How you know you have hockey-loving Canadian parents

July 7, 2013 By

The kids and I are spending the next few weeks in Canada with my family.

Something always cracks me up when I go into my parent’s bedroom. I first discovered it last summer when I was hanging out on their bed. From across the room on my dad’s dresser, I saw a picture of me with a guy. At first, I thought it was Jamie but quickly dismissed that when I saw his sandy-blonde hair. I did a mental checklist of my ex-boyfriends and tried to figure out who on earth I was with.

Upon close-up investigation, I laughed out loud when I realized it was not my beloved husband but rather, a picture of me with The Great One, Wayne Gretzky (whom I met–and insulted–when I was at the 2010 Vancouver Games for Microsoft Office).

Even Jamie says he can’t compete with that.

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie Tagged With: , ,

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: , , ,

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.

====

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

Confessions of an Unknowlledgeable Spelling Bee Judge

June 19, 2013 By

A while back, I posted the following on Facebook:

“After spell-checking it several times, it appears I do not know how to spell ‘knowledgeable.’ The irony is not lost on me.”

Later that day, my friend Lisa asked me to be a judge at our elementary school’s Spelling Bee.

“Did you see my status update this morning?” I jokingly queried.

She hadn’t, which is a good thing because I might have disqualified myself before even entering.

Spelling Bees weren’t around when I was a kid and I was pleased to learn that my role as one of three judges was stress-free. All I had to do was ensure the announcer pronounced the word clearly and the student spelled it correctly.

Though I was disappointed buzzers weren’t involved. Or gongs.

As the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade kids filed into the gym their apprehension and excitement was palpable. We did a practice round before delving into the main event. The students were asked to first pronounce the word and were not permitted to go back and correct any errors. They were allowed to have one incorrect answer but if they got two wrong, they were disqualified.

Those first few rounds, I was a basket case as I willed each and every one of those burgeoning scholars to get the correct answer. Their triumphs were my triumphs, their sorrows my sorrows (a poker face has never been my strong suit).

By round three, I was ready for the heads to roll with some tougher words. Stalling was an often-used technique. “Umm, can you repeat the word?” “What is the definition of the word?” “Can you please use it in a sentence?”

Sometimes, the definitions were more mind-boggling than the word. For “formula,” it was explained as “a symbolic expression showing the composition or constitution of a chemical substances consisting of symbols for elements present and subscripts to indicate the relative or total number of atoms present in a molecule when the number exceeds one.”

Hey, Spelling Bee Definition Writing Geniuses, how about something like, “What babies drink” or a “single-seat racing car.”

The practical applications were much more amenable. For “contrary,” the explanation was, “Contrary to what she would have said last year, Shelby no longer believes Justin Bieber is the most handsome boy in the world.”

That elicited some giggles from the crowd, likely from The Bieber-haters.

Several rounds later, three winners were crowned out of a pool of thoroughly impressive students. Following the completion, Anna, a cute sixth grader from church came up to my friend Jenn (a fellow judge) and me.

“I was so nervous when I saw you were a judge because you’re the Bishop’s wife!” she said, pointing to Jenn. Her mom then divulged she was a basket case when she saw I was judging as well, for what reason I have no idea. I’ll chalk it up to my overwhelmingly good hair day.

And I assured her she was much more knowllegeabble about spelling than yours truly.

Filed Under: Humor

How to suck-up to your husband…and wife

June 11, 2013 By

I have (count ‘em) four trips this week, most of which are not with my beloved husband. I’m currently flying to Utah for a quick business trip and almost immediately upon my return, I will be leaving again for YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch to have some playtime with Bode before picking up Hadley from camp.

In an attempt to make Jamie a little bit less lonely, I made him him some Oatmeal Scotchies (his favorite) yesterday. The man has the sniffing nose of a dog and the moment I pulled them out of of the oven, he was THERE.

“Don’t touch. These are for tomorrow.”

“But they’re warm now.”

“I’m making them so you won’t be too lonely while I’m gone. Every time you think of me, you may have a cookie.”

“But then they’ll be gone in 10 minutes.”

Quite the suck-up but it worked and he started devouring ‘em before I left. Take note, men.

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

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

June 10, 2013 By

Jamie and I are kid-less for 24 WHOLE HOURS before I fly to Utah tomorrow for business. I tried to convince him to play hookey with me today but he was having none of that. Something about having to work to pay the bills (lame, I  know). Tonight, we’re going on a date to see Star Trek Into Darkness and eat at a new Cafe Rio that opened near our house (my fave restaurant ever).

So, why are we alone?

The Boy

On Friday, Bode boarded a plane by himself for the first time to visit his grandparents in Utah. I only cried a little bit but cried even more when a friend pointed out the gate behind him is actually to Portland!

I knew he was surrounded by people who love him but it is his first time away from home for an extended period of time so I worried a bit. If he had a different mother than me, he’d gravitate toward behind a homebody but he has really come into his own this past year and is turning into a brave, fun-loving and adventurous little guy. I called the first night after he arrived and he said he had dessert for dinner.  Yep, turns out Grandma’s ward at church was having a big dessert social and Bode loaded up on sweets.

He has long forgotten us.

The Girl

As for Hadley, I dropped her off at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park for five nights at Camp Chief Ouray yesterday. To say she was out-of-her-gourd excited is an understatement because Miss Independence is ready to fly. And, truth be told, I was just as ecstatic for her because I always longed to attend a good old-fashioned camp in a beautiful mountain setting.

We paid an extra $175 for the horseback riding option where she will spend half her day at the stable with four of her cabin mates and then rotate through traditional camp the rest of the day. She has been obsessed with horses so this may cure her or fuel the fire.

Time shall tell if we’ll live to regret it.

We arrived promptly at 1:30 p.m. for registration and because we were among the first, whizzed through the process of checking in her luggage, getting lice-checked (Colorado state law) and her temperature taken. Before we know it, I took her to her cabin where her two bubbly counselors Laura and Lindsay were waiting. Every week at camp there is a new theme and the paper snowflakes and icicles testified they were going back to the Ice Age.

Camp Chief Ouray!

We then reviewed the schedule for the week and I almost threatened to crash her party because it sounds like so much fun:
7 a.m. Wake Up/ Dress/ Wash Up/ Clean Cabins
7:45 a.m. Flag Raising
8 a.m. Breakfast in the camper cafeteria (I’d like to be a fly on the wall for the week to see what she loads up on without parental supervision. I suspect mostly carbs and no vegetables).
8:45 a.m. Camp Clean Up (She was most excited about that).
9:15 a.m. Horseback riding (OK, this was the one she was looking forward to the most).

Click to enlarge

11:30 a.m. Pavilion Call (I hope there is a dinner bell involved).

11:45 a.m. Free Time
12 p.m. Lunch (Carbs, carbs and more carbs)
1 p.m. Rest Period. B.O.B. “Bodies on Bunks.” (I would like to see this actually happen).
2 p.m. Freedom of Choice Activities. (Include archery, riflery, sports and games, dance, drama, outdoor survival skills like orienteering, nature building, fire building, arts and crafts, hiking, mad scientist, climbing, newspaper and cooking).
4:30 p.m. Snack Time (Rejoice! I suspect she will think she’s starving because normal snack time is 3 p.m.)
4:45 p.m. Cabin Activity Time. (Archery, planning for skits, games on the ball field, cabin adventures, hiking, arts and crafts or climbing).
5:30 p.m. Flag Lowering
5:45 p.m. Dinner (I suspect desserts will be interspersed with her carbs).
7:30 p.m. Evening Program.  (No idea what is involved but I highly suspect funny, corny skits)
8:30 p.m. Vespers Campfire (Hopefully they’ll sing plenty of songs and have s’mores!)
9 p.m. Cabin Devotion
10 p.m. Lights Out (10 girls in one cabin? Good luck with that).
Since Hadley was the first to arrive, she had her choice of 10 bunks. I helped her weigh her options. “If you’re in the middle, you’ll be right in the center of the action (what I would have chosen). If you choose the sides, it will be a bit quieter and may be a bit easier to fall asleep.”She selected the top bunk on the far side left, the furthest away from the counselors (they sleep in an adjacent, open room). Smarter kid than I would have been.We said our good-byes and as I was leaving, she was already delving into her first project of decorating a sign for her bunk bed.

Camp Chief Ouray is located in one of the prettiest parts of Colorado so I opted for an adventure of my own by taking the “scenic route” (which added an additional 3.5 hours onto the 1.5-hour drive from Denver), passing through Grand Lake and over infamous Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

It was worth it. #Understatement

Upon arriving home, I downloaded the day’s events to my husband.

Me: “And then Hadley cried when I dropped her off.”

Him (knowing his independent daughter so well): “Cried tears of joy?”

Me: “Pretty much.”

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

The Broadmoor: The Highlights (and Looooowlight)

June 7, 2013 By

Our latest trip to The Broadmoor was in trade for a write-up I did in their beautiful glossy magazine about the White Lights Ceremony and I was delighted it came out during our stay.And yep, those kiddos are mine were the starring models!

Pool Perfection

Our brunch was delicious, Hadley’s birthday was astounding but do you know what the highlight was? An afternoon at the pool. Now, to put this into context: Remember that I don’t like the water, which automatically discounts pools? Well, that’s a big fat usually.

We were assigned a glorious cabana adjacent to the water slides with plenty of shade, water, towels and a cabana boy at our beck and call for any drink or food that fit our fancy. The kids raced down the slides all afternoon, occasionally venturing over to the infinity pool. Anticipating I’d have to entertain them, I’d worn my swim suit but was delighted the only service they required of me was to stuff ‘em full of food. And so there I leisurely lounged on that perfect afternoon.

At one point I looked over at Hadley languidly sipping her milkshake and asked her what she thought of the experience. “Paradise,” she declared.

I couldn’t agree more.

The Spa

Jamie’s sister generously watched the kids at the pool while Jamie and I slipped out for a couple’s massage at The Broadmoor’s world-class spa. Jamie is a connoisseur of massages and if he could, would get them daily to help ease up his back pain.  His review of his experience? It was his best massage ever. Likely in part because of the talented masseuse and also because of his explicit instructions I wasn’t allowed to talk during the entire thing. Something about relaxation.

I, too loved our experience and have never been in such an opulent spa. No detail was left undone. The robes and massage tables were heated. The Mountain View Room (where we waited for our massage while sipping on flavored water and munching on healthy snacks) overlooked the manicured golf course with Cheyenne Mountain standing sentry in the background. And, if we’re being honest here, this was another highlight as well.
Or would that be loooooooowlight.

Miscellaneous Broadmoor Fun

The Boys

Dinner at The Summit

The Crazies

The Birds

When we were walking to the pool, we happened upon some birds of prey. Hadley has decided birds (particularly owls) even surpass Fat Kitty in coolness and begged to hold one.

“I’m sorry,” the volunteer kindly explained. “I’ll get in trouble if I let you do it.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” Hadley whispered.

#ICan’tWaitForThoseTeenageYears

Paddleboating Olympics

I can’t explain it but I’m always drawn to paddleboats, which is one of those activities that looks like so much fun…until you actually start doing it. The Broadmoor offers rentals on the pristine Cheyenne Lake. Because there were five of us and only four per boat, Jamie offered to sit out. I countered him saying he should go.

“No, Amber. This is your dream.”

I don’t know if that was generous or pathetic.

Lisa and I paddled around the lake spying on the swans and baby cygnets, never pausing to rest. As we made our way back, she asked if I was tired and needed a break.

“TIRED? This is my dream. I’ve been training for it.”

From the look she gave me, I think I need a new dream.

Glorious Sleep

I have never slept on a more comfortable bed than at The Broadmoor. Apparently Bode agreed because this is how I found him on our final morning.

I didn’t ever want to wake up from my dreamland either, Buddy.

The Aspiring Staff Photographer

As we were checking out at the end of our wonderful stay, Hadley asked if she could go outside to take some final photographs.

Quite appropriately, I found her with her baby swans…a rather appropriate farewell.

Until next time (because we’re hoping there will be one!!!)

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family travel, Humor, travel

The Broadmoor Brunch: Tearing Families Apart and Bringing Them Back Together

June 5, 2013 By

During our stay at The Broadmoor, I didn’t demand much from my kids. Well, except for things like, “Eat your gourmet steak.” “Go on this amazing horseback ride through Pikes Peak National Forest.” “Let’s go paddleboating to see the baby swans.”

Sucks to be them, right?

One of the highlights of our stay is always The Broadmoor’s legendary brunch (consistently ranked one of Colorado’s best) and we have always posed for pictures in our Sunday best. Except this day. Remember Hadley’s I-don’t-want-to-smile-for-your-pictures phase? That morning, it was an all-out revolt because all she wanted was brunch. And all I wanted were pictures of my happy, smiling family. See the issue here? She was given the ultimatum to smile and go to brunch or just go back to the room.

She chose to semi-smile and go to brunch. A couple of the family pictures turned out so badly I won’t post them but we’ll take it.

With Aunt Lisa

By the time she walked into that gastronomical wonderland, all conflicts were forgotten. She was the first to the buffet and quickly came back loaded up with pastries.

“I couldn’t get past the first row of all the breads,” she confessed.

Bode and I took a different approach and we piled our plates with delicious fruits. “I want to eat healthy for my first round,” he explained and I agreed.

When he left for Round 2, like any sugar-loving kid, I expected him to come back loaded up with cheese blintzes with berry sauce or maybe those waffles with Grand Marnier caramel topping. But he arrived with Cheerios.

I thought Jamie’s veins were going to bulge out of his head.

“What is this?”
“Cheerios. I like Cheerios.”
“Son, let me explain something to you. You can eat Cheerios every day of your life. There are literally hundreds of things in that buffet to eat that you will never see again. You need to try all the delicious new treats.”
“But I want to eat healthy and I like Cheerios.”

Now, lest you think Bode has turned into a health nut, I assure you he has not. I’m constantly harping on them to make good food choices but this was not the time to finally do it.

“Bode, don’t take one more bite of those Cheerios.”

The waiter approached at that moment. Jamie demanded:

“Please take those Cheerios away. Bode, you’re coming with me.”

Confused, the waiter grabbed the bowl as sensitive Bode looked like he was going to burst into tears. The horror! Parents telling you to eat sugar!

A few minutes later, Bode’s plate was appropriately loaded up and its crown jewel: his very first bananas foster (the top left picture below was taken at the very moment Hadley tasted hers for the first time). Little dude never looked back. In fact, he was so inspired he stole my iPhone and took literally a hundred (blurry) pictures of the spread. And not one of them was of Cheerios.

But the story gets better. After Hadley’s fourthish trip to the buffet, she tugged on my skirt.

“I have something I want to show you.”
“Now?”
“Now.”

I followed her out of the Lake Terrace Dining Room to a majestic overlook of the property.

“Isn’t this the most magical place, Mom? Here. Take my picture.”

And then she smiled.

The Broadmoor really is a place where miracles happen.

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Stay tuned tomorrow for the details of The Broadmoor’s famous pool, which Hadley deemed “paradise.”

In case you missed it: The Broadmoor’s Birthday Bliss and an Apology to My Daughter’s Future Husband.

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Hadley, Humor

The Broadmoor’s Bliss and an Apology to My Daughter’s Future Husband

June 4, 2013 By

To Hadley’s Future Husband,

I am thrilled you have chosen to join our crazy family and love our daughter as much as we do. She is a happy, funny and spirited girl who loves digging in the dirt but who also enjoys the finer things in life. That’s what I want to talk to you about today.

You see, I’m afraid The Broadmoor may have ruined her forever.  She celebrated her ninth birthday at this iconic AAA Five-Diamond luxury resort in Colorado Springs. At this “Grand Dame of the Rockies,” she was pampered, primped and indulged in every way.  As she lounged poolside in her cabana sipping a milkshake, I asked her what she thought of everything and she resolutely declared, “Paradise.”

Room Service Perfection

Imagine, if you will, sleeping on the resort’s Platinum Suite Plush non-flip one-sided mattress and waking up to painting-perfect views of Cheyenne Mountain with a glorious spread of food including Belgian waffles delivered to your room with a “happy birthday” message.Then, for her adoring family to shower her with presents fit for a queen.

And that’s a pretty cool candle-lit crown.

The Broadmoor’s Charms

Of course, a leisurely stroll on the immaculate grounds is a must after breakfast.

Charming mama swan and her baby cygnets

As is stopping to pose near the cottages, just as she did five years ago when we stayed at The Broadmoor with Grandma and Grandpa B.

Hadley at The Broadmoor: Then and Now

Memorial Day weekend at The Broadmoor is not lacking in festivities and she took it all in on the North Lawn–from face painting, to the bouncy castle to making cotton candy.

Because when you’re 9, your childhood is that much closer to fading away and it’s important to hang onto it as long as possible.

It’s also important to work off some of those calories so that’s where paddleboating Cheyenne Lake comes in handy.

Oh wait, calories don’t count when you’re 9 so no worries that she overindulged for lunch at the Golden Bee, the resort’s authentic 19th century English Pub.

Going Western

But all of those weren’t even the highlights. That afternoon, she participated in one of her favorite things: horseback riding at the Stables at the Broadmoor. After an adventurous 30-minute drive up Old Stage Road, she bonded with a kitty and her spirited mare Dixie. 

Then she was set loose to rediscover Spencer Penrose’s (the Broadmoor’s founder) bootlegging trail through Pike’s Peak National Forest past spying deers and bear-clawed aspens. The owner of the stables bought Hadley some birthday cupcakes that she graciously devoured. But what happened next cannot be matched. The owner called the stable’s resident pig Mildrid. On cue, Mildrid leisurely sauntered up the dirt path and, on demand, sat like a dog. Hadley then fed Mildrid her very own cupcake.

Think you can duplicate that, dear future husband? I’d like to see you try.

PLAY, PLAY, PLAY

But the day wasn’t over yet. That evening, her dear family gathered for a birthday celebration like no other at Play, The Broadmoor’s newest eatery that features six lanes of bowling. gourmet eats and a game room. For the next two hours, Hadley drank (two milkshakes, thankyouverymuch), ate (New Mexico Nachos, BBQ Pork Sliders and the Parmesan white truffle popcorn were especial favorites) and bowled. 

Not even her obnoxious brother and father could put a damper on her spirits.

From her dad’s “I’m on fire” to Bode’s competitive drive turning into overdrive “I’m just a little kid and I’M BEATING YOU ALL!”

Of course, no birthday is complete without a gloriously gooey chocolate cake.And what kind of parents would we be if we hadn’t brought our disco ball for a late-night dance party to Taylor Swift in our room before bedtime?

So, pretty much the bar is set unreasonably high for birthday celebrations. I’d facetiously say “you’re welcome” except her father and I still have to survive nine more birthdays after this one. Heaven help us all.

Love,

Your favorite mother-in-law

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, travel

School’s out for summer!

May 31, 2013 By

How glorious the final day of school was yesterday! While Bode’s sweet teacher Mrs. Dorough fought back the tears as they sang the “good-bye song” one last time, he and his friends were REJOICING!I couldn’t really blame her. First grade has been a pretty darn perfect year and I was sad to bid farewell to such a wonderful stage in his life.

Hadley’s school opted to have their field day, which is smart because it’s not like a lot of work gets done anyway.

Wild. #LikeMotherLikeDaughter

 

She has had a good year at her new Waldorf charter school and we’re glad we made the switch to a school that better helps develop her strengths. Her bestie will be going to a specialized school next year so saying good-bye was bittersweet. Bitter because she’ll miss her, sweet because she won’t miss school.

She is, after all, a kid.

Case in point: Hadley was really excited about celebrating her birthday at church. In Primary, the kids get to wear a silly birthday hat and glasses while everyone sings to them, after which they get a treat. Prior to that, the teacher gives clues about what the birthday girl/boy likes to do and the class needs to guess who it is.

I wasn’t sure Hadley would be recognized last week because her teacher hadn’t reached out to me for a little biography but I was wrong.

“They did my birthday party at church today,” Hadley reported.

“Oh, good. How did it go?”

“They must have used my information from last year.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, they got some things right. My favorite food is Timbits and I still like cats. But they got one thing WRONG.”

“What was it?”

“They said I love learning, which I don’t.”

Then, there’s her brother. He woke up depressed on the last morning of school.

“What’s wrong, buddy?”

“I wish we had six days left of school. I don’t want it to be over.”

“Yes, but think of all the fun we’ll have this summer.”

“Will you homeschool me every day for four hours, Mommy?”

Not likely, little dude.

And that, my friends, is a geek in the making.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor
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