You will not see me praising the inauguration festivities. Of course, I recognize and laud the historic nature of it all. But I do not agree with the millions of dollars being dumped into it when our country is in a recession and so many are out of work. President Roosevelt canceled both of his inaugural balls. While I do not expect such extreme measures, I do expect some fiscal measures to be in place and that certainly ain’t happening. Celebrations? Yes! Extravagance? No!

Phew–glad I got that I got that off my chest! Have you ever have one of those weeks where you get kicked in the gut and it becomes a reoccurring Groundhog Day when all you want to do is just shoot the little bugger to make him stop. Or at least stick a hose in the gopher hole, crank the water and drown them all out.

I have not always been the angel you see before you.

In my defense, my bestestest friend Stacey made me do it.

Hurricane Hadley got sick last week. Really sick. As in almost-took-her-to-the-ER kind of sick. Anyone who has ever dealt with this knows you become even more of an indentured servant than usual.

“Mommy, get a me a Kleenex. No, not from that Kleenex box.”

“Mommy, you put approximately 1 ml of extra water in my orange juice so as to completely dilute it. MAKE IT AGAIN.”

“Mommy, if I can’t sleep, NO ONE ELSE CAN!”

Jamie and I battled a sore throat through it all but fortunately never got really succumbed. She stayed home from preschool the entire week and if you have ever seen a Hurricane sequestered indoors, you can imagine the condition of our home…and emotional state.

Jamie and I did manage to sneak out to go to a movie one afternoon. I appreciated your suggestions, though my non-scientific findings ascertained that mothers with young children rarely see any movie that does not have talking animals.

We opted for the Nazis.

And Valkyrie was just what the doctor ordered. Maybe because it was a reminder that people’s lives sucked way more than ours.

I thought Tom Cruise did a great job and unlike many people, I do not harbor ill-feelings about his past behavior. Mostly because if I only saw movies starring people I respected in Hollywood, I would never go. Personally, I would be flattered if Jamie jumped on a couch for me on Oprah.

Then again, remember this little poll I took about whether to allow him to grow worms in our basement? Well, checkout this little diddy he just confessed on his infamous pumpkin blog.

Maybe a hosing down may be in order after all.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

The movie Inkheart has been hitting the blogosphere. I swear, that movie is everywhere and won’t even be in theatres until January 23rd. Illiterate soul that I am, I had never even heard of the best-selling trilogy until I went to see Twilight for the second time with my niece over Christmas.

OK, maybe I am not that illiterate because I am reading the Twilight series for the second time.

Though I have somehow lost book four, which makes me not only quasi-illiterate but confirms I am disorganized.

Anyhew, there was a trailer for Inkheart at Twilight. And my 13-year-old niece FREAKED because she is a huuuuuge fan of the books. I freaked, too because 1) Brendan Fraser is cuuuuuuuuute and 2) He is Canadian.

Nevermind that this family-friendly adventure looks to be the next hit.

While we’re on the topic of movies, Jamie and I are going this weekend. On an actual date. Without children. And we’re a bit lost. There have been several great movies that have been released within the last few months so I am loooking for your recommendation: if it was the end of the world and you could only go to one movie, what would it be?

Because make no mistake: when we go to the movies without kids, the end of the world must assuredly be coming.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

In today’s post, I am taking a poll. When did you first go online? Start your first email account? What social media tools do you use?

I received my first email account in a BYU Communications class back in 1994. While I thought it was innovative to interact electronically with my classmates and professor, I did not know anyone else who was online. I decided then and there this Internet thing was just a fad.

I assure you it is the only time I have ever been wrong.

Last weekend, I was reminded just how incorrect I was. I attended Chicks Who Click, a Boulder-based conference that hosted some of the top social media mavens in the industry.

Don’t understand what social media or social applications are? If you’re reading this blog post, you are a part of it. The same goes if you have ever used technologies such as email, instant messaging, picture-sharing and forums. Don’t know what a social media application is? Think Google Groups, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr or Twitter, the latter of which is a micro-blogging and social networking at its finest, in 140 characters or less.

The great thing? All these tools are putting moms who may not have had a voice in the driver’s seat to make a large impact on society.

The Chicks Who Click conference started out as Chicks on Sticks with a ski day at Eldora. Most attendees ended up bailing out at the last minute (for reasons beyond me) so I shared a 20-passenger beast-of-a-limo with social media phenom Gwen Bell, Barbara Jones of One2One Network (one of the most powerful word-of-mouth marketing networks for women) and Metzger Associates planning guru Denise Smith.

Oh, yeah. And there was me. The one who predicted the early demise of the Internet.

I thought our epic ski day would be the highlight. It wasn’t.

I spent the next day listening to informed and inspiring speakers, meditating in my “bubble,” networking with fantastic women from all walks of life, and collaborating in group break-out sessions. I was put in a group of five and we were given the task to devise a social medial plan for a company. With fellow Mile High Mama Aimee Greeblemonkey at our helm, our group took home the top prize: an “I kicked social media a$$” trophy. I can assure you it is the only trophy I have ever received with the word a$$ in it.

Good thing they didn’t “reward” me for all those a$$-kickings my sports teams received over the years.

What were the most important things I took away from the conference?

*Traditional media is evolving and newspapers, television and film are no longer the only informants and whistle-blowers.

*A small percentage of people using social media’s tools are becoming the very voices that are changing the landscape of society. They are a force to be reckoned with, as was evidenced when powerhouse Motrin apologized for an ad many mom bloggers and twitterers found offensive.

At The Denver Post’s Mile High Mamas, we are an example of how traditional media is evolving. We are committed to connecting moms to each other and the rest of the world with the very social networking tools that are changing it. In the next few months, we will be doing a redesign to make our interface more friendly, our forums more interactive and repurposing our live Twitter feed with your minute-by-minute updates, while our mama bloggers (and token dad) keep you laughing on our blog.

Not yet blogging or on Facebook and Twitter? Start now and here is how to do it! Twitter in particular is becoming an integral social media tool to deliver real-time updates from people and organizations you care about.

Like Dora the Explorer.

My children never thought they would have to live in a world without their perpetually-perky senorita and were devastated to learn that Nick Jr. (Dora’s station) had been pulled from Dish Network. I wrote a quick tweet on Twitter complaining about this and within moments, a representative from Nick Jr. direct mailed me and explained the situation.

Bottom line: social media = power.

Now, for my next Twitter experiment: I WANT A MILLION DOLLARS.

The jury is still out on that one.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

One of the highlights of coming home after two weeks abroad was the abundance of Christmas mail awaiting us. Oodles and oodles of glad tidings, newsletters and, as it turns out, gift cards.

At one point, I discovered a Target gift card on the floor. In my ravenous Christmas mail gluttony, it fell out of an unknown letter so a special thanks to whoever sent it!

Me: I can’t wait to figure out what to do with my gift card.

Jamie: Your Target gift card? You mean OUR gift card. It was addressed to both of us.

Me: You just got one and spent it.

Jamie: IT WAS FOR MY BIRTHDAY!

Me: And that’s exactly why it is my turn….

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It’s not very often that I include anything from YouTube on my blog but this is a must-view. I recently connected via Facebook with my dear friend Cindy Willick from high school. She is a motivational speaker who recently moved to Australia to be with her long-lost love and has a fantastic message about body image.

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And now, possibly the best picture ever, taken at the exact moment The Boy realized his head was stuck in my brother’s chair.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by Amber Johnson. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

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© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

Christmas Eve was an array of more appetizers and desserts than you could count…or eat.

Christmas morning was a brunch with cream cheese crepes, pancakes, a chocolate French brioche and our newest tradition: the artery clogging, holier-than-holy bacon taco.

Christmas dinner was turkey with allllll the fixings topped off with cheesecake and homemade Olympia cremes.

After our 24-hour eat-a-thon, my brother Pat and his wife Jane clutched their expanding waistlines and groaned.

Pat: “I just knew I shouldn’t have worn pants today.”

Jane: “Rookie mistake, Pat. Rookie mistake.”

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

Bode. His sister monopolizes this blog. She is larger than life, stubborn, hilarious and independent. Her antics keep us laughing and humble us to our knees.

And then there is Bode. From Day 1, he was different. He was a snuggler who desperately needed to be connected to those he loved most. As he grows older, he is excitable and funny yet very sober and intense. And perceptive. He is always the first to console me when I’m sad, wiping away my tears with his blankie. Lately, our morning ritual of cuddling up together in bed consists of him asking me to sing Christmas songs to him as he gazes at me in wonderment.

He is the first person who has ever asked me to sing.

Of course, this is not shocking to anyone who has actually heard me do it.

On Jamie’s birthday, we rented Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. If you’re not familiar with these movies based on C.S. Lewis’ books, they are held in the fictional realm of Narnia. Is is a place where animals talk and magic is common as Christian theological symbols abound.

That afternoon, I put Bode down for a nap and Jamie, Hadley and I snuggled up to watch the movie. Bode woke up near the very end just as Aslan the Lion made his appearance.

Bode sat right up, pointed at Aslan and said, “Jesus.”

We didn’t think much of it and I tried to correct him and said, “Bode, Aslan is a lion.”

He shook his head emphatically, pointed again and said, “Dat is Jesus.”

And then it struck me. Aslan is the rightful ruler of Narnia. He sacrifices himself to spare Edmund in the first book, but is resurrected in time to aid the citizens of Narnia. Aslan is C.S. Lewis’ symbol of Christ.

“Bode, are you familiar with archetypes?” Jamie jokingly queried.

Bode ignored him and stated his case again. This time, we were sold.

And reminded of the scripture “And a little child shall lead them.”

A Merry Christmas to you all as we celebrate our Savior’s birth this season!

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

It’s not too often I cross-promote my contests on Mile High Mamas but I would just love to see one of you win my Wii and Wii Fit giveaway! Mention it on your blog and you may enter as many as five times!

I’m also giving away Horton Hears a Who and Fly Me to the Moon DVDs.

Because I’m a giver like that.

For contest details, go here.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

Thank you thank you thank for your sage advice re: Hadley’s potty training relapse. Sage as in “wise,” not the color (though it is one of my favorites).

I don’t think it is a medical issue because she only does it at home or at Grandma’s. And she has gotten worse since I last wrote. A contributing factor could be that we are experiencing an inordinate amount of stress that I’ll get into later. We haven’t disclosed anything to the kids but they’re perceptive little things. Maybe Mommy’s veins that are bulging out of her head are a good indicator.

I am having a professional organizer come over on Monday for a two-hour consultation for my kitchen. I am doing a giveaway on Mile High Mamas in January for a free session with this consultant. And in order to write my review, I need to see her work.

And she will see mine and how my kitchen is a piece of work.

Is it counterproductive to organize your kitchen before the professional organizer comes over?

I dreamt the other night that I was dismayed when she showed up early, only to find me wearing a sexy piece of ling*erie I haven’t been able to fit into since second grade.

Not that I was wearing that kind of thing back then.

But at least I could have fit into it.

And this, my friends, about summarizes my state of mind these days. So, comfort me. What’re you dreaming about these days? And am I the only one who feels like I’m drowning?

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

For the most part, she has been delightful since she turned four last May. She captivates her audience with her creative stories, befriends everyone, is learning to write like a whiz and modifies her adverbs better than most adults.

Bottom line: she is smart.

From the above statement, you might think I am frustrated. And you might be correct. When she finally potty trained last February, we thought we were home-free. We were wrong. It started with a summer of travel and a few accidents occurred. We let them slide. After all, we were off schedule.

It’s different from the power struggle we once had because she now tries to hide the fact that she did it. I have heard explanations of a possible growth spurt or she gets too wrapped up in what she is doing and forgets. We have thought maybe she’s not getting enough attention so have made the effort to spend more one-on-one time with her.

She had yet another poop incident tonight that we made her clean up. Jamie spent a long time talking to her about it and assured me they had an “understanding.” An hour later, she did it again. For the first time ever, I sent her to her room for the rest of the night, banning her from watching the Santa show on TV with us.

Fortunately, I have a lot of spare.

But not a lot in the sanity department.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog