Family travel | Life Elevated Mom

Breckenridge or Bust Part II

October 25, 2007 by Amber

Jamie’s wonderful family is very different from my own. The Canuck Clan has always been active and outings revolved around camping or water-skiing in sub-zero temperatures. Because with two weeks of summer you just have to make concessions.

On the other hand, Jamie’s clan are homebodies and most gatherings revolve around food, relaxing and well, more food. What makes this perplexing is they are all tall, skinny metabolic wonders with bodies like the very stars and stripes upon which this country was built.

The Canucks? Think maple leaves.

When Jamie’s family arrived in Breckenridge on Saturday, we ate, relaxed and ate some more. Now, don’t get me wrong–I have absolutely nothing against relaxing. I think I even did it once back in 1986. But when we invited them to come play in the snow with us, our invitation was greeted with blank stares that implied my little half-breeds and I suffer from a permanent brain freeze. What? People actually choose to touch that stuff?

When it came to hot tubbing, the whole famn damily excelled (possibly because it involved relaxing?) It would have also involved hot chocolate if it were not for my dear hubby’s communication blunder. Call me crazy but when a man offers to “Go make everyone some hot chocolate,” wouldn’t you also assume he was going to make and deliver it? He somehow forgot to disclose he was going to take a shower and run a marathon in the interim. When we finally gave up, I had a new appreciation for the grape-to-prune evolution.

As payback, I later snuck a three-foot-long icicle into his bathwater. OK, maybe “snuck” is a bit of an overstatement. More like lugged the frigid beast and hoisted it into the tub, ignoring his protests. It was a small payback for the many ice cubes that have somehow found their way down my back over the years.

As much fun as I had [relaxing and eating] with the family, I most enjoyed my alone time with Jamie on Friday. The gourmet buffalo fillets he grilled for us:

And the Rockstar Energy drink. I joked that we were there to chill. Why on earth would we need an energy drink?

I found out later that night.

(Note: no relaxation involved. 🙂

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, Jamie, outdoors, travel

Breckenridge or Bust Part I

October 24, 2007 by Amber

This will be one of my memorable two-part series. One might assume it is due to the length and the inordinate amount of pictures, which would be true. But the real reason is I accidentally deleted the rest of the #$&#*& post and will have to rewrite it tomorrow.

Our weekend in Breckenridge was whimsical, relaxing and fun. The cabin Jamie rented was absolutely gorgeous and cost us the equivalent of a trip to Hawaii. Well, without the airfare.

We lazed around all Friday afternoon gazing out the vaulted windows at the Ten Mile Range. He later cooked me a gourmet meal and we indulged in Crepes a la Cart in Breck for dessert. Oh, and did I mention it was a pumpkin crepe? Evidently, I have issues.

The next morning, we snuggled in bed watching a movie. This was not just any movie. This was the movie of my youth – Stealing Home starring Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon. Never heard of it? Nobody has so I was shocked/thrilled when I discovered it in the cabin’s collection.

It took me back to when my three best friends and I repeatedly watched it in high school, falling deeper and deeper in love with William McNamara (one of the stars) every time. And how Rachel, the evil wench, sent away for an autographed picture of Billy Boy. She then proceeded to frame and lust over it on her bed stand while I had to slog through life with my woosy Ralph Macchio poster.

When we eventually detached ourselves from the cabin and Billy Boy (just don’t tell Jamie), we hiked Baker Tank Trail in the snow and 4X4ed Boreas Pass. It was such a throwback to my former life except the views are that much more rewarding when trailing my hubby from behind. 🙂

Day two, Jamie’s family arrived with the kids. I had painstakingly packed The Kitchen Sink for them. Unfortunately, Grandma only brought the drain because she somehow forgot all their winter clothes.

Because why would we need boots in a winter wonderland

Oh, and did I mention it snowed 10 inches Saturday night?

To be continued tomorrow….

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, Jamie, outdoors, travel

Dumb and Dumber: Mile-High Style

September 24, 2007 by Amber

There are some mornings when I wakeup and feel indomitable. Coincidentally, these are the same mornings I received minimal sleep. The result is a veritable delusion of grandeur.

I had a summer of these. Hey, why not ~~climb~~ ~~limp~~ crawl up Colorado’s highest peak? Or better yet, let’s bike 24 miles in the mountains hauling the kids. Gee, that sounds like fun!

Last week was no different.

I decided to bike the Clear Creek Trail along Highway 58 from the I-70 junction to Lion’s Park in Golden. Hauling the kids. Uphill. Both ways.

Now, let’s see. Child #1: 35 pounds + Child #2: 23 pounds + 15-pound Chariot carrier + everything including the kitchen sink to keep the kids entertained = a tabulation I care not to compute. Why would I? I lived every stinkin’ pound of it.

I will spare you the gory details but in the end, we miraculously made it. Well, at least the kids did.

I’m sure my remains are still somewhere along the trail….

Blasted from the Past

I should have learned my lesson. Admittedly, these same delusions led me to roller-blade that path a couple of years ago. A path that contained the same hills but with different challenges. On a bike, the climbs are arduous. On blades? Quite the opposite.

I had started out strong on my blades. Smooth, powerful strokes. I was completely alone on the trail, which I love. But then I encountered hill No. 1. No problem. My pace slowed a bit but I triumphantly summited.

Then came Hill No. 2, then No. 3. All was fine and dandy until it came time to turn around.

But then came the “Ohhhhhhhh fudge” (I blame Ralphie from The Christmas Story).

During my jubilation of conquering the trail, I hadn’t realized how truly steep my ascent was. For those who have ever been on roller-blades, stopping while careening 100 miles an hour down a hill can be problematic. For me, it proved to catastrophic. Because in addition to the steep hills, there were also signs everywhere with the squiggly arrow (the official road-sign term, I’m sure). You know, the one that says “You’re dead if you don’t follow the hairpin curves.”

The rest of the story was not pretty. What ticks me off is do you think anyone witnessed my triumphant ascent? Nooooooooo. But now bikers started coming out of the woodwork as I desperately clutched the railing, my legs wedged in a ~~snow~~ asphalt-plow.

In the end, I only suffered a few scrapes and a bruised ego. But worry not, after these two sordid experiences I have certainly learned my lesson.

Until my next episode of sleep deprivation, that is.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor

Love and Lessons in Mexico

August 15, 2007 by Amber

We have returned from our Mexican vacation! All the Amber “Murphy” elements were potentially there: 60% chance of rain everyday, long flights and two small children in the same hotel room. Oh yeah, and the probability of getting sick, which is what I do on every stinkin’ vacation.

But shockingly, the entire trip went smoothly. We had only one brief brush with rain, the kids were fantastic in flight and were even better sleepers at night. It was pretty darn idyllic. Well, notwithstanding the stye that blossomed in my eye and that one ‘lil night when I almost didn’t make it to the bathroom in time, both minor on the Amber Richter Scale of Catastrophes.

We stayed at El Cid Castillo Beach Hotel in Mazatlan. After slugging through the heat and humidity, we were greeted with a fantastic corner room at garden level with quick access to both the pool and beach.

Stellar views aside, the highlight of the room was that blessed, blessed blast of frigid air when we entered. I squealed with delight but watched with dismay as the children’s little fingers quickly formed icicles. Now, there are times in a parent’s life when the best interest of their children is of the utmost importance.

This was not one of those times.

And so I did what any heat-challenged mother would do: I kept that air ‘a blasting, bundled up their little ice cube hands and made a mental note to bring their snowsuits next time.

They are just now dethawing.

Our sole purpose of this trip was to expose the kids to the water. Unlike our usual adventure-travel itinerary, we did not attempt any excursions. We just ate, swam and slept. And then ate some more.

Even in my sand-repugnant state, I envisioned burying Jamie in it, building sand castles and searching for sea shells. All of this would have happened had it not been for The Pool–touted as the largest in Mexico. The same hallowed structure that, with its waterfalls, waterslides and caves, became The Hurricane’s obsession. Any mention of the beach brought about tedious tantrums; not so much because it was the beach but because IT WAS NOT THE POOL.

In her defense, she learned how to swim in that pool and could go for several yards underwater. I should know. She yelled at me to watch her a minimum of 3,602 times.

While Bubby loved the water, he enjoyed being the Don Juan de Mexico even more. It was rare for us to pass even one Senorita who did not coo and paw at him. He would always recoil in shyness and clutch me tightly, which would endear him to his admirers even more. They would approach him, smash their bosoms into his face and a devious little smile would finally emerge. The kid had a system.

So did I, only mine involved tapping into my airheaded Polish roots (which, incidentally are naturally blond so I really don’t stand a chance in this life). When packing to go home, I painstakingly ziplocked all our liquids and carefully placed them in our main luggage. And then took our Mexican vanilla gifts and absentmindedly placed them between a stack of diapers…in our carry-on.

I just hope the mean men in Dallas’ airport security are baking nice cakes right now.

And then there was The Camera. I won’t expound upon the amount of digital cameras I have destroyed this year. Nor how at the last minute we had to take one with film, something I haven’t used in seven years. This would explain why I foolishly opened the #$#* camera before it had rewound. Rumor has it that film does not like to be opened prematurely and rebels worse than a toddler on the beach.

But airport security and film aside, the most important thing I learned was this:

If you don’t like sand in your bed, don’t go to bed sandy.

Don’t say you haven’t been warned by this blond Pollack-Canadian airhead….

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

VIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!!

August 14, 2007 by Amber

There is probably no more obnoxious class of citizen,

taken end for end,

than the returning vacationist.

-Robert Benchley

Trip details forthcoming….

Filed Under: Family travel, outdoors, travel

Happy Birthday, Bubby!

July 18, 2007 by Amber

Dearest Bode,

From the moment you were born, you have held a special place in my heart. I don’t know if it is because we are both second children or that you are a joyful, sweet and cuddly little guy who has your father’s good-natured personality whilst your spitfire sister has mine. Pray for her, Bode.

Unlike your gregarious sister, you are shy and cautious but you light up whenever Mommy enters the room and when you play with balls. Your first and only word is “Mama.” Actually, it is more along the lines of “MAMAMAMAMAMAMA.”

Mommy is still trying to teach you to stop at two syllables because by the 10th repetition, it constitutes whining. And no one likes a Mama’s Boy. Welp, except for Mama.

Your obsession and aptitude for throwing balls began at seven months when you came to life as Daddy tossed that first piece of synthetic leather your way. Instinctively, you clutched it lovingly and with an arm befitting of Joe Montana, you chucked it back. Hard. Your father’s eyes lit up with do$$ar signs because his 401K is kind of lacking and he has great hopes you will someday support us through professional sports.

For the first few months of your life, we doubted you had eyes because all you did was sleep. But then remember when you were three months old and decided for the next five months you should pull back-to-back all-nighters? That sure was fun. I strongly suspect your insomniac sister had something to do with it. I am sure she will make the same case for promoting general toddler deviance when you get a bit older.

You are in the 50th percentile for height and weight and are right on target with your development. You sat up at five months, waved at seven, crawled at eight and walked at ten. During your six-month checkup with the pediatrician, she looked into your little ears and after struggling for several minutes she announced you had the hairiest ears she had ever seen. Imagine that! Being at the top of the charts for ear hair growth! I could not have been more proud.

When you were in my womb, there was something sharp that frequently jabbed me. I thought it was a foot but I was mistaken. You see, my dear son, some children are born with a silver spoon but you were born with a remote control in hand. I have never seen a person (besides your father) light up from the moment that power button is pressed.

One of my favorite TV memories of you is when we first put you in your walker. Your wobbly legs were sluggish until one day you were in the kitchen and I turned on Dora the Explorer in the next room. A light bulb turned on and son, you sprinted to that television. It was a modern-day miracle. I attribute Dora to helping you learn to walk so soon. That, and trying to keep up with/run away from your sister.

Until recently, my favorite memory of you was when you, Daddy and I stayed at the Ritz Carlton and we hung out together at Half Moon Bay. But that experience has been trumped.

Just last week, sweet Haddie spent the day at Grandma’s so you and I hit the trail. You obediently fell asleep a few minutes into the hike and awoke just before we summited. I took you out of the pack and we snuggled and snacked. For the first time, you figured out how to drink from the tube on Mommy’s CamelBak. And so there we sat: laughing, playing in the dirt, swapping spit and grunting.

It could not have been better if I had been a guy. Thank you for being my little one.

Love,

MAMAMAMAMAMAMA

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Humor, outdoors

High on a Mountain Top Part II

July 17, 2007 by Amber

Just tuning in? Be sure to first read High On a Mountain Top Part I that details one of my best days ever in the mountains.

When waxing ambitious with something that is physically challenging, it is best to confirm the facts. I.e. Is the bike ride from Frisco to Breckenridge really 20 miles? Just how steep is it? What did those kids eat for dinner that made them each add 10 pounds to the load?

We did not do our homework, nor did we put Haddie and Bode on a crash diet. To be honest, I was not worried because for once, I was thrilled to not be the one hauling them in the bike trailer (loving, empathetic wife that I am).

Something we did not calculate into our ride was the distance from the condo to the trailhead: a meager 2 miles. Now, 2 miles X 2 (round-trip) may not seem like a big deal. But tack those 4 miles onto 20 miles and guess what?

It is.

To be honest, I had an easy time on the moderate ascent. But when pulling that 65-pound trailer, no terrain is moderate. Poor Jamie toughed it out but by the time we arrived in Breckenridge 1.5 hours later, his knees were writhing in pain.

We dumped the bikes and strolled around Breck, playing with the kids at Riverside Park and coveting the sweet gourmet aromas of surrounding restaurants. We ultimately grabbed some food from a little deli and settled down beside the Blue River, listening to the sweet melodies of the Colorado Symphony as they practiced in the adjacent tent. With the fresh air, bubbling waters and the granite cliffs that stood sentry over us, everything just seemed right.

Until our descent.

Now, by the very connotation of the word, one would think this would be an effortless process of simply coasting down the mountainside with the wind at our backs. The problem was, there was wind but it was at our backs, our fronts, our sides, everywhere, turning that 65-pound trailer into a veritable parachute.

Again, I was rather unaffected but I took one look at Jamie after a few miles and knew he had reached his limit.

“Do you need to switch?”

“Yeah,” he said, wincing in pain.

“No problem, I feel strong!”

Famous last words, ones will probably be on my tombstone.

Jamie did not want the cumbersome task of switching the trailer over to my bike so presented me with his. Now, I don’t know if you have ever seen the height difference between the two of us but the man has about nine inches on me. And he had conveniently forgotten his tools to lower the seat.

I won’t expound upon the visual of me teetering on my tiptoes as I hyper-extended my legs, nearly canning myself on the frame with every rotation. Oh wait. I guess I just did. After about 15 minutes of this, my legs (and other undisclosed body parts) were in pain. I announced we had to switch the trailer so I could pull it on my bike. Fine.

Problem was I made the annunciation at the base of a monster hill, just the kind of place where you would want to gain some momentum prior to tackling it. If you were lacking in ambition, that is.

The kids and I set out on the climb cold turkey. Within a few minutes, Jamie’s knees gave out and he resorted to walking his bike up the hill. He was several yards ahead as my little engine slooooowly chugged along. I joked that he would probably still beat me.

He did.

And it did not get better. Bottom line, we survived but won’t be tackling 24-mile trips with the kids ~~anytime soon~~ in this lifetime.

Unless, that is, I feel strong. And you know where that mantra will get me.

P.S. Happy 40th Birthday birthday to my friend Tina! Oh, and that tombstone? No correlation whatsoever….
XOXXOX
-CBC

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, Jamie, outdoors

High on a Mountain Top Part I

July 15, 2007 by Amber

Greetings from my mountain paradise!

I have decided the Frisco/ Breckenridge area is the location of our future vacation home for the following reasons:

Gorgeous mountains: check
Nearby lake: check
Close proximity to Denver: check
Extensive network of hiking trails and paved bikepaths: check
Cool resort town: check

I excitedly shared my list with Jamie and elucidated that everything is in place. Until my bubble was burst:

“Sure, Amber. Everything except for the financing.”

Oh yeah, that little detail. Undeterred, I will keep dreaming and am grateful for our generous neighbors who loaned us their condo overlooking Lake Dillon for the weekend. Jamie had to work until late Friday so I had the brilliant plan to go up early with the kids. Exactly 28.5 hours early (but who is counting?) Well, I definitely would have if it had been a disaster but my gamble miraculously paid off.

The kids were positively jubilant as we arrived at the condo and strolled along the lake at sunset. On Friday, we had planned to bike to Keystone resort in what would have been a 20-mile roundtrip trek. You know, the day before my BIG RIDE with Jamie. It took only a few miles on the trail for me to rescind my plan because I just didn’t want the poor kids to be stuck in the bike trailer for too long. Oh yeah, and because I was dog tired hauling them.

The roller-coaster lakeside trail was breathtaking and upon arriving in the charming hamlet of Dillon, we stumbled upon a farmer’s market adjacent to the marina. I ardently declared, “This is the place” and unloaded my charges.

It did not take long for us to become swept away in it all: the live band, the vibrant marketplace, the scrumptious fare, the pulsating playground and the dock that became the surreal focal point for rock-throwing, fishing and cloud watching.

I called Jamie at work. You know, to rub it in just a little bit. He listened enviously as I described our backdrop until my reverie was punctured by:

“HADLEY, GET OUT OF THERE!!”

She had waded waist-deep into the reservoir.

Jamie chuckled, all envy gone, as he was reminded of his glorious gift of peace; 28.5 hours of it to be exact.

So much for rubbing it in….

In Part II of High on a Mountain Top: loads of pictures and the sordid details of The Big Ride.

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

Bloggy Hoss Biker Babe

July 12, 2007 by Amber

As if our ridiculous goal to scale Mt. Elbert wasn’t enough, Jamie and I are going to make our second attempt at biking a gorgeous 20-mile trail through the mountains near Breckenridge with kids in tow this weekend.

The first time we tried, we barely made it to the trailhead after a series of mishaps including when my bike repeatedly fell off the very expensive Yakima rack on my Jeep and I ended up clutching the stupid bike during the whole drive. For clarification, I did this whilst in the passenger’s seat, not on top of the rack (though I’m sure the thought did cross Jamie’s mind).

Once we arrived, we could not get Jamie’s bike off the stupid rack (you know: the same rack we couldn’t get the other bike to stay on). Moody and irascible, we loaded Hadley up in the Chariot trailer and forced ourselves to hit the trail. We went down the large slope, relishing in the simplicity, the ease, the freedom of flight, and thinking it was all so worth it.

And also not realizing there was a 30-mile-per-hour tail wind.

We turned around about halfway due to some threatening storm clouds. My ascent was fairly easy. After all, I was not hauling the 40-pound bike trailer. Jamie grunted and sweated the traverse and I realized for the first time in my life, I WAS BEATING HIM. And all he needed was a 40-pound handicap.

And then it started raining.

I won’t go into the sordid details but just know that it has been two years since we have even touched our bikes. Of course, a little thing called pregnancy, having Bode and then not wanting to sit on That-Place-Where-I-Had-Just-Birthed-A-Watermelon also had something to do with it.

We finally dusted off our bikes and got them tuned up a couple of months ago for a whopping $120 (the going rate in the rip-off-that-is Denver). For our first outing, we hooked up the Chariot and loaded the children.

I was the lucky party who hauled them this time; about 60 pounds is my best calculation. We cruised around the neighborhood and down to a beautifully preserved open space park as expressive clouds followed our every move. With the wind billowing at my back, I breathed with a clarity of spirit I have not known for months and squealed to Jamie,

“This feels incredible to be back on the bike. That Chariot is so amazingly smooth that I can barely feel that I am pulling the kids!”

But then I went uphill.

And felt every single one of those 60 pounds. Plus, the extra post-pregnancy 20 I’m still hauling around. I needed encouragement.

“Help Mommy go up this hill! Cheer for me, Haddie!”

“Daddy is going faster. You are going slow!”

A simple “Go Mommy” would have worked just dandy.

I miraculously made it up the hill without dismounting while Jamie circled around me like a smug piranha. Yeah, he remembered the pain-that-was-Breckenridge. And in a few short hours, so it begins. Again.

P.S. Stop the mom blog presses! I just found out I won “Most Athletic” in the Bloggy Hoss Elections. Thank you for all who voted for me. And did I say I crawled up that hill on the bike? I meant to say cruised. Really….

Filed Under: biking, Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors

Weekend Warriors

June 24, 2007 by Amber

Only in Colorado:

You can go from water….

To snow….

To the arts in just one weekend!

Welp, maybe Alaska is another place but I think the H2O might be on the chilly side.

‘Twas a busy weekend at play with the clan. On Friday, we hit Bellview Park, a fantastic venue that consisted of Bode’s first ~~face plant~~ stream wading, a petting zoo and a train ride. OK, maybe the train ride didn’t exactly happen. I guess I am not the only thing that cannot endure the heat–the woosy train tracks were “compromised” because of it. Evidently they imported them from Canada.

Saturday, we hit the high country and hiked to St. Mary’s Glacier, a definite must-see if you are ever in Colorado. The kids were fantastic and the views breathtaking. As we trekked along, Haddie sang and Bode happily babbled away in one of those moments where everything just seemed right.

Until Hadley rummaged through the pink dog puke on the side of the trail. Because evidently everyone needs a reality check. Too bad we get those checks all day long, every day.

That night, we hit Lower Downtown “LoDo”, the place where Denver’s hippest and most happening people hang out.

And then there was us.

We went to dinner at a cool Mongolian BBQ restaurant and then hit the streets for La Piazza ‘dell Art in our annual attempt to expose our kids to culture.

I have always wanted to attend this festival to see all the artists transform Larimer Square into a beautiful street museum of colorful chalk images. And I really wanted to see if they could duplicate the artistic rendering I do of hopscotch on our driveway.

They came close.

But didn’t even touch Jamie’s masterpiece he created last summer entitled “Traumatizing the neighborhood, one kid at a time”….

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, Humor, outdoors, travel