We’re going through a really funny phase with Bode. He’s always been a black-and-white kid and certainly loves playing his Wii a couple of times a week. I don’t work for Nintendo but every few months, a big box arrives with some new game for Bode to try out. I say “Bode” because Hadley has lost interest in the Wii (though she recently tried Just Dance at a friend’s and said she loved it).

There may be hope for her to gain the rhythm I never had.

But really, Bode is the sole proprietor of the Wii. One night after he went to bed, we had some people over and fired it up. When Bode heard those magical melodies, he shouted downstairs:

“I HEARD DAT.”

He takes his job very seriously.

Last month, a box was delivered for us to try out Mario Party 9–a party game for multiple players. Accompanying the game were various plush Mario toys and some Mario wall-hangings (guess where those are going). We surprised him with everything during his Easter egg hunt.

His opinion of the Easter bunny increased exponentially.

So, in keeping with Mario Party, we threw our own party for Family Home Evening. Hadley was a reluctant whiner but Jamie was insistent that we dedicate a night doing something Bode loves for once

And lo did he ever love playing his new game with us.

And to be honest, so did I. I’m not one to sit down and play Donkey Kong or Super Mario Bros., for the sole reason Bode leaves me in his dust. But Mario Party 9  has 80 minigames with Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom buddies. Games I could actually compete with Mushroom King Bode.

In the end, he still ended up beating us all and Hadley was still a store loser.

Me: “Why are you so mad?”
Hadley: “Because Bode is BRAGGING!”
Jamie: “That’s the entire point of playing it!”

Bode: 1, Hadley: 0.


Note: That’s Bode’s old obsession. Tune in next week for his new obsession.

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

I’ve been thinking a lot about Mother’s Day lately and an epiphany came during a recent bike ride: Why not have women write in and share their stories of how they became mothers?

I issued the challenge at Mile High Mamas and was thrilled with the response–everything from a teen pregnancy (and how it saved her life) to surrogacy to open adoption to more traditional tales.

To kick everything off, the story of my soon-to-be 8-year-old daughter, Hurricane Hadley. On May 25, she graced the world with her presence. Her birth and subsequent life have been one WILD ride.

Not to mention the car we now owe her for her 16th birthday because of it. Read her story here.

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

Urgency.

A new gal gave a talk at church and shared this is her favorite word. She framed it in a gospel setting but it struck me this is how I’ve always felt. I have a sense of urgency about living life to the fullest and am frustrated by those who sit back and wait for things to happen.

I’ve never known if this meant I was going to die young or that I would be a darn content 90-year-old without any regrets. Either way, my attitude is the same: get out and live while you still can. I’m reminded of this by people close to me who, due to physical or mental limitations, no longer have that liberty.

When I was 11 years old, I remember the sense of urgency I felt to be the very strongest in soccer and long jump so I would train my jumping/kicking leg for hours on my trampoline and would repeatedly run up and down the steep hills of the nearby gully.

What kind of a warped kid does that?

When I was a single gal living in Salt Lake City, I had a sense of urgency to explore every trail and travel as much as humanly possible because I figured when I finally got married and had kids, that wanderlust would be extinguished forever (how wrong I was).

Now, I’m on the cusp of another milestone: Bode will finally be in school full-time next year and I will have six hours to myself. Through this glorious thing called the Internet, I’ve been fortunate to grow my brand while still being at home with my family.

Recent developments have included my monthly column in the Denver Post and, as of last week, I’ll be a contributor for 9News for family-related stories. I have another project in the works with a friend that could potentially lead to great things but it has created even more urgency to accomplish my bucket list.

 Like my days in Salt Lake City, I’ve had the goal to explore every trail along Denver’s Front Range. I’ve put a good dent in the majority of them but I’m always on the lookout for any random, unmarked trail I can sink my bike or hiking boots into.

On Monday, Bode had a playdate after school so I had five glorious hours to myself. I asked Jamie which of two trails I should hit.

“Do the one that leads up to Idaho Springs (a city 20 miles from Denver),” he suggested. “I’m tired of hearing you whine about it.”

True dat. Every time we go to the mountains, I see segments of a bike trail weaving through the forest and have long resolved to do it. The challenges were it was several miles out of town (time commitment) and I couldn’t figure out where the trail started (a wee problem).

But gosh darn it, I did it. I slowly drove up Clear Creek Canyon watching for the start of the trail and found it just before the intersection with I-70. I ditched my car and grabbed my bike. A few miles into my ride, a funny thing happened: the trail turned into a frontage road and it was closed for construction.

What’re the odds?  Don’t answer that.

I’d been waiting seven years to bike this trail and I wasn’t turning back. I drove past the road closed sign and a mile later, encountered a construction worker standing guard. I sweetly approached him and asked if I could go through. He radioed his dudes, gave me the go-ahead, and I was soon on my way– weaving around pot holes and road work.

My route alternated between that road and dilapidated trails. Though less-than optimal, I was excited when I arrived at my destination: a ramshackle alley in Idaho Springs.

Not exactly the gleaming summit I’m used to.

Though I have no desire to ever do it again, I’m glad I did it. The worker told me they’re burying power lines and are prepping that road to become part of I-70 to deal with mammoth congestion problems.

That may have been my very last chance and I’m relieved I was able to fit it in before moving onto my next Bucket List item.

Nepal, anyone?

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

I fall asleep every night as my husband watches the History Channel. To say history isn’t exactly my thing is an understatement.

So it was a complete shock to me that I fell in love with the new $110 million, high-tech History Colorado Center that will open its doors in a grand celebration on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

Last weekend, the kids and I got a preview and did we ever have a blast! From my obsession with outhouses (disturbing at best) to collecting chicken eggs to blowing things up, what’s not to love?

Read more about our many adventures at MileHighMamas.com.

Outhouse exposé included.

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

I just found out I won this coveted award from the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters Assocation….(wait for it)….over TWO YEARS after the fact.

This is thanks to my boss’s boss who forgot about it in his office.

Is there where I give my belated thanks to the Academy?

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

I am officially in the market for a new vehicle.

Actually, I didn’t even know I was looking until I was asked by Nissan to be a part of their #HolidayQuest campaign to test-drive their 2012 Nissan Quest. As my kids eagerly explored the minivan and I inhaled that glorious new-car smell while fiddling with the iPod connectivity, I knew it was out with the old (my 2003 Honda Pilot) and onto the new (vehicle TBD).

I was originally supposed to test-drive the Quest over the winter break and we planned a road-trip to Utah. But when a house fire caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to my parent’s home in Canada

CLICK HERE TO READ AT MILEHIGHMAMAS.COM

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

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to declutter?

If so, you definitely need to check out this calendar that gives tips for decluttering your life, one easy day at a time.

P.S. And no, that’s not a picture in my house. But I sure wish it was!

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

Despite the fact I’m familiar with many of the cutting-edge social media technologies, I am often hesitant to adopt them because I’m already too busy with blogging, Twitter, Facebook and my iPhone.

However, my latest obsession Pinterest.com has surpassed them all.

And believe me, that’s really saying something.

I’ve gone from being a bored cook to being constantly inspired to try the onslaught of new, fabulous recipes. The endless barrage of crafts and styles motivate me to action and I am completely addicted to the holiday section where I have found a collection of the most innovative, creative and delicious offerings on the Web that are updated every second.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself here. If you’re CLICK HERE TO READ ON AT MILEHIGHMAMAS.COM

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

With the holidays upon us, I realize questioning the excessive amount of toys our children have is not the most timely topic.

Or maybe there is no better time to talk about it.

When I first became a mom, I purchased toys with the same vengeance as a bull set loose in a China shop. If it looked fun, I bought it. I had every imaginable contraption available–swings, bouncers, word games, dress-up clothes, a play kitchen with all the fixins and so much more.

My children’s interests have evolved over the past six years and I recently had a good, hard look around my cluttered house, particularly the toy chest in my family room–the source of most of our household messes.

I HAD HAD ENOUGH! CLICK TO READ ON AT MILEHIGHMAMAS.COM

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