How you know you’re grasping for straws

July 17, 2013 By

We are extremely active in the summers. While everyone else (for some reason) loads up on activities while kids are also juggling school, we save our busy-ness for the summer.

Believe it or not, I think it’s important for kids to have a lot of downtime and so when we are home, I try not to be too demanding.

That said, I still require some structure. You know, like getting dressed, keeping your room reasonably clean, daily reading, etc. They’re both such curious kids that I love to see what they come up with themselves and they’re constantly devising new games and ways to stay entertained. Last week, they each decided to research and do a presentation on different animals. Hadley chose a marmot and Bode, a tiger.

Bonus points to Hadley for use of the microphone and face paints.

Then, there was Science Day when we did some various Test Tube Adventures including making touchable bubbles and ink disappear.Confession: Bode was in his PJs all day. Mom score card: science experiments +1; PJs -1.

Last week, I asked Bode to do a few minor things but received no response. Around 1 p.m., I called out to him while he played upstairs.

“Bode, have you done anything I asked you to do today?”

“I made my lunch.”

“That’s good. [But rather self-serving; kid's gotta eat]. Anything else?”

“I remembered to breathe.”

“Nope, didn’t tell you to do that.”

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor

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

Our Out-of-this-world Indepence Day

July 5, 2013 By

I usually look forward to the Fourth of July. The fireworks are shot right above our neighborhood so we shut our street down for a huge party. However, this year, our fellow partiers all went on vacation so I feared our celebrations would be a bust.

The Ice Cream

We decided to make our own fun, starting with a holiday tradition that would be an even better tradition if we remembered to do it every year: homemade ice cream. The night before the holiday, Hadley and I made the most unbelievable snickerdoodle ice cream but here’s a tip: the recipe only made 1.5 quarts.If you want to keep your man happy, you will go back in the kitchen and make two more batches. Good thing we all benefited from it.

While the ice cream was churning, we had the best time playing on the front lawn and doing shadow puppet plays with the flashlight on the porch. Hadley and I went for a walk around our neighborhood in our PJs.

Because we’re those kind of neighbors. #SunglassesatNight

The Breakfast

We always start our July 4th by waking up early for our church’s stake pancake breakfast and patriotic program.Gotta love the tongue in this one. Pancake-eating takes a lot of concentration.

The Day at the Museum

Then, because we had no plans, Jamie suggested we go to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Bode is obsessed with space so Jamie bought him a Living Social deal. Little dude was in his element and we were shocked that the normally cram-packed museum was nearly empty. We raced from exhibit to exhibit without any lines and delighted in the Planetarium’s Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure.

Our tickets included an IMAX. We really wanted to see Great White Shark 3D or Galapagos 3D but the show times didn’t work for us so we reluctantly settled upon Flight of the Butterflies 3D. It. Was. Unbelievable. IMAX always does a great job not only telling a story but sharing a journey and this one literally had me in tears…as I marveled over butterflies. Go see it; you won’t be disappointed.

The Party

Though 99 percent of the world bailed on us for our evening festivities, we had our good friends pull through. Bonus: they have six kids so that means it’s an instant party wherever they go. My friend Eva is an unbelievable cook so brought a full spread of food and we threw in our ice cream and made patriotic dessert pizzas (delish recipe here) for good measure. It turned out to be a fun night of great conversation, croquet and fireworks.

And the biggest announcement of all? We slept in the next morning, which rarely happens. I’m usually awake between 5:30-6 a.m. and crashed until 8:45 a.m., Hadley slept ’til 9:30 a.m. and Bode achieved a personal “high score” for sleeping: 10:24 a.m.

It was a winning holiday for all. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Filed Under: Bode, Family, Hadley, holidays

The Johnson Family’s Shortest (and worst) Camping Trip Ever

July 1, 2013 By

I have tried to instill a love of nature in my kids–just last week we went hiking four times, my daughter recently returned from YMCA of the Rockies’ traditional overnight Camp Chief Ouray and at the end of July they’re both enrolled in Avid4Adventure’s Survival Skills Camp. We are an outdoor-loving family!

But my favorite childhood memories are of camping and that is one area in which we’ve fallen short with my own family.  There is nothing like the sense of community at campgrounds, playing with new BFFs, eating tin foil dinners and s’mores, exploring and exploring some more, and telling stories around the campfire.

Here’s a recap of our camping trips since having kids.

Trip 1: Hadley had just turned 1 and was a horrible sleeper so she wailed all night long two nights in a row. Our campsite at Golden Gate Canyon State Park was on a slope. Hadley had just learned to walk so was falling over every few feet and when she wasn’t face-planting, she was trying to crawl into the fire pit. Our three-day weekend was cut a day short.

Trip 2: We took a few years off from camping to get pregnant and have our son Bode. When he was 2, we joined our good friends at Eleven Mile State Park. Never been? Keep it that way. I’d read about it in FamilyFun magazine and it was a huge, barren disappointment. In addition to camping, capsizing and crying, my baby had the most disgusting, explosive case of diarrhea and I spent hours at the camp laundromat cleaning out his car seat and clothes. (Ugly details here).

Trip 3: Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada. This is my favorite place on earth and I was ecstatic to introduce my kids to this wonderland that borders Glacier National Park. Sure there were minor hiccups (such as near-hurricane-strength winds) but it was our best camping trip to date.

Trip 4: Bear Lake State Park. Last year, Mile High Mamas partnered with Coleman for the Great American Campout. It had all the fixins for an amazing weekend with horseback riding, games, gourmet camp meals and kayaking. But do you remember that record-breaking 105-degree day last June? ‘Nuff said.

Trip 5: Camp Dick last weekend. This was going to be our year. The kids are 7 and 9 and the perfect ages for camping. Check-in wasn’t until 2 p.m. so we had a few hours to kill when we arrived at this campground set in a glacial valley just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.

The kids caught butterflies and threw rocks in the adjacent Middle Saint Vrain Creek and we hiked a portion of the Buchanan Pass Trail.

We have been united with our fellow Coloradoans in praying for rain to defray the horrible wildfires…we just didn’t want the drought to end right then. All was going shockingly well until we felt our first raindrop. We’d waded through near hurricanes and diarrhea; a bit of rain wasn’t going to deter us.

Then it started down-pouring so we raced back to the car and ate lunch. Earlier, we’d spotted the remains of the previous night’s hail storm but miracles–the weather broke a half-hour later and we still had plenty of time to explore before we could set-up our tent.

Adventurous Hadley (who no longer falls every few feet and cries all night), discovered a faint trail on the other side of the creek so we bush-whacked our way to my children’s version of wonderland: a massive boulder field. We spent the next hour free-climbing these rock monsters and Hadley and my husband braved a steep slope to a cossetted cave. I hung back with my more-cautious Bode who called out encouragements such as “you know you can crack your head open and slide all the way down.”

Kid needs a lesson or two on pep talks.

Then all hell (or rather, hail) broke loose and it could not have come at a worse time. We were forging back through the forest when Bode slipped and hurt himself. Not even 5 seconds later, hail started pounding us and blinded, we lost the trail that was already barely there, forcing us to wade over a swamp land and practically toss now-hysterical Bode across the creek.

When we arrived at the road, we still had over a mile to where we’d parked our car at the trailhead but our soon-to-be acquired campsite was right around the corner. “I’ll run and get the car and you go to camp,” I bravely volunteered. Come hail or high-water, I would lead my family to safety!

I raced through the campground, hail pelting and drenching every inch of my body. It seemed like an eternity before I reached the car but I raced back to our campsite and saw my poor little family hunkered down under a tree trying to shield themselves from the frozen sheets of ice.

“We’ve taken a vote,” my husband announced.
“What is it?” I already knew the answer.
“We’re ready to go home.”

I looked at our campsite, the mud puddles thick from the previous night’s storm were now filled with snow. We could have toughed it out if we were staying in a camper but there was nowhere to setup our tent.  And most importantly, the sky ‘s furry was just getting started.

We called it a day at 1:30 p.m., just 4.5 hours from the time we left our house.

Better luck next year.

Filed Under: Canada, Colorado, Family, Family travel, Favorite Posts, Hadley, hiking, Humor, Jamie, outdoors, travel Tagged With: , , ,

June Travels: Our Crazy Life According to Instagram

June 30, 2013 By

My work-life balance has been nil with waaaaay too much playtime with the kids. I’m hoping to write about all our hiking adventures (and believe me, there are MANY) but until that time, my iPhone tells the story of our first month of summer break.

Chautauqua in Boulder

Our month-long party started with a glorious getaway to Chautauqua in Boulder complete with a charming cottage, emerald hikes bursting with jeweled wildflowers, a gourmet meal at the Dining Hall and Snow White reenacted by Theatre-Hikes Colorado.

Chautauqua in Boulder

Chautauqua meadow outside of our cottage

Snow White Theatre Hike!

With a kickoff to summer like that, it’s hard to go wrong. And we haven’t.

Giving Back

One day, we did a tour of the Food Bank of the Rockies where we learned about their kid’s program Kung Food Fighters to teach kids how to help fight child hunger.

Food Bank of the Rockies

But obviously not how to do Kung Foo moves.

Kicking It

Then there was the Colorado Rapids, our first-ever professional soccer game.

Colorado Rapids

We expect greater things from our soccer-playing son now.

Cave of the Winds

OK, technically our trip to Colorado Springs and The Broadmoor was late-May but I need to fit in our awe-inspiring cave tour of the 500-million-year-old Cave of the Winds, which was discovered in 1881.

Cave of the Winds

An exciting new addition to the already-cool caves is the Wind Walker Challenge Course. This three-story obstacle course is located on the rim of a 600-foot drop into Williams Canyon and has a challenging maze of steel beams, swinging ropes and ladders. Bode barely met the height requirement and I was proud of him for trying.

Wind Walker Challenge Course

Though it may take him a few years to recover from it. #Scary

Utah Fun

While Hadley was at Camp Chief Ouray for a week, Bode took his first solo flight to Utah. But then I crashed his party on the last day by scheduling a business trip in Park City where I also crammed in a quick hike to the Living Room, roller-bladed the Jordan River Parkway for the first time in 10 years (we’ve both changed!), had a cousin sleepover with the edible twinnies and storytime with Grandma.

Utah!

Talk about a memorable trip!

Carnivores Unite

Then, Bode and I headed straight up to YMCA of the Rockies near Winter Park where we got a tour of Hadley’s camp and had some fun adventures of our own. Sane people would have turned around after picking her up but not us. We headed further west into the mountains for our Father’s Day tradition: the Frisco BBQ Challenge where we met up with carnivore-loving Jamie.

Golden Breckenridge

But the fun didn’t stop there during that masochistic week (I crammed in four trips, but who’s counting?) Breckenridge is just a 15-minute drive away from Frisco and if we were to have a cabin anywhere, it would be there. It was like coming home as we spent the morning at Peak 8 Fun Park, which boasts the most awesome line-up of summer activities of any of Colorado’s ski resorts with an alpine coaster AND slide, gold panning, a maze, bungee trampoline, miniature golf and a bounce house.

Breckenridge Peak 8 Fun Park

We were thrilled to be in Breckenridge during Kingdom Days, which celebrates the town’s colorful history.

Or rather, lack of color as you can see from this old-fashioned photo. Note to self: Next time stay and watch Kingdom Days’ uproarious Outhouse Races.

Breckenridge was founded back in the 1860s thanks to the many gold discoveries. I have always wanted to go on a mine tour and was thrilled when Country Boy Mine Tour was a part of our itinerary.

Country Boy Mine Tours

There is still gold in them thar hills but it costs more money to extract it than it is worth. Following the tour, we panned for gold and Hadley unearthed a real sliver of gold, which I then proceeded to lose.

So much for our chance at millions.

Breckenridge is part of an extensive paved trail system that connects to mountain towns Frisco, Dillon, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Vail. That evening, Hadley was exhausted after her week at camp so Jamie stayed behind while Bode and I took to the trail. I had an epiphany: almost exactly two years ago, Hadley took her first solo flight to Utah (like Bode) and she first tested out her new mountain bike on Breckenridge’s trail system, just as Bode and I did that evening on his newly-minted mountain bike.

New bikes on the Breckenridge bike path: Hadley (2011) and Bode (2013)

His ride went smashingly on the dirt trails…until he ended up slowly smashing into the bridge. Luckily he made a quick recovery.

Party Boy

For the past few years, we have been in Canada for Bode’s July birthday, which has resulted in a number of “pretend birthdays” leading up to the real deal. He wanted to celebrate with his buddies at Big Time Fun Trampoline Center and it was the cheapest, easiest party I’ve ever thrown: Invite friends, buy cake, show up.

Big Time Partiers

Why have I been killing myself all these years with parties, food and entertainment at my house?

Finally a Fish

For the third year in a row, I organized summer swim lessons for some of my good friends from our ward. It is a two-week pool party for the kiddos and a lot of fun to hang out with the Real Housewives of Jefferson County.

And most noteworthy? Bode has finally figured out how to swim and graduated from Squids, which is the first time he has ever passed a swim class. There may be hope yet.

Camping Disasters

I was looking forward to our camping trip yesterday to Camp Dick in the Roosevelt National Forest. Like so many of our adventures, it started well with blue skies, beautiful hikes, creek-playing and boulder-scaling.

Camp Dick

But then ended so very, very badly. Details tomorrow.

Lyons Soda Fountain

But I suggest you drown your sorrows with ice cream sodas, floats, freezes, phosphates and classy sundaes at Lyons Soda Fountain, one of the state’s best preserved and oldest soda fountains in Lyons, Colo. Because ice cream makes everyone feel better.

A Little Bit of Magic

Lest you think we haven’t had any downtime in June, think again. Every chance we got, whether we were at the park, in the car driving 14,265 feet to Mount Evans’ summit or in the basement, I was reading the kids their newest obsession: Time well spent in what turned out to be a magical month.

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family, Family travel, Hadley, hiking, Jamie, outdoors, travel, Utah Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hadley’s Camp Chief Ouray Highlights: Kitchen-Raiding, Mammoth-Catching Fun!

June 26, 2013 By

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up the kids from school and asked, “So, what did you do at school today?” Their universal response: “Not much.” End of discussion.

That couldn’t/didn’t happen after Camp Chief Ouray. Not only did Hadley talk my ear off for hours about it, the administrative staff wisely compiled a list of questions for parents to ask their kids in order to relive their experience. I sat down with Hadley and the operative word during our interview was “fun.”

I heard you ended each day with a campfire and Vespers. Could you tell me about them?

This was a fun way to end the day. All the campers would sit down at the campfire and the leaders would tell us stories and do some fun skits and plays. When that was over, we’d put down our backpacks and the entire camp would get in a huge circle around the campfire. We’d cross our arms right over left and, while holding hands, we’d say a prayer. Then, we’d sing the “Day is Done” song and we’d be dismissed to go back to our cabins where we would go to bed. Some of us sooner than others. :-)

Did your cabin get to sleep out one night? What was it like to sleep under the stars without a tent?

We camped out in the meadow at Pole Creek and it was so beautiful. Even though the camp wasn’t very far from our cabin, it was hard carrying our sleeping bags and pads by ourselves. We cooked hamburgers and s’mores over a campfire, followed by a fun tag game called Camouflage.  It was cool sleeping under the stars but I was like a Popsicle that night. My Dad told me to bring a warmer sleeping bag but I wanted the blue one so I was really cold. My counselors Laura and Lindsay were so nice they let me snuggle up between them to stay warm all night. In the morning, we were the first ones back to our cabin and it was nice to get warm. (Mother’s note: next year she will listen to her dad’s counsel about the sleeping bag!)

What were your favorite activities?

*My favorite activity was horseback riding and I learned to canter and trot. On the last day, I even rode my horse bareback!!! There are lots of horses at camp and I had a different one every day. Dandelion was my favorite horse because she did exactly what she knew she was supposed to do.

*On the last night, Laura and Lindsay snuck our cabin of 10 girls into the Dining Hall’s kitchen. When we got there, another counselor of a boy’s cabin was there and put his finger up to his lips telling us to be quiet; he was stealing a whole bunch of chocolate ice cream! We raided the kitchen, grabbing cookies for ourselves and then RAN out. It was so cold that night (I was wearing shorts) but we so much fun!! We made lots of noise because we were laughing so hard. Other cabins raided the kitchen, too but we didn’t see them doing it.

*We played so many fun games with our cabin and other camps. One of my favorites was Ninja where we’d jump up, get in a Ninja pose where we’d pretend to cut off each other’s arms.

*I did arts and crafts and made a pot for my dad for Father’s Day that was all different colors like purple, yellow, blue and black. Now, we’ll both have something to remember from camp!

*I also really liked Kitchen Creation where we learned how to make different foods. The first day, we made frozen Popsicles (they were easy and really delicious). The second day, we made vanilla ice cream in a bag. My counselors were the ones in charge and they did a good job.

Can you teach me some of the songs you sang at camp?

It seemed like we were always singing. One of my favorite songs was a game as well–”Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky where the bull frogs jump from bank to banky….”

They’d even make silly songs out of really simple things. When we had announcements, we’d ALL sing really loudly before they started: “ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS. HEY, TERRIBLE DEATH TO DIE, TERRIBLE DEATH TO DIE. TERRIBLE DEATH TO BE TAUGHT TO DEATH, A TERRIBLE DEATH TO DIE!” It was really random but funny.

The Dining Hall was so much fun because all of the campers at ate at the same time. DJ Lollypop did a few songs for us on the final morning and my mom says she could hear us laughing and singing from her lodge all the way across camp.

What kinds of chores did you have to do to

Every day we had to keep our stuff in order because while we were gone in the afternoons, someone came by to check. We did pretty good. (Mom’s note: I’ll attest to that. During my tour, we peeked into her cabin and it was very orderly. The boy’s adjacent cabin? Another story). For horseback riding, we had to groom the horses, clean the dirt off their feet and put a blanket and saddle on them.

Camp friend Zoe

Who was your best friend at camp?

My best friend was named Zoe. She was in my cabin and we also did horseback riding together as well as lots of other things. She was really nice and fun. We were all good friends in our cabin and got along great.

What did you talk about in your devotions before you went to bed at night?

Every night before bed, we’d gather together and talk about our day. Sometimes we’d talk about our feelings at camp, stories about good and hard things we’ve had happen in our lives (one time we talked about how we got our scars). Other times, we’d play little games. It was a nice way to get to know the girls in our cabin better.

Daily flag raising

What was your favorite all-camp game?

Every week they picked a theme for camp and ours was Ice Age. The cabin that got the most into it–had the most “spirit”–won the Spirit Stick. It has been a camp tradition for a long time. The winners got to paint this year’s Spirit Stick and they’re all hanging on the wall in the Dining Hall. We didn’t win but we were still spirited.

One of my favorite games was when Russian scientists unfroze cave men and we were in charge of capturing all the extinct animals from the Ice Age. This huge chase game had saber-toothed tigers, mammoths, possums and sloths. It was really hard to capture them because the counselors were dressed up and some of them were fast (saber-tooths were the quickest). We had to catch each of them in a different way. I.e. possums you could tag but the mammoths we had to hold hands with the mammoth in the middle. For the tigers,  we’d have to encircle them and sing a song so they’d be entranced and wouldn’t tag us.

I loved camp so much because we had lots of games, horses, great counselors. It was SO MUCH FUN and I can’t wait to go back next  year and bring my little brother!

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On the final day of camp, each of the kids received an all-camp picture, a Certificate of Achievement from her counselors and another certificate from her riding instructor.

“Hadley: Work on picking hooves and trotting! You were awesome to have in class and I hope to see you next year! Love, Claire.”

On the back of her camp certificate, her beloved counselors wrote notes:

Miss Hadley!

I have so enjoyed having you in Chippewa this week! Your adorable giggle and spunky personality made the week so fun! I hope you had a blast with the horses and that you continue finding things to do that you are passionate about. This quality will serve you well. :-) Have a great rest of your summer!

Loves of love,

Laura

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Hadley,

What an awesome young girl you are. I love how bubbly and silly you are and I think everyone in the cabin learned how to have some fun with you around. I am so proud of how willing you are to try new things (horseback riding, caveman dressing up, etc.) You are such a beautiful person on the inside and out. I know you are going to do great things in the world.

Love,

Lindsay

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All pictures taken by Miss Hadley with her trusted disposable camera. Stay tuned tomorrow for Bode’s and my adventures at YMCA of the Rockies including the beaver that wasn’t really a beaver.

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In case you missed them:

A Week of Independence: The Johnson Kids Do Utah and Camp

Dancing Queen: Why It’s Good to Be Young and Sweet at Camp Chief Ouray

Protesting the End of Camp Chief Ouray

Filed Under: Colorado, Family, Family travel, Hadley, outdoors, travel Tagged With: ,

Protesting the End of Camp Chief Ouray

June 25, 2013 By

There was great mourning in the land on Hadley’s final day at Camp Chief Ouray near Winter Park, Colo. Bode and I stayed at Indian Peaks Lodge, a (long) stone’s throw away from camp and that morning, I sat on our balcony watching the campers file into the Dining Hall for breakfast. I loved listening to their singing and a lot of laughter while they ate–they were relishing every last minute!

Pick-up wasn’t until mid-afternoon so Bode and I spent the day playing at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch (details forthcoming). Upon arrival, all the parents were ushered into the upper level of the Dining Hall where Camp Director Marty gave us an overview of their week, introduced the staff and showed a short video that gave a brief glimpse at the fun that was had. (See the video here. Hadley is at 1:06 in pink, and 1:48 and 2:07 at the dance wearing purple).

 

Then, the parents went outside to see our happy campers march past holding signs of their cabin names.“It looks like they’re protesting,” Bode observed.

Yeah, protesting having to leave that awesome place.

The parents followed them into the meadow for closing ceremony where each cabin came up and shared their “Camp Magic” that week. For some, it was the raiding the kitchen. For others, it was making new friends and trying new things. For Hadley’s Chippewa cabin, it was “Thank you, David!!”–a tribute to the COO staffer who made all the activities so much fun.

All the parents and kids were then asked to form a large “friendship circle” and hold hands (left over right). YMCA of the Rockies is a non-denominational Christian organization that focuses on core values without in-your-face religious overtones that might make non-believers uncomfortable. A final, simple prayer was shared and we sang the military song “Taps.”

I didn’t know the words to “Taps,” nor were we able to form a round circle but it was nonetheless a touching farewell as Hadley then bid her final good-byes to her beloved cabinmates and counselors, Lindsay and Laura.

 Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

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Camp Chief Ouray By the Numbers

6 glorious days at camp

5 nights away from family

4 different horses she rode.

3 days she wore the same pair of socks

2 showers over the course of six days

1 experience of a lifetime

Tune in tomorrow for Hadley’s camp highlights!

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In case you missed them:

A Week of Independence: The Johnson Kids Do Utah and Camp

Dancing Queen: Why It’s Good to Be Young and Sweet at Camp Chief Ouray

 

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, outdoors, travel

Dancing Queen: Why It’s Good to Be Young and Sweet at Camp Chief Ouray

June 24, 2013 By

Overnight camp. These words have been dripping off my daughter’s lips for months now and last week, all her dreams finally came true: She spent six blessed days and five nights at YMCA of the Rockies’ Camp Chief Ouray at Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, Colo.

I knew she’d love it. I mean, what’s not to love about a gorgeous 5,100-acre mountain setting of streams, meadows and trails and a daily itinerary that included horseback riding, archery, canoeing, hiking, riflery, cabin activities, devotionals and skits at Colorado’s longest-running camp. But I was not prepared for how life-changing it would be.

My son Bode and I were granted special access to come visit on her final night. In fact, by some twist of fate, our room at Indian Peaks Lodge was directly overlooking her cabin.

Chippewa cabin is on the right, Dining Hall on the left

Mom-stalker much?

The Tour

That afternoon, Stephan Rivard, COO’s Travel Coordinator, gave us an animated tour of the grounds that included the Hey O Yankee Fire Ring. The Barn and riding arena. Dining Hall. Carpet ball in the Pavilion. Health Center (free Popsicles, hurray!) Low and high ropes courses. The new Gaga Ball area. Zipline. Kiwani Owapi Fire Ring.

When we entered the boy’s cabin that adjoined Hadley’s, it looked like a bomb had exploded. Clothes and books littered the floor and the sleeping bags on the bunks were the only things that had some semblance of order. I braced myself for Hadley’s cabin but was pleasantly surprised everything was in place–even cleaner than she keeps her room at home.

When I jokingly drew the comparison, Bode came to the defense of his gender. “Boys are just being boys, Mommy!”

Following our mid-day tour, Bode and I had not seen Hadley so returned to our lodge (Camp Chief Ouray is off-limits to the public). As we were leaving for dinner at Schlessman Commons, we spotted her from a distance returning to her cabin. I shouted out across the field. Her bunkmates excitedly pointed us out and she was shocked, then opportunistic. Her first words to us after nearly a week apart?

“I NEED SOME MORE CLOTHES!”

It was, after all, the final night and she had not adequately rationed her clothing.

The Dance

That evening we were granted permission to return for the final festivities and I dutifully delivered some clothes to her cabin. Camp tradition is to hold a final dance, followed by the Closing Campfire Ceremony with games, skits, songs and traditions including the awarding of the Spirit Stick to commemorate the most spirited cabin.

I was the most excited about the dance. Because isn’t it every kid’s dream to have her mother at her very first one?

I still had not seen Hadley face-to-face and I scanned the crowded Pavilion trying to find her. Bode and I perched on a nearby rock and soon she busted through the crowd dancing like a wild woman. I first took in her appearance: purple shirt, shorts and her riding boots.

But then I looked deeper: She was radiant, jubilant and oozing with confidence. She was free. Free from the restrains of deadlines and worldly expectations. Free to figure out who she is and she was bursting with a love of life brighter than the sun at her new-found independence.

She was thrilled to see us after nearly a week apart and returned frequently throughout the evening to dance. Even Bode busted out some moves while alternating between playing in the adjacent fields and scaling the climbing rock with new buddies.

The Heartbreak

The dance was a microcosm of the pains and joys of growing up. The youngest campers were 7 and the girls lined the benches dancing while the boys rough-housed in the meadow. Hadley’s 9-year-old group of girls non-committedly flitted around dancing with everyone and throwing caution to the wind as DJ Lolly Pop blasted their favorite tunes. The early teens were starting to pair off or stood awkwardly together while trying not to seem like they were awkward.

Oh, those were the days.

Crazy costumed counselors

We chuckled at the heartbreak when a 7-year-old girl confronted her age 10-ish “boyfriend” who had broken up with her. She even pulled his counselor into the drama, demanding he ask her to dance (all the while standing defiantly with her arms crossed and foot tapping a hundred miles a minute).

Even my own 6-year-old Bode had some action of his own. He was hanging out with me on the rock when a tween hottie asked him to dance. Stunned into silence, he turned bright red before literally crawling away on the rock. But she didn’t give up. Fifteen minutes later, she was back and oh-so sweetly repeated her offer. He looked at me to save him.

“Go dance with her.”

He shook his crimson head, steam coming out of his ears. Why did a girl want to dance with him?

“That’s fine if you don’t want to dance but you need to at least say something and politely decline.” It was one of those teachable moments in which I wanted to bust out laughing.

“I don’t want to dance right now,” he mumbled. At least I think that’s what he said before I apologetically thanked the sweet girl and bookmarked the moment for future blackmail.

While 99 percent of the campers were having a blast, they were a few outliers who did not join in. I watched them carefully throughout the evening to gauge their temperature. One boy was in tears and his counselors took turns staying with him before he eventually joined some of his friends to play carpet ball in the Pavilion.

A teen-aged girl sat on a rock and initially appeared disinterested but after a while, I noticed her foot was injured. I watched as her counselors and friends frequently came to check on her before one ultimately stayed by her side, though I’m sure she would have liked to have been in on the action.   Most of these kids had not known each other six days prior and here they were perfectly exemplifying inclusivity. Camaraderie. True friendship.

The Rousing End

The conclusion of the dance is when they really brought the house down when the Village People’s “Y-M-C-A” blasted out over the speakers. Everyone tore into the pavilion to act out each letter but instead of singing “It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.,” they screamed “Camp Chief Ouray.”

Me thinks this is the letter “C.”

Gotta give them props that it still rhymed.

I thought that was the rousing ending; little did I know I was one step away from being trampled. When the final song “Send me on my way” by Rusted Root blasted out, everyone rushed in my direction. I ducked for cover, bracing my newly-recovered lover-boy son as the entire camp literally flew past us and poured outside. A counselor later explained it is camp tradition to race to the meadow and dance like a hippie when that final song came on.

I don’t know about “hippies” but I  do know after catching a glimpse of a camp heaped in over 100 years of tradition in the most iconic of mountain settings, there sure were a lot of very overjoyed, deliriously happy kids who were, indeed, being “sent on their way.”

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In case you missed them:

A Week of Independence: The Johnson Kids Do Utah and Camp

Dancing Queen: Why It’s Good to Be Young and Sweet at Camp Chief Ouray

Protesting the End of Camp Chief Ouray

Hadley’s Camp Chief Ouray Highlights: Kitchen-raiding Mammoth-capturing Fun

 

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Favorite Posts, Hadley, outdoors, travel Tagged With: ,

Roller-coasters and putting out life’s refiners fires

June 18, 2013 By

Roller-coaster. Whoever coined that analogy to parenthood nailed it. One moment you’re slowly grinding your way up, the next you’re jubilant and on top of the world and then it is followed by sheer terror when you drop, never knowing how or when it is going to end.

When I was in Utah last week, my mother-in-law asked Jamie’s sister and me about what is tougher: being a wife or a mother. I wasn’t sure of the answer but the one thing I did know was that parenthood is 100 times better than I ever imagined it would be…but so much tougher. The highs far outweigh the lows and I’m just grateful to be along for the ride.

Yesterday was a roller-coaster. Last week was non-stop insanity that included four back-to-back trips for me and Hadley returned from a week at camp (many details to come). She was exhausted. We all were and fortunately, we have very little on our schedule the next few weeks. The only thing we have are swim lessons with some of our besties every day from 11 a.m.-noon. and beyond that, they can hang out all day in their PJs for all I care so I can get caught up on some very daunting deadlines.

I let H sleep until 10 a.m. (her latest ever) and then woke her. That is when the beast was unleashed. I’ll spare you the details but she was moody times 10, refusing to get out of bed and berated me for trying. My inner frustrations mounted and I gave her an ultimatum: spend the next few hours in her room or come with us. She obstinately opted for the former.

Fuming, I drove Bode to swim lessons. He is an intuitive kid–as kind-hearted as they come and never thinks or speaks ill of anyone, especially of the older sister who is repeatedly mean to him. As I vented my angst, he had every opportunity to throw her under the bus (like most siblings would) but he stopped me in my tracks. “Everyone makes mistakes, Mommy.” He then went on to tell me nobody is perfect except for Jesus and that He is here to not only be an example but to help us.

A little child shall lead them, indeed.

Three hours later, we returned home. She was still in her room but was now penitent and contrite. On the floor in the front entrance, she had written an explanation and an apology and was an angel after that. That day, my children taught me simple, pure truths and I thanked them for it.

Every Monday, we hold Family Home Evening. Sometimes it is activity-based (especially in the summer), the winters we have lessons and sometimes we hold both.  Hadley is trying to fulfill her Faith in God requirements, a wonderful goal-based program for girls ages 8-11 that helps them progress spiritually, mentally and physically. She opted to teach us an FHE lesson for the first time and together we studied the Joseph Smith story. Hesitant at first and doubting her abilities, she ultimately pulled off a beautiful lesson, followed by a perfectly pure testimony that brought tears to my eyes. That was the high to a roller-coaster day of lows.

Also yesterday, my friend Loralee published an account of her own Refiner’s Fire that is one of the most powerful testimonies I have read. She was my roommate a few years back at BlogHer and she makes me look like a wallflower–exuberant, bursting with energy, gorgeous, talented (an unbelievable operatic voice) and is the kind of person who doesn’t recognize just how powerful she really is. Ten years ago, she lost her son, which sent her spiralling into depression as she turned her back on God. She has slowly built herself back up, only to be hit with some very serious health issues that have left her bedridden. Her recent ADHD diagnosis was a godsend and for the first time in a while, her Facebook posts were full of hope as her medications have finally helped make sense of the insanity.

But then she hit rock bottom when she was disfellowshipped from church. At first, it seemed heartless-she had come so far. But as I kept reading, God’s  hand was there guiding her and leading her through that fire to a light more glorious than she ever could have imagined.

So many of us are questioning the “whys” all around us. I love Loralee’s account because it not only details her return to faith but also that, like Bode reminded me today, we all make mistakes. And, like Hadley, we can be forgiven. What resonated the most from Loralee’s words is that regardless of your beliefs or inclinations you must never, ever forget that every single one of us is so very worth it.

Do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to read Loralee’s story here–it has gone viral (500,000 hits) and for good reason. http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2013/06/15/refiners-fire/

 

 

 

And a little child shall lead them.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, LDS
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