The Children’s Division–Or Would That Be “Division Among the Children?”

October 3, 2012 By

At the Great Pumpkin’s weigh-off, the children’s division is almost an after-thought. “Ahh, look at the cute little pumpkins! Hurry them through and let’s get on to the big daddies.”

This year was the exception.

The rules are the pumpkins need to be dropped off well in advance of the competition. The children’s started at 10 a.m. and the adults were supposed to follow at 11 a.m. Much to my annoyance (as one who HATES when people/events are late), this event has never started on time.

At 10 a.m., Hadley and Bode had the only pumpkin in the children’s division. Then 10:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. By 10:45 a.m., we started doing our victory lap but no, wait! Our arch nemesis from years past showed up with three humdinger pumpkins. Meaning: HUGE.

The kids had not noticed their competition so we settled back, waiting for it to begin. When we saw the first pumpkin that was going to scale, Hadley was unimpressed.

“Wow, that’s small,” she scoffed.

 I tried to shush her but not before the mohawked kid and his brother in front of us turned around without missing a beat and snarled, “That’s my pumpkin.”

“And it’s a very nice one,” I assured him before lecturing Hadley about being a good sport. Turns out, she needed that lecture because out of the five pumpkins, hers was among the smallest.

To build suspense, pumpkins are measured from smallest to largest and Hadley and Bode’s was next. They were excited about the results: 203 pounds. And a great-looking pumpkin to boot!

But they didn’t win. In fact, there were three kids from the same family whose pumpkins got progressively bigger. By the time they got to the largest pumpkin–from a 5-year-old girl–the pumpkin was a foot taller than she was.

“622 pounds!” Jamie (the MC) announced.

Now, that’s impressive for any grower but common consensus was there was no way a kindergartner who couldn’t remember what city she was from could have grown it. The dad even later later it slip that they were all his pumpkins.

Disconcerting? Sure. The father should have just entered them in the adult competition and he still would have beat out half the competition. And it wasn’t that little girl’s fault–I’m sure she didn’t put herself up to it.

Haddie is a perceptive one. “I don’t think she did it by herself. In fact, I’m 100 percent sure she didn’t.”

Regardless of the fairness of the situation, there was a lesson to be learned. “It doesn’t matter,” I consoled. “Sometimes things just aren’t fair. But you got fourth place and you grew a really great pumpkin. That is something to be proud of.”

When the ribbons were handed out, I insisted they cheer for their competitors. Hadley begrudgingly obliged but mild-mannered Bode had been nursing a brutal blister from the monkey bars.

“I can’t,” he contested. “It hurts too much to clap.”

I couldn’t have agreed more, Little Dude.

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

The ultimate in fall family travel

October 2, 2012 By

I’m excited to be part of an amazing team of travel writers at Travel Mamas where I’ll be contributing twice a month.

Translation: I have some FUN adventures on the horizon, including details of my trip to Coronado Island.

I’m always babbling on about Colorado’s giant pumpkin weigh-offs but did you know these events are held all over the nation? That’s right, folks. Jamie’s crazy is not limited within the confines of this great state.

So, please head over to Travel Mamas (click here) to get an inside scoop on where these fun events are held. I’ve also included some craaaaazy pictures of the world’s biggest pumpkins.

This ain’t one of them. But he sure is cute.

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

And The Great Pumpkin’s Weight Is….

September 30, 2012 By

Yep, 837 pounds! (Check-out Jamie’s blog denverpumpkins.com for specs).

Though last year’s pumpkin weighed almost 100 pounds more, Jamie was pleased with the result. Growers have enormous tape measures and based on the measurements, Jamie’s pumpkin should have weighed about 770 pounds but it went 9 percent heavy.

Look at me with my pumpkin-geek speak. Impressed?

Though there were a few pumpkins with larger circumferences, Jamie passed them to place a surprising fourth.

The kiddos also placed fourth in a somewhat contested children’s division. More on that later (and how Haddie smack-talked the mohawk kid) but they were pleased with their 203-pounder.

When we first arrived, I had a nice woman come up to me who recognized me from my Denver Post articles about Jamie’s pumpkin obsession.

Still trying to figure out if that was a good thing?

And Jamie, of course, is a local celebrity with references to our NBC Marriage Ref appearance being thrown around. Beauty queen Mrs. Littleton even made a celebrity appearance!

Umm, OK.

While Jamie was busy doing his pumpkin business, the kiddos and I delved into the activities at Jared’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Festival that included a bouncy castle, face painting and balloon animals.

A maze….

 Water balloon sling shots,

And, of course, an obscene amount of oversized pumpkins and vegetables.

Cool pear!
1st place pumpkin

Jamie’s buddy Joe Scherber took first place with a pumpkin that was taping out to more than 1,400 pounds–a new Colorado record. Sadly, it went really light and *only* weighed 1,225 pounds.

Something that made me chuckle: Pumpkins allegedly lose several pounds of weight after they are cut from the vine so many growers wrap bags of water around the stem to help maintain their moisture. Scherber took it a step further and if you look closely at the pumpkin, you can see bags with yellow liquid. The contents? Gatorade.

Who knew pumpkins were athletes?

Following the day’s festivities, Jamie took us out for a celebratory dinner on the deck of Blue Canyon Grill in Golden.

But the true highlight for us all? Driving the streets with an 837-pound pumpkin in tow. People were hooping and hollering at us, delighted to catch a glimpse of such an anomaly. As we waved back at everyone, I marveled at our quirky family where oversized gourds and crazy trips are the norm.

And I couldn’t have been more grateful.

Next time: the smack-talkin’ in the children’s division weigh-off. Oh, the controversy.

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

The 4th Annual Pumpkin Par-tay!

September 29, 2012 By

It’s been a rough season for the Pumpkin Man. So rough, in fact, that I haven’t gotten the same pleasure out of mocking his favorite pastime.

Don’t get me wrong–I still did it but it just wasn’t as fun.

He generally grows two plants and he lost one early in the season to disease. His other pumpkin “Christine” (creepily lovingly christened after my mom) never really took off with Denver’s record-breaking heat.

Though this pumpkin will likely weigh a couple hundred pounds less than last year’s, she never stopped slowly growing and he was just relieved to have a pumpkin he could take to the scale.

Before our pumpkin party, we posed for annual pictures in the patch.

Because doesn’t every family take pictures with their oversized gourd?

This is the kids’ pumpkin, which I think will be a personal best. Unlike Jamie’s pumpkin (which started out white), theirs is a nice lovely orange. Hadley and Bode are already plotting how much money they can make selling it off.

They’re obviously not the sentimental types, particularly when they’ve been saving for a trampoline for over a year.

As usual, my friends delivered with some fabulous pumpkin recipes–everything from pumpkin strudel to pumpkin dip to cookies to krispies to muffins to cake pops.

Delicious spinach dip in a pumpkin

I’m not one to toot my own horn but I was repeatedly told my “Better than s&x pumpkin cake” was a huge hit. I needed something quick, easy and delicious and this bad boy delivered (recipe here).


Also, don’t judge me for the  name. Because I clearly labeled it so everyone else could.

Of course, the main event of our pumpkin party is the vine cutting and pumpkin hauling. Everyone made their way to the back and stood enthralled.

It cracks me up how our friends keep coming back year after year but I’m sure glad they do. Several rookies were present and duly impressed.

If you’ve never been to a Great Pumpkin Par-tay, the first step is to tie a rope around the bottom of the pumpkin and make sure the lifting straps are positioned just right before the forklift lifts it off the bed of sand.

As soon as it is airborne, Jamie needs to check underneath to ensure there are no cracks (which mean disqualification in competition). I’ve heard horror stories of growers who slaved all season long, only to finally lift the pumpkin to transport it and realize the entire bottom had rotted out.

Fortunately, that has never happened to Jamie; it would be ugly to see a grown man cry.

Because the kids’ pumpkin weighs significantly less, a few guys were able to transport it with a lifting tarp.

Though this picture is fuzzy because it was taken with my iPhone at night, it needs to be included. Why? Solely because there are FOUR GROWN MEN hauling it to the car and Jamie will make ‘lil ‘ol me take it out with just him.

Translation: I am equal to three grown men.

I was grateful so many friends came out for the party because I know many had conflicts. Earlier in the day, I tweeted out:

The school’s fundraiser or travel are NOT good reasons to miss our infamous pumpkin party. Pregnant neighbor getting induced? She gets a bye.

Because I’m generous like that.

P.S. Baby’s middle name had better be “great” or “pumpkin.”

Stay tuned for details of the big weigh-off, my better than s&x cake trauma and the explosion that happened mere moments before the party started.
================

Can’t get enough of the Great Pumpkin Parrrrrr-Tay? It has greatly evolved over the years.

Check out:
* 2011
*2010
 *2009 The Year That Wasn’t (when the tornado took out The Great Pumpkin)
* 2008 Our 1st Annual Fete!

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

My fellow pumpkin widow

August 10, 2012 By

Tomorrow is the annual “Patch Tour”–a time when the illustrious Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetable Growers Group select a few of their fellow growers’ patches to tour and, if we’re being honest, SPY.

My pumpkin updates have been few and far between because we’ve been gone or busy this summer and I’ve barely noticed all the time Jamie has been spending in the pumpkin patch (I think that has been his evil plan). He lost one of his plants to a disease a couple of months ago so we’re down to one hallowed pumpkin he has christened after my mother: Christine.

There are a number of jokes I could insert here about hoping she’ll be big and round but I’ll refrain.

A couple of months ago, I was given some perspective on Jamie’s whole pumpkin obsession. It started out like most Sundays do. We attended church, came home and there was a message on our voice mail from a pumpkin grower named Tom who was visiting from Indiana.

“He wants to know if he can come over so I told him to swing by,” Jamie said.
“When?”
“He’s five minutes away.”

I inwardly groaned but then Jamie offered: “He’s bringing his wife. She doesn’t like pumpkins, either.”

Finally an ALLY!

The phone rang just as they arrived. It was the chicken lady on the phone for me (another topic, another day) so I could only motion “hello” as Jamie led them to the pumpkin patch.

After wrapping up my call, I raced out there and called out to Tom’s wife Megan: “I heard you’re NOT a pumpkin grower?” She eagerly nodded. “Well get inside with me, right away!”

I’ve never seen a woman move so quickly.

We commiserated about (what else?) our pumpkin-obsessed husbands.

How we are the same:
Our husbands grow giant pumpkins. Duh.

How we are different: Tom grows over 400 pumpkins. Yep, you heard correctly.  He has a separate patch for his competition pumpkins and another field of them that they hand-plant over Memorial Day. These pumpkins are primarily used for genetics.

If you’re not a pumpkin geek, you have no idea what that means.I do, so that sadly means I am one of them.

I also discovered another way Megan and I are different.

“How long has Tom been growing?” I queried.
“Several years,” she replied.
“Wait. How long you have been married?” I countered.
“Four years.”
“So there was FULL DISCLOSURE BEFORE YOU GOT MARRIED?”

Yep. And even worse, she was on vacation in Denver and he managed to work in some patch tours.

I got a lot of things out of that visit but one thing in particular: perspective.

I never thought I’d say I’m grateful for just one giant pumpkin.

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

A Romantic Interruption

May 23, 2012 By

Jamie. Yes, the man grows giant pumpkins. Yes, he seems to work 24/7. But he has always done remarkably well in the romance department, for which I am grateful.

One year, he surprised me with a getaway to a gorgeous cabin in Breckenridge. Another time, it was the St. Julien in Boulder. Another favorite was the scavenger hunt that led us to the Lumber Baron Inn.

For his most recent surprise, he told me I needed a nap because we’d be staying out late.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I have to be in bed by 11 p.m.”
“That’s why you need to take a nap.”
I continued, “Cuz if I stay up past then, this Cinderella will turn into a pumpkin.”

For any other guy, this analogy would work. Not for a giant pumpkin grower. He deviously grinned and queried, “How big?”

That afternoon, I took a nap.

We dropped the kiddos off at Aunt Lisa’s for a sleepover and he told me we were going to dinner in downtown Denver. We parked the car in a lot across from the Brown Palace, the luxurious, historic hotel where we spent our wedding night.

I casually asked, “Are we going to the Brown Palace?”
“No, but we have a few minutes before our dinner reservation so why don’t we pop over?”

I was excited to go on a stroll down memory lane so we toured around the opulent lobby, bursting with energy during Afternoon Tea.

“Why don’t we go up to the top floor and look down?” he suggested. I gamely followed him in the elevator. When we arrived at the eighth floor, he pulled out a piece of paper for me to read–a wonderful love note reminiscing the start of our lives together. He then led me over to a door, opened it with a key card and there, in the corner suite, there awaited our luggage and a menagerie of candles.

Jamie had snuck over earlier in the day (he told me he had a work meeting) to check-in and set everything up. He had even brought our Magic Bullet to make Pina Colada smoothies!
Dude should totally go on one of those shows about how to romance a woman.

That night, we headed over to Larimer Square and dined at Tag, an ultra-hip and chic restaurant and then strolled around 16th Street Mall, Denver’s popular pedestrian area. He spared no expense in showing us a good time.

Really, the only things he overlooked were my personal items.  Of course, I didn’t want to complain because he’d gone to all the trouble to set everything up. But on his surprise getaways, it would be swell if he could bring a few of my overnight items (especially since he came armed with a carry-on with some of his own). Though he did make a gesture.

“It would be nice if I had some make-up,” I commented the next morning.

“I did bring you make-up,” he said proudly as he pointed to the lone eye liner pencil he’d put in his hygiene bag.

I inwardly laughed he thought that’s all I needed.  Next time, I’ll just hope for a toothbrush and call it good.

Because his romantic gestures definitely are.

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

Happy Mother’s Day!

May 14, 2012 By

I have a fantastic mom and a wonderful mother-in-law, had great grandmothers, and many friends who perfectly emulate what it means to be a model mom. I’ve also been blessed with a loving husband and two fantastic kids.

Basically, I can’t go wrong on Mother’s Day.

I was treated to breakfast in bed, some great homemade gifts from the kiddos, a steak dinner, beautiful hanging baskets for the porch, delicious pie at church and the promise of a romantic evening without kids on Saturday (thanks to Aunt Lisa for hosting their sleepover!)


I, in turn, made Jamie promise in addition to giving me the hanging baskets he will also take care of them. I am pretty much good-for-nothing as it pertains to gardening besides just enjoying the view.

Of the baskets. And his backside.

Two of my favorite quotes of the day:

Bode is my sweet, thoughtful kid and he brought me in a number of LEGO creations he made just for me. I marveled at my collection of Mother’s Day gifts and said, “You guys are so nice to me.”

His response: “Are you going to give us something?”

Yeah. How about the last eight years of my life?

Speaking of giving, Jamie gave me his undivided attention until he visited his pumpkins at 7 p.m., upon which he raced back into the house and queried, “Quick. Do you have a pair of old nylons you’re not using?”

My only possible explanation: cross-dressing pumpkins.

‘Twas a Mother’s Day to remember.

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

The big pumpkin season kick-off

April 18, 2012 By

Pumpkin season is upon us.

At least that’s what I think is happening with the Poltergeist-esque light seeping through Jamie’s grow room closet.

For the better part of winter, Jamie mopes around the house longingly gazing at his empty pumpkin patch. Around the beginning of April, he starts to come to life again, starting with the pumpkin grower’s spring kick-off event a couple of weeks ago.

I don’t ask what goes on there. I don’t need to know.

Now, there’s a lift in his step and a glow in his eyes.

Saturday–Pumpkin Man forwards me an email. A reporter from HGTV Gardening wants to interview him about growing giant pumpkins.

Because the dude needs a bigger platform to talk about them.

Sunday–He took a pocket full of pumpkin seeds to church and returned home with nothing.

I equated their distribution to blasphemy.

Monday–He gave his annual Family Home Evening lesson about “faith is like a pumpkin seed.” He and the kids planted their pumpkin (I had a meeting so missed the ceremony).

I later learned he had them assemble the mixture by digging into earthworm castings to get some quality poop to add to their pot.

Take that, City Kids.

Tuesday–He went to the Colorado Rockies game with his pumpkin buddies. Allegedly, baseball was watched but I don’t believe it.

Not when there are pumpkins to be discussed.

Today–Jamie will plant his pumpkins. Don’t ask me what genetics he is using. Don’t ask me what you should be putting in your soil to get started.

All these (and much more, I’m sure) will be at DenverPumpkins.com or on Facebook this season.

Signed,
The Pumpkin Widow

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

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

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
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