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

Not my cup ‘o tea

September 28, 2012 By

Airing out the archives. Here’s another post in my draft folder I wrote on May 9 but never published.

On Monday, I did a segment on 9News for Mother’s Day. I had several products I was showcasing, as well as some ideas for homemade gifts.

The problem with homemade gifts is you need to make them. At home. Yourself.

So, I sat down with the kiddos and we made some cute Popsicle flowers and a footprint stool. I was juggling a bunch of others things so as usual, crafting was stressing me out.

Jamie walked up to me. “Don’t be offended but….why are you doing crafts?”

Offense taken.

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

Hadley: Yoda Incarnate?

September 27, 2012 By

One of my favorite quotes:

Do or do not, there is no try.

I saw it for the first time when I was doing the full-pull in Moab–an insane day of rafting, biking and mountain biking. My friend John and I were trekking through Mill Creek Canyon to a cossetted swimming hole when I saw Yoda’s infamous words.

Fast-forward to last Sunday when Hadley had an exceptionally great day. Not only was she agreeable but she went above-and-beyond to be kind and make us a fancy dinner without asking. I fed her many praises and she glowed.

That night, in bed.

Me: “I was really impressed with Hadley today. She really tried to be good.”
Jamie: “She tries every day.”
Me: “Huh?”
Jamie: “Some days, she tries really hard to be good. And others, she tries to be bad.”

I’ll take the former, thanks.

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

Touching Base

September 26, 2012 By

Has it really been a week since I last posted?

I’m marveling how I thought I’d have waaaaay more time to myself once the kids were back in school. And I guess I would if I hadn’t taken on more freelance assignments, more travel and well, just more everything.

I spent a few days last week in glorious Coronado Island paddle boarding, biking, touring and lots and lots of gourmet eating. I’ll be posting about it all in the coming weeks but for now, I’m slammed with deadlines and stress with the pumpkin party and weigh-off looming this week.

I mean, I haven’t even had time to publicly tease The Pumpkin Man about his pumpkin obsession. How sad is that?!

So, stay tuned. I’ll have many updates in the pipes when life calms down a bit. In the interim, enjoy this picture of the magnificent Hotel del Coronado.

I know I did!

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

The Perils of Colorado Hiking Moms

September 17, 2012 By

I’ve fallen into a pretty great routine with the kids back in school and I can’t believe how fortunate I am. I mean, I actually have time to write! I filed my column early! I’m picking up freelance assignments! I have time to respond to emails! My house is clean! I’m starting to travel this week!

I would’ve written that above paragraph in all-caps but figured exclamation marks were less annoying. #Fail

My day always starts with work before dawn and then once the kiddos are nestled away in school, I play for a bit. Thursdays are my hiking days with a few of my besties. It had rained a lot the day prior so I worried the trails would be mucky. I gave them two choices: Hike up up up up the Apex Parkor head down a paved valley.

Without hesitation, my friend Jenn pointed up and up up up we went for a pretty rigorous hike but with stunning views.

Those are my kind of friends.

And believe me, I have great ones. Last Monday, I asked my friend Tina to hike a new-to-me trail on the lower part of White Ranch Park. I’d hiked the Belcher Hill trail several times but had never attempted a neighboring trail, the Longhorn.

I do a lot of hiking by myself but try to stick to areas I know will have at least some foot traffic, just in case something should happen to me.

Which is very, very likely.

And there was something about the Longhorn that made me hold off until I had a buddy to do it with. For once, listening to my gut paid off.

I love Tina. We’ve been hiking friends since Hadley and her son Nolan were babies and she did the HealthOne Red Rocks Fitness Challenge for three months with me last summer.

That basically means she knows what she’s getting into by hanging out with me.

But we were not prepared for the Longhorn. Not only was weather REALLY hot (hopefully our last 90-degree day) with zero shade but it was steep. Really steep. As in this-is-never-gonna-end-steep. After a long while, we started to wonder if we’d missed our turn but it seemed unlikely–we were going at a snail’s pace.

See those smiles? We’re faking

After what seemed like eons, I skipped ahead a bit and saw it: a sign, just as the trail started mercifully leveling out. And you know what that sign said?

No, it was not a trail marker but rather, a testament to the journey we’d just endured:

I anticipated our loop would take us between 1-1.5 hours (the standard length of my hikes).

It took us three hours.

Forget my worries about Tina not speaking to me after that little adventure.

I wasn’t speaking to me.

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

Let It Go

September 17, 2012 By

I’m on the precipice of four very busy, stressful weeks of travel, the pumpkin party and weigh-offs, along with everything else we’re already juggling.

But it was the perfect final weekend of reprieve before delving in head-first. Several friends and I headed to Time Out For Women Friday night and Saturday, which if you’re not familiar with it, is a fantastically inspiring conference for Mormon women that bolstered our spirits and basically reminded us how awesome we are.

Good gracious, who knew timeouts could be so rewarding?

Lunching with the ladies at Corner Bakery

One message in particular touched me to my core and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Chris Williams was a happily married father of four with one on the way when a drunk driver hit his family’s vehicle, killing his wife and two of his kids.

His story of almost instant forgiveness is so darn inspiring I was blown away by his story and the relationship he has formed with that young man. I rarely post videos so you know this one is powerful so please take a few minutes to watch it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zwQ_7q-fU]

Talk about poignant and “Let it go” is my new mantra. Most of us will thankfully never face anything of this magnitude but we become wrapped up in so many petty things in life that his attitude puts everything in perspective.

I was also thrilled that one of my favorite food blogs, Our Best Bites, just released another cookbook. So I, of course, snagged Savoring the Seasons With Our Best Bites.

It has been just over 24 hours since I purchased it and I’ve already made four recipes: the mango rice, easy Thai chicken noodle soup, pumpkin crumble and the gorgonzola pear pasta.

If that ain’t a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.

Though Jamie has been working around-the-clock and hasn’t been feeling well, the kiddos stayed busy. Haddie had a party with her Activity Days girls from church and Bode and Jamie had a Boy’s Night Out Friday. They went to Buffalo Wild Wings Grill for the first time and Bode was blown away by an entire wall of flat-screen TVs!!!!!

I’m sure they didn’t say even one word to each other the entire dinner. He also got to meet a famous UHF wrestler who was there signing autographs. Tough dude wouldn’t smile for anyone except for sweet Bode.

Yup, boy’s night out, indeed.

I’ll stick with Time Out for Women, thanks.

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

Fat Kitty on the Lam

September 13, 2012 By

Fat Dude has a pretty easy-going life as an inside house cat. He sleeps. He eats. He snuggles. He sleeps some more. And if he’s lucky, we take him for supervised visits in the backyard (remember his first Great Escape?)

Basically, Fat Kitty is our prisoner.

The other night, he made a bid for freedom that failed oh-so miserably. Every night before bedtime, he dutifully waits for Hadley on her bed and falls asleep with her. He’ll usually make his way into our bedroom later and sleeps perched above my head.

He’s like a bit, fat, squishy pillow.

But when I woke up Wednesday morning, he was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t worried. Occasionally he likes to pull an all-nighter with Hadley or wander the house. Jamie opened up our bedroom window a crack and discovered it was raining HARD. It was a shock because we assumed Denver forgot how to rain (it has been that long).

And then I heard a very distinctive MEOW!

It wasn’t his normal morning “hey wassup” meow but rather of a ticked-off cat in distress. I started racing around the house to see what closet he accidentally got locked in this time (don’t judge; it happens). But I couldn’t find him anywhere.

Until I went downstairs and looked outside. There, sitting on the patio was a verrrrrrrry angry Fat Kitty who was locked outside. Remember when I mentioned it was raining? Welp,it rained cats and dogs (pun intended). All. Night. Long.

Every evening in the summer, Jamie opens up the windows and blasts our attic fan to cool down the house. What likely happened that night was he’d opened up the back door and Fat Kitty must have snuck out through the busted screen.

And yes, Jamie will continue to be nagged until it is fixed.

Then, when Jamie locked up the house an hour later he unknowingly locked the Fat One outside. Did I mention the rain storm?

Fat Kitty won’t let us forget about it. But he hasn’t shown any desire to go outside so don’t be watching for him on Prison Break anytime soon.

Especially when it’s raining.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Family Tagged With:

Jamie’s wake-up call

September 13, 2012 By

Hadley’s back-to-school night was last week. She continues to love her new school and is making lots of friends.

After an overview from the principal, we went into the classroom so see what they’ve been working on these past weeks. The school’s philosophy is to teach academics through the arts and are they ever staying true to that.

 In orchestra, she’s learning the basics of posture, position, pizzicato, bowing and creating a beautiful sound on the violin.

Hugest bonus ever: she does not yet have violin homework so we haven’t had to listen to the painful trial-and-error process. Horribly played violin=nails on chalkboard!

She’s also learning the recorder, all-immersion Spanish and knitting in her Handwork program. Gym class is always outside rain or shine (exempting -20-degree days), which I LOVE. I think it’s ridiculous how everyone hunkers down at the first sign of inclement weather.

And yes, that’s the Canuck in me talking.

While we were sitting in the student’s desks getting an overview from Haddie’s teacher, I could see Jamie gazing around the room. After the orientation, he commented:

“The parents in Haddie’s class sure are old.”
“They’re all our age, Jamie.”

I suspect Botox is in his future.

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

The juggling game and Bode’s injury

September 12, 2012 By

Our school year is in full swing and we’ll really kick things into gear as Haddie starts swim team and piano this week. We’re new to this whole after-school juggling scene and though I’ve made the goal to not overschedule the kids with more than one activity, I can see how easy it is to do.

Or rather, hard. I look at some of my friends who turn into after-school chauffeurs as they shuttle kids around and I’m really trying to carve out a significant amount of time for them to just play and do their homework.

In addition to life’s regular chaos, we’re also entering pumpkin weigh-off season and our annual pumpkin party. I also have some travels lined up that include a press trip to California, Haddie’s three-day camping trip to Mesa Verde and then I was asked to speak at the Governor’s Tourism Conference in Steamboat Springs.

Poor, poor Jamie who will be holding down the fort.

But we had a swell weekend! A wonderful family in our ward invited us over for authentic Bolivian food (delish) and we’ve promised to return the favor next month good old-fashioned American grub.

Still trying to figure out just what that will entail?

Then, there’s our annual pilgrimage to the Arvada Harvest Festival. This year, the kiddos opted to blow their entire allowance on the hamster balls.

And yes, they said it was totally worth it.

Then, Bode had his first soccer game of the season. He lost some of his confidence last spring as the teams grew more competitive and we tried to tell him his days of scoring nine goals in a game are over.

This time, he scored one and he was pretty happy about it.

And then we attended a S’mores Party. Many of our besties were there and we had a great time. The only problem was I discovered I have deep-rooted marshmallow-roasting issues. I freaked out as the kiddos raced around with their skewers of flaming marshmallows.

When I was a kid, we were camping when my cousin Fraser’s marshmallow caught on fire. He flipped it over to blow it out but the flaming marshmallow landed straight in his eye. Were it not for a doctor camping next to us, who knows what would have happened.

This is just a nice way of saying I have issues with kids + flaming marshmallows and was internally FREAKING out. So, I kind of got a kick out of Sam (the hostess) putting these with the spread of s’mores:

What I didn’t anticipate: it would be my kid who’d need them. A few minutes after snapping a picture of the Bandaids, Bode limped over to me.

“I’m hurt!” He exclaimed. I looked down and his knee was oozing in blood. I rushed him into the house and he was surprisingly calm. In fact, as we were passing his friend, he calmly explained,

“Alex, I am not able to play for a little bit because I am bleeding.”

Nice to know we have one level-headed person in our family.

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