Why you should totally feel sorry for Hadley

August 12, 2014 By

Hadley’s reentry into “the real world” has been a bit rocky. Not that I’m surprised. The girl loved every moment of our 3,000-mile road-trip. Reconnecting with cousins. Stampeding in Calgary. Her free reign at the lake to roam and do whatever the heck she pleased. An extra week and a half with Jamie’s parents in Utah where yes, she worked hard helping Aunt Tammy move and watching the twins but there were shopping trips with Grandma, fancy wedding receptions and outings to the museum.

She arrived home last Thursday to much fanfare. How we missed her!

And how she apparently needed a Grandma Detox because she complained about what we had for dinner (chicken quesadillas, though we redeemed ourselves with red velvet cake), having to do chores and that night as she was going to sleep, she announced she needed a bigger bed. Grandma’s spare bedroom had a Queen.

Sorry, dear. You’re a princess-in-training and you’re stuck with a Twin.

She starts school on Monday, which will be an even more startling transition.We’re simply not ready. We’ve had a busy, fun holiday and the summer doldrums never hit.

But apparently it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. As she was reflecting upon the last few months, she observed.

“Mom, this summer has actually been really hard.”

“Really! HOW?”

“All the packing and unpacking.”

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

How to honor pioneers in the easiest way possible-Part I

August 11, 2014 By

Pioneers are a huge part of Mormon history and Pioneer Day is an official Utah holiday that is celebrated annually on July 24 in commemoration of when Brigham Young and a company of Mormon pioneers entered the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847. New LDS converts had made the harrowing 1,300-mile-long journey from Nauvoo, Illinois and since they couldn’t afford wagons, they pulled human-powered handcarts. Many lost their lives but the stories of sacrifice and survival are downright inspiring.

Every four years, the youth in our stake (and hundreds others) go on a mini-Trek for four days on a portion of the actual pioneer trail in Wyoming. Jamie was in the first youth group from our stake to do the Trek and has a lot of fond memories.

And not-so fond ones of the turkeys they killed, plucked and cooked in a pit.

Fortunately, our Treks aren’t quite so extreme but I guarantee most kids have never done anything so physically demanding as pulling handcarts for hours on end over four days, sleeping on the ground, cooking their own meals and enduring extreme heat, rain and wind. My friend Tiffanie went on the Trek and took these fabulous pictures of our youth. It was one of the hardest things they’ve ever done but also one of their greatest spiritual experiences.

The testimony meeting following the Trek is always the best part as the youth spoke of how they banded together and were deeply inspired by their pioneer ancestors.

Hadley will go on the Trek when she is 14. Bode will just miss the cut-off (he’ll be 12 and needs to be a minimum of 14) so he will go when he is 16.

During our 3,000-mile road-trip to Canada, we had to do a massive detour after a road closure in the armpit of Washington (read: ugly). Wildfires were blazing, the temperatures were sweltering and I was grateful for our air-conditioning. I shared stories of our pioneer heritage with my kids and mentioned how at that exact same time, the youth from our ward were on the Trek traveling several miles a day on foot.

Then, there was silence.

After a while, I asked the kids, “So, what do you think? Doesn’t Trek sound like fun?”

Bode was the first to respond. “It’s nice and all to not forget about the pioneers. But can’t we just honor them by doing a play about them or something?”

Filed Under: Bode, Humor, LDS

Okanagan Lake: A season to soar

August 8, 2014 By

‘Twas an awesome week-long family reunion at Okanagan Lake in British Columbia where we:

Learned to wakeboard

Walked on water

Birthday partied

What else was there left to do? Turns out, plenty! When we weren’t boating, swimming and kayaking, we:

Caught plenty ‘o fish off the docks.


Played a lot of Rook, Scum and inhaled Jane’s delicious cooking (we’re not talking sub-par food, either. We’re talking a menu that included grilled tenderloin, Eggs Benedict, pina colada chicken burgers and smoked pork tacos).


And the woman even hand-delivered Screamers in her “spare” time when she wasn’t busy cooking and teaching everyone to wakeboard and surf.

We also:

Had campfires on the beach,


Spent hours building sand castles…

Mothering from my hammock

Or rather, sand toilets which are so much more practical.

We brought our volleyball net. My brothers and I were all MVPs of our high school teams and what started as our Return to Glory Tournament…
…ended with the one-bounce rule.

There was plenty of time for just hanging and chilling out.

Superhero cousins

Is it just me or does The Pumpkin Man glow orange?

We visited charming Davison Orchard Country Village where the six cousins posed for cheesy family tree photos.

Touched the sky.Toured the beautiful orchards on a “Johnny Popper Apple Train,” sitting in authentic apple bins as we were pulled by an antique John Deere Tractor.

And we bought jams, syrups, fudge, cobbler, fruit and lots of pies from the Country Market.

Aunt Sue and her pies

We had plenty of cousin time and on the last day, I asked cousin Connor (the blonde in the middle) if he had a good vacation.

“I’m glad I don’t have sisters” was his only reply.

Of course, a family reunion isn’t complete without family photos. Do you know those people who color coordinate and micro-manage every last detail of their perfect pictures? We are not those people. We were unshowered. Unmatching. Unclothed.

Grandkids

The menfolk

The “winners” of the unshowered club

And I wouldn’t have them any other way.Thanks to my awesome family for letting us soar with them this summer.

Filed Under: Canada, Family, Family travel, Humor, travel

Vernon, British Columbia: A week walking on water

August 5, 2014 By

My entire family hasn’t been together since our glorious trip to the Outer Banks four years ago (how could you forget our poetic and HILARIOUS crabbing by moonlight adventures)?

My brother Pat and his family are big boaters, have top-of-the-line everything and are so generous with their time and expertise with our family of newbies. The kids and I joined them in their lake house in Vernon, British Columbia for the second year in a row. New this year were Jamie, my brother Jade and his boys. It was surely a week to remember.

Though I’m just trying to forgot those 100+-degree temperatures. Remember how I like to spend July in Canada to cool down?

Regardless, if you’re going to have searing heat, 135-km-long Okanagan Lake is a good place to be and what a fun week we had full of crazy adventures.

Of course, there was the boating where the kids tubed, kneeboarded and my sister-in-law Jane taught them to wakeboard while she tutored Jamie and me in surfing. We spent oodles of time on the boat cheering everyone on as we marveled at my family of experts…

Wakeboarding Hadley

Pat clearing the wake

My bro Jade and his boys

Perfect views, perfect day while getting her wakeboard on

Meet the parents

Sisters

The pumpkin man and me

Boat babe

Nerves before wakeboarding

With my technicolor nieces

I love boating over to the West Side where the water is calmer and the views prettier. We jumped overboard and splashed, played, dunked each other off the tube and competed. Least memorable was Jade’s “crack dive” (just say ‘no’ to crack; I’ll leave that up to your imagination).

Even more disconcerting was Jamie’s initiation into the family dive-off. I had high hopes for him. He’s the strongest swimmer in our family and I just knew he could dethrone Pat and my niece Ashton for being able to dive the longest and furthest.

Oh, how quickly my hopes came crashing down.

I’m not sure what happened. We counted down and everyone did their sleek missile dives into the lake. Everyone except my dear husband who unceremoniously plopped into the lake. Sadly, my brother Pat was once again crowned king of the dive-off.

Jamie represented himself in his defense case. “I was pushed!” he accused and I believed him. Until I reviewed the photographic evidence. He is on the left in front of cousin Connor and there was no physical contact in the previous photos.

There was only a man who apparently slipped and entered the water looking like a prissy school girl skipping to school.

Better luck next year, Honey, and remember: say “no” to crack.

Stay tuned next time for more Vernon adventures!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Bode, Canada, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, Jamie

Calgary: My Home and Native Land

August 1, 2014 By

Bode and I have just returned from a 3,000-mile roadtrip that covered two countries and 8 states–and that’s not including the 4-day jaunt I did out to California for BlogHer while the kids stayed behind with Grandma in Salt Lake City.

Can you say whirlwind?

What made this trip particularly taxing was Jamie usually drives at least one leg of it with me but he flew in and out of Vernon, B.C. to save time so that meant I spent 50+ hours driving with the kids.

Hadley is staying in Utah for another week with Grandma and they’ll all be driving out here next week for Bode’s baptism and then school starts the following week.

Can you say whirlwind? (Sensing a theme here?)

We had a great time in my hometown Calgary and I only wish we could have stayed longer. For six blissful days, we played in the mud pits, played and biked in Fish Creek Provincial Park, terrorized the neighborhood on the golf carts and raided the Bulk Barn’s 4,000 bulk products. My mom was generous and let the kids have at it and she paid for a lot of food.

Me: “I can’t believe we spent almost $100 in candy!”

Cousin Connor: “Is that so wrong?”

For my mom’s birthday, she requested we go to Peter’s Drive-in, an iconic eatery infamous for their shakes.

Hadley, Bode, Jaxson, Connor and Grandma

One of the reasons we go to Calgary in early-July is so we can hit the Calgary Stampede. This ten-day event bills itself as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” and features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and First Nations exhibitions.

The entire city comes to life. Everyone dresses western, parties and there are literally hundreds of free stampede pancake breakfasts setup in parking lots all over the city (SCORE!) For the third year in a row, my friend Stacey and I volunteered serving dinner at the Stampede Roundup.

My sister-in-law Jane’s family was visiting from Washington so we had to hit the midway and finally quit 11 hours later.
Stampede is alllll about the food. While we opted out of the popular scorpion pizza (ewww!) we ate a lot of tasty fare.
How do you say red velvet mini doughnuts covered in cream cheese in Calgarian?  You say OHHHHH YEAH.

I wish we could have stayed in Calgary for a month but our next stop was Vernon, British Columbia. Located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, this bread basket of Western Canada has hundreds of orchards, fruit stands and glorious lakes. I drove it for the first time in years last summer and I had not realized we needed to go through infamous Banff National Park to get there. This year, I resolved to make at least one detour to glacially-fed Moraine Lake nestled in the Valley of Ten Peaks.

Since we had a long drive, my only intention was to hop out, take a few pictures with the kids and be on our way.

Like that is going to happen in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

“We have to hike up the Rock Pile,” Hadley insisted, pointing to the popular interpretive trail leading up, up, up.

And how those views were worth it.

My new favorite picture

An hour later, we dragged ourselves away, vowing to spend some quality time in this stupendous place next summer.

Gotta tell you, sometimes I miss the Motherland so much it hurts.

Filed Under: Canada, Family travel, Humor, travel

“The Close”: The Glory Days Relived

July 28, 2014 By

Riding Grandma and Grandpa’s golf cart is one of the highlights of visiting. I much preferred it when the kids were young and my dad chauffeured them around but now they’re getting older and they want to (gulp), drive. I’d have no problem with them taking the wheel if they weren’t brain damaged (almost) teenagers but we all know children of a certain age are lacking in mental faculties like rational thinking.

Magical mornings on “The Close”

Never mind it’s also illegal.

The morning after our cousins Connor and Jaxson arrived, all the kids were up waking up terrorizing the neighborhood in the golf cart. It brought back awesome memories…not of traumatizing the block but of just how incredible it was to grow up here. I reminisced with my childhood friends about it on Facebook and my friend Stacey B. nailed it perfectly:

We had everything – an alley, crabapple trees, the gully, the golf course, neighbours that we loved and could trust – remember our block parties? Whole neighbourhood gathering for a BBQ. On the Close, we were more than just neighbours – we were truly family!

“The Close” is much different now. My parents are the only original owners. Most have moved or passed away, the population aging and the sounds of children’s laughter have dimmed except for the occasional visit of grandchildren. Stacey agreed.

I would love to go and knock on each door and explain to them how it once was! Tell them to gather their grandchildren and make it like it used to be! We truly couldn’t have had better childhoods – we could roam free all throughout our area – we knew we would be safe because somebody was always watching ot for us! Even when we were being “bad” – that just meant we were eating the crabapples off of somebody else’s tree! LOL

Ahh, the good ‘ol days!!!!

At one point, I looked out the window and saw 11-year-old Connor driving the golf court with three babes on the back, two of whom are not related to us.

I guess they start early in my brother’s family.

“Who on earth are they?” I queried and found out the kids had met them when walking the dogs. Ella is Hadley’s age and her sister is Bode’s age, which made them all instant BFFs because there’s no one else around.

At one point, I looked at Connor flipping doughnuts on the huge lawn area in front of the house. Bode had just come out of the shower and I expressed my concerns to him.

“I don’t mind you kids riding the golf cart but I get really nervous when he makes fast, sharp turns like that. It would be all too easy to flip the cart.”

“Do you want me to keep an eye on them, Mom?”

“Why don’t you do that, Son.”

Filed Under: Bode, Humor

“Upscale” Selfies at The Broadmoor?

July 23, 2014 By

I’ve long written about my family’s love affair with The Broadmoor, a glorious AAA Five-Diamond resort in Colorado Springs. I feel honored to be among several esteemed writers who contribute to their glossy, upscale magazine. Their latest edition was published and their PR director sent a few copies I have yet to see because the kids and I are still on our month-long road trip.

Horseback riding Hadley and family canoeing

Jamie took a couple of pictures for me and my jaw dropped when I saw what they published in the table of contents and also on the lead page of my story. He joked, “all the following stories are your typical stock-type photos of beautiful children wearing beautiful clothes in The Broadmoor’s beautiful setting.”

I was asked to write about the Ranch at Emerald Valley, their new wilderness enclave that redefines luxury in a gorgeous mountain setting. The kids had a professional photographer shadowing them most of the day (read: child models) but since they wanted me to write the article through my children’s eyes, we set them loose with a camera and my iPhone to take their own pictures.

And then, I present unto you this:

Nothing like keeping it classy with Bode selfies.

Table of contents

Funny back story: we surprised the kids with this trip by waking them up and telling them we were going that morning. The night before was full of meltdowns. One of Bode’s teeth was falling out and it was sticking straight out like Billy Bob. Knowing he’d be photographed the next day, we were insistent that tooth needed to come out, which for him, was equal unto being sent to the guillotine and it took us 1.5 hours of freakouts/crying/wailing before he let us pull the tooth.

Next time, I’m just tying the tooth to Fat Kitty, yelling “FOOD” and letting it rip.

How’s that for a future Broadmoor feature story?

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Humor

Happy 8th Birthday to My Bode-man!

July 18, 2014 By

“This is what it’s like to be a king.” While eating your unlimited corn dogs at Elitch Gardens’ VIP preview party

Dear Bode,

I can’t believe you’re turning 8! This is a huge deal: You will soon be baptized, start Cub Scouts and enter third grade. Every year you grow to be more fun, smart and endearing. Though you’re becoming independent, you always take the time to snuggle up to your mom and shower me with love and kisses–just not around your buddies because you are, after all, a boy’s boy and have to save face with them. Except for when you saw a golf-ball-sized bee, in which case all of you “ran away in terror.” Your words, not mine.

You enjoy playing soccer every fall and spring, basketball in the winter, racing down the ski slopes, jamming on the piano, riding your bike, snuggling (read: mauling) Fat Kitty and growing giant pumpkins (your beast was 420 pounds last season). You are torn between being highly disciplined and loving video games like Minecraft while agonizing that they’re not good for you so have settled on a reasonable schedule so “I don’t get addicted.”

A parent-less week at Camp Chief Ouray

The other day you told me that when you are a dad, you will have your kids give you 50% of what they earn. When I responded that seemed like a lot and would you like me to take half of what you make, you had to reconsider. You ultimately decided 1/4 and then 1/8 of future earnings was more amenable so I look forward to my future kid taxes.

When I started boot camp this year from 6:30-7:30 a.m., I worried about you and your sister being responsible enough to get ready yourselves but I need not have fretted. In fact, you set your alarm clock early because you like to be “extra prepared” and that rings true in everything in your life. Your second grade teacher tracked all good and bad behavior by tallying up “Class DoJo points” and wouldn’t you know it, you were the very top of your class at year’s–in grades and behavior. The comments from your teachers on your report card ranged from “he is a joy,” to a “role model” and I beam with pride in knowing that you’re a good, selfless person and are always looking out for others first. A classic example is that Hadley hates the lemon-flavored gummy vitamins, and even though you don’t like them either, you always trade with her so she doesn’t have to eat them. That, my friend, is love.

A few years ago, I threw your dad a surprise 40th birthday party and you begged for us to do the same for you. We figured your 8th birthday was an important one so we rented a 32-foot mobile video game theater from Rolling Video Games Denver, had 14 of your besties hide in it and surprise you. Of course, you were shocked and then elated, repeating “I had no idea.” Your sheer joy will likely only be comparable to your wedding day and maybe the birth of your firstborn child. So long as its name is Steve. If you love Minecraft, you’ll totally get the reference.

Surprise!

Shock

The Motley Crew

You’re a numbers person and thrive in goal-setting while tracking your progress. Dad challenged you to read a pretty lofty amount of scripture before you are baptized in Aug. and you cranked it out in a few weeks. When I ask you to do something, you do it without questioning my motives, which is a far cry from when you were three and we had you clean out the ditch in the backyard. Not only did you revolt and cry, you made up a secret language you heatedly muttered under your breath as you worked, which sounded an awful lot like preschooler swear words.

Obsessive sand castle builder, Maui

We’ve had a fabulous year of travel: The AAA Five-Diamond Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and multiple ski trips. I was so proud when you delved right in as the sled’s driver when we dog-sledded in Breckenridge and had a blast spending Christmas in Utah. Last summer you, Hadley and I did a 3,000-mile trip that covered two countries and seven states (Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah) and we’re currently in the middle of that same adventure because apparently we weren’t crazy enough the first time. We recently returned from Disneyland and Maui, which basically means this was our best travel year ever.

You recently returned from a week at Camp Chief Ouray in the mountains and I love that you are always ready to delve into new discoveries. You recently announced to me how much you love road trips and I couldn’t wait to hear the reason. Was it the prospect of discovering a new far-flung destination? Our fascinating conversations en route? Nope, it was because “I get to play unlimited video games while we’re driving” and that is why “getting there is half the fun” in your book.

Oh, and when I asked you where you dream destination is now that we’ve gone to Maui, you commented, “A place that doesn’t eat too much fish like Australia.” Hate to tell you, Dude, but it’s surrounded by water but I’m with you on boycotting seafood.

My favorite time with you is early in the morning when you curl up in bed with me and we sleepily talk about our dreams. I know you won’t be little forever so I cherish these moments. Just know that however big you are, your dreams will always be safe with me.

Love,

Mother

=====

For a stroll down memory lane, birthday letters 1, 2, 3, 4,  5,  6, and 7 (though the pictures no longer show due to switching blog platforms).

Timbits birthday breakfast at the Lake House

Filed Under: birthday, Bode, Humor

When the cat’s away, the mouse will play

July 15, 2014 By

Sure, poor Jamie is left alone for much of July as we embark on our 3,000-mile Canadian road-trip every summer but don’t feel too badly for him. He’s working a ton (like always) but apparently he’s finding time for play, as was evidenced by this discovery I made.

As some of you know, Jamie donated one of his pumpkins to Elitch Gardens, our awesome 70-acre amusement park and water park in downtown Denver.

When I was on Twitter the other day, I read this tweet from Elitch.

Apparently The Pumpkin Man is making some celebrity appearances in my absence but it makes me wonder if he will now expect us to call him The Pumpkin Whisperer?

Follow Elitch Gardens’ pumpkin “Cornelius Longbottom” on their Twitter feed here and of course, go to denverpumpkins.com for Jamie’s pumpkin updates (he’s on track for another 1,000+ lbs pumpkin). The beast will soon start putting on 30-40 pounds a day!

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

Day of rest?

July 13, 2014 By

I’ll admit it. I was feeling a wee bit depressed on the first day the kids were at Camp Chief Ouray. Since I’ve been going non-stop since summer break started, I opted to force myself to stay inside, chill out and get some work done. To emphasize my point I stayed in my bathrobe and vowed to Jamie that Fat Kitty and I would be working from bed all day long. The good man that he is, Jamie ordered in lunch and dinner and we ate from bed.

By mid-afternoon, I moved to my office but I was still unshowered and in my bathrobe. Jamie walked by and looked at me quizzically.

Me: “I had to move from my bed because it was hurting my back to type on my computer.”

Him: “Who knew laziness could be so painful?”

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie
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