Amber | Life Elevated Mom

Just call me Merida

July 6, 2012 by Amber

On the 4th of July, we took the family to see Pixar’s Brave. Set in the highlands of 10th century Scotland, skilled archer Merida caused some good, old-fashioned chaos in the kingdom.

We all really, really liked it and there were two things I loved most: 1) It captured the mother-daughter dynamic with all of its glorious conflicts and joys and 2) It’s about time there was a red-headed, curly-haired heroine.

Now, I’m not one to walk around saying “that could totally be me” about Disney or Hollywood characters but throughout the film, her stubborn, free-spirited, nature-loving disposition resonated with me.

Jamie thought so as well and posted this Facebook status update and picture:

Amber Johnson the original Brave? If they decide to make a Broadway play out of the movie I’ll have to insist on Amber playing Princess Merida.

That caused me to dig up a photo from my past when I competed in the archery biathlon at Bryce Canyon’s Winter Festival (I posted that article here).

I mean, just check-out this ace shooter.

Of course, Merida didn’t have sweat seeping from her armpits.

But I’m sure that’ll change in Brave II.

Filed Under: Humor, outdoors, skiing Tagged With: cross-country skiing

Chilling: Johnson-style

July 5, 2012 by Amber

We’ve had a one-week break between travels and I set the goal to give everyone some much-needed downtime and we had just that for several hours every day.

However, downtime gets old really quickly chez nous. Here are a few things we did to curb off the summer doldrums:

Two weeks of outdoors swim lessons with several of my besties from our ward. It was like a pool party every day.

And as a total bonus, both kids passed their classes. Hadley is now in the top class on her way to swim team and Bode passed his first class (Trouts) ever and is now a Duck.

If you’ve followed his swimming missteps, you’ll know this deserves a celebration.

We also took our neighbors to the Children’s Museum of Denver. We were regulars when the kids were younger but haven’t been back for a couple of years because they’re in school and I thought they’d outgrown it.

Sean & Bode inside a bubble at the Bubble Exhibit

Hadley with real power tools: watch out

Five hours later, I realized I could not have been more wrong.

We spent Family Home Evening flying a kitean airplane.

It was obviously intense.

We threw Bode a “Pretend Birthday” because we’ll be in Canada for his birthday.

More on that later but those (wet) projectile weapons sure were real.

And last but definitely not least, we spent the afternoon boating and playing at Chatfield State Park with the youth from church. Remember how June had record-breaking heat? The one day we planned our beach visit, it was blustery, windy and rainy.

However, we still had a blast and created even more memories than if it had been sweltering.

Mostly because my memories would have been bad ones.

Hadley tubing with two of her babysitters

Bode warming up with Bryan

Stomp Rockets: something I need to add to our toy collection

Hadley & Morgan snuggling up under our canopy as it poured

One of the great things in the Mormon church is we have a non-paid clergy and are asked to serve in a number of different capacities. I’ve pretty much had the opportunity to do it all–from working with the younger kids to the adults to teaching gospel doctrine to throwing parties to serving in presidencies. But hands down, my favorite favorite favorite calling ever is teaching the youth.

3 of the 4 girls I teach at church. Awesome young ladies!

Our group of youth

P.S. Did you know “sick” is out and the new, hip word is “That is so ‘beast?'”)

Because there’s nothing like a 40-year-old pretending to be cool.

But I’m telling you, this overheated summer has been anything but.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, LDS Tagged With: Denver

That’s what husbands are for

July 2, 2012 by Amber

I have felt overwhelmed and grateful by all the support I’ve received from friends, family and complete strangers since I started writing professionally.

But a few weeks ago, I received my first vicious email from a reader about my column in The Denver Post. I don’t write a lot of controversial stuff and what he was spewing out was so ludicrous, irrational and hateful toward children that I promptly deleted it and deemed him a madman.

But still, it bugged me.

Later that day, I commented to Jamie: “I got my first piece of hate mail today.”

He didn’t ask what it was about and only offered, “No, it wasn’t. Remember that kindergarten article you published a couple of years ago in the Denver Post’s YourHub? A man was so irate about it he sent ME an email telling me to tell my ‘misinformed wife’ she was nuts?”

“Thanks for the pick-me-up, Jamie.”

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie, Marriage

Happy Canada Day and the Story of “Eh!”

July 1, 2012 by Amber

**AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE FROM THE ARCHIVES. HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!**

Once upon a time, my little Half-Breed Hadley discovered So You Want to Be Canadian, a book my family graciously gave Jamie for Christmas.

For story time, we reviewed the history of “eh,” how to dress like a Canadian and learned how to make Beaver Tail Pastry.

Later today, I’ll quiz her on the Canadian anthem. In French (it’s never too early, right?)

Haddie took particular delight in learning to say “eh” so we thought we’d impart upon you the history of this sacred word. Y’see, unlike its slow-witted American cousin “huh,” “eh” is a flexible, multipurpose word, perfect for a variety of situations. Its uses are endless but as an example, adding “eh?” to the end of a statement is a handy and efficient substitute for:

This is just my opinion, but don’t you agree with it?

Non-Canadian statement: “The weather sure has turned chilly, don’t you think?”

Canadian Statement: “Cold, eh?”

This is a fact to which anyone would acquiesce, so I’m being rhetorical here.

Non-Canadian statement: I can’t believe you bought that girl a drink and she didn’t even give you her number.”

Canadian Statement: “That’s cold, eh?”

You know what I just said? I actually believe the exact opposite.

Non-Canadian statement: “Yes Bob, I agree it’s very hot in Penticton today. I’m positively burning up.”

Canadian statement: “Right cold, eh?”

This is the end of Lesson #1…cool, eh? If we all work on this together, perhaps we can overthrow dim-witted “huh” by year’s end.

Happy Canada Day!

Filed Under: Canada, Humor

Hadley’s Utopia & the Incredible Hulk

June 29, 2012 by Amber

You know those people who have an aversion to public restrooms?

Bode has the opposite problem. In fact, we often joke he’s like a dog and needs to mark his territory whenever we go. Or, as Hadley so eloquently summarized it:

“The one thing that boy knows how to find is a bathroom!”

But his latest bathroom episode lead to Hadley’s greatest discovery ever. During our visit to YMCA of the Rockies, we were at the playground when nature called for Bode. The Mootz Family Craft and Design Center was adjacent so we walked in there.

A couple of minutes later, I raced out to Hadley screaming, “YOU HAVE GOT TO COME WITH ME, NOW!!!”

The reason for my freakout? I have never seen a craft center quite like this one. I had eventually planned to wander in there with her and expected to see your basic painting or drawing stations but this place was a crafter’s dream with wood and leather crafts, a jewelry area with thousands of beads, ceramics, tie dye with a huge wall of clothing options, silk painting and basket making.

The prices range from $3-$35 per project with most people spending around $15. We dropped $50.

Ceramics

Some of the many craft projects


More crafts

Tie dye shirt designs

Being a dude, Bode isn’t really into crafts but he opted to make a tie dye shirt, something I had never done.

It turned our marvelously well. Here’s a photo I took of him wearing the shirt on our camping trip a couple of days later.

We left YMCA of the Rockies early the next morning so they sent home instructions for washing out the shirt after it had soaked in the dye for 24 hours. I then ran it in the washing machine twice before letting him wear it. Evidently, this was not enough because it turned his shoulders green at the campout. Quite coincidentally, his old swim trunks (seen above) literally split open.

We called him the Incredible Hulk.

But back to Hadley’s crafting utopia at the Craft & Design Center. I encouraged her to select something she would keep forever and so she, of course, selected one of the most expensive items: a mosaic kitty clock.

I was excited for her to attempt something so intricate where a qualified staff could help her out. I don’t know if you’d ever done a mosaic but envision collecting tons of glass shards and piecing them together like a puzzle without a set pattern.

I hate crafting and puzzles so basically, it was my worst nightmare. But I loved working on it with her as she came to life.

Then came grouting. I let her tackle that solo.

But the finished product? Something she will always cherish and her avowal to spend the entirety of next summer at the Craft and Design Center.

My wallet may never recover from her discovery.

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Other details of our stay:

Colorado’s Most Family-friendly Vacation

YMCA of the Rockies: Activity Capital of Colorado!

Colorado’s most affordable family vacation (at Mile High Mamas)

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

YMCA of the Rockies: Activity Capital of Colorado!

June 28, 2012 by Amber

When I tout YMCA of the Rockies as Colorado’s most affordable and fun family vacation, I’ve got the goods to back it up and those include:

Free Activities

A new 27-hole miniature golf course

Sand Volleyball Courts

Tennis Courts

Indoor and outdoor basketball courts

Indoor swimming pool

Guided hikes

Skate Park

Disc Golf

Fee Activities

Zip Line

Rock climbing wall

Archery

Craft & Design Center

Concessionaires

Fly Fishing

Horseback Riding

Mountain Biking

See, told you!

Most of the activities are included in your lodging cost (an Estes Park lodge room starts at $109, two-bedroom cabin $129 and 3-bedroom vacation homes start at $334). The rooms are rustic and clean, though we stayed at the Longs Peak Lodge, which had been recently renovated to include granite countertops in the bathrooms. If you’re not staying at YMCA of the Rockies, you can buy an all-day activity pass for $15.

Hands down, our latest visit to YMCA of the Rockies was the most fun we’ve ever had because the kids are finally old enough to participate in the numerous programs. Shortly after arriving, we headed over to the Sweet Memorial Building to sign up for a few of the many programs (most of which are free). Choices included Animal Detective, Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!, Aquatic Exploration, Bubbles, Capture the Flag, Family High Ropes, History Walk, Kickball, Knots, Scavenger Hunt and so many more.

We opted for Nature Art (the kiddos made natural kaleidoscopes and rock necklaces), wiffleball and Family Adventure, a series of bonding activities with other families as we attempted to rescue ourselves from being stranded in Hawaii.

Though I kept wondering if that was really a bad thing?

When I signed up for the activities I put down all our names, assuming I needed to be there. With the exception of Family Adventure, most of the activities were for kids-only. And then I realized the glorious truth: I had an entire hour of freedom each time.

And so this Mama chose to do a quick (but steep) trek up Bible Point, a 1.5-mile round-trip hike with stunning views.

YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park


Overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park

The kids also had a stellar time just kicking back at the playground.

The tire swing of death

And we were delighted to stumble upon a cossetted playground where a heated game of tetherball ensued.

This is my favorite picture I took of the trip, which perfectly captured our many moments of sheer joy.

So does this one of Bode’s dirty little legs, evidence of a well-played kid.

And we can’t forget our beloved new friends as we sang along with Cowboy Brad’s fireside program.

Bode & Ollie

Swayin’ to the music.

And bringing down the house to the Hokey Pokey

And THAT, my friends, is what it’s all about.

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Other details of our stay:

Colorado’s Most Family-friendly Vacation

Hadley’s Utopia (the craft center) and the Incredible Hulk

Colorado’s most affordable family vacation (at Mile High Mamas)

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors

YMCA of the Rockies: Colorado’s most family-friendly vacation

June 27, 2012 by Amber

I’m a longtime fan of YMCA of the Rockies and we have been going there since Haddie was one. I mean, just look at these little cuties!

YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch 2006

YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch 2007

2008

If you’re not familiar with this family resort and conference center, it is the most affordable family and fun vacation you will have in Colorado. Period. As my friend Julie described it: “YMCA of the Rockies is like summer camp for the whole family.”

My family has stayed in lodges or cabins at their two locations–860-acre Estes Park Center borders Rocky Mountain National Park and Snow Mountain Ranch is a 5,100-acre family ranch located between Winter Park and Grand Lake. (Go here for info on each of their properties).

I was ecstatic when we were invited to Estes Park on a blogger retreat last week. The last time I was at that location was for a Johnson family reunion when Hadley was 3 and Bode was 1. My, how they’ve changed.

YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park, 2012

But YMCA of the Rockies has not and is as fun as ever. Stay tuned for the details of the many activities we crammed into our two-day stay!

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The Details:

YMCA of the Rockies: Activity Capital of Colorado!

Hadley’s Utopia (the craft center) and the Incredible Hulk

Colorado’s most affordable family vacation (at Mile High Mamas)

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, travel

The silver (or white) lining

June 26, 2012 by Amber

That’s right, Peeps. Denver has had FOUR record-breaking days this week with no end in sight.

So, how have we been coping?

An FHE jaunt to our favorite secret watering hole.

Ralston Creek 2012

Ralston Creek 2011

Ralston Creek 2010

You could say it’s a favorite tradition on sweltering days.

And evidence I have the best friends EVER? My friend Lisa loaned me this air-conditioning unit for our bedroom window this summer. Judging me for being white trash?

Call me “White” for short.

Filed Under: Colorado

All (Not) Quiet on the Western Front

June 25, 2012 by Amber

This is a sampling of what we’ve been enduring in Denver the past couple of weeks:

I despise the heat but I’ve been coping with our record-breaking conditions rather well and have only complained very minimally about it.

Until Saturday.

Let me back up and say that due to our hot and dry conditions, Colorado is having our worst wildfire season ever with more than 100,000 acres burned and 10 wildfires going strong across the state. It’s devastating to watch so many family’s homes going up in smoke. Our firefighter neighbor is in the middle of a 12-day encampment on the fire line and I greatly applaud the sacrifices of so many.

To say it grates on me whenever someone rejoices about the heat that is exacerbating a horrible situation is an understatement.

There are three ways I’ve been coping with the heat: 1) Denial. 2) Daily outdoor swim lessons (what great timing) and 3) Air-conditioning. I won’t mention the fact our unit is too small for our house so our bedrooms upstairs feel like a sauna.

But where was I? Ahh, yes, my heat meltdown. We went camping last weekend in this 100-degree heat. I’ll have more details on that later and though it had all the fixins for the perfect getaway (friends, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding), the heat rendered me numb.

Bode’s first time fishing

Hadley’s first extended horseback ride

And not the good, cold kind of numb.

Jamie had a Bishopric meeting at 6:30 a.m. Sunday so I encouraged him to hang out with us during the day on Saturday and then head home that evening so he wouldn’t disturb us. Though we had an AWESOME time, I suffered through the day’s heat and started to come to life that evening when temperatures dropped from the triple- digits. But it was still sweltering when the kids and I went to bed.

9:30 p.m. Hot. Prayed at least kids would fall asleep and that I’d take one for the team.
9:45 p.m. Baby in neighboring tent crying.
10 p.m. Kids fell asleep. Realized being a team player sucked.
11 p.m. Baby still crying. Don’t blame baby. Was right there with him.
11:30 p.m. Parents take him home to his nice air-conditioned house. Consider stowing away.
Midnight. All is finally quiet in the campground.
12:30 p.m. Snoring begins at a neighboring tent and does not stop all night long.
1 p.m. Musical beds. Bode is a wild sleeper and rolled around the entire tent, forcing me to frequently change my location.
2 p.m. Still hot. And now exhausted.
3:30 p.m. Grab my iPhone and email Jamie about my misery.
Sunrise. Woken up by loud neighbors.

That email’s contents are private but evidently convincing enough that Jamie had an ice-cold smoothie and also some limeaid with fresh mint sprigs from the garden waiting for me.

It was the equivalent of drunk dialing, only it was “overheated emailing.”

And with the way our summer is starting out, it won’t be the last time.

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

Fear Factor: Disneyland Style

June 22, 2012 by Amber

My kids enjoyed most of the thrill rides at Disneyland with the exception of the Matterhorn (it was closed until June 15 for repairs), Indiana Jones Adventure (Bode didn’t meet the 46-inch height requirement) and the California Screamin’ roller-coaster (they wouldn’t go near anything with an upside-down loop-de-loop).

However, there were a few surprising “I’m gonna die moments!”

Splash Mountain

For Hadley, it occurred during Splash Mountain and the prospect of kareening down the waterfall. She kept obsessively chanting, “I’m FREAKING OUT!” and when I pointed out we hadn’t even gone down it yet, she switched her lament to “I’m FREAKING OUT FOR THE FUTURE!

What a great planner she is.

Mickey’s Fun Wheel

Doesn’t Mickey just look so happy and welcoming on that Ferris wheel?

Do not be deceived.

This time, it was Bode who was traumatized. You can ride one of the traditional gondolas mounted to the outer rim -or- board one of the 16-inch “free-mounted” gondolas that slip and slide back and forth along the inside spokes.

We, of course, chose the most adventurous free-sliding gondolas and oh, the look on Bode’s face when that thing started rocking.

Holy Crap!

When that didn’t work to calm his fears, he tried another coping method:

.And there he stayed for the duration of the ride.

Golden Zephyr

Hadley is a complicated little thing. Though she thrived on Space Mountain (which absolutely terrorizes me in the dark), she also freaked out about riding the Golden Zephyr in California Adventure Park. She hates swinging things but really? This tame spaceship that is geared to preschoolers?

I made her go on it, just so she could save face.

“What is the worst that could happen?” I queried.

“I could fall out and die,” she countered.

Note to self: don’t ask that question at an amusement park.

Filed Under: Bode, Disney, Family travel, Hadley, Humor Tagged With: Disneyland