Amber | Life Elevated Mom

The No. 2 Coolest Thing I Have Ever Done!

June 21, 2012 by Amber

Cars Land was phenomenal and Radiator Springs Racers is my favorite ride at Disneyland. Truly. (Go here if you missed my original post).

But do you know what else was so astounding that it made my Top 2 List of Coolest Things I Have Ever Done?

OK, so I just made up the list but the following experience I had at Disneyland ranks right behind my amazing opportunity to be Microsoft’s accredited blogger at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Following our preview of Cars Land, the media was set loose with their families in California Adventure Park for the entire day. What’s so cool about that? The park was closed to the public in preparation for its grand re-opening the next morning. That’s right, people. About 1,000 media and their families had California Adventure Park to themselves. Don’t believe me?

It was like a dream come true to visit Disneyland without the crowds and worth every penny we spent to get there. Oh, and did I mention the weather was a moderate 70-degrees?

I could not have picked a more perfect day.

Our craziest moment was during one of our first rides on Grizzly River Run. Last spring, I waited 1.5 hours for the thrill of doing this white-water rafting adventure.

At the end of getting tossed around by Grizzly River’s rapids, we prepared to get out when the ride operator glanced over at the line (or lack thereof; we were the only ones there) and asked the golden question: “Do you want to do it again?”

And for the first time in my history of Disneyland, we went around yet again without even unbuckling.

The novelty didn’t even wear off when we emerged soaking wet.

That night, our big Disneyland sendoff was a private showing of Worlds of Color–a water spectacular that wove water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy.

Water

Color

fire

Of course my pictures don’t do it justice so check-out Disneyland’s official ones:

Do you know what was mind-blowing? We were each given our own light-up Mickey ears and once the show started, we realized they were perfectly synced to whatever colors were on display.

At least it was the coolest thing ever once I decided Disneyland wasn’t trying to control our minds and take over the world.

There was only one drawback to the entire experience. When you’re a Disneyland newbie like Jamie, the bar has been set waaaaaaay too high.

Cars Land’s Luigi’s Flying Tires

But we’re happy to just do the limbo the next time we visit Disneyland.

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

My night as a celebutante (or not)

June 20, 2012 by Amber

I’m not a fan of celebrities and can count on one hand how many I’d really like to meet, Matt Lauer, Jon Stewart and Anderson Cooper being among them.

I’ve had a thing for news anchors since my broadcast journalism college days and they kinda count, right?

So when the media attending the Cars Land preview were invited to cover the Red Carpet festivities, I opted for a back-row seat. Or rather, square of carpet.

It was standing-room only.

When I checked in, I was assigned No. 50. If you’ve ever wondered how the Red Carpet organization works, each media outlet is assigned a number and that is where they are stationed (often with a bunch of other journalists). I was originally supposed to be with some Utah outlets but migrated over to where my posse–a fun group of bloggers–was hanging out.

There were some bloggers on the front lines battling it out for the interviews while the rest of us had a lot of fun sitting back and pretending to know who half of the people were.

Fortunately LeAnn Jakubowski, Disney’s Director of Social Media, had a cheat-sheet of all the celebrities who’d be attending. This is just one page of many.

Normally I’d feel really awkward about sticking a camera in a celebrity’s face but that is what the Red Carpet is all about.

Cheers’ John Ratzenberger, the voice of Cars’ Mack the truck. Hot blonde included.

Everybody Loves Raymond’s Brad Garrett

Brad was h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s and hammed it up for the bloggers. Let’s just say he’s not an introvert.

Larry the Cable Guy (voice of Mater) made several appearances during the grand opening. Dude is down-to-earth and funny.

Here’s someone who blew me away. Recognize her? I didn’t either, though she’s from my favorite comedy, Modern Family. A glammed up Arial Winter plays the brainy Alex Dumphy.

Speaking of Modern Family, who doesn’t love Manny?

There were plenty of other celebrities but I was often too late or my camera was too slow to capture the moment.

I got a lot of good backside shots, though.

Don’t ask me who this was.

I wouldn’t cut it as a paparazzo. Though it was fun to have caught a glimpse, I’ll gladly stick with my day job.

Filed Under: Disney, Humor Tagged With: Disneyland

Disneyland at last!

June 19, 2012 by Amber

If you’re not a fan of Disneyland, come back next week because I’ll be singing the praises of the Happiest Place on Earth the next several days.

When I got invited to the media preview of Cars Land, I asked Jamie if he’d finally like to go (he has been threatening to sue his parents for years re: never taking him). It took him only a moment to decide “YES” and so we bit the bullet and bought tickets for the entire family.

And I’m so glad we did.

I mean, just look at this dude.

I’m glad I had a do-over, too. The kids and I went for one frenzied day last spring break and between the crowds, the heat and the zero research I had done (my tour guide friend had to pull out at the last minute), it was stressful.

Not this time. A friend told me January and early-June are great times to visit Disneyland and she was correct. A lot of schools weren’t on summer break yet so the lines were more manageable–we never waited more than a half-hour for a ride.

Once upon a time, I would have thought waiting that long was dreadful. Now I know that’s a good thing! We stayed at the gorgeous Grand Californian Hotel and you pay for what you get. Namely, it’s pricy (particularly on the weekend) but being located inside the park made for easy access and frequent breaks and dips in the pool.

We also had NO IDEA about the Downtown Disney District, a 20-acre admission-free area right outside our hotel that consisted of about 50 restaurants and shops.

We were a wee bit excited to be there!

We started out at Space Mountain which, if we’re being honest here, scares the bejeebers out of me. I’m fine with rollercoasters but not in the dark. We then spent a truly fabulous day exploring the best of what Disneyland has to offer.

Star Tours

Thunder Mountain

Hadley freaking out before Splash Mountain’s Big Plunge

Bode, our very serious navigator with the map

Jambalaya, clam chowder, beignets & mint juleps to drink at French Market

Did we overdo it? You betcha! I literally could not drag the kids out of bed the next morning but a brisk breakfast on our balcony helped wake them up a bit.

I won’t point out sleepy Bode actually put his coat on upside down if you don’t.

It’s called opportunity-cost.

And the sleep deprivation for our first day at play was so very worth it.

Next time: tune in for details from the red carpet!

Filed Under: Disney, Hadley, Humor, Jamie Tagged With: Disneyland

Why Disney California Adventure Park’s billion-dollar overhaul and Cars Land will send you into overdrive

June 18, 2012 by Amber

As the early-morning rays oozed through the blinds, my husband Jamie rolled over toward me in bed and sang, “When you wish upon a star.”

That’s when two things hit me. 1) We were going to Disneyland in a few hours and 2) He sings really off-key in the morning.

This wasn’t just any trip to the Happiest Place on Earth but Jamie’s first visit ever. We planned our trip around the opening of Cars Land, the culmination of a five-year, billion-dollar expansion of Disney California Adventure Park.

I’d only visited California Adventure Park for a few hours last spring and though the attractions were fun (favorites include Grizzly River Run and Soarin’) it lacked the magic of nearby Disneyland.

That is no more.

Cars Land’s new 12-acre spread makes you swear you were plopped onto Route 66 during its heyday. In addition, the premiere of the many shops and entertainment on Buena Vista Street (California Adventure’s equivalent to Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A.), offers a nostalgic step back in time to 1920s Los Angeles when Walt Disney arrived.

Cars Land First Glimpse

Though Jamie kicked off our trip with Disney’s iconic song, he would have been more accurate in belting out “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” because that’s what happens in the re-creation of Radiator Springs.

The 300,000-square-foot Cadillac Mountain Range in Ornament Valley is the awe-inspiring backdrop (4,000 tons of steel were used to erect it). From the moment you step onto the property, you’re on sensory high-drive with 16 neon signs in luminous colors, three new rides and a number of eclectic food and merchandise locations. (Click to enlarge)

We gobbled up the lip-smacking food from the Cozy Cone Motel’s cone-shaped huts. Choices included ice cream, popcorn, churros and I was delighted when, as the staffer handed me my chile “cone” caso, he proclaimed, “That cone-pletes your order.”

I’m a sucker for corny puns…and great food.

The Rides

Radiator Springs Racers, 40-inch height requirement

I predict this will become one of the most popular attractions at the park (the six-hour wait on opening day confirmed it). Six people pile into a convertible cars and start on a leisurely road trip through Radiator Springs.

Prior to our trip, my kids were not huge fans of Cars and I made them do their research by re-watching the movie. As we wound around on a leisurely road trip through scenes like Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, they fell in love with the characters as they came to life.

But then the real fun began.

We pulled up beside another car on a parallel track, engines were revved and we zoomed nose-to-nose through the desert as if vying for our own Piston Cup. Speeds reached as fast as 45 mph as we squealed around corners and over bumps in a thrilling finish that is different every time.

Except for us—we lost all three runs.

But that didn’t stop us from sprinting to the back of the line to do it all over again.

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree—32-inch height requirement

Cars tow truck Mater has his very own herd of 22 runaway baby tractors in his junkyard and they “tow-si-do” around in a figure eight.

I had high hopes Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree would play out like a tilt-a-whirl but it was much tamer and geared to the younger set. Though you have a safety bar, you’ll do a lot of sliding around so make sure to hold onto your little ones—my 5-year-old got a nice goose egg when his head hit the side of the tractor.

Larry the Cable Guy (the voice of Mater) recorded seven hillbilly songs for the attraction.

As we hee-hawed along to the music, I wasn’t quite sure if that was a selling point or a drawback. 🙂

Luigi’s Flying Tires, 32-inch height requirement

The concept of this ride is cool: Huge tires double as hovercraft bumper cars as you float two inches above ground on what seems like a giant air hockey table. To move, we shifted our weight to guide the direction and bump into other tires.

Over-sized beach balls were thrown into the mix because there’s nothing quite like bumping into and bopping complete strangers on the head.

Here’s a word of caution: don’t wear a skirt like I did. When you’re walking to your tire, those 6,714 air vents will make you feel like that famous picture of Marilyn Monroe when her skirt was blown up by the subway vent.

And not in a good way.
(What a giant beach balls looks like before hitting your face.)

But you’d better believe with the panoramic views of Ornament Valley, the three new attractions and immersive interactions with your favorite fuel-driven friends, life at Cars Land is all good.

Photos: Disneyland and Yours Truly

Filed Under: Disney, Family travel, Humor Tagged With: Cars Land, Disneyland

In honor of Father’s Day

June 17, 2012 by Amber

My son Bode is thoughtful, kind and beloved by everyone. I can count on one hand how many tantrums he’s ever thrown, and he prides himself on being responsible.

How many 5-year-olds do you know like that?

He is also analogous to an 8-ton pachyderm.

Case in point: We recently encountered another boy at the park whose constant barrage of insults quickly wore on me, but Bode continued playing with him. At one point, the kid demanded, “You need to watch my shark!” and without waiting for consent, he flitted off.

Bode simply placed the shark on a ledge and carefully cupped his hands over it.

When it appeared the kid wasn’t coming back from playing anytime soon, I told Bode, “You don’t need to do that, you know.”

Bode didn’t KEEP READING AT DENVERPOST.COM

Filed Under: Bode

(Camp) Memories Light the Corner of My Mind

June 14, 2012 by Amber

I almost cried on my final day of camp.

But here’s the really sad thing: I wasn’t even the one who attended.

Last week, my children wrapped up their first ever “grown-up” camp with Avid4 Adventure. We’ve done casual sports and art camps through the school or county but this was our first real deal. My kids participated in their Multi-sport Camp and every day was dedicated to a different pursuit: kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing.

Another reason I cried: I didn’t get to do it with them.

I did, however, catch a glimpse of why they said they had “the best time ever” by attending each of their parent days. I witnessed Bode scale a huge rock wall (while my grateful feet remained on solid ground) and I went canoeing with Hadley at Bear Creek Lake Park.

My history with canoes involve capsizing or using a rake as a paddle (long story but when you don’t have oars you improvise).

No improvisation was needed with the Avid4 kids as they became extremely proficient in each of the activities. I was impressed with all the instructors who were not just college students on summer break but rather certified, highly trained and passionate about instilling a love for the outdoors.

The kids taught the parents all the canoeing safety and skills necessary before heading out on the lake. They went easy on us before introducing us to games like “Stinky Fish” (where we tossed wet sponges into each other’s canoes) and the parents squealed as much as the kids.

The best news of all: I did not lose face with a bunch of 8-year-olds by capsizing.

While Hadley’s adventures with the older kids lasted all day long, 5-year-old Bode’s group of all boys did half-day adventures. They then returned to “base camp” where they did music, arts or crafts with specialized teachers and even learned yoga from Yogini Eileen. I knew my “boy’s boy” would thrive in the regular pursuits but I had doubts he would take to the Downward Dog.

I figured a formal introduction was appropriate.

“Bode, this nice lady is going to show you how to do something called yoga. Eileen, can you demonstrate a pose for him?”

I figured she’d do something nonthreatening like the Tree Pose but she opted for the Standing Head to Knee Pose, which if you’re yoga newbies like Bode and me, looks like one of those circus contortionists.

Skeptically, he looked at me as I shrugged my shoulders. “Good luck with that.”

Turns out, he and his buddies didn’t need it and they loved their class.

I first heard about Avid4 Adventure through a friend who raved about their Outdoor Education School Programs and what’s not to love? They bring a portable stations to schools such as a 25-foot mobile climbing wall, a 30-foot portable pool for kayaking or canoeing, mountain bikes and a portable mountain bike skills course and an outdoor Leave No Trace classroom.

Between their school program, adventure day camps all over the Metro area, family camping trips and overnight Camp Eden, the only thing Avid4 Adventure is missing is classes for adults. I’ll be first in line should it ever it ever happen.

With oars (not rake) in hand.

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

Avid4 Adventure Camp: In Pictures

June 14, 2012 by Amber

I’d be lying to say I didn’t live vicariously though my kiddos as they did one of Denver’s best summer camps I would have only dreamed to do as a kid. Every day was (literally) a new adventure. I don’t know how Avid4 Adventure did it but they created something special that went beyond mere activities and fun to an everlasting bond with the other kids and nature.

The best part of all: even though each of them had a Parent’s Day where I was able to attend for a couple of hours, Avid4 posted pictures of their adventures so I was able to follow them daily, as well as a “report card” at the end that details all the new skills they acquired.

They sure have a lot to teach me.

Bode’s Experience

Bode is the kind of kind who makes instant friends wherever he goes (it’s a gift, I’m telling you). This is his Group 1 “Lava Bullets” at the climbing walls. Coincidentally, Bode’s soccer team had the same name. Any guesses as to who might have suggested it?

Is it just me or do they look absolutely adorable?

Of course, I couldn’t have him lose face in front of his buddies by pinching their cheeks. It’s not becoming of adventure campers.

Hanging with Grandma on Parent’s Day

Lava Bullets rocked their hike up Mt. Galbraith. Their instructors said they went further than any 5-6-year-old group they’ve ever had.

I did the same hike that week and I’m telling you, it was no stroll in the park.

Maybe I needed the Lava Bullets there to whip me into shape.

Bode’s class started their biking session by gauging everyone’s level in the parking lot as they navigated obstacles.

And then took it to the pathway along gorgeous Clear Creek in Golden.

But my most surreal experience? Watching my 5-year-old take turns kayaking at Bear Creek Lake Park.

It was, hands down, the perfect day.

And, of course, his week would not have been complete without awesome instructors Alex and Steve.They should get a prize for juggling such a rambunctious group of boys.

Or at least a long time to recover.

=======

Hadley’s Experience

I like to call Hadley my extroverted introvert. Though she’s social and enjoys being around people, she is perfectly content to be a loner on her own terms. But she also loves a good adventure so I was thrilled when she delved right into the activities and made some good friends by the end of the week.

Hiking Lair ‘o the Bear

Their rock climbing and mountain biking days were a lot more extreme than Bode’s group and she scaled a real cliff for the former and hit the backcountry for the latter. Her instructors didn’t take any pictures mountain biking but a covered-in-mud daughter was worth a thousand words.

I don’t call her “Adventure Girl” for nothing.

But canoeing with her on parent’s day will be one of my all-time favorite memories. Each of the kids took a turn explaining the requisite skills and safety considerations to all the parents, giving them a great opportunity to apply what they’d learned.

And then we we canoed around the lake–laughing, playing games like “Stinky Fish” and practicing getting in and out of the canoe.

I didn’t take my camera in the canoe with me. Ask my friend Tina why. It had something to do with the last time I canoed with her husband, we took a nice dunk in the lake.

I’ve reached my quota on having to replace cameras.

But lest you think it was all adventure and no fun, think again. I can’t tell you how many games my kids learned at base camp.

And, of course, Hadley’s experience would not have been complete without her inspiring, accomplished and capable instructors, Kelly and Haley (seriously, just look at their bios). I want to be just like them when I grow up.

And since it’s too late for me, there’s always hope for Haddie.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, outdoors

Workin’ it!

June 14, 2012 by Amber

People have different ideas about what vacations are all about. For some, it should be the beach. For others, it’s the mountains. For when our family comes to visit, Jamie and I like to call them “working vacations.”

This is an altruistic way of saying THEY WORK FOR US.

For my poor Dad, he got dragged to the pumpkin patch and navigated the forklift with Jamie as they put up the hail netting (better him than me).

Then last fall, a section of our fence blew down. We didn’t bother to repair it until the prospect of having a backyard party for Haddie’s baptism finally motivated me to action. Jamie determined we would finally put in a gate to the patch (a la Julianne Moore’s request when we appeared on the Marriage Ref).

We had to build two sections of fence and install the gate. Sound easy? IT WASN’T. If you’ve ever dug fence posts three feet into the ground, you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve ever tried to dig fence posts through several feet of concrete, now we’re talking. When the fence blew over, it was because the wood had rotted out, leaving behind the concrete from the original fence posts.

So, for two days Dad and I dug (he, with a 30-pound crowbar as I would dutifully shovel out the hunks of cement.) And then rebuilt.

I’ll never look at a fence again without the most utmost respect for those who built it.

Fast-forward a couple of days to when Linda (Jamie’s mom) and I tackled Hadley’s bedroom. She had volunteered to help make it over in honor or Haddie’s 8th birthday. One of my young women from church, Jessie, volunteered to help paint and so we recruited her for the cause while Hadley was in adventure camp.

After three days and A LOT OF work, Hadley has her very own tween bedroom, complete with her own crafting area, which she absolutely loves.

And now I need a vacation from their vacation.

Filed Under: Family, Humor

A New Woman-Child is Born

June 12, 2012 by Amber

It was truly wonderful having both sets of grandparents descend upon us for Haddie’s baptism. There were lots of shopping trips and Haddie’s first mani-pedi with my mom.

Something you should know about Hadley: she HATES to cut her nails. As in all-out-freakout-I’m-gonna-kill-someone-type hatred. Though she has gotten better over the years and I can now clip her nails without her drawing blood (namely mine), I was curious to see how she’d do.

She looooooved soaking her feet with my mom.

And though she made faces during her manicure, she did just fine.

But I knew her feet would be a big ol’ problem. I get it. I literally cannot stand getting the bottom of my feet scrubbed and toe nails filed but I dutifully drag myself in for a pedi twice a year.

I assured Hadley the nice lady would only paint her toenails and not clip and file them. The problem is, the lady didn’t speak English so my instructions fell on deaf ears.

Or rather, Vietnamese ones.

I got lost in my own foot-soaking reverie and when I looked over, not only was she clipping but also filing Hadley’s toe nails. She took it rather well.

Or not.

But there was no yelling, kicking OR screaming, which means I’ll have to take her in for a mani-pedi every time her nails need clipping.

And I’m sending the bill for our new habit to my mother.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

Why Stan is the Man

June 11, 2012 by Amber

I share my dad’s love for the outdoors so we always go play whenever we’re together. This time around, we determined biking would be our adventure de choix.

Or, at least we tried.

Day 1: 15 minutes into our ride, I realized my tire was flat and I didn’t have any repair tools. Gave him not-so stellar directions to bike home (he got kinda lost) and called annoyed Jamie who drove to get me. Took wheel off bike and got it repaired at bike shop.

Day 2: Second attempt at Father-Daughter bike ride. Could not get the wheel back on my road bike. SERIOUSLY (Jamie, Dad and I all attempted…and failed). Took it back to the bike shop; once again, Dad goes on solo bike ride.

Day 3: Extremely determined and finally go on lovely ride along Ralston Creek to Tucker Lake.

Seem tranquil? I assure you it was not. This was the scene just two minutes prior.

Though my dad is an avid outdoor enthusiast who bikes daily in the summer, my toe clips proved problematic. This is just a nice way of saying when he slowed to a stop, he forgot his feet were stuck in them and he fell over.

He couldn’t move his finger for a couple of days and had some scrapes and bruises but Stan the Man got back on that bike and finished the ride up a steep hill.

I wanna be just like him when I’m in my 70s.

Tough. Not the part about falling over from forgetfulness.

Filed Under: Humor Tagged With: Dad