The coolest kids adventure race on the planet: in pictures

August 16, 2011 By

On Saturday, Hadley competed in the KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race. I was devastated to miss it due to my hospital stay but had a blast “training” her and our neighbors (who also competed). Over the last few weeks, we hiked, biked and zip-lined all over Denver.

But nothing could have prepared them for the adventure race, which was so much more challenging and exhilarating than they could have imagined. Since I wasn’t there, I was grateful to my friend Jennefer who let Haddie stay with her overnight and took pictures of their great adventures.

=========

The Race

Introducing: Team Adventure Girls with Sydney and Hadley.

Off the starting block. Girls vs. boys, neck and neck (Haddie and Syd are on the left).

At one point partway through the race, Hadley and Sydney started to pass a boy’s team, which prompted the chauvinistic father to shout at his son, “If you let that happen, I will never enter you in another race again!”

I will include Boy Domination in next year’s training.

There was a tunnel through the river that later included a huge obstacle the girls needed to haul their bikes over.

There were plenty of volunteers to assist in the transition areas. The girls were in charge of keeping track of their map and getting a stamp at each station in order to move onto each new challenge.

Sydney was a fantastic teammate, frequently helping and encouraging Hadley throughout the race like this ropes course.

Slip slidin’ away! (Haddie’s favorite part).

Official hiking trails?

Adventure racers don’t need no stinkin’ hiking trails. They go straight up the mountain.

But they do need a zip-line to race back down.

The tubing portion was a nice reprieve from Vail’s toasty temperatures.

I know it’s not kosher to pinch hardcore adventure racer’s cheeks but that’s what I want to do when I see this cute picture.

Haddie also told me about the “little waterfalls” they went down.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her they’re called rapids.

Of course, what would an adventure race be without a climbing wall….

…and a mud pit to finish things off right?!

Or just really, really dirty.

Haddie had a blast competing in the KEEN Vail Kids Adventure Race. Was it a cakewalk? Definitely not. In fact, some sections of the course (particularly the mountain biking) would have been a challenge for adults. Despite being an adventurous kid, a couple of times she was freaked out to the point of tears.

But the greatness of a race like this is it yanked her out of her comfort zone where, in a controlled environment with capable volunteers, she challenged herself. I realized as parents, we shelter out kids too much and often don’t let them realize their true potential because of our own insecurities.

Hadley overcame her fears and has not stopped talking about the race. In a word, she triumphed.

And you’d better believe come hell or high water (or hospitals) I’ll be there to watch her do it again next summer.

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

(Non)Expert advice: Save the marriage & do not back-to-school shop together

August 15, 2011 By

If there is one thing I despise about back-to-school, it’s the shopping.

Now, let me be upfront here: If it isn’t Costco or Target and ends in ________ mall, I generally have to be dragged in kicking and screaming. For this reason, I left my kids’ school supply shopping until just a few days prior to the advent of school last year.

Here’s a little tip to the procrastinators out there: you will not win. The supplies will be depleted and you will have to go to several different stores instead of just one, augmenting an already stressful situation.

Note: if you somehow find school supply shopping cathartic, I will be happy expound upon the aberration of college-lined vs. wide-lined notebooks and my goose chase to find Elmer’s Glue-all and NOT their School Glue (which is 99 percent of what the store carried) while battling a battalion of frenzied moms.

This year, I recruited a reinforcement and brought my husband Jamie. I handed him the much shorter list for my kindergartener (about 12 items) while I tackled my 7-year-old daughter’s list (my sheet included the other grades’ items as well).

Things shockingly went smoothy until they didn’t.

Isn’t that how it always has to happen?….

We both finished in under 30 minutes and were on the way to the check-out when I looked down at my sheet, stopped and morosely declared “OHHH NOOOOO.”

As it turns out, I had collected everything a first grader needs for academic success but here’s the catch: my daughter was in first grade last year and is going into second grade. Who knew?

Evidently not her own mother.

The lists are, of course, completely different and so I trudged back to the school supply section, dumped my previous findings and started from scratch. I was glad my husband had at least figured it out.

Or so I thought.

When we reunited, he started questioning the veracity of the list.

“A clipboard? Why on earth would a kindergartener need a clipboard with his name on it?”

I tried to explain a few scenarios but he then threatened to boycott some other items as well.

“Jamie, if it’s on the list, we have to buy it. It’s like the commandments–you can’t pick-and-choose which ones to follow.”

He seemed to get it and grumpily purchased the good-for-nothing clipboard. When we arrived home, I started labeling the items with my children’s names and double-checked to ensure we bought everything.

He didn’t.

“Jamie, where are the 10 glue sticks?”
“We have a ton of glue sticks.”
“No, we don’t.”

In his defense, I could have appeared on an episode of Hoarders for my glue-stick fetish but that was a few years ago and rehab taught me only three glue sticks per household was necessary.

“What about snack-sized Ziploc bags, Jamie?”
“We have those as well.”
“We only have quart- and gallon-sized.”
“Same thing.”

And then came the colored pencils, which he also neglected to purchase. His defense?

“That was not on the list.”

“It was item No. 1.”

{Silence. Chirping crickets.}

Tomorrow, I’ll be returning to the store.

And next year, the back-to-school supply shopping battle will be waged alone.

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

My Diagnosis

August 13, 2011 By

Note: After publishing this blog post, I realized this might be confusing to anyone who has not been following the saga on Facebook. After returning home from the hospital on Thursday, I experienced even more severe chest pain that night and readmitted myself to the ER the following morning.

It’s been a long three days full of needles, tests and doctors. When I was asked by a nurse on Day 2 in the ER, “Hey weren’t you in here yesterday?” it reconfirmed to me this ain’t exactly the kind of place you want to be called a regular.

Heart pain isn’t something you want to mess with, especially since just six months ago, doctors were throwing around terms like “open-heart surgery” and “stints” with Jamie. And even though I was praying like crazy it wasn’t something serious, I have to admit I didn’t want it to be something embarrassing like heartburn or acid reflux.

That is on par with feeling like you were having an acute appendicitis attack, only to realize it was just gas (been there, done that).

As it turns out, it was something: Costochondritis. Basically, it’s a condition that causes localized chest pain due to the inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone or sternum.

It feels similar to a heart attack so the only way to diagnose it is to systematically rule out heart-related problems. Over the course of three days, I got X-rays, an EKG, a CAT Scan and a treadmill stress test.

Yep, those medical bills are going to be ugly.

When the pain was at its worst and I hadn’t slept in two days, they pumped me with morphine, wherein I uttered such slurred profundities as “Sleeeeeepy…” and “DUUUUUUDE.”

They kept me overnight last night for observation because my symptoms seem to worsen in the evening. I knew it was the right thing to do but that evening, we were supposed to drive Haddie to Vail (about 1.5 hours away) where she would compete in her adventure race today. For the past few weeks, we’ve been biking, hiking or zip-lining every day as a part of her training. I am devastated about missing it but grateful our good friends (with whom she is competing) took care of her.

So, I’m learning how to take it easy at home and I want to thank everyone for their prayers and well-wishes. I’ve been prescribed anti-inflammatories to reduce the swelling and vicodin for pain, and the prognosis is good. No one knows what causes it but out of all the heart-related conditions, this is one of the lesser evils. I mentioned earlier I’ve had these flare-ups most of my life (though never to this degree) so wasn’t surprised to read Costochondritis is a common cause of chest pain in children and adolescents.

But there’s one complication. If you’ll recall, I was scheduled to have my knee repaired last February but Jamie had heart surgery the day prior so I pushed it back until we could pay it off. The rescheduled surgery was supposed to be in a couple of weeks and now we have a new deluge of heart-related bills.

But I’m not complaining. Maybe it’s just the good Lord’s not-so-subtle way of telling me I’m meant to limp around forever.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Health

My Morning in the Emergency Room & Why I’m Pretty Darn Grateful About It

August 11, 2011 By

Yep, that’s right folks. I just got back from the emergency room. For myself this time, not my beloved medical-nightmare husband.

The culprit? My heart. Maybe it’s just me but after enduring the uncertainty and downright terror of Jamie’s recent heart problems and stints, you’d think we’d be exempt for the rest of the year, right? Wrong.

I’ve been blessed with good health and was reminded of this when the nurse at the hospital reviewed my spotless medical history. But there’s been one weird condition I’ve occasionally had that I’ve never been able to pinpoint. Since I was young, I get this weird seizing up of my heart. I remember lying on my Aunt Miriam’s couch when I was about 7 or 8 and feeling like if I inhaled even a little bit, my heart was going to explode.

The episodes never lasted long (about 15 minutes) and were infrequent (a couple of times a year). But yesterday while I was hiking with Haddie and her friend Sydney, my heart started seizing up. It has never happened to me before when working out but wasn’t intense enough to cause much worry…until I arrived home and it didn’t stop. And the pain augmented as the evening went on. Finally at around 1 a.m. I took some aspirin and finally got some sleep. I resolved if it wasn’t gone in the morning, I’d go get it checked out.

Sadly, the pain persisted so I called my doctor who referred me to the triage who told me to go to the E.R. I grabbed some breakfast and waited it out for a few minutes. Jamie came into the kitchen:

“Why have you not left yet?”

“I’m waiting for the washing machine to finish so I can load the clothes in the dryer. Haddie’s adventure-racing outfit is in there.”

“Are you kidding me?! GET TO THE E.R. I’ll change the laundry.”

As it turns out, he forgot. This has instilled within me a greater purpose that I cannot die because the laundry would never get done.

I underwent an EKG and X-rays. Thankfully, everything checked out OK. The ER doctor’s explanation was I had skeletal and muscular chest compressions, which I already knew. But my heart itself is fine and I was released four hours later.

As I walked out, a mother and her 12-year-old daughter were standing on the curb. As you probably know, the “rooms” in the ER are flimsy curtains so I heard this woman’s story. At first, I’ve got to admit she grated on me with her piercing, slurred voice and I assumed she was drunk. As I eavesdropped, I ascertained she was more likely uneducated. She was probably my age but looked much older, 8 months pregnant, was in for a fractured ankle, had another 2 year old at home and was about as down on your luck as you could get.

I could hear her going back-and-forth with her tween. She was in an excruciating amount of pain and couldn’t walk but they didn’t have a car so they’d have to take a couple of buses to get home. And then they were gone.

A half hour later, I signed my release papers and was surprised to see this woman and her daughter outside of the hospital. I offered them a ride, which she gratefully accepted. She talked non-stop our entire drive–of how thankful she was for the ride, her 2-year-old’s numerous surgeries for his club foot, wondering how she was going to take care of this new baby with her ankle, and hoping Medicare was going to cover her hospital visit. I talked to her daughter about entering middle school next week and we discussed how she could help her mom.

When we arrived at her ramshackle apartment on a dead-end street in the bad part of town, I helped her out of the car. She expressed her gratitude once again as her daughter assisted her inside.

And then I got in the car and cried the entire way home. Partly for relief I will likely be OK but mostly out of sorrow for this woman, her entire situation, the circumstances under which this baby will be born, and this sweet 12-year-old who’s the same age as many of the girls I teach in church. And who’s been given a pretty crummy lot in life.

When I arrived home, Jamie informed me his Aunt Norma suffered a hemorragic stroke and likely won’t pull through. And then his Aunt Brenda had a mild heart attack.

Today has been a day of a whole lot of gratitude, perspective and a whole lot more prayers for the many who need them more than I.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Health

Heritage Park’s Glimpse at the Past

August 10, 2011 By


This is quite possibly one of my favorite pictures that I took at Heritage Park Historical Village.

Both sets of grandparents were farmers so I was raised with a birds-eye view of the olden days and life on the farm.

My kiddos are finally old enough to really start appreciating our modern conveniences and they loved going back in time at Heritage Park. We explored some of the 180 historical exhibits, Gasoline Alley’s extensive antique car collection, a gallimaufry of artifacts, rode on numerous old-fashioned carnival rides, chugged along on an authentic stream train as well as cruised on Calgary’s only paddlewheeler on the Glenmore Reservoir.



Then we returned to Grandma and Grandpa’s comfortable and cushy home.

I like to call our day the best of both worlds.

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

The ride of my life

August 9, 2011 By

It’s not very often I wax philosophical when I’m on the trail for an extended period of time. Usually I’m thinking about my family, deadlines, future projects and what I’ll do with $1 million when it miraculously falls into my lap.

Gotta be prepared, you know.

But when I was in Calgary, I went on a bike that was a road map to my life. From the moment my dad first introduced me to this network of trails through a cossetted, overgrown opening in the fence when I was 13, I have clocked thousands of miles on Calgary’s trail system (one of the most extensive in North America).

My favorite loop is a long one–close to 30 miles and 3 hours. It starts from my home, leads along the Bow River Pathway, intersects with the Elbow River Pathway, eventually spitting me out at one of my favorite places on earth: the Glenmore Reservoir. I then traverse several miles of roads to get home.

I feel bereft if I’m unable to do this trail when I’m home and lately it’s been hit-and-miss. One year, much of the trail was closed due to flooding. Other times, it’s been the weather. But this year, I specifically brought my road bike and announced to my parents I’d be arising early one morning to go for a ride. I was like a kid before Christmas and could barely sleep the night before, just knowing the trail I’ve been waiting two years to ride was going to be perfect.

It wasn’t.

It started gloriously at dawn as I passed all my haunts like the world-famous Bow River (a favorite for fishing).
and Carburn Park.
(a favorite place for skipping school. :)

But things went downhill from there as I approached the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary & Nature Center. Usually this 36-hectare wildlife reserve is a favorite as it winds throughout the riverine forest by the flowing Bow River and alongside a peaceful lagoon but there was a big, ugly sign blocking my path:

DETOUR.

Problem is, there was no clear alternate route. I floundered for a while before eventually asking directions from a fellow biker. “Cross the Deerfoot (freeway) and you’ll be connected with a trail on the other side. Follow that for a few miles and then cross back over before you reach downtown.”

Cross over freeways? Through industrial sections? I debated turning back but stubbornly refused because I’d waited a long time to do this ride. I followed his instructions and was surprised at the unfamiliar vistas that opened up to me that were memorable in their own ways. After about a half hour of stressing, I eventually hooked back up to my original trail, thrilled to have mastered this new network and all the more grateful for the path I’d been on.

The lesson?

Life. My entire life has been one detour after another. From obsessed about playing college soccer in Canada to blowing out my ankle at 15 to giving up soccer to finding solace biking these same trails to now going to a church college in the U.S. to serving a Mormon mission I’d never intended to serve to having a career I never dreamed of having to marrying the love of my life and raising my family far from the land I love.

Detours.

That day, I eventually connected with my beloved Elbow River.


And a half-hour after that, my favorite perch overlooking the Glenmore Reservoir.


Like my ride, my life has had plenty of anxieties, bumps and bruises along the way but by never giving up the result was the same: I reached (and continue to reach) my destination.

And it has been all-the-more glorious because of my fortuitous journey.

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

The Calgary Zoo’s Exotic Pink Bears & More

August 8, 2011 By

Confession: I’m not a big fan of the zoo. I haven’t always felt this way. As a kid, I have pictures of my friends and me bundled up like abominable snowmen as we wandered around the zoo for my birthday.

Which is in February.

In Canada.

Why didn’t those parents of mine talk some sense into me?

Somewhere along my journey, I lost my luster for zoos (perhaps in sub-zero temperatures) but out of obligation for my animal-loving kids, I usually make a semi-annual pilgrimage to the Denver Zoo.

So, let’s just say I wasn’t overly enthusiastic when my Aunt Sue suggested we go to the Calgary Zoo. I mean, it’s a zoo. With animals that mope around all day. How exciting could it be?

As it turns out: plenty. Rated as the top outdoor site in Canada, the Calgary Zoo features more than 1,100 animals. My dinosaur-loving kids LOVED the prehistoric park’s life-sized dinosaurs, verdant foliage and bursting waterfalls.
Note: I don’t think the fake dinosaurs were included in the official count.

I don’t remember taking this shot of my mom’s pink hat juxtaposed against one of the waterfalls.
But for artistic purposes, let’s just say I framed it marvelously.

I fell in love with the Canadian Wilds section where the pathway snaked through natural habitats with native Canadian plants and trees. At times I swore I was hiking through the Canadian Rockies as we got up close and personal with a grizzly bear, moose, wood bison, wolves and more.

The kids particularly loved the interactive bear exhibit.


Though a few days later, Bode asked me what kind of bear “the pink one” was.

The Canadian “Care Bear,” Son.

Normally we skip out on the carousel at the zoo but I made the exception this time because it hosts 30 figures representing endangered animals from all seven continents including a condor, elephant, otter, cassowary, swift fox, gorilla and more.

Given all of those exotic choices, what did The Boy choose?

He tracked down the one and only HORSE on the entire Carousel.

Best to stick with the pink bear next time.

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

We interrupt these Great Canadian Road Trip Updates….

August 4, 2011 By

to announce we are home!!

Travel tales will continue next week but for now, we’re submerged in work catch-up, mile-high laundry, back-t0-school shopping and chilling out. A few days after coming home, Aunt Lisa invited Hadley to go camping for four days at Lake McConaughy, NE.

Confession: I just had to Google the name of the lake because I keep calling it Lake McNaughty.

This is the second time Hadley has left home without us this summer, the first being her solo flight to visit Grandma in Utah. Most sibling would be jealous but Bode is a homebody and quite content to hang out here. In fact, he is in his element without someone constantly bossing him around.

When Hadley was in Utah last month, Jamie, Bode and I were driving home from church and the ride was uncharacteristically quiet. Jamie broke the silence.

“So, Bode. Do you miss your sister?”

No response. Jamie tried again.

“It’s OK, Bode. You can be honest.”

Finally, his reluctant confession: “Not really, Daddy.”

Here’s to a few more peaceful days of being an only child.

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

The Great Canadian Everything

August 2, 2011 By

Despite the fact I grew up in Calgary, there are still some unfamiliar things when I return home.

The Money

Canadian money is always an adjustment. I prefer our colorful bills to American green drabness (sorry, George Washington) but still cannot wrap my head around the Canadian Loonie, a gold-coloured (yep, correct spelling), bronze-plated, $1 coin introduced in 1987. If that didn’t weigh down my wallet enough, the government introduced the Toonie in 1996, a bi-metallic $2 coin.

Jamie and I had a run-in with the Loonie when we went grocery shopping at the Real Canadian Superstore (as opposed to the fake one), which was located next to Canadian Tire.

Just in case we’d forgotten we were in Canada.

In order to release the shopping carts, you need to insert a Loonie,which is returned to you after shopping. Problem is, Jamie and I spend a good five minutes trying…and failing to insert our money. Finally, a woman walked up to return her cart so I waved my Loonie like a madwoman proclaiming, “We’ll give you our Loonie for your cart.”

She denied us because she had a reusable cart coin that cost her $2 in place of the $1 Loonie every time she shops.

Anyone else as confused as we were?

Long story short, we finally got a cart (after losing face with my fellow Canucks) but went crazy at the grocery store. While the U.S. ethnic sections are preomindantly Mexican food, Canadian store aisles, delis and produce sections are stocked to the hilt with my favorites: Indian, Thai and Chinese foods. In the deli, we were got some sliced tandoori chicken for sandwiches. In the Thai section we got mango and also coconut/pineapple juice. In the bulk bins, we scored Canadian blue whales and wine gums.

Canadians have a few tasty tricks up their sleeves as well.

The People

During our long drive, a rock jumped up and chipped my windshield. I’ve been intending to get it filled and was thrilled when we pulled up to the Real Canadian Superstore and saw a small small canopy advertising rock-chip repairs while you shop.

What’re the odds of finding that? Being in Canada is like having your own genie.

We handed over our car before going to wrestle our shopping cart Loonie. Upon our return, our exceedingly enthusiastic repair guy pointed out his impeccable work, triumphantly claiming the round-shaped chips were his favorite.

As we were driving away, I commented, “I’ve never seen a rock-chip repair guy so passionate about what he does.”
“Of course he is,” Jamie retorted. “He’s chipper.”

The Differences Between Canada and the U.S.

My kids have been shuttled back and forth between Canada and the United States since they were born. Such exposure gives them unique insights into cultural idiosyncrasies between the two countries.

Take Hadley, for example. As we were wandering through a darling gift shop replete with Canadian goodies such as Mountie costumes and maple fudge at Heritage Park, my Aunt Sue told me Hadley was recently expounding upon the difference between the two countries.

I awaited profundities. Perhaps she would reference the flags, the anthems, Canada’s shining rivers, cool summers, friendly folks, democrats, Green Party and the Liberals.

Her observation?

“Canada doesn’t have Target!”

I’ve taught her well.

=========

P.S. Target recently announced 105 locationsthat will be opening in Canada. Hadley will soon be proven wrong.

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

On growing up and being grown in Calgary, Alberta Canada

August 1, 2011 By

There is something indescribably special about being able to return to your childhood abode. I came home from the hospital here. I took my first steps. I poured my heart out in my diary here (more of that hilarity later). I fell in and out of love here.

So much has changed: renovations that completely altered the exterior, the yard is fuller, the basement more cluttered.

Yet somehow, my house is grander than ever before.

The kids and I have had a fabulous time in Calgary and next summer, I yearn to stay longer. As my parents grow older and my mom’s MS worsens, I’m reminded of the fragility of life. For the past couple of weeks, we relished every moment.

We dined daily on my parent’s fabulous patio (did I mention the even more fabulous 70-degree temperatures?)
Bonded with the cousins.
Call me crazy but I’m thinking this picture should be on an album cover somewhere.

Partied it up with my family for Bode’s 5th birthday and my sister-in-law Jane whipped up a fabulous gourmand dinner.

Though she doesn’t believe it, I *swear* Bode requested the $80 tenderloin that I just happen to crave all year long.

Took a memorable father-daughter bike ride through Fish Creek Provincial Park (Calgary’s largest urban park) whereupon my 70-year-old dad proves he’s still got it.

Translation: he still hauled butt up those hills.

The kids partied it up in the grandparent’s convertible PT Cruiser.

And yes, anyone who buys a convertible in Canada can only be deemed an optimist.

We built sandcastles at Lake Sikome with Grandpa.
Total bonus: My dad loves the water so I didn’t have to go near it.

Downed chi-chi coconut cones at iconic My Favorite Ice Cream Shoppe.


But it was when my neighbor’s grandchildren knocked on our door asking Hadley and Bode if they wanted to come play that my childhood memories washed over me like a tidal wave. I watched my kids ride bikes with their new friends, ride in my dad’s golf cart and play on the tire swing.

I was reminded of my dear friends and the hours we spent frolicking in the gully, mastering our skills on my trampoline, creating worlds in our fort and scaling our backyard tree.

My childhood wasn’t perfect but I was enveloped in the love of parents, grandparents and friends. The world was full of promise, possibilities, simplicity and joy. As a mom, I now recognize the many sacrifices my parents made for us. Out of my many hopes and dreams I have for my kids, in the end, the only thing that matters to me is for them to someday look back and say, “I had a happy childhood.”

Because that was the gift I was given.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Canada, Family, travel
Newer Posts »