The High-Five Squad Meets Superstar Denver Nuggets

February 20, 2014 By

High-five Squad at the Denver Nuggets game

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Woodward Revealed: Why I’ve Still Got It

February 19, 2014 By

I live a pretty adventurous life. Last week I went to Costco and tried the spicy jalapeno dip. On another day, I blazed pass those annoying lingering parents in the carpool lane despite the threat of death.

Let’s just say the introductory class at the newly renovated 19,400-square foot indoor playground Woodward at Copper Barn at Copper Mountain, Colo. took me to the next level.

If you’ve never been to “The Barn,” it is a sight to behold. Offering year-round Snowboard, Ski, Skateboard, Bike and Digital Media programs, it recently underwent a half-million renovation project that opened up their adventure alley beyond snowboards and skis to include skateboards, BMX and style-style mountain bike. There’s a new beginner foam pit with 2-foot and 4-foot jumps and a pump track designed for the development of park skills.

The staffer I chatted up before our class proudly said many of the Olympians and hopefuls at Sochi had, at one time or another, trained at The Barn. My daughter Hadley and I were in esteemed company.

I was Maui-bound soon. My initial goal walking in there was to play it safe and not break my neck. But when my Hadley and I realized our class consisted of hip 20-somethings?

CLICK TO KEEP READING ABOUT OUR EXTREME PLAYGROUND AND IF I BROKE MY NECK.

Filed Under: Family travel, Hadley, Humor

Bode Miller: How Paintballs Would Have Given Him the Gold

February 18, 2014 By

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

“What do you think of the name Bode?”

It immediately clicked for me, too.

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

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

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

As Bode was celebrating, he upped the ante.

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

Tough crowd. But nonetheless impressive.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Bode, Humor

A sucky (yet good) early birthday present from the dentist

February 6, 2014 By

My teeth are a disaster. This, from the girl who didn’t have any cavities all growing up and who brushes and flosses daily. I started having problems on my mission in Switzerland but my downhill spiral began after my pukey pregnancies. A couple of years after Bode was born, I spent thousands of dollars fixing up my mouth–root canals, crowns, you name it.

I haven’t been back since. This is in part because 1) I hate the dentist 2) We’re self-employed and it’s generally cheaper to pay out of pocket than the ridiculous dental insurance premiums and 3) I haven’t wanted to spend any more money on my mouth, especially since we finally paid off our garganuan medical bills.

The kids and I went for a check-up last summer and they had a perfect bill of health. Me, on the other hand? Over $3,000 in work. And so I did what any rational, cheap, dentist-hating person would do: I didn’t go back.

However, the right side of my mouth constantly aches, particularly after I eat sweets like gummy bears. And because no person should have to live a life without gummy bears I went back for Phase 1 of my treatment plan on Monday.

Note: dentists and Mondays go together like fish and water.

One of my pet peeves of dentists is they carry on a conversation as if you can somehow answer back. Mine particularly liked pointing out all my mouth’s shortcomings, observing, “We’ll have to have a conversation later about all this decay and why it’s happening when you’re so young.”  Sure, Dude. Can’t wait for that one.

He didn’t keep me in suspense for long. After fitting me for a crown (nope, not the royal kind), he asked me my age. “I’m 41,” I replied.

“Really? I thought you were 10 years younger!” and he didn’t pursue the “you’re too young to have rotting teeth lecture.”

My takeaway was two-fold. 1) He thought I was in my early-30s (hurray!) and 2) apparently my level of decay is perfectly acceptable for an over-the-hill 40-year-old.

Either way, I’ll take it.

 

Filed Under: Health, Humor

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

February 2, 2014 By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Touché.

 

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, LDS

Mannering the Table

January 29, 2014 By

I recently posted the following status update on Facebook:

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

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

Jamie thought otherwise.

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

Jamie: “Or rude.”

I’ll take it.

Filed Under: Bode, Humor

Ying and Yang (as overheard in the kitchen)

January 28, 2014 By

9-year-old Hadley: “Bode, what ARE you doing?”

7-year-old (going on 50) Bode: “Taking precautions.”

Unrelated on a different day: The kids decided to play horse.

There was a definite winner and loser in this game.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor

Just say “no” to rabbit food

January 22, 2014 By

We have been following a healthy eating regemin for several months now.  Sure, we still have our indulgences but overall, our eating habits have improved. And get this–the girl who used to get sick every six weeks hasn’t been sick in ages. Turns out what we put in our bodies has a huge impact on our body’s immune system (who knew?) and avoiding processed junk bodes very well for mine.

Something I’ve been eating a lot of for lunch is roasted veggies with a quinoa and bean combination. Y’all can eat yours raw or steamed but I’m all about roasting them in succulent gourmet olive oils and seasoned vinegars. And funky combinations, too. Roasted tumeric rutabaga. Garlic-roasted honey parsnips and carrots. Sweet potatoes with cinnamon-pear balsamic vinegar. Roasted butternut squash with garlic olive oil, apples and onions.

The other night, I made a salad. I haven’t been eating many salads because they make me hungry but I figured Our Best Bites’ Thai Chicken Salad was beefy (or chicken-y) enough to account for a meal. It wasn’t. Though I served a multi-grain roll on the side, Jamie snarfed his down and promptly went into the kitchen to make himself an omelet.

My Grandpa Wilde was a farmer so meat and potatoes were his staple. My mom recently told me of a time my grandma made him a (gasp) salad. He took one look at it, stormed out the door and went to his mom’s for a “proper meal.”

Jamie is not the kind of guy who will ever complain about my cooking but I knew he wasn’t pleased.

“What’s the deal, James? What’s wrong with our healthy and delish dinner?”

“I’m not saying anything is wrong with healthy stuff. What I’m saying is rabbits are small creatures.”

 

 

Filed Under: Foodie, Humor, Jamie

Giant pumpkin growing: the season that never ends

January 15, 2014 By

Lest you think pumpkin season is over, I’m here to tell you it’s never over. Last month, Jamie had a holiday party with his buddies from the Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetable Growers Group.

It’s not uncommon to see him sorting through his extensive pumpkin seed collection because he gets year-round seed requests from all over the world.

He recently had some packages from Amazon delivered. I didn’t bother to query about the first but when the second one arrived, I asked:

“What’s in the packages?”
“You should know better than to ask me that this time of year.”
“Oh really? I thought we weren’t getting each other gifts because we’re saving for Maui.”

Busted. He had purchased new grow lights and a seedling heat mat.

Nope, you can’t make this stuff up.

A curious phenomenon regularly occurs in our house: dishes go missing. It took me a while to realize what was going on and it started when my cookie sheets disappeared for a month. I don’t know about you but a month without baking cookies due to missing cookware is equal to grand larceny.

Where were they? I eventually discovered he had been using them to dry out his seeds in the storage room.

A few months ago, I had commented to him:

“I wonder what happened to all of our small dessert plates? We only have one left. Do you think the kids did something with them?”

“Probably.”

Then, the other day I discovered this in my kitchen sink: my good dishes had mysteriously returned, covered in dirt.

I didn’t ask, he didn’t tell. Sometimes it’s just better not to know.

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie, pumpkins

How You Know You’re Raising a Geek Part 1,204

January 14, 2014 By

I’m going to start a series on How You Know You’re Raising a Geek. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s quite delightful and never boring because Bode’s mind is always working, thinking, evaluating and analyzing. I find it fascinating because I just don’t work like that. I can look up at the pink clouds and think, “Wow, they sure are pretty today and look like cotton candy” and he’ll make some comment that clouds turn pink because sunlight travels at a greater distance through the atmosphere at dusk. Ummm, OK, kid.

One of his favorite things is quizzing me about everything and everything, particularly his space books.

“Mom, how many dwarf planets are there?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mom, we’ve been over this before.”

The kid is learning that my long-term memory is about 20 seconds before it is deleted from my internal hard drive forever. I fear the day he discovers Trivial Pursuit.

He got the book Time for Kids Top 5 of Everything, which is perfect for a human kid computer with trivia quizzes on everything from the five youngest Presidents to the most popular names for dogs. As he was reading the book, he announced “They got it wrong.”

“Got what wrong?”

“The moons on Jupiter. They say they are 53 but there are actually 63.”

“Bode, I think they thoroughly researched it and you’re mistaken.”

But he was insistent so I Googled it and sure enough, there are 63 moons on Jupiter. Take THAT, Time magazine!

And then a recent incident. He was asking me how many minutes are in a day and then how many seconds (thank goodness for calculators) but then as we were walking to the bus, he asked if we could go to the library so he could check out some books on recycling and maps.

That kid of mine is ‪#‎7GoingOn70‬.

Filed Under: Bode, Humor
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