Unintentional Blog Hiatus

March 6, 2012 By

Between Bode getting sick, Hadley’s non-stop Destination Imagination rehearsals this week, recovering from my own illness, appearing on 9News yesterday for a segment on baby showers, trying to crank out my column and volunteering at school, I’m on temporary blogging hiatus.

What that really means is I am between blogs right now.

Jamie started my new blog’s design and transferred over allll my archives (no small feat; I’ve been blogging for many years now). He just needs to put the finishing touches and it will be live.

But here’s the problem: he’s busy.

Apparently he thinks working for clients who pay our mortgage is more important than this here blog.

At this point, I have to manually input my posts in both blogs and that’s just a bit too much for me to handle right now.

So, stay tuned. Next week, I’ll have details on our ski day in Loveland (it’s a doozy) and hopefully will be announcing my new site very soon.

I just need to start nagging The Pumpkin Man to do it.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: 9News, Humor, Jamie

Leap Year ’12 Time Capsule (and Evidence I Suck at Math)

March 1, 2012 By

I instituted a new Leap Year family tradition yesterday: we made a time capsule for us to open when the next Leap Year rolls around.

The only other time I’ve done a time capsule was when I was 16. I must have been inspired by a Young Women’s lesson at church to journal my life so I went home and made a very serious tape.

At least it seemed serious until I opened it 10 years later when I was 26 and was mortified at how ridiculous I sounded saying “rad” every other word.

It was, after all, the ’80s.

I’ve since gotten over that and really wish I could find that tape for my posterity to mock.

This time around, I had everyone in the family answer a questionnaire with the following:

Name and age

Favorite food

Friends

Favorite subject

Favorite things to do

What I’m looking forward to this year.

What do you want to be doing in 4 years?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I threw in a newspaper with today’s headlines, the entertainment section detailing current movies and some drawings and mementos from the kids. When we asked The Pumpkin Man how he wanted to commemorate February 2012, we put a pumpkin seed in the time capsule.

Here’s for hoping that hobby will be long forgotten by the time we open it.

Then, we sealed it up tight and put a bold, DO NOT OPEN UNTIL 2016. (Apologies for the sideways picture; can’t get it to rotate.)


OK, truth be told the reason the letters are in bold is because I originally wrote 2014.

Turns out 2012+4….well, here’s for hoping you know the answer.

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

Just when you think you know someone

February 29, 2012 By

Part of the joys of being self-employed is dealing with your own insurance nightmares. Due to Jamie’s medical history, he’s not exactly a desirable candidate (understatement) and so we’re paying an exorbitant amount in medical insurance.

And unfortunately that medical insurance does not include dental.

So it’s been a good, long while since any of us have gone to the dentist. Jamie has been harping on me to make an appointment for the kids and I’ve been looking around for the best deals because we’ll have to pay out-of-pocket.

Then yesterday, Bode came home with a toothbrush from school. Turns out a pediatric dentist had visited them and was offering a free new-patient visit.

Jamie: Call TODAY and make an appointment.
Me: OK, OK. I’ll leave a message at Dr. Savage’s office.
Jamie: (Long pause) Dr. Savage? His first name isn’t Rick, is it?
Me: (Wracking my brain for recognition). No, it isn’t. Why?
Jamie: Because Rick Savage is my rock star name.

Is it just me or is having an imaginary rock star working on your mouth a wee bit unsettling?

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

On firing your husband

February 28, 2012 By

This blog is woefully in need of some TLC and a complete overhaul (including rebranding and switching to WordPress). Jamie has been helping with the redesign in his spare time, which means it’s barely happened because the dude is always working.

But on Sunday, I convinced him that his day of rest was best spent helping me.

Something about service to your fellow (wo)man.

He reluctantly agreed and started searching around for a new logo. This is what he proposed.
Looks like I’m in the market for another web designer.

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

Over 40 and Fabulous

February 21, 2012 By

“Over 40 and Fabulous” was the title of a club that was started by a workout maven I used to follow. I admittedly scoffed at the name of the club.

But now I get it because I am 40 and my birthday was, indeed fabulous!

It started with breakfast in bed (thanks, Jamie) and then a surprise TP job and sign on our front lawn.

Good thing I wasn’t bashful about my birthday.

And do you see these cuties?
They got me a phone for my new office (more on that ordeal later), some mango body wash (my favorite) and then they did an elaborate scavenger hunt where I ultimately found my big gift: an iPad 3.

In case you’re wondering if we have the inside scoop on this not-yet-released item, I assure you it was just a rain check.

My happy place is skating Evergreen Lake (about 30 minutes from Denver in the mountains) so I resolved that is where I wanted to spend my 40th birthday. We ordered a bunch of pizzas from Beau Jo’s(best in Colorado), a cake from Costco (Over-the-Hill, of course) and invited my besties to come play.

(Tina, Me and Lisa)

In case you’re wondering why I’m holding up a random plate, let me assure you I am also wielding a knife in my right hand.
Don’t you feel so much better now?

I have to give my friends credit. None of them were skaters but they were great sports out there.

By “great sports,” I am referring to their attitude, not their skating competence.

(This, from the woman who biffed it on the boardwalk whilst carrying Bode’s sled.)

The kids had a blast skating, climbing on a makeshift snow slide and being hauled around the ice.


I felt so darn grateful for the many friends who showed up to make this one of my very favorite birthdays ever. I knew skating wasn’t on their list of favorite activities, which made it even more special. At the end of our outing, I told Jamie I had so much fun I wanted to do it EVERY year for my birthday.

Which basically means I’ll be friendless by Birthday 2013.

=============

My parting thoughts to Jamie that evening before bedtime.

Me: “Tell me I don’t look a day over 40.”
Him: “But you’re not even one day over 40.”
Me: “And don’t you forget it.”

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

Parenting Perils and Perks

February 16, 2012 By

Though busy, busy, busy, we’re having a batch of really good days around here with even better attitudes from the kids.

Believe me, we’ve had enough bad ones to recognize a ray of sunshine when it happens.

However as all parents will attest, parenting is just exhausting. Though I can keep up with my kids on the best of days, sometimes I just need a break, some alone time and you know what? They’re always there, clamoring for my attention and pulling me in so many different ways.

Then I remind myself these are the precious years and I wouldn’t have it any other way because pretty soon, they’ll be ignoring me.

However, on one of my fragmented nights after we put the kids to bed, I started to confess to Jamie: “Here’s the hard thing about parenting….” and before I could continue, he responded.

“The kids.”

That pretty much sums it up.

==========================

When Bode says his nighttime prayers, he often rattles off a long list of items and body parts for which he is grateful. Following a recent prayer, I asked: “Bode, did you just thank Heavenly Father for TVs?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “In the olden days they didn’t have them.”

Can’t argue with his logic…or gratitude.

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

Our Anniversary Love Story

February 15, 2012 By

It’s official: Jamie and I have been an old, married couple for NINE years!

In keeping with tradition, I’ll share my courtship story with Jamie. Y’see, my beloved James and I were BYU students at the same time, graduated from the same department, walked through the same graduation ceremonies and regularly played volleyball together on the same court one summer…and yet never met.

It took a glorious thing called the Internet to finally bring us together many years later. I was in the midst of terminating an on-again, off-again five-year long-distance relationship and was cruising a popular Mormon singles site, adding unsuspecting prey to my Little Black Book.

Jamie had also ended a relationship a few months prior and was looking for some nice local Mormon girls to date. I, however, was not local. (Or nice for that matter; really, my only qualifier was I was Mormon). He was in Denver, I in Salt Lake City. I had just endured a long-distance romance and vowed I would never do that again. That avowal lasted about a week. He, too had no interest in something long distance.

Despite the odds, I came across his profile. It was not his dashing good looks that initially struck me (his photo was taken on an Alaskan glacier five miles away) or his poetry and prose (i.e. “I like eating good food”) but rather the strong impression that I needed to write him. Immediately.

Our connection was immediate. Jamie first knew it was love when I expounded upon mountaineering and the definition of the horned sacrificial altar in Ancient Israel (yep, we’re two of a kind). I knew Jamie was The One when he googled my name and read every single article I had ever written. Either that or he was a stalker. Fortunately, he proved to be the former.

After countless e-mails and phone calls over the next two months, we planned to meet. By this time, it had been revealed to both of us in a very powerful way that we would get married. Imagine, if you will, how you’d feel opening the door to a person you’d never laid eyes on, yet knowing he was The One. Suffice it to say, the week prior to our meeting, I was a wreck.

Another confirmation I received was when The Family Curse came upon me. Y’see, when both of my brothers met their spouses, something unfortunate always happened. For Patrick, he “accidentally” passed gas when he was introduced to Jane. For Jeek, he had developed a horrible boil smack in the middle of his nose when he met Shannon. For me, I developed an allergic reaction to some flowers at work, which resulted in a stye in my eye. Y’know. The really pink, pussy, ugly kind. This was yet another sign.

And so despite my pussy, makeup-less state when I finally laid eyes on him (albeit one good eye), I knew then what I know now: that we were meant to be together. And despite all my Murphyisms and idiosyncrasies, he still loves me. And keeps loving me. I don’t understand or question it, I’m just grateful for it.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

(To read all the sordid details of our wedding day, go here).

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

The Land of the Lost

February 4, 2012 By

Alright, alright. As soon as people start querying if you’re still alive, you realize you need to post to your neglected blog.

It’s just I’m really, really busy and the 2.5 hours Bode is in kindergarten is not nearly enough time to tackle everything.

And so this here blog often falls victim.

In addition to working our butts off, here is a small sample of our playtime.

Ice skating Evergreen Lake in the mountains.
And lunching at Country Road Cafe.
These are only two of my favorite winter activities in Colorado. Ever.

We also went on a killer-awesome hike at Matthews Winters.


The awesome part was playing hide-and-go-seek.
The killer part was letting Adventure Girl drag us up a suicidal slopes.I find it rather ironic that Hadley freaks out at climbing walls but has no problem free climbing up rock croppings without the security of ropes.

She’s my daughter.

And then yesterday, it was snow day fun when school was canceled. While I shoveled, the kids played.
And played.


And played some more.
It’s our tradition to build a fort when it snows.
Check-out my little snowbunny a few years ago.
What a difference a few years makes!

Hadley was an overachiever and cranked out her first solo snowman.

And she stayed out much longer than Bode and me to build a snowfort with not one but three tunnel entrances.
Showoff.

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

SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch: My family’s favorite small-mountain resort!

January 30, 2012 By

Me: “I have some bad news, Haddie.”
Haddie: “Oh no, what?”
Me: “I can’t find your carsickness pills and it’s a really windy road to SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch.”
Haddie: “Oh no. I’m gonna die!”
Me: “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just going to throw up.”

Base Camp

Hadley somehow survived the serpentine mountain passages and two hours later, we were settled into our cozy condo at Base Camp One. Located in the heart of Granby Ranch’s 5,000 acres of mountain splendor, SolVista Basin is all about location, location, location. Many resorts tout “slope-side accommodations” but SolVista takes it one step further.

Or rather, about 20 steps, which is how far we had to go before were at the base area and the popular “Snow Turtle,” THE place where kids congregated to climb and slide.

(View of the Snow Turtle from our condo; lazy parenting at its best.)

Welcome to one of Colorado’s most family-friendly resorts.

SolVista Basin has a special place in my heart: it is where Hadley first learned to ski (check-out the sordid details at Confessions of a Ski School Dropout).

With 406 skiable acres that cover interconnected mountains it is small, affordable and the perfect place for young families to come together. Unless you’re like us and drop off your kids at ski school and enjoy a day by yourself.

Couple’s Lesson

SolVista Basin has launched a 2-hour private lesson for couples because, despite your best intentions, skiing together is often en par to martyrdom. Whether you have different ability levels or the misguided notion you can teach your significant other, it generally ends badly.

Tom McNamara was our instructor. A retired lobbyist who traveled the country whipping political campaigns into shape, he knew how to do the same with us.

We started on the bunny slope. Now, I know what you’re thinking because I had the same thought: “We’re not beginner skiers, Dude!” But Tom had a plan and that included observing our ability, knocking us back down to square one and then building us back up.

Jamie and I are comparable skiers. I have better form and he is faster and more aggressive. But we both agreed on one thing: it was humbling and frustrating in the beginning.

Tom taught us how to work with (and not against) our parabolic skis to seamlessly carve our turns. Jamie and I had different habits to break and Tom had the know-how to give us our own tools to succeed. I’m pleased to say I’ve never skied better.

And even more ecstatic to announce our marriage is still in tact. :-)

Sweetheart of a Deal:2-hour Couple’s Lesson, $180 (regularly $215) in February (equipment and lift tickets are extra). Bruised ego included.

Saturday Splendor

On Saturdays, sleepy SolVista Basin comes to life. Though it could never be deemed crowded (the longest I waited in a lift line was 1 minute), there is a fun line-up of activities kids of all ages will enjoy.

Free S’Mores

After ski school from 3-4 p.m., we enjoyed free s’mores by the firepit at Base Camp Lodge.

Tubing

The Snow Turtle has a small sledding hill attached to it but if you want more of a rush, be sure to try the Saturday night tubing. A snowcat transforms the bunny slope into a three-lane, lift-serviced thrillway. Well, as thrilling as a cuddly cottontail can be.

Confession: That hare-of-a-ride had me screaming.

Night tubing is $14 for a 45-minute session or pay $20 for both night skiing and tubing. Children must be 6 and older to tube. If you just want to night ski, it is a great deal: just $12.

How you know you’ve had a great vacation

Evidence #1 (right after ski school):

Evidence #2:

Evidence #3:

Me: “So, what did you think?” (After ski school)

Hadley: “I think it was a really fun day!”

(Literal) “retch-ed” beginning and all.

For more details of our trip, an event calendar including Kids’ Totally Insane Winter Blast, area activities and more, be sure to head over to Mile High Mamas today. Thanks to SolVista for hosting!

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

How you know you’re raising Casanova

January 27, 2012 By

Bode is a man’s man. If you were to give him the choice between hanging out with boys vs. girls, he would choose boys 100 percent of the time.

However, when there are no boys available, he rises to the occasion and hooks his sweet sinkers into many an adoring lassie.

Case-in-point: yesterday we went to our neighborhood skate park. When we arrived, there were no girls on the playground so Bode hung out with Denai, a cute girl from his kindergarten class. Or rather, Denai hung onto him. Denai is a funny one and looked like she was having the time of her life.

I previously thought she was a bit of a tomboy because she hangs out with all the boys.

Now I know she is just boy-crazy.

As she went to leave, I overheard her boasting to another little girl:

“I spent the WHOLE TIME with Bode!!!!” Pause for dramatic effect. “YAAAAAAAAAY!”

And so it begins.

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