Utah Mom Blog & Mommy Blogger | Life Elevated Mom

On Being Filled

January 17, 2011 by Amber

I had a frustrating week so when Friday dawned bright, snowy and beautiful, I resolved I was going to take some time off and enjoy it. I talked to Jamie about the possibilities.

“I want to go hiking today. What do you recommend?”
“How about Red Rocks?”
“I always go there. I want someplace different–a place that fills my soul.”

I swear that came out of left field and I’ve never said anything quite so cheesy. But that’s how I felt. In my inner core, I sense big, life-altering changes coming in my life and I wanted to just clear my mind and get outside. I opted to climb Mount Galbraith near Golden but after a few minutes on the shady, icy and cold trail, I proclaimed:

“THIS IS LIKE, SOOOO NOT SOUL-FILLING.”

Any valley-girl/self-help guru would have totally agreed.

I drove on Highway 93, surveying the area’s mesas and foothills. I spotted a new-to-me-trail zigzagging its way up North Table Mountain. The base was shrouded by a neighborhood so I wound around the streets looking for a semblance of a trailhead. I was ecstatic to find a recently constructed parking lot and before long, was exploring a new trail.

This probably doesn’t sounds very exciting to most people but it was thrilling for me. I’ve lived in Denver for eight years now and have hiked pretty much everything the Front Range has to offer. Exploring new passages was the perfect solution for my pensive mood.

The connecting trail was relatively steep and slippery but when I summited, I was greeted with a network of trails that included Tilting Mesa and the North Table Mountain loop. The flattop extended for miles and I resolved to bring my mountain bike back to do further exploration.

And, of course, reflections. At this rate, I may even give self-help guru Deepak Chopra a run for his money.

Like, totally.

Filed Under: Colorado, hiking, travel

Denver’s Best Places to Skate Outdoors This Winter

January 17, 2011 by Amber

Denver’s Best Places to Skate Outdoors This Winter

On Saturday, my family had one of our favorite winter adventures in Colorado: We skated Evergreen Lake.

Located just 20 minutes from Denver off I-70, this lake is surrounded by blue spruce, pines, evergreens and is about as close to an authentic Canadian skating experience as you can get in the Denver-area.

Side note: I was raised gliding along frozen lakes and rivers and learned very quickly that pretty much anywhere is skatable and that frozen nose hairs are a fashion statement.

A large portion of the 40-acre Evergreen Lake is Zambonied (a true Canadian verb) into a skating area with several smaller enclaves for hockey. The Evergreen Lakehouse is a stellar place to warm up to some hot chocolate or an affordable selection of food from the snack bar.

Six-year-old Haddie took skating lessons last year but it was 4-year-old Bode’s first time on skates. Several parents had constructed makeshift structures to help their beginners but I did it the old-fashioned way: I strained my back as I leaned over teaching him how to glide. And I let him fall. A lot.

By the end, he was starting to get it and I was ecstatic I am installing one of my childhood passions into my American-Canadian half-breeds.

And enjoying a dose of the best Colorado has to offer along the way.

Tip: Be sure to call Evergreen Lake’s hotline (720) 880-1391 the morning of your visit for ice conditions. If you are planning a weekend visit, the earlier you go the better. The lake gets busier as the day goes on. Plus, if it’s warm the ice will get soft and slushy.

Prices: Tot (3 years and under): free; Youth (4 – 18) : $4.75; Adult (19 – 59): $5.00. Skate rental is $6.

Eats: Run (don’t walk) to Country Road Cafe. Located in Kittredge (just 2 miles from Evergreen), this unassuming log cabin is home to the best breakfast in Colorado (and often has a long wait on the weekends to prove it). With over 100 items on their menu, you can’t go wrong with their nine different kinds of Eggs Benedict or their famous smashed mashes. My husband has never deviated from their gargantuan breakfast burrito and my kids adore the fluffy over-sized stuffed pancakes. This time, I was tempted by their daily specials: an omelet with steak, mushroom, blue cheese, truffle Hollandaise and crispy onions. But the French toast stuffed with lemon-poppy cheesecake topped with almonds was pretty tempting, too.

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Other Denver-area Outdoor Rinks

Belmar Ice Rink. Cost: $6 adult, $4 child, $3 skate rental. Open daily through Feb. 27; hours vary. The Plaza at Belmar, Lakewood.

The Ice Rink at One Boulder Plaza. Cost: $6 adult, $4 children and seniors, 3 and under free, $3 skate rental. Open daily through mid-Feb. One Boulder Plaza, 1801 13th St., Downtown Boulder.

Longmont Ice Pavilion. Cost: $6.50 adult, $6 youth and seniors, $5.50 ages 2-5, $3 skate rental. Open daily through March 13. Roosevelt Park, 725 8th Ave., Longmont.

Southwest Rink at Skyline Park. Skating is FREE at this new downtown rink (thanks to a sponsorship by Southwest Airlines) with a $2 skate rental. Open daily through Jan. 31. Skyline Park, Arapahoe St. and 16th St., Denver.

The Streets at SouthGlenn Ice Rink. Cost: $7 per hour per person, $3 skate rental. Open through Feb. 1. The Streets at SouthGlenn, 6851 S. Gaylord St., Centennial.

WinterSkate in Historic Downtown Louisville. Cost: $5 adult, $4 ages 4-12, $3 seniors, 3 and under FREE, $3 skate rental. Open daily through Feb. 14. The Steinbaugh Pavilion, 824 Front St., Louisville.

WinterSkate in The Village at FlatIron Crossing. Cost: $5 adult, $4 ages 4-12, $3 seniors, 3 and under FREE, $3 skate rental. Open daily through Feb. 27. The Village at FlatIron Crossing, 1 W. FlatIron Crossing Dr., Broomfield.

Filed Under: Colorado, Family travel, outdoors Tagged With: Denver

You win some, you lose some

January 16, 2011 by Amber

Our stake recently experienced some major boundary changes. For those not in the know, each LDS ward is part of a stake (which is usually comprised of about seven different congregations). Members are expected to attend their assigned ward that is based on geography.

We have been in one of the smallest wards in our stake, which poses its own kind of problems when it comes to filling positions (i.e. teachers, leaders, etc). But with the boundary realignment, we are now the third largest. Today was like a joyous reunion as many dear friends now fall within our boundaries.

The children’s Primary classes are divided by age group. Much to her chagrin, all of Hadley’s besties are in the 7-year-old class and she is with the 6-year-olds. We have been in this ward for several years and there has never been another girl her age. She was desperately hoping for a change so I was encouraged when she announced:

“I have some good news and some bad news!”
“Tell me!”
“Well, the good news is Ethan is no longer in our ward.”
“That’s the good news? What’s the bad news?”
“We got a new boy in his place.”

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

A cross-country skiing resolution

January 13, 2011 by Amber

Just the other day I was whining about how homesick I am for cross-country skiing my golf course in Canada. Then, as I was driving Haddie to school yesterday, I surveyed the expansive soccer fields located just below my house.

For the first time ever, I noticed someone had carved a cross-country ski track around the perimeter. Elated, I resolved, “I AM GOING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING TODAY.”

I took Bode to preschool, and raced home to find my skis. But here’s a little problem: I haven’t been cross-country skiing since I moved to Colorado. Though my beloved husband is an advanced alpine skier, he had “The Incident” when I took him cross-country skiing for the first time on my golf course several years ago.

“The Incident” being that he fell over sideways and claimed he got a concussion.

At 0.00005 mile per hour, I don’t think that is even possible.

After some digging in the garage, I found my cross-country skis and poles but my boots were MIA.

So, I had a glorious day snowshoeing instead.

But I now have a New Year’s resolution: Do more cross-country skiing.

And get organized so as to make that happen.

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

Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

January 11, 2011 by Amber

Confession: My absolutely favorite conditions are the day after we’ve had a big dump of snow and the morning dawns bright, glistening and beautiful.

Monday was that day.

My preference is indisputably attributed to my Canadian upbringing. I’m never more homesick than when it snows and I’m unable to go cross-country skiing on my golf course or ice skating on Lake Bonavista with my dad.

I recreated a little cut of home by making my mom’s famous oatmeal-coconut chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate with fresh whipped cream. As luck would have it, Bode does not have preschool on Mondays and Hadley only had to go to school for a 15-minute reading assessment so we invited our besties Alex and Seanie over for a playdate.

My fun started by shoveling the driveway and sidewalk early that morning. And yes, this is my idea of a fun and enjoyable workout. I’d take fresh, crisp air over a germ-infested, sweaty gym any day.

It’s our tradition every winter to build and tunnel out a snow cave. This was the Hurricane in 2009.

My, what a difference a couple of years makes.

We recruited Sean and Alex to help us build.

And we even constructed a slide on it as well.

It was a much-needed day at play in balmy 25-degree F temps with our beloved friends whom we haven’t seen since before winter break.

Though after spending a few hours with Alex, I started to get worried when she made the suggestion:

“Why don’t we make snow angels face-first instead of on our backs?”

Call me a naysayer but that didn’t sound like one stitch of fun and I figured I’d let her learn that the hard way.

And she did after five seconds of her self-imposed Freezee-to-the-Face.

“OK, NEVER MIND, NEVER MIND!” she screamed as icicles formed on her eyebrows.

She would make a great Canuck.

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, Hadley, Humor

So it begins (the ski season, that is)

January 10, 2011 by Amber

We’re in the throes of ski season and are having a grand ol’ time. Last week, we hit Echo Mountain (details forthcoming), two weeks ago, it was Park City Mountain Resort and in a few weeks we’ll be skiing Telluride followed by Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

My torn meniscus is throbbing just thinking about it all.

When we were at Park City Mountain Resort, we enrolled the kids in their their Signature 3 and 5 ski school classes. Bode was delighted to meet THE “Frosty the Snowman” (he had the name tag to prove it) while Hadley was greeted by a fun-loving instructor:

“Hadley, I am going to be your butler today. Do you know what a butler is?”
She shook her head.
“I will do anything you want and will also bring you hot cocoa.”

He has hereby set the bar too high for all future suitors.

With the children happily in their classes, Jamie and I braced ourselves for the onslaught of holiday skiers but were shocked to practically have the mountain to ourselves for the first two hours.

Around 11 a.m., the lines started picking up but we didn’t care. We had found some great stashes of untracked powder that the resort had received in the last 24 hours and marveled at the unprecedented 84-inch base that early in the season.

For lunch, we had the best burger and nachos on this earth at Legends Bar & Grill (I exaggerate not. Jamie spends the entire year craving these bad boys). We skied a fun runs after that but we knew it was time to call it a day as we stood in the long line at the Silverlode lift. Some funky music was blasting and my husband muttered something to me.

Me: “What did you say? You want to sing the blues?”
Jamie “No, I said ‘I want to see the Boos!” (Our nickname for the children).

I blamed it on the helmet…and blond hair underneath it.

We retrieved two very jubilant children whose instructors had filled out a through progress report for us to track. Bode’s teacher said he had a great attitude and was working on stopping with a wedge (though he excelled at going straight). This was not a surprise.

We did, after all, name him after ski racing legend Bode Miller.

As for Hadley, she learned how to skate ski across flat terrain and mastered linking her wedge turns. She is apparently already plotting her escape from us.

“Mommy, how old do I have to be to ski without you and Daddy?”

And so it begins.

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

Snow Day!

January 9, 2011 by Amber

It’s about time Colorado figured out it is winter.

Filed Under: Colorado, Hadley

My Carbon Copy

January 8, 2011 by Amber

My mom is not a computer person so she rarely reads my blog. My Dad keeps her apprised of our happenings but evidently my previous post about my spirited, hilarious and head-strong daughter was a must-read because she called me to discuss.

Or rather, she called to gloat.

“HADLEY IS JUST LIKE YOU!!!!”

For a mother, it is called “Payback….”

(Photo: Adventure Girl’s first time snowshoeing at age 3 at Avalanche Ranch. Even then she was smack-talking me).

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

A force to be reckoned with

January 7, 2011 by Amber

Hadley. She is a wonderful, wild girl.

Sometimes I see so much of myself in her that it frightens me. The good (fun), the bad (opinionated) –it’s all condensed in one six-year-old package that I hope will turn out so much better than I ever was.

While she loves dressing up and looking like a girl, she does not like girl things. When I shop for her toys, I go to the boy section for dinosaurs and animals.

But on a recent (and rare) shopping trip to a department store, she was delighted to follow me around trying on clothes. We spent about a half-hour smelling perfumes, after which she signed, “I just love being a girl.”

She should totally write a song about it.

Hadley is a terribly complicated little thing who has loads of friends but is not afraid to tell it like it is, occasionally stepping on toes.

Or knocking people over.

Case in point: recess.

“I usually just like to play with the boys at recess,” she professed to me the other day.
“Why is that?”
“The girls don’t like playing my games. The boys do. They’re fun.”

I knew what game she was talking about. She and Bode LOVE Super Mario and his dinosaur sidekick, Yoshi. Haddie invented a game, Yoshi, where she (or someone else) chases kids around the school grounds trying to tag them whilst yelling “YOSHI HUNGRY!”

Gotta recognize the creativity in that kid.

Problem is she has allegedly recruited so many kids to play that it grew rough and violent. Another confession:

“Our teacher banned our whole class from playing Yoshi.”

I didn’t know whether I should be upset or proud.

We recently introduced the kids to A Christmas Story, my all-time favorite holiday movie. I’ve wanted to watch it since I babysat two of my rambunctious neighborhood boys and they announced they asked Santa for a BB Gun for Christmas.

Here’s for hoping their Santa’s reaction is the same as the one on the movie.

Hadley’s favorite part of the movie was when poor Flick got his tongue stuck on the frozen pole.

“What was it they said to dare him, Mommy?”
“Double-dog dare.”

All night long, she kept quizzing me, trying to commit it to memory.

I pray for the playground kids now that The Hurricane has returned from Christmas break.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor Tagged With: Nintendo

Back to the grind and my forray into Indian cooking

January 6, 2011 by Amber

After a wonderful winter break, the kiddos are back in school. I am amazed at how much work I can finally get done in the three hours Bode is in preschool.

I may just go into shock when he’s in school full-time.

To those mothers who feel lost when this milestone hits? Welp, ICan’tRelate.

Because these are treasured, fleeting days, I try my very darnedest to get my work done before they wake up in the mornings and while they’re in school. That way when they come home, we can delve into whatever activity we have planned.

This month, they’re doing swim lessons twice a week. My little fish Haddie is progressing toward joining the swim team next year. And Bode? Welp, he flunked the Minnows class last summer because he refused to put his face in the water.

And yep, he gets that from me.

We’ve also been spending time in the kitchen. Bode made chocolate chip cookies for the first time yesterday and I’ve been cooking up a storm from my new Indian cookbook Jamie gave me for Christmas.

Though I’m trying to figure out for whom that gift was really designated.

I remember once upon a time when I wanted frivolous presents. My, what a difference a few years make because this bureau was what Jamie and I gave each other.

Y’all can have your jewels and fancy electronics. This organizational system for our mail and miscellaneous items has given me a much needed gift: sanity.

I wish I could say my ethnic cooking is going as well. The last few years, Jamie and I have become moderately obsessed with Indian food. Every time I return home to Calgary (where there is a large East Indian and Pakistani population), I curse that I never capitalized on it in my youth. Not only are there some killer restaurants but our grocery stores are chock-full of glorious Garam Masala-esque products vs. the Mexican-heavy offerings in the U.S.

It seemed only natural to learn how to make our own so on Tuesday, I attempted Adraki Murgh Tikki (ginger chicken bites) and Naan Bread. Last night, I made our family’s favorite to celebrate back-to-school: Chicken Tikka Masala.

I pride myself on being a pretty good cook but Indian food calls for entirely different ingredients that will require me to track down a specialty market. And then there are the funky methods of cooking include cheese clothes (huh?), “Tadka” (tempering), “Dum” (steaming) and Tandoori. Normally Naan bread is made in a clay oven but knowing the book is targeted to Gringos, the author suggested broiling it on the top rack.

I don’t know if you’ve ever done this but here’s a little insight: Food gets done VERY quickly when using this method.

And yes, dinner was served when the smoke alarm went off.

Next stop: Our local Indian restaurant.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor