YMCA of the Rockies: The Nordic Redemption

January 31, 2013 By

Now, when I entitled this blog post “Nordic Redemption,” I didn’t mean this.
But rather, this.
The back story: As a Canadian, I grew up cross-country skiing the golf course across the street from my house. Jamie is an avid alpine (downhill) skier so I figured his transition to Nordic would be a snap. It turned out to be a different kind of snap when he fell over going 0.0005 mile per hour and claimed a concussion.

That was ten years ago and I figured it was time he got back on the horse again. I signed our family up for a group lesson at YMCA of the Rockies’ Snow Mountain Ranch’s world-class Nordic Center, which offers more than 100 km of trails—from beginner loops to advanced ski trails. The kids are both becoming good skiers so I figured they were ready to add another style of skiing to their repertoire. Though I get a passing grade in cross-country skiing, I’m not an expert and would like to take up more advanced techniques, like skate skiing or mastering backcountry climbing skins.

Or not running into your friend Aimee when she’s trying to take your picture, which was my memorable wipe-out that day.

Our husband-wife instructors were excellent but the conditions were not. The snow was hard-packed so it was baptism by icy fire when they opted to start our lesson by taking us down a short, moderate slope while demonstrating the hallowed snow plow. Crash after crash occurred but the only one who took it to heart was Bode, whose confidence was shattered early-on.

“It’s OK,” I consoled him as I wiped away his crocodile tears. “You’re the youngest one in the group and you’re doing great.”

And he really was. When we moved to the beginner practice track, he started to regain his mojo as we all learned to stride, kick, push and glide like “neanderthals.”

I somehow didn’t think neanderthals were all that graceful prior to our outing.

The tepid skiers in the group stuck to the practice track and Jamie offered to stay behind with Bode while a handful of more courageous folks ventured out and followed a trail alongside Pole Creek. Hadley started mastering the smooth cadence and I was thrilled to see at least one member of our family take to Nordic skiing.

“So, when do you want to do it again with Mommy?” I queried, salivating over Snow Mountain’s bright winter sky, frosty trees, long mountain views and fast tracks.

“Maybe in, like, a couple of years,” she replied.

Though Jamie had a much more positive experience, he still wasn’t sold. “It was OK but I like downhill skiing more. Besides, it’s a different breed of people out here.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are no, ‘hey dudes’ or ‘let’s hit some bumps.’ These people are more like the marathon-running crowd.”

That’s his nice way of saying, “NO WAY” and I’m on my own. I’ll take it.

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Don’t miss parts I and III of our adventures.

YMCA of the Rockies: My Colorado Love Affair

YMCA of the Rockies: Reliving and Reinventing the Glory Days

Filed Under: Bode, Family, Family travel, Hadley, Jamie, outdoors, skiing, travel

YMCA of the Rockies: My Colorado Love Affair

January 30, 2013 By

YMCA of the Rockies, 2006

I had an epiphany during our latest trip to the YMCA of the Rockies at Snow Mountain Ranch: I love their two Colorado properties. Now, let me qualify that. I am a fickle traveler and have many love affairs with destinations all over the world but most of those places are one-time deals. We visit, capture memories, check them off the bucket list and move onto the next.

For me, YMCA of the Rockies is a soul-stirring, this-is-where-I-belong kind of haven where I yearn to repeatedly return with my family and envy the couples who retire and move nearby to live out their days volunteering. Now, that is some serious amour.

I can’t put my finger on what makes it so special for me. Maybe it’s that YMCA of the Rockies was our first really fun vacation with Hadley (we coined it our “Crazy Fun Family Weekend,” a phrase that has stuck). Or that Jamie’s family had a memorable family reunion there.

It’s not fancy like many of the destinations we visit–in fact, it’s one of the most basic, even rustic. But it doesn’t matter. Between the natural beauty, family-building activities and outdoor fun, it’s about developing traditions and the simple joys of family and friends.

Bode lost (and swallowed) his second tooth, Snow Mountain 2013

Last summer, the kids and I joined some other Denver bloggers and their families for a retreat at YMCA of the Rockies’ 860-acre Estes Park Center. This time around, we congregated at Snow Mountain Ranch’s 5,100-acre family ranch located between Winter Park and Grand Lake. We last visited that location in 2007.
My, what a difference five years makes.

Stay tuned for our favorite activities in what I have deemed Colorado’s most fun and affordable family destination. And be sure to check-out my write-up about summer and winter highlights at Travel Mamas.

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Don’t miss parts II and III of our adventures.

YMCA of the Rockies: The Nordic Redemption

YMCA of the Rockies: Reliving and Reinventing the Glory Days

 

Filed Under: Colorado, Family, Family travel, outdoors

Living with a paranoid pumpkin freak

January 29, 2013 By

Me: Sitting at my computer in my office.

Jamie: Tears into my room, races over to the blinds and suspiciously looks outside.

Me: “What are you doing?”

Jamie: “GOOGLE IS WATCHING!”

Me: “What are you talking about?!”

Jamie: “GOOGLE IS TRACKING MY PUMPKIN’S EVERY MOVE.”

Me: “You no longer have a pumpkin. Growing season is over.”

Jamie: “AND YOU CAN SEE MY PUMPKIN FROM OUTER SPACE!!”

Me: “You are crazy.”

Jamie: “I’m wearing aluminum foil on my head right now so they can’t hear my thoughts.”

Think the Pumpkin Man is finally out of his gourd? Read about it here.

 

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie, pumpkins

The Great Ear Piercing

January 28, 2013 By

I was only kidding when I said it.

“Hey, Sweetie. Do you think you want to try to get your ears pierced again?”
“Yes, Mom. I think I am ready.”

Ready for what? Another meltdown that resulted in my anxiety attack?

I haven’t had an iron-clad rule like some parents when my child should get her ears pierced. I had mine done in kindergarten and we made the same attempt a few years ago when my daughter was the same age during a family visit to Canada. I was rather indifferent when my sister-in-law Jane suggested it and my daughter was game so we headed over to the mall.

But then she saw The Devil’s Gun that was aimed at her virgin lobe.

Our first mistake was not returning when there were two staffers who could shoot the gun synchronously at each ear. The second mistake was being there in the first place.

An hour later, we emerged from that store with a traumatized mother and a hysterical kid who only got half an ear pierced (a feat only achieved by a Tasmanian devil whirlwind). Since that time, she has developed an irrational fear of needles and two people needed to hold her down during recent immunizations shots.

As the Great Ear Piercing approached, her apprehension rose and the night prior, she had a nightmare that they refused to pierce her ears because she didn’t have curly hair. As a possessor of curly locks, I deemed such “discrimination” would be my dreamland.

The next day we went to Colorado Mills and I told her she was in charge. “I want to get my ears pierced,” she brazenly told the staffer at Claire’s. The women swiftly seated her, let her pick out her starter earrings and I choked down the cost of her diamond 5 mm selection. I was now invested on many levels.

“Now, as soon as I open these earrings, you can’t back out,” she warned my daughter.
“OK,” she squeaked, her confidence faltering.

A darling 2-year-old stood waiting for her turn, marveling at us. I turned to the parents. “I’d strongly advise you not to let her see this. It may get ugly.”

It’s best not to prematurely traumatize the littles.

They ushered her away, my daughter grabbed my hand in a death-grip, the staffers positioned themselves, counted down and shot. After three years of build-up, I braced myself for the fallout and then there was…nothing. No scream. No meltdown. Just pain, shock and then jubilation.

She let go of my throbbing hand. “Are they really pierced?” she inquired.

“You did it,” I whispered, beaming with pride she had overcome a major fear. As far as I was concerned, those diamond earrings were as good as a medal.

And almost as expensive. But I’ll take it.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

Martin Luther Day Weekend: In Pictures

January 23, 2013 By

As much as I love to travel, there is nothing like exploring your own backyard, particularly when you live in an amazing place like Denver. On Saturday, we met up with my friend Amie and her kids who are the same age as H and B.  We played to our heart’s content, starting at our local skate park.At one point, I heard Hadley screaming for me. I raced over to find she had slid down into a deep bowl and she couldn’t get out. Soon, all the kids followed suit. “I’ll go help them,” my friend Amie heroically volunteered. I hesitated. I love Amie but I had serious doubts about her capabilities. Eventually, everyone but her emerged victorious. Her hand-on-face says it all.I debated dropping into the bowl to assist but figured I’d be more help from above and eventually, an 11-year-old boy and I pulled her to safety. How often does that happen?

We then hopped on our bikes and raced along the Ralston Creek trail. Remember these pictures from the summer?It looks a wee bit different in the winter.There was a nearby playground but the kids preferred to climb trails, build dams, throw rocks and scale creeks.

I must be doing something right.

In other big weekend news, Bode lost his first tooth–his bottom right–while watching a movie on Friday night.

The Tooth Fairy got her act together and dyed his glass of water blue to match her dress, as opposed to H’s urine sample.

And Hadley hit a milestone of her own: she got her ears pierced.

Rest assured, major details forthcoming on this feat that has been three years in the making.

On Martin Luther King Day, the kids lazed around all morning while I worked from bed (praise laptops), we met Jamie’s client at Beau Jo’s pizza for lunch (the best mountain pies EVER) and we explored 127-acre Belmar Park. I’ve been a bit remiss lately how fast they’re growing up and that their playground days will soon be behind them but I had an epiphany at Belmar Park. Soccer. Basketball. Swim team. Though I think it’s important for kids to learn skills and gain self-confidence, there is an expiration date on so many of them. I was repeatedly athlete of the year for team sports and I loved them all but what I am most grateful for is my parents taught me to love the outdoors and solo sports like biking, hiking, running, skating, exploring, snowshoeing, climbing and skiing. Those last beyond the confines of graduation.

And will amount to a lifetime of truly living and knowing how to play.

Filed Under: biking, Bode, Colorado, Hadley, hiking, outdoors

Keystone Resort: “I Spy” a Dropped Pole, My Happy Place and a Yeti

January 21, 2013 By

Just 90 minutes from Denver, Keystone is renowned as the largest resort in Summit County with 3,148 acres of bowls, bumps, glades and groomers. Three years ago, I learned to “ski like a girl” at Keystone Resort’s Betty Fest ski clinic.

Girl’s weekend in boas

A couple of weekend ago, my family was invited for a media preview at Keystone.

Skating Keystone Lake

My, what a difference a few years make.

I have wanted to revisit Keystone since they instituted Kidtopia, an entire winter festival dedicated to kids that runs November 22 through March 24. Our itinerary included tubing at Adventure Point at the summit of Dercum Mountain, riding in a sleigh at Riperoo’s Village Park Parade, the Kidtopia Fireworks and skating at the new 7,200-square-foot outdoor Dercum Square Ice Rink.

But then it got cold. Really cold. Or, as my kids call it, “Canadian cold.” For uninitiated Americans, this means run-for-cover-kind-of-cold. And unfortunately, that is what we did so many of these items remain on our bucket list.

Though needing to return to Keystone again? Not a bad prospect.

Keystone Lake

Our kick-off event was at Keystone Lake. Their five-acre lake is touted as the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor skating rink in North America and is my happy place. When we arrived at Lakeside Village, we marveled at the ice sculptures that dotted the grounds.

But remember that arctic blast? Families were hunkered down at the activity center, playing arcade games and socializing as they drank hot chocolate and cookies. After about a half-hour, I queried, “So, is anyone going skating?”

Blank stares.

And then Hadley came to the rescue. “I want to go skating with you, Mommy.”

Blank stare back at her.

You see, we went skating with our friends at Evergreen Lake over Christmas break and she had a complete skating meltdown as she claimed to forget how to skate (never mind she has taken two sessions of lessons).

“Let’s go, then!” I would pretend like it had never happened, which is my parenting strategy in most situations.

The boys opted to stay indoors and I did not push the situation due to the extreme conditions. Only the most hearty Canucks and half-breeds could withstand it.

I was thrilled that the lake had loaner trainers (think: walkers for kids) and Hadley started pushing it around like an old lady. But within a few minutes, her confidence surged and she was gliding all around the lake like a champ, previous tantrum forgotten.

As for me, I repeatedly looped around the lake, relishing the freedom of the frigid air and cursing my parents for never encouraging me to become a speed skater (read: unrealized dreams). When we finally went indoors, I encountered Jamie.

“You look happier.”

“I am.” I had admittedly been a bit moody earlier that evening.

“I told everyone to just let you stay out there for a few hours and you’d be fine.”

He knows me so well.

Keystone’s Mountain

We have had countless ski instructors over the years who have fastidiously worked with my kids. Patiently strapping on their skis. Bending over backwards (literally) trying to help them navigate down the mountain. Instilling a love of the sport when all (our) hope was almost lost. To all of them, I say “THANK YOU!”

And I’m glad it wasn’t me.

Jamie and I are finally benefiting from the fruits of their labors as both kids are finally capable enough for us to ski together.

Our version of a family photo

The previous weekend at Winter Park, Bode skied his first blue (intermediate) run and wanted to keep the momentum going. But shortly after it started, it stopped on the high-speed Montezuma Quad. Jamie took off his glove and joked, “My goal is to not drop it.”

Hadley should have taken the hint because 38 seconds later, she accidentally dropped her pole from three stories in the air. If you’re not a skier, many runs directly until the lift are reserved for extreme terrain. This was the case but there was another complication: Tower 13 (where she dropped it) was a closed, roped-off area. Whoops.

“What are we going to do?” she wailed.
“We’ll figure something out,” I replied. It was about time she went extreme.

She was spared her initiation by fire (or snow) when we were advised to stop at the Snow Patrol building and file a report. It was my first visit, which I deem a good thing because usually they’re hosting injured folks on stretchers. Following the paperwork, they loaned her another pole. But the fun didn’t stop there. Every time we rode past Tower 13 on the lift, we played the very captivating game, “I spy” as we looked for her pole.

We sure know how to party.

Our plan was to check-out the conveyer-belt-serviced tubing and the Kidtopia Snow Fort at the top of Dercum Mountain but by 2 p.m., we were frozen so we only did a token stopover at the Snow Fort for the kids to crawl through the tunnels and climb on the turrets.

Hint: If you’re already an icicle, sitting on a throne of ice won’t help the situation. But it sure was fun and we’ve vowed to return during more agreeable climes.

Der Fondue Chessel

One of my favorite childhood traditions was fondue so I was delighted when I saw Der Fondue Chessel was on the itinerary. But there was a problem. The restaurant is perched atop Keystone’s North Peak Mountain and it was too cold to access at night. And so the resort pulled all the stops and recreated our fondue night out at the fine dining restaurant, Keystone Ranch. There was delicious fondue (duh).A Yeti and White Winter Wizard (duh).And what would a recreation of the Alps be without our very own polka band? At one point, they launched into the “Chicken Dance” and the children raced out to participate. As I snapped shots of them, I did a few token moves when, before I know it, someone grabbed me and started swinging me around. Fortunately, it was just a strange dude and not the Yeti.

Chalk that one up as “things I never thought I’d say in my lifetime.”

But at Keystone, you’ll sure have the time of your life.

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Be sure to check-out my other Keystone write-up at Travel Mamas.

 

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Family travel, Hadley, Humor, outdoors, skiing, travel

Toms Urban 24: Larimer Square’s Newest, Hippest 24-hour Restaurant

January 20, 2013 By

I was recently invited to a preview breakfast of the cool, hip restaurant Toms Urban 24 in Larimer Square, Denver’s coolest urban shopping and dining district. I forwarded the invitation to my husband Jamie. His response: “YESYESYESYSYEYSEYSEYSEYSEYSEYES.”

But then I realized the time conflicted with dropping off my daughter for school so the event coordinator instead invited us for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Hadley gets out of school at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.

That girl is wreaking havoc on my foodie fixes.

We made it work and I’m so glad we went because we got a sampling of what is assuredly to become one of Denver’s hippest restaurants, which offers modern comfort food with an urban twist. What really sets it apart from other great eateries is that Tom’s Urban 24 is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. It even has Tom’s Side Door from 6-11 a.m. daily which offers delicious grab ‘n go items.

Move over Denny’s–you’ve got some stiff, gourmand competition.

Founder Tom Ryan was one of Gourmet.com’s Top 25 America Food Entrepreneurs and Tom himself was on-hand touting his expansive menu. He loves to “feed people what they love in cool and creative ways” and this affordable menu delivers with everything from LoDo burritos (the red chile sauce is a must-try) to late-night truffle parmesan popcorn with rosemary, to farm-fresh salads, to gluten-free and vegetarian options. Tom’s even offers homemade doughnuts for breakfast with the usual flavors like chocolate in addition to unique twists like Captain Crunch or maple bacon. Add ice cream and you have dessert à la mode for dinner.

OH.MY.GOSH.

Jamie and I started with the Tom’s Urban PHỎ (gluten-free) scratch-made light and flavorful broth with rice noodles, cilantro, green onions and an array of other fresh garnishes you can create yourself. It was my first PHỎ experience and upon adding a squirt of lime, I ascertained it would not be my last.
I asked Tom what he recommended and his choice was the Mushroom Truffle Arugla pizza with seasoned, roasted crimini mushrooms, sour cream, mozzarella cheese, topped with arugula, truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. That was good enough for me and was my favorite thing on the menu.

Jamie’s choice was the Urban Slopper, a chargrilled certified Angus beef butter burger served Pueblo-style – smothered with green chile sauce, grated cheddar and pepper jack cheese, queso fresco, cilantro, pico de gallo on a brioche bun. Jamie disputed my claims that my dish was the favorite (though his came a close second).

Whenever I go to a new restaurant, I always survey the landscape to see if it’s kid-friendly. Though Tom’s Urban 24 isn’t specifically geared toward kids (they do not have a kid menu), they have plenty of child-friendly, affordable items including the mix ‘n match tacos, baked mac ‘n cheese, sandwiches and burritos. I’m dying to take my kids back for breakfast to try the pumpkin spice pancakes and one of their signature items: homemade pop tarts.

The apple pop tart will make you swear you’ve biting into Mama’s apple pie but the fig and goat cheese is intriguing.

Translation: I’ll be back.

Tom’s Urban 24 is located at 1460 Larimer Street and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The starting price for an entree breakfast is $6.50, lunch ranges from $8-12 and dinner is between $10-24.

Filed Under: Foodie

Four TGIF Happy Thoughts

January 18, 2013 By

It has been a pretty stressful week. Between some looming deadlines to juggling household stuff to mom’s persisting health problems (they finally did a stomach scope and discovered ulcers) to blowing up at H’s teacher to having a meeting with the principal to discuss strategies with an interventionist in math (can you spell r-e-l-i-e-f?) I am so, so, so glad it is Friday.

Why didn’t someone tell me this whole mom/wife/human thing would be so tough sometimes?

But here are four things that make me happy.

1) One of my only solaces about Denver’s lack of snow is I was able to mountain bike Table Mountain today. In January. I’d still rather be snowshoeing in winter.

2) A friend posted this picture on Facebook by Anna Beck Designs:

Life is a balance of holding on & letting go.

My friend wrote:

Growing up, I spent many an afternoon in a little municipal swimming pool, surrounded by every other kid in the county. I remember that the best part was finding enough space to just back float. The screeches, squeals and shouts of Marco Polo were muffled and I was weightless, bobbing in an ocean alone. I’d forgotten how very awesome that was until I saw this picture. I need to spend more time back floating.

3) My sister-in-law Tammy brightened my day by sending this hilarious blog post. If you’re not LDS, you won’t get it. But if you are LDS, I guarantee the idiosyncrasies will make you laugh. Out. Loud. And if you’re neither, you’ll think we’re all a bit crazy.

4) It is so nice to see positive stories trending on Yahoo. A Reddit user posted a photo of a poignant message that she found taped to the stall in a women’s restroom at her university. The user, chellylauren, wrote: “In a girls’ bathroom stall at my university, girls have written about some of their most horrifying life experiences. This week, somebody replied.”

The reply, written on notebook paper, is anonymous.

The reply in full:

To the girl who was raped: You are so strong. I cannot fathom the pain you must have gone through. The fact that you have the bravery to write it (even on a bathroom wall) gives me hope.

To the girl with eating disorders: I promise you, although I don’t know you, you are beautiful, you deserve your health. You deserve freedom from that hell.

To the girl with the alcoholic father: I am so sorry for the agony it must cause. Again, such courage is remarkable you must be such a strong person to see such pain.

To the girl whose father died: Missing them never goes away. The ache of their absence never goes away. But the love they had, the memories you share surely must last. I am sure, out of the bottom of my heart, the people who have left you in this world are exceptionally proud of the person you are.

Everytime (sic) I see these walls, these confessions, I feel so blessed to know I have the priviledge (sic) of seeing them. Your moments, these secrets, are all precious even though they are sad. To all of you (including those I did not mention, and those who have not yet written)

-You are worthy.

-You are strong.

-You are brave.

-You are loved.

-Somebody cares.

Written below that, somebody penned a quick response: “To the person who wrote this, thank you.” And I echo that sentiment.

Filed Under: biking, LDS

Why botox may be in my future

January 17, 2013 By

I really didn’t have a problem turning 40 last year until some recent events.

Me helping Hadley with her math homework.

“I think that’s right but I was wrong once…back in 2002.”

Her: “2002. Were you even ALIVE then?”

For the record, that is the year I met Jamie.

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I went hiking in Boulder last month and stopped at the Dollar Tree for some stocking stuffers. Next door was Savers and I have to admit I had no idea what it was.  I popped in to peek and discovered it was a thrift store but not just any thrift store but an outdoor emporium that hosted Boulderites’ glorious outdoor castoffs including brands like Columbia and North Face.

To say I had a grand ol’ time is an understatement.

Well, at least until I arrived at the check-out. The 20-something dude glanced at me and queried,

“Do you qualify for the senior discount?”

Picking myself off the floor. “DO I LOOK LIKE I QUALIFY FOR THE SENIOR DISCOUNT?”

Him: “I dunno. It never hurts to ask.”

Guess what, Dude. It does.

========
We opened a bank account for the kids and as I was rifling through my drawers looking for their social security numbers, I found an assortment of my old ID cards. I’ve looked pretty much the same since adolescence, with the exception of junior high when I chopped my hair (I’ll save THAT story for another day). I had a good chuckle over my ninth grade ID card and thought Hadley would, too.

“Hey, take a look at this. That’s me when I was in junior high!”
“Really? You look like you were back in the olden days.”

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

And that would be why

January 15, 2013 By

Me: Who broke the new butterfly net?

Bode: Hadley did it.

Hadley: Why do you blame me for EVERYTHING?

Me: Well, did you break it?

Hadley: Yes.

2 very different kids, 2 sets of grandmas, 2 darling Christmas outfits for each

It’s never boring around here, that’s for sure.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor
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