Our debut as professional pie contest eaters at Four Mile Historic Park

October 9, 2013 By

Four years ago when Jamie was in Portland visiting his buddy at a pumpkin weigh-off, the kids and I fell in love with Four Mile History Park’s annual Great Pumpkin Harvest Festival. This rustic 12-acre historic oasis and the site of Denver’s oldest house is a charming throwback to yesteryear. Scarecrow making. Caramel apples and apple cider. Pioneer games. Horse-drawn wagon rides. Museum tours. Wood-burning stove cookie baking and Native American fry bread. Mountain man encampment. Gold panning. Historic blacksmithing demonstrations.

I loved it all and have been dying to go back but last weekend was our first opportunity while Jamie was at another weigh-off.

Pumpkin ring toss

Very heated musical chairs cakewalk

New obsession: stilt walking

 

Apple cider doughnuts I’ve dreamed about for four years

Four Mile Historic Park had pumpkins for purchase in a cute little pumpkin patch but we couldn’t be bothered.

“We don’t need to stop there, Hadley. We’re pumpkin snobs.”

“What’s a snob?”

“Someone who thinks they’re better than someone else.”

“Why yes, yes we are pumpkin snobs.”

But there’s nothing better than pie-eating contests and darn it if Hadley and Bode didn’t hit the jackpot by being two of the lucky 15 kids who signed up.

There was some stiff competition: a lot of hungry-looking teenagers. Bode looks like he’s praying in this picture. It worked. At least it did when he figured out it’s better not to lick the berry pie…

and just jump right on it. Little dude never looked back.

Hadley, on the other hand, started strong by smashing her face in her apple pie and ingesting it. About a minute later, she came up for air.
“Mom, I can’t breathe! I have pie up my nose”

“Breathe later, eat now.”

I have a future as a competitive pie-eating coach. My first rule: do not slurp the apples like a straw.

Or look at your competition. Bode lost precious seconds here.

But  he needn’t have worried because he totally beat Hadley who ended up looking like this.

I don’t think she’ll want apple pie anytime soon.

But we had a blast and you’d better believe we’ll be training for next year.

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Foodie, Hadley, Humor, pumpkins Tagged With: ,

Colorado’s Floods: A Lesson in Gratitude

September 18, 2013 By

Like many Coloradoans who were not directly impacted by the floods, I felt at a loss about what I could do to help. I have been filling in for several weeks as Bode’s Primary (Sunday School) teacher and our lesson was on prayer on Sunday.

We talked about all the many things we can thank Heavenly Father for and also what to ask for. A big item of discussion was people impacted by the flood and I tried to drive it home that prayer without action  is pretty darn fruitless so I’ve been looking for ways to teach my kids to serve. Later that day, we drove about a mile from my house to survey some of the damage. We are on the very tip of the worst of it and our house was mercifully spared. Friends a mere mile away received evacuation orders.

On Sunday, we went to survey some of the damage and yesterday, I went for a ride along my favorite trails. Rebuilding will take months.

I can’t even imagine the devastation if that was your home underwater.

We caught wind that an area fire station had become a makeshift command center for the National Guard who were battling the floods and they were in need of food donations. So, the kids and I gathered together oodles of snacks, made dozens of cookies and a couple of huge cards. As we were going to deliver them, I received a note from Bode’s school that the local food bank also needed items for flood relief but we decided to stick with the original plan with the command center and send some different items back to the school.

I’m so glad we did.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I felt like we were in a war zone with heavily armored army vehicles and I suppose we were.

I have the utmost respect for the military but have never really been around them. I’m not sure what I was expecting when we walked into the fire station’s command center…maybe a cheerful PTA volunteer mom greeting us…but that wasn’t it. About 25 exhausted men and women from the army were resting for likely the first time in days. Their eyes lit up when they saw the kids walk in, armed with oodles and oodles of cookies.

Bode and Hadley gave them the big cards they made and, get this, these amazing men and women stood and clapped…for us.  I mean, my cookies are good but standing-ovation-worthy? :)

In all seriousness, the whole thing was deeply moving and brought tears to my eyes as we turned around and clapped, thanking them for all that they were doing.

It took a few hours out of our lives but I hope it is one experience these kiddos of mine will never forget. I know I won’t and I’m so grateful for the many people who are on the front lines every day.

 

 

Filed Under: Colorado, LDS

Severe Flooding in Colorado

September 13, 2013 By

First, there was Calgary.

Now, Colorado.

Four straight days of rain have resulted in historic rainfall across the 150-mile expanse of our Front Range with flood waters wreaking havoc and thousands evacuated. Washed-out roads, bursting dams, ditches-turned-raging-rivers, washed out roads and bridges and mudslides are everywhere. We live on a hill so are currently safe but our small city is being hit; our rivers are flooded and a nearby reservoir was breached, resulting in notifications from our Water Treatment Center to conserve water. On the news this morning, they reported Boulder alone has received 5.3 billion gallons of rain so far, equal to about 10 feet of snow.

First the wildfires, then record-breaking heat for most of September and now this. Forecasters are calling this the flood of the century of “Biblical” proportions.

I don’t see Noah breaking out the arc anytime soon but one thing is for sure: Colorado needs a lesson in moderation.

Stay safe, everyone!

Filed Under: Colorado Tagged With:

Life’s Uphill Climb

September 5, 2013 By

I’m under a pile of deadlines and stresses here with car insurance nightmares (really? Our car was hit two weeks ago and we’re not any closer to a resolution and you’re unwilling to cover a rental vehicle?), homework, book reports, soccer practices, volleyball (I’m coaching), surgery for Jamie next week and life.

On a positive note, we had a glorious weekend away at The Broadmoor and their new Ranch at Emerald Valley. Many details on that when I carve out the time but in the interim, I found a few quotes this week I absolutely love love love!

There are two kinds of climbers:

Those who climb because their heart sings when they’re in the mountains, and all the rest.

-Alex Lowe

And then, this.

How to Climb a Mountain

Make no mistake. This will be an exercise in staying vertical.
Yes, there will be a view, later, a wide swath of open sky,
but in the meantime: tree and stone. If you’re lucky, a hawk will
coast overhead, scanning the forest floor. If you’re lucky,
a set of wildflowers will keep you cheerful. Mostly, though,
a steady sweat, your heart fluttering indelicately, a solid ache
perforating your calves. This is called work, what you will come to know,
eventually and simply, as movement, as all the evidence you need to make
your way. Forget where you were. That story is no longer true.
Level your gaze to the trail you’re on, and even the dark won’t stop you.

-Maya Stein

Last weekend: I slipped away from The Broadmoor for a few hours and hiked this.

View of The Broadmoor from my perch atop Upper Columbine Trail, Colorado Springs, Labor Day 2013

It was an empowering climb where I felt stronger, more powerful with each step and literally never wanted it to end when I reached the summit. But now I’m back on firm ground, exhausted, and lacking the clarity I always seem to achieve when I’m soaring several thousand feet in the air. But alas:

You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know.

-Rene Daumal, Mount Analogue

Here’s for the knowing.

Filed Under: Colorado, hiking

St. Mary’s Glacier: A Disastrously Fun Day

September 2, 2013 By

Every year, our family has climbed St. Mary’s Glacier, one of the top tourist destinations in Clear Creek County. Well, with the exception of last year when I got really sick on the day we were supposed to climb it. And then there was the time Jamie drove over Hadley’s foot at the trailhead so that didn’t exactly work out, either.

So, it’s a family tradition barring whatever disaster comes our way.

This year, we were delighted when our friends, the Carrolls, decided to join us. With six kids, they are a mobile party wherever they go so we knew we’d have a blast! The drive from Idaho Springs to the trailhead is full of hairpin turns and, after a steep, rocky 3/4-mile hike to the base of the glacier, we were at about 10,500 feet.

Jamie and I hiked ahead with the quicker kids and reached the lake at the base of the glacier in record time.

We threw rocks and scaled logs while we waited for the rest of the group but they didn’t come. After a half-hour, I started to hike back down but they were nowhere to be seen so I called them. Their daughter Maeve was struggling with car and altitude sickness so they were turning around and would wait for us in the car. The rest of us hiked to the base of the glacier where we played and played and played.

The quickies

We were delighted to see Maeve toward us a half-hour later, fully recovered after leaving a piece of her misery on the trail (I’ll leave that one to your imagination). In fact, it was a near-perfect afternoon and we practically skipped down to the car.

One of our other traditions is to stop for some epic mountain pies at nearby Beau Jo’s pizza in Idaho Springs. As we were waiting for our lunch, we received a text from Eva:

“Hey, our car won’t start. Are you still at Beau Jo’s?”

Just as we were getting ready to go back up the mountain to retrieve them, I got another text assuring me their car had started and they were on their way.

It was one of my family’s smoothest trips to St. Mary’s Glacier but our friends weren’t so lucky.  Turns out, disaster is contagious.

Just a forewarning for anyone who wants to come play with us anytime soon.

=====

Getting There: Take I-70 West from Denver, past Idaho Springs’ three exits. Take the next exit marked “Fall River Road.” Just past the bottom of the ramp, take a right (north) on Fall River Road. Follow this road up approximately 9 miles to one of two parking areas for the clearly marked trailhead to St. Mary’s Glacier. Parking is $5.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, hiking, outdoors

My Evil (Murphy’s Law) Twin

August 27, 2013 By

We’re trying to navigate the road of being a one-car family since the accident. I thought it would be easy with both of us working from home but between driving kids around, meetings and errands, I’m finding how much I’d just get up and go whenever I wanted.

And confirmed I’m really really not a homebody because I’ve been stuck at home more than I’d like.

Fortunately, my neighbor Monica saved me from the house and suggested I show her the Ralston Creek Trail on our bikes today. I woke up bright and early this morning to pump my tires, which, as I’ve mentioned before, is one of my Top Five Least Favorite Things To Do right after moving, dieting and dying.

We loaded up our bikes into her SUV and drove to the trailhead. And then,

“Uh oh.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Look,” she said, pointing to her two flat tires.

She encouraged me to go without her but I stubbornly said I’d wait while she drove back home to pump her tires (it was too much of a pain to load both bikes in the back of her vehicle again).

And so I waited. And waited. And waited some more.

Eventually, she showed up…with her husband’s bike.

“What happened?”
“I couldn’t get the air compressor to work. It needs a different valve.”
“You have a road bike like mine and need a presta adapter to pump the tires.”
“I called Jamie to come help but he was busy. So I called my husband (who is out of town) and he said to just take his bike.”

In the end, we had a great ride but leading up to that point? It was hanging out with myself.

And not in a good way. :-)

Filed Under: biking, Colorado, Humor, outdoors Tagged With: , ,

A final glimpse at summer 2013 (in pictures)

August 26, 2013 By

I purposefully planned our summer to be busy in the beginning and middle and then to just take it easy the final few weeks before school. It turned out marvelously.

June was crazy with trips to The Broadmoor, Chautauqua in Boulder, Breckenridge and Frisco in the mountains, not to mention Hadley’s overnight camp, Bode’s first solo flight to visit Grandma in Utah, our hailed-out camping trip, a Sunday drive to 14,265-foot Mt. Evans, summer hiking group and two weeks of swim lessons.

The Broadmoor, soaring at Chautauqua, first solo flight & atop 14,265 ft Mt. Evans

Camp Chief Ouray, YMCA of the Rockies & at Camp Dick. Not pictured: Avid4Adventure Survival Camp

Breckenridge

Frisco BBQ Challenge

Summer hiking group

In a word, whew!!

And then, of course glorious July was dedicated unto Independence Day and then a three-week-long road trip to the Motherland where great times were had with my family in Calgary and then on Okanogan Lake in British Columbia. On our way back we stayed with my former mission companion in Boise and Jamie’s wonderful family in Utah.

Independence Day

Mom’s birthday dinner in Calgary

British Columbia

Idaho and Utah

Then, we were home for some R&R! Or not.

Think: Annual hike to St. Mary’s Glacier, Water World, Elitch Gardens, pool parties, tennis, the 9News back-to-school fashion show and many glorious bike rides.

Hiking St. Mary’s glacier

Water World

Elitch Gardens

Multiple pool parties

Tennis

9News fashion show

Farewell to summer sunset

Summer 2014: you’ve got a tough act to follow.

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family, Family travel, Hadley, Jamie, travel

Ultimate Denver Date Night: Sullivan’s Steakhouse and Cirque du Soleil

August 14, 2013 By

Despite an awesome summer, Jamie and I haven’t been on a date night since May so when we were offered tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, we were all-in. Jamie’s sister Lisa generously invited the kiddos for a sleepover, giving us the freedom to do whatever the heck we wanted for however long. So, what did we do?

We ate. And ate. And ate.  We tried out Sullivan’s Steakhouse for the first time in downtown Denver and it won’t be our last. In addition to awesome filet mignon (and a roasted red pepper truffle butter I’m still dreaming about)….

….we inhaled Sullivan’s seasonal chilled seafood sampler for two with cracked lobster claws, huuuge cocktail shrimp, oysters in a half shell, jumbo lunch crabmeat and an avocado habanero salsa.

Oh, and I won’t mention the coconut cream pie with white chocolate shavings or the warm cast iron wild berry crumble we had for dessert. Let’s just say it was a good thing I did boot camp at Red Rocks that morning.

Then, it was off to Cirque du Soleil. I believe this is my fourth Cirque production and if you’ve never been, I’d highly recommend it (this, coming from non-artsy folks).

Amaluna was whimsical, thrilling, artistic and oh-so beautifully set on a  mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. The stunts and choreography were enthralling and it was the perfect place to reconnect as a couple.

As were the bathrooms. The unisex stalls were set outside so as I was doing my business, Jamie reached under and grabbed my leg, nearly giving me a heart attack.

I learned the reason why men and women’s bathrooms are usually separate.

Another thing we loved about Cirque was how interactive it was. At one point, one of the performers walked up to Jamie (who was sitting on an aisle seat), cuddled up to him and purred, “Daddy.”

And with a look like that, who could blame him.

Filed Under: Colorado, Foodie, Jamie Tagged With: , , ,

Summer hiking group fun and why Bode can stay in his BOY corner

July 16, 2013 By

One of my favorite things in the entire world is exploring and discovering trails, particularly in my own backyard. So imagine how thrilled I was to recently stumble upon some new-to-me sites intermingled with my long-time favorites.

The Hike

My church friend Dawn organized a summer hiking group on Tuesday mornings. Early-June, Dawn decreed our first hike would be the Castle Trail at Mount Falcon Open Space, which is is a great, moderate trail for younger kiddos.

One of my favorite memories is when I was REALLY pregnant with Bode, we decided to go for a hike and picnic. We were only a few minutes into our hike when our little 2-year-old cherub decided she was not walking another step. And when stubborn miss doesn’t want to do something, she will not do it. Nice parents that we are, we didn’t give in to her meltdown and so she threw herself onto the middle of the trail and raged for about 10 minutes.

We walked a safe distance away. No, we were not worried about her safety (because who would take her in that condition?) but rather, ours. We pointedly ignored the other parents who judged us while we let her scream it out. If she’d been in a store, it would have been another matter but since we were in the great outdoors, we let her roar with the mountain lions. It ended up working. She eventually gave up, jumped up, dusted herself off and kept on walking. She was a delight the rest of the day.

Here Hadley is seven years later at the scene of the crime. Doesn’t she look so much more docile?

We’ll compare notes again at this spot during the hormonal teenage  years.

The Castle/Meadow Trail had all the makings for a perfect outing: a wide trail, beautiful wildflower-strewn meadow and rocks for climbing. The boys reenacted being chased by Orcs in Lord of the Rings while I tried not to take offense of being mistaken for a sallow-skinned, fanged humanoid.

Our final destination was the stone-wall remnants of the John Brisben Walker family castle that boasts stunning views of Denver. Though the ruins are fenced off for climbing, we were fully engaged as we read about his rags-to-riches story that included the fire that destroyed this early-1900s dream home.

Parmalee Gulch

The easiest route to Mount Falcon is via U.S. Highway 285. Take the Indian Hills turn-off and follow the open space signs up Parmalee Gulch Road. On our return trip, my kids and I were stopped in our tracks at a stunning property just outside of Mount Falcon with a white fence that stretched as far as the eye could see. When we saw the “For Sale” sign, we pulled in.

Because we just happen to be in the market for a multi-million-dollar property.

As we dreamed of having a mountain retreat, we eventually wound back down to a new-to-us part of Parmalee Gulch Road, happening upon a fantastic playground within Parmalee’s town limits. “We HAVE to stop!” my son announced and I agreed.

For the next hour, we scaled logs, climbed rock walls to the top of the slide and climbed on bears at this awesome playground.

Turned out I wasn’t too good at the latter, which is probably a good thing.

Bear Creek Canyon

I frequent Bear Creek Canyon regularly when en route from Denver/Morrison to Evergreen. After driving down the canyon,  we landed in the funky mountain town of Morrison, devoured sundaes at The Blue Cow, threw rocks in Bear Creek and I then told the kids we were crossing the street to visit two shops I’ve driven past a hundred times but have never set foot.

Both were love at first sight: Sundance Sensations appealed to my Bohemian side while La Boutique des Bourdreux was a whimsical, vintage gift and clothing shop where Hadley and I were enthralled at every turn and could have spent an hour in there.

If it wasn’t for Bode.

As every minute passed, he grew increasingly inpatient. When Hadley and I started trying on the large selection of hats, I cooed, “Hadley, I want this hat.”

Bode interjected. “Mommy, WANTS ARE NOT NEEDS.”

It would seem he’s been taking lessons from his father on more than just pumpkins.

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family travel, Hadley, hiking, Humor, outdoors, pumpkins, travel Tagged With: , , , ,

Adventure Girl Does Woman’s Boot Camp

July 15, 2013 By

I recently bought a Groupon for Front Range Adventure Boot Camp (you may recall I did it about five years ago) and spent the entirety of June getting my butt kicked at 6:30 a.m. In fact, I liked it so much I’m trying to figure out how to fit it into our budget starting in August.

Part of my love for this woman’s boot camp is the owner/trainer Robyn Morrisette, who not only coaches but inspires. During the summer months, we leave the gym to climb North Table Mountain Park every Friday.

I can’t begin to share just how breathtakingly verdant this place is right now, particularly because I mountain bike its lackluster brown hills all winter.

Hadley has been intrigued by boot camp and so she asked me if she could come. I mentioned we hike on Fridays and she was game.

“But you’ll have to wake up at 6 a.m.”
“OK!”

Apparently she forgot what dawn feels like; I’m able to do it because I’m barely sleeping anyway with Denver’s blistering temperatures. To her credit when I went to rouse her that Friday morning, she popped right off the couch (we’ve abandoned our too-hot upstairs rooms) and 20 minutes later, we were on the trail.

I’ve biked the North Table Loop countless times but when Robyn mentioned there was a hidden waterfall off the Mesa Top Trail, Hadley and I set out to find it. And I’m telling you that girl did a fabulous job keeping up and surpassed everyone in the group for distance hiked that day.

After an hour, we discovered the waterfall, a curious phenomenon on that desert mesa tucked away behind lush foliage. We bush-whacked to the base and, though the upper-90-degree temps have reduced the waterfall to a trickle, Hadley doused herself with water before ultimately deciding to climb the cliff up the waterfall to a small cave.

Adventure Girl is waaaay crazier than I ever was.

I relished our time together. We spotted deer and their fawns (“they’re doing a mother-daughter hike like us!”), I discovered Hadley has learned to whistle (my heart melted as she belted out “When You’re Happy and You Know It”), tried to identify the wildflowers in full bloom and attempted to catch butterflies with her hat. We picked out our future dream home, a million-dollar horse property bordering North Table and Hadley hilariously asserted, “We need to become friends with those people.”

Two hours later, we were starving as we made our way back to the car and she suggested, “Let’s go buy a doughnut.”

Now that is my kind of boot-camp gal.

Filed Under: Colorado, Hadley, hiking, Humor, outdoors
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