a real love for the sport and I enrolled Bode so he could stay active and be on his friend Sean’s team.

He has the least amount of experience of any of his teammates but here’s the thing about Bode: what he may be lacking in natural skill he makes up for it by his sheer determination to succeed. For his first few games, he hung back taking it all in. But his latest game on Saturday the little dude caught fire–going for rebounds, dribbling the ball up the court and he even scored two baskets which, in 7-year-old basketball, is equal to about 70 points.

He also traveled with the ball about 20 times but we won’t count that.

Occasionally there are a few perks to aligning yourself with the YMCA and last week we cashed in on one of them. Every player in the program was offered two free tickets to a Denver Nuggets game and extra tickets were just $15 so we figured we’d take the kids to their first basketball game for FHE.

Then, it just kept getting better when I received an email from a Nuggets sales coordinator. They’d had a cancellation and they needed 25 kids on the same night we had our tickets to be part of the High Five Squad to welcome the Nuggets onto the court. I, of course, jumped at the chance!

We arrived 40 minutes early, retrieved our free T-shirts and while the parents waited on a nearby platform, the kids were escorted down to the floor where they proceeded to form a tunnel and high-five the Nuggets players as they were cheered onto the court. Both of the kids were near the end of the tunnel and stationed right in front of the camera so their cute faces splashed across the Jumbo-tron a few times.

Of course, I was too slow to capture that because those tall Nuggets kept blocking my view.

As it turns out, the Jumbo-tron is for amateurs. Jamie recorded the game and when we watched it later, we laughed to see that the kids were repeatedly on live TV.

Hadley is to the left of the announcer in white pants and Bode is to the left of her.

We had a  blast in our nosebleed seats as we watched the Nuggets defeat the Los Angeles Clippers. In fact, Hadley was so inspired she announced she now has a new career aspiration. Thankfully, it wasn’t a cheerleader (sigh of relief) but she was impressed with the two sales gals who helped plan the half-time shows and High Five Squad.

“I’d like to work for a sports team!” she said. “It would be a lot of fun. Plus, I like telling people what to do.”

I’ll vouch for that one. Look out, world.

 

Bode Miller: How Paintballs Would Have Given Him the Gold

I was about six months pregnant with Bode when we decided upon his name. We were watching much-hyped Bode Miller bomb out at the Torino Games in 2006. He was a rebel, a loose cannon but something clicked with Jamie.

“What do you think of the name Bode?”

It immediately clicked for me, too.

Over the years we’ve followed Bode Miller’s career with great interest. I’ve never viewed him as much of a role model but his success is indisputable as an Olympic and World Championship gold medalist, a two-time overall World Cup champion in 2005 and 2008 and the most successful male American alpine ski racer of all time. Those are some pretty impressive accolades.

He has become more humble and mellow over the years, undoubtedly due in part to the recent death of his brother, custody battles and knee surgery. But we’ve been really gunning for him during the 2014 Sochi Games. I mean, the dude is 36–practically over-the-hill in ski racing!

His results in Sochi have been disappointing but on Sunday night, we were thrilled when he tied for bronze in the Super G, the oldest American to win a medal in Alpine Skiing.

As Bode was celebrating, he upped the ante.

“Do you know what would make the Super-G even harder? If they shot paint balls at you.”

Tough crowd. But nonetheless impressive.

 

 

 

“I’d like to bear my testimony”–of false doctrine

The first Sunday of each month is Fast and Testimony Meeting at church. It’s kind of like an open mic night where anyone who feels so inspired can get up in front of the congregation and share their testimony of the gospel. It’s often one of my favorite meetings because the spirit is thick as people share their feelings but it can occasionally go array. Think: false doctrine. And that would be my son.

As a part of Fast and Testimony,  we are asked to go without food and drink for two consecutive meals and to give a generous fast offering for the care of the poor and needing.  This offering should be at least the value of the two meals we went without while fasting and the funds are used to provide food, shelter, and other necessities to people in need, both locally and worldwide. It’s a wonderful opportunity to serve in a simple way while becoming more in tune physically and spiritually.

Every month, our family decides something (or someone) we’re going to fast about and unitedly kneel in prayer before and after our fast. There’s no requirement to fast–it’s completely voluntary. Jamie and I decided age 8, when the kids get baptized, would be a good time for them to start. But Bode being Bode (and age 7 going on 40) decided to put aside his carnal self aside and started fasting with us earlier this year.

As we knelt in prayer this morning, Hadley dramatically feigned starvation (she is my daughter, after all), while Bode man reverently stayed on his knees a few seconds after we finished. “Do you know what I was praying about?” he later asked me. “I was praying that our family would be strengthened by the Holy Ghost.” Good gosh, the kid is more spiritual than moi.

Getting up in front of a congregation of 300+ people to bear an unscripted testimony is an intimidating thing for anyone, especially if you’re a little kid. Hadley has done it a few times and I was pleased when she did it again today and talked about our recent studies of the creation. Bode has never borne his testimony in Sacrament Meeting and that is something I’d never force. In fact, even though I wanted to, I never did it as a kid because I was too nervous.

When she sat down, Bode leaned over and whispered, “I have made the goal to bear my testimony two times this year” and from the tone of his voice, today would not be the day. Until his best buddy Carson got up for the first time and all bets were off.

“Mom,” he said urgently. “What can I bear my testimony about?”

“Bode, you should let the spirit guide you. I can’t tell you what to say.”

Now, as an aside, when the youth turn 12 they are occasionally asked to prepare a 5-minute talk in front of the congregation. I’ve never been afraid of public speaking and enjoyed preparing and giving my talks. But the one I gave when I was 17 goes down in infamy. It was a mind-blowing time. The Berlin Wall had fallen and I found a fascinating revelation given by an apostle nearly 50 years earlier that predicted everything that was happening–from how the wall fell to democracy taking over communism and the gospel flooding these lands. This was the premise of my talk and it was powerful to be living in such a time as that.

Until the Bishop got up after I sat down and denounced my talk. I’d never seen this happen before, nor have I ever since. But just that morning he had received a notice from the Church about this very revelation that, though it likely happened, they couldn’t 100 percent confirm it. Remember, these are the days before Google and I’ve since confirmed its veracity.

Later in his office the Bishop lovingly talked to me about everything and, though embarrassed, I understood why he had done it.

Fast-forward to Bode today. When kids get up to bear their testimony in Sacrament meeting, it’s often simple along the lines of “I’d like to bear my testimony. I know the gospel is true. I love my family, I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon etc.”

Not Bode. I could see his little mind was in overdrive trying to identify gospel principals he knew to be true. “I know what I’m going to talk about,” he finally whispered. “Can you remind me what language the scriptures were translated from?” Jamie started spewing off a bunch of facts. The Bible’s Hebrew and Greek, the Book of Mormon’s Reformed Egyptian. It was a fire hydrant’s worth of information for what should have been a little trickle of water.

Bode was unnerved. The Bishop was about to close the meeting when Bode popped out of his chair and bravely strode to the pulpit. “I’d like to bear my testimony that I know the gospel is true….”

I breathed a sigh of relief. He was sticking with the basics. But oh no, he was nervous and kept right on going, “And I know that Joseph Smith translated the Bible,” and he threw in some Greek, Hebrew and reformed Egyptian for good measure. He was flustered by the end but I stifled a laugh. Trust Bode to take the most complicated approach to something that can be so simple.

Jamie learned over to me and laughingly hissed: “That false doctrine? It comes from your side of the family.”

Touché.

 

Mannering the Table

I recently posted the following status update on Facebook:

My kids think they’re on Fear Factor. Tonight’s episode: bell peppers. #OhTheDinnerDrama

They have only a few vegetables they will willingly eat. However, I made chicken noodle soup and they couldn’t get enough of it. I didn’t bother to point out to them that it contained (gasp) celery, (gasp) carrots and (gasp) onions, which are classified as vegetables. As he downed his last drop of soup, Bode let out a nice, satisfied burp, which I took as a compliment.

Jamie thought otherwise.

Bode: “If I burp, that means I’m full. Or finished.”

Jamie: “Or rude.”

I’ll take it.