Talkin’ about my girl

October 25, 2011 By

Part of trying to connect on a deeper level is taking a step back and looking at who needs TLC.

Hadley is one of them.

I’ve always had a deep connection with Bode but have to work harder with Hadley. Though we’re both independent, adventurous spitfires, we speak a very different love language. Bode and I are snugglers. Hadley is not physical but I’m slowly learning her “love language” is spending quality time together.

We haven’t had any meaningful one-on-one time since school started.

So, on Saturday morning, I announced Hadley and I were having a girl afternoon. The boys would go to Bode’s soccer game (another three goals–yay!) and the girls would hike Lookout Mountain in Golden.

I’ve probably hiked Lookout Mountain a hundred times, half of them were carrying my babies and the other half solo. I thought I knew the nuances of every bend in the trail.

Until I hiked it with my 7-year-old daughter.

I love hiking for a number of reasons that include beauty and fresh air but I’m in it for the workout when I’m alone. While Hadley kept a fast clip, she reminded me of what it means to stop and smell the roses.

That means applauding the squirrels as they launch across their forested trapeze and scaling every random rock wall she could find.
Finding perfect perches to howl at the moon abyss.
And stopping to marvel at the view at the summit.My sad confession: I’ve always enjoyed the view but have never been absolutely blown away by its beauty until I saw it through my little girl’s eyes.

There is a very kid-friendly nature center at the top and I suggested we eat our snacks over there to get out of the wind. She looked over at the crowded parking lot, wrinkled her nose and pointed to a bluff overlooking the mountains.

“There’s too many cars and people over there. I want to look at the beautiful view and then go to the nature center,” she said.

Mini-Me.

Thinking back upon it now, I can’t even remember what we talked about but we babbled non-stop. It’s amazing how a whole lot of nothings amount to something wonderful.

We stopped at Cold Stone ice cream and as we drove home, Hadley pensively said: “That was an awesome girl day, Mommy. We need to do that more often.”

I couldn’t agree more.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Colorado, Hadley, hiking

The pumpkin weigh-off’s shocking results!

October 6, 2011 By

It was a small miracle Jamie was able to take his pumpkin Ricky (named in honor of Ricky Gervais) to the Jared’s Nursery weigh-off after he discovered a crack a few weeks prior. For weeks, he caulked it and though he was not able to officially enter his pumpkin, Ricky made it to the weigh-off.

And he was the prettiest pumpkin there.

Yes, I just referred to an inanimate object as a “he.”

The kids and I always have a blast getting spooked in the Ghoul Galleria, jumping in the bouncy castle, playing in the maze, doing face-painting, balloon animals and marveling at the over-sized gourds.

Yep, that’s a pear behind Bode.

This year, the kids’ pumpkin was a lot smaller so we had low expectations. In fact, Jamie wasn’t the only grower who had a rough year–most of them lost at least one of their pumpkins. Denver had a really wet spring and a super hot August, resulting in a lot of pumpkins rotting out. There were no records and a lot of grown men inwardly crying.

It wasn’t pretty.

The kids won the children’s competition with their 146.5-pound pumpkin. Their father couldn’t have been more proud. Their mother, on the other hand, was mortified when another child took their pumpkin to the scale and Bode joked, “That’s too little!”

Once again, they won the blue ribbon and…(wait for it)….a bag of fertilizer.

I informed Jamie I’m overseeing the prizes for the children’s competition next year.

As for Jamie? He was shocked and delighted with his result: his heaviest pumpkin ever!
The scale says 926 pounds but it was actually 924.5 pounds. Cheater had his hand on the pumpkin.

That’s sure a heavy hand.

There was only one pumpkin that was larger at the weigh-off and that grower was from Wyoming. Jamie had the biggest pumpkin in Colorado that day and Ricky would have assuredly been over 1,000 pounds if it hadn’t cracked. Jamie’s goal is to break 1,000 pounds so that means we’re in it for at least another year.

Who am I kidding? He’s in it for life.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, Jamie, pumpkins

The reality behind Colorado mountain scenery

October 2, 2011 By

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~Albert Camus


That’s as poetic as you’re going to get from me.

At the very moment I took this picture at a pit stop en route to Copper Mountain, Bode was peeing on a nearby bush and Hadley was puking on another.

Just keeping it real, people.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family travel, Hadley, Humor

Spontanaeity at its Worst

September 13, 2011 By

Hadley and I are the spontaneous ones in our little family.

This is just a nice way of saying we give our boys ulcers.

But yesterday, Hadley was a bit too spontaneous for even me. At 7:30 a.m., she announced, “Let’s bike to school today!”

This is no small feat. When we had our assessment testing before school started, we tested the waters by biking there and between going up hills, crossing busy streets and traversing the soccer fields, it took us about 25 minutes.

I had been wanting to bike to school before chilly temperatures kicked in and with rain in the forecast later in the week, I agreed, “Let’s do it!”

Sleepy Bode looked at us like we were both lunatics and he was correct. School starts at 8:15 a.m. so we had just 15 minutes to finish getting ready. But we somehow did it and were on our way.

Until we biked up to the top of our hill and I realized we’d forgotten their backpacks.

“Wait here,” I gasped as I raced back to the house. When we reconnected, I knew we wouldn’t have even one moment to spare. Bless their hearts, they pushed onward and had a lovely ride on that beautiful September morning.

Well, with the exception we were in a bit of a frenzy when we arrived mere moments before the bell rang (because stressed and frazzled is an ideal way for any kid to start school).

Now, the following is a glimpse at how I don’t think things through. I had originally intended to go for a bike ride in our local open space that morning and did just that. I had a lovely time and even ran into my friend Lisa.

That would have been dandy if it ended there but then it was time to bike back to school to retrieve Bode from half-day kindergarten an hour later. We stopped at the nearby playground and skate park for a picnic before climbing the big hill to our house. Then a few hours later, I had to repeat the same process by biking back to school to pick-up Hadley and climbing our big hill for the third time that day.

Remember my knee surgery I had two weeks ago today?

Maybe by Spring I’ll be ready to be spontaneous again.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Hadley, Humor

A good-bye to summer (PLEASE?!!!)

August 25, 2011 By

I’ve been rather silent regarding Denver’s weather. There is a reason for that. I have renamed my city the Devil’s Summer Home.

Usually by late-August, the temperatures are cooling down and the nights are glorious. What we’ve endured as of late? Record-breaking 95+-degree weather.

Miserable doesn’t quite summarize me.

I have been surprisingly proficient during the day. I would wake up early, go biking or hiking, play outside with the kids and then stay holed up indoors in the afternoon or go to a water feature somewhere.

What has really been kicking my butt have been the evenings. When it’s this hot, the temperatures don’t cool down, rendering out ceiling fan (which usually cools the house) useless. Our air-conditioning unit is too small for our house so our upstairs is a sauna. In a perfect world, I’d leave our bedroom window open but alas, we live near a train track and the whistle keeps me up all night.

Oh, did I mention it’s allergy season and the field of weeds behind our house?

I’ve been waking up between 3:30-4:30 a.m. every morning and wander around like a zombie for the rest of the day.

On the final day before school started, it was 100 degrees so I announced to the kids we were going to our favorite secret watering hole off Ralston Creek. Here are the kids last year:



Here are the kids this year.As it turns out, it was the perfect reprieve with plenty of creek-wading, log-scaling and tree climbing with our besties Sean and Alex.

I’m counting this blog post as my official end to summer.

Now, if Denver’s weather could only figure that out as well.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Hadley

School’s Back….From Summer (and Bode’s anxieties)

August 24, 2011 By

I’ll be jumping around quite a bit the next couple of weeks as I post the rest of our summer adventures but for the the sake of the grandparents, today was the first day back at school!

We started out with a special breakfast of pancakes with fresh raspberries and fruit smoothies. For special occasions, I always bring out our “You Are Special Today” plate. Starting kindergarten at a new school trumps entering second grade so Bode got the plate. In the sweetest little voice, he queried, “Am I special today, Mommy?”

You’d better believe, it Buddy.

But so is this gorgeous girl.

Haddie’s outfit is courtesy of a shopping spree with Grandma B. in Canada. Bode’s ensemble is thanks to Grandma J.

It was my best back-to-school shopping year ever.

I’m thrilled both kids scored the best teachers at the school. Haddie already adored hers and many of her closest friends are in her class. But the greatest news of all? Their class pet is a hamster! As in a real one! At back-to-school night, her teacher had a sign-up sheet for kids to take Gracie the hamster home every weekend for an entire month! Imagine the excitement!

That is one thing I conveniently forgot to volunteer for at back-to-school night.

Entering kindergarten is a big milestone but for some reason, I wasn’t overly sentimental about it. This is likely because Bode will only be in class for 2.5 hours a day, less time than preschool. Next year when he’s in school full-time will be a bigger adjustment for us all.

Bode is a pretty go-with-the-flow kind of kid and though he’s initially a bit reserved, he has no problems making friends. However, I have sensed some deep-rooted anxieties about kindergarten because he doesn’t know anyone.

Let me scratch that: he doesn’t know any boys.

We have two girls from church who are in his kindergarten class but in Bode’s world, they don’t count. I first realized he was anti-girls when we were at Coscto’s food court a couple of years ago. A few darling girls from his preschool came over and I kid you not–they fawned all over him. Bode was mortified and didn’t even look up from eating his hot dog despite my many pleas to be social.

After they left, I asked him why he wasn’t friendly and he excused his behavior with, “I was hungry,” which is boy-code for “I don’t like girls.

Problem is, girls really like him because he’s cute, thoughtful and nice.

Of course, that will all change in a few years when they start going for the bad boys. Sadly, Bode doesn’t realize these are his years to capitalize on their affections.

There are three kindergarten classes at Bode’s school: the morning class (his), the afternoon class and an all-day class. Knowing his apprehension about making friends, I took him to a kindergarten playdate on Saturday so he could mingle with his peeps. Problem was we couldn’t find even one boy in his class so he buddied up with an all-day kindergartener.

Who was, of course, a boy.

This morning, Jamie and I arrived at the school early with the kids. Bode’s classroom is in the 2nd grade area so Hadley will be right next door. The kindergarteners were required to line-up against the wall before going in. At first he looked pretty chill until a girl arrived. And then another girl. Then more girls. I kid you not–at one point, there were eight girls and just Bode.

Basically, it was his worst nightmare.

A few token boys arrived later but that didn’t dispel his anxieties when saying good-bye.

The 2.5 hours flew by but when I picked him up, he was a different kid. He enthusiastically rambled on about the class rules (don’t know who gets excited about that), why kindergarten is better than preschool (they have a library) and that he made a friend (Trey).

He also had a couple of boys who will assuredly become his BFFs because they complimented him on his backpack.

Mario: The great bonder for boys everywhere.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor

The coolest kids adventure race on the planet: in pictures

August 16, 2011 By

On Saturday, Hadley competed in the KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race. I was devastated to miss it due to my hospital stay but had a blast “training” her and our neighbors (who also competed). Over the last few weeks, we hiked, biked and zip-lined all over Denver.

But nothing could have prepared them for the adventure race, which was so much more challenging and exhilarating than they could have imagined. Since I wasn’t there, I was grateful to my friend Jennefer who let Haddie stay with her overnight and took pictures of their great adventures.

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The Race

Introducing: Team Adventure Girls with Sydney and Hadley.

Off the starting block. Girls vs. boys, neck and neck (Haddie and Syd are on the left).

At one point partway through the race, Hadley and Sydney started to pass a boy’s team, which prompted the chauvinistic father to shout at his son, “If you let that happen, I will never enter you in another race again!”

I will include Boy Domination in next year’s training.

There was a tunnel through the river that later included a huge obstacle the girls needed to haul their bikes over.

There were plenty of volunteers to assist in the transition areas. The girls were in charge of keeping track of their map and getting a stamp at each station in order to move onto each new challenge.

Sydney was a fantastic teammate, frequently helping and encouraging Hadley throughout the race like this ropes course.

Slip slidin’ away! (Haddie’s favorite part).

Official hiking trails?

Adventure racers don’t need no stinkin’ hiking trails. They go straight up the mountain.

But they do need a zip-line to race back down.

The tubing portion was a nice reprieve from Vail’s toasty temperatures.

I know it’s not kosher to pinch hardcore adventure racer’s cheeks but that’s what I want to do when I see this cute picture.

Haddie also told me about the “little waterfalls” they went down.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her they’re called rapids.

Of course, what would an adventure race be without a climbing wall….

…and a mud pit to finish things off right?!

Or just really, really dirty.

Haddie had a blast competing in the KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race. Was it a cakewalk? Definitely not. In fact, some sections of the course (particularly the mountain biking) would have been a challenge for adults. Despite being an adventurous kid, a couple of times she was freaked out to the point of tears.

But the greatness of a race like this is it yanked her out of her comfort zone where, in a controlled environment with capable volunteers, she challenged herself. I realized as parents, we shelter out kids too much and often don’t let them realize their true potential because of our own insecurities.

Hadley overcame her fears and has not stopped talking about the race. In a word, she triumphed.

And you’d better believe come hell or high water (or hospitals) I’ll be there to watch her do it again next summer.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: biking, Colorado, Hadley, hiking, Humor, outdoors

The Great Canadian Everything

August 2, 2011 By

Despite the fact I grew up in Calgary, there are still some unfamiliar things when I return home.

The Money

Canadian money is always an adjustment. I prefer our colorful bills to American green drabness (sorry, George Washington) but still cannot wrap my head around the Canadian Loonie, a gold-coloured (yep, correct spelling), bronze-plated, $1 coin introduced in 1987. If that didn’t weigh down my wallet enough, the government introduced the Toonie in 1996, a bi-metallic $2 coin.

Jamie and I had a run-in with the Loonie when we went grocery shopping at the Real Canadian Superstore (as opposed to the fake one), which was located next to Canadian Tire.

Just in case we’d forgotten we were in Canada.

In order to release the shopping carts, you need to insert a Loonie,which is returned to you after shopping. Problem is, Jamie and I spend a good five minutes trying…and failing to insert our money. Finally, a woman walked up to return her cart so I waved my Loonie like a madwoman proclaiming, “We’ll give you our Loonie for your cart.”

She denied us because she had a reusable cart coin that cost her $2 in place of the $1 Loonie every time she shops.

Anyone else as confused as we were?

Long story short, we finally got a cart (after losing face with my fellow Canucks) but went crazy at the grocery store. While the U.S. ethnic sections are preomindantly Mexican food, Canadian store aisles, delis and produce sections are stocked to the hilt with my favorites: Indian, Thai and Chinese foods. In the deli, we were got some sliced tandoori chicken for sandwiches. In the Thai section we got mango and also coconut/pineapple juice. In the bulk bins, we scored Canadian blue whales and wine gums.

Canadians have a few tasty tricks up their sleeves as well.

The People

During our long drive, a rock jumped up and chipped my windshield. I’ve been intending to get it filled and was thrilled when we pulled up to the Real Canadian Superstore and saw a small small canopy advertising rock-chip repairs while you shop.

What’re the odds of finding that? Being in Canada is like having your own genie.

We handed over our car before going to wrestle our shopping cart Loonie. Upon our return, our exceedingly enthusiastic repair guy pointed out his impeccable work, triumphantly claiming the round-shaped chips were his favorite.

As we were driving away, I commented, “I’ve never seen a rock-chip repair guy so passionate about what he does.”
“Of course he is,” Jamie retorted. “He’s chipper.”

The Differences Between Canada and the U.S.

My kids have been shuttled back and forth between Canada and the United States since they were born. Such exposure gives them unique insights into cultural idiosyncrasies between the two countries.

Take Hadley, for example. As we were wandering through a darling gift shop replete with Canadian goodies such as Mountie costumes and maple fudge at Heritage Park, my Aunt Sue told me Hadley was recently expounding upon the difference between the two countries.

I awaited profundities. Perhaps she would reference the flags, the anthems, Canada’s shining rivers, cool summers, friendly folks, democrats, Green Party and the Liberals.

Her observation?

“Canada doesn’t have Target!”

I’ve taught her well.

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P.S. Target recently announced 105 locationsthat will be opening in Canada. Hadley will soon be proven wrong.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Canada, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, Jamie, travel

When little birds take flight

July 5, 2011 By

On Friday, Hadley did her first solo flight to Utah.

With an airline, of course. She’s headstrong but is no Amelia Earhart.

Jamie’s mom invited her to fly out a few days before we were scheduled to drive on Tuesday and she was THRILLED. Despite having to wake up at 5:15 a.m. she popped right out of bed, chirping away about her flight to see grandma.

My wake-up was not quite so jubilant.

Though Hadley has flown several times before, being an “Unaccompanied Minor” is an entirely different ballgame. When I booked her ticket with United (with a $99 surcharge each way), I disclosed she would be by herself. I waited for additional information with my confirmation as to what would be involved. Could I check-in online? If so, would I also be issued a pass to get through security? Where did we need to go once at the airport?

United did not send anything. Fortunately, we muddled our way through, eventually figuring out we should not standing in the general check-in line, but rather, special services. I was issued a security boarding pass and filled out some requisite paperwork detailing my contact information as well as Linda’s (the retrieving party).

And then it was business as usual. Only it wasn’t usual. I watched my girl take one step closer to growing up.

When she landed, she called to inform me she had a great flight and that she talked to the nice man beside her the entire flight.

My apologies to nice men everywhere.

She is also feeling a false sense of confidence and proclaimed, “I think next time I’ll go on a Disney Cruise ALL BY MYSELF!”

And so it begins.

It has just been Bode, Jamie and me in Colorado the last five days. Jamie predicted it would be quiet without her. He was wrong. On Friday night, he and Bode went for a father-son bike ride down to the skate park. When they arrived home, Jamie divulged:

“He wouldn’t shut up the entire time.”
“Quiet Bode?” I queried.
“He’s quiet no more. It’s like he has been silenced all these years by his chatterbox sister and he’s making up for lost time.”

It’s gonna be a long 9-hour drive to Utah today.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race: The Coolest Kids Race on the Planet?

July 2, 2011 By

When I heard about the inaugural KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race last year, I knew my 6-year-old daughter Hadley simply had to try it.

This is her year.

On Saturday, August 13, 2011, kids ages six through 12 will get a fun introduction to adventure racing. Teams of two work together to navigate a variety of sports and and problem-solving challenges, including mountain biking, hiking, tubing, archery, a low ropes course, a zip line, a climbing wall, a Tarzan swing, a giant slip-n-slide and more. Competitors will be divided into three waves based on age and will start at set intervals. An after party and awards ceremony will take place immediately following the race.

I don’t know about you but I wish they had this race for adults!

Despite the fun factor, I had fears my 6-year-old was ready to tackle it last year but my worries were in vain. While there are some kids who are serious competitors, most are out there to have a fun adventure. Parents are permitted to accompany their child throughout the race to watch the different challenges but are asked to refrain from helping them. A large fleet of volunteers is on-hand to provide assistance.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpGwZcViB4]

My daughter Hadley will be competing with our neighbor Sydney. While most kids are slacking off this summer, I’m thrilled they’ll be setting worthwhile training goals and having a great time achieving them. We’ve even recruited a few other friends to compete in the older divisions.

The cost is $150 per team of two. Registration includes a 2011 KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race backpack and other goodies. Registration is limited to 100 teams of two kids. To register, download the registration form and fax to (970) 479-2281 or email it to bpappas@vailrec.com.

Go to http://www.vailrec.com/kidsadventurerace.cfm for additional information.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Colorado, Hadley
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