Utah Mom Blog & Mommy Blogger | Life Elevated Mom

Bowling Mama I am NOT

August 30, 2010 by Amber

I have a confession: I generally avoid activities at which I suck. I’m not sure if this is due to the fact that I hate losing or that I’m not having a good time if I’m not winning.

Oh wait. Is that the same thing?

Regardless, bowling is one such activity. So, when my friend Eva invited my kids and me to go bowing at Brunswick Zone in Wheat Ridge, I hesitated before deciding that socializing with friends in an air-conditioned building far outweighed any personal failures.

We had six moms juggling more than 20 kids so I did not have time to care about the game until I realized that out of the moms, I had come in dead last.

I’m pretty sure the toddlers in the bumper lanes beat me, too.

I laughed it off but have to admit, my fire was fueled just a bit. We went on to play another game and I fared a lot better, even knocking out a strike and a spare. I was still not invested until Eva announced she was one frame away from declaring victory.

Here’s the thing about Eva. On the surface, she appears laid-back but I’ve seen her competitive drive ignited when she talks about her son Rory’s Olympic gymnastics ambitions. I also feared for my life when I got caught in the crossfire as she and her husband Jon watched the United States lose in the World Cup.

The closet competition hounds are the ones you need to fear the most.

Eva may have been one frame away from winning but I noticed that victory was within my reach: she needed to choke and I needed a strike. And so I did what any overly-confident and incompetent bowler would do: I started smack-talking her.

In the end, she did not choke but got choked up just enough that there was a window of opportunity. As I deliberately did my approach, my sports psychology strategies of yesteryear came into play as I chanted, “Strike, strike, strike.”

And miraculously enough, that is exactly what I did. When I won the game, I waxed Biblical by prophesying, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first!”

My final score? A blistering 116.

It was a new lane record, I’m sure.

Filed Under: Humor

First Grade Before & After Shots: Evolution to a Hoodlum?

August 28, 2010 by Amber

BEFORE

This was Haddie on the morning she started first grade. So excited. So clean-cut. So full of promise.

AFTER

This was the picture that was sent home commemorating her first day.

Should I be worried?

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

Back-to-school rejoicings and adjustments

August 26, 2010 by Amber

I still can’t believe summer break is over. When the clock struck 5 p.m. last Friday, I started rejoicing.

“What’s going on?” Jamie asked.

“I officially survived summer!” I replied.

And I’d even say we thrived with non-stop travel, play, camps, activities, snuggles, reading, story-time, sprinklers, bike-riding and fun.

I know some moms who fall into a depression over their lack of purpose when their children go back to school. While I think a bit of mourning is normal, the depths that some of these women go is completely unhealthy. It makes me worried for them when the children graduate. Children should be a top priority but your entire world and identity should not revolve around them.

Remind me of this when my kids grow up and leave home, rendering me unable to drag myself out of bed.

As for my kiddos:

Bode

Bode began his second year of preschool. He is now The Big Man On (a little) Campus.

Hadley went back to school the day before him. As the two of us hung out together, I sensed an inconsolable sadness in him. Touched that he was missing his “Sissy” so much, I gathered him in my arms. With a few tears welling up, he explained “I’ve got something in my eye,” using Guys’ Oldest Line in the Book.

“It’s OK to miss your sister, Bode. She’ll be back later this afternoon.”
“Huh? I’m sad Super Mario on the Nintendo isn’t working.”

Hadley

Haddie started first grade and having her gone all day will be an adjustment. She is thrilled that art class is included in her curriculum but is “scared about the harder reading and math.”

Her first-day synopsis included eating lunch with Chloe and Taylor and playing at recess with Alex.

I’m sure hard-core academia will set in on Day 2.

Jamie, Bode and I escorted her to school that first morning. She excitedly lined up with her fellow classmates as I ecstatically watched her.

“At what point can I start celebrating?” I murmured to Jamie.

In a flash of serendipity, the school bell rang.

“Right about now!” he replied.”

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, Humor, Jamie

Summer’s final scenes

August 24, 2010 by Amber

It was one of our most amazing summers on record and I’m still a few weeks behind on documenting it all. But our final 72 hours were some of our sweetest yet as we:

Unearthed lost treasures in Ralston Creek.

Almost touched heaven in the trees.

Discovered our very own living room in Chautauqua’s wilderness on our date night, complete with flagstone chairs.

Kicked back with my favorite person in the world.

Dined in style at Aji’s Latin American Restaurant on Boulder’s famed Pearl Street.

Ethereal and murky as these pictures may be, they represent what are only memories of our whirlwind summer. Life has returned to normal. Jamie is working. The kids are starting school. The mountain of laundry has gotten higher.

When I start to get overwhelmed by it all, I think of the memory card full of pictures with stories yet to share.

And I can’t wait for next summer.

Minor the part about the heat. 🙂

Filed Under: Family

Just how big is The Great Pumpkin?

August 24, 2010 by Amber

Big enough to eat a small child, that’s how big.

We haven’t seen Bode since we took this picture.

Filed Under: Bode, pumpkins

Celebrating back-to-school “Me” day in Utah

August 22, 2010 by Amber

It may come as a shock to anyone who knows me but I really, really like to be alone.

I also like to socialize, as my third grade teacher divulged on my report card when she said I had “verbal diarrhea.”

Though I truly love exploring with my children, the toughest adjustment to motherhood for me was lack of alone time. When I was single, I frequently traveled, hiked, biked and played by myself.

Since having kids, alone time is practically non-existent, especially during the summer.

Today marks the beginning of what I call freedom.

Others call it back-to-school.

For three glorious hours a day, four days a week, I will have a sliver of time to work, play and recharge before delving into our wonderfully frenzied life all over again.

A few weeks ago, my children and I traveled in a snazzy (and sadly, loaner) Lincoln MKT to Utah to visit beloved Grandma and Grandpa who unceremoniously abandoned us to move to Utah.

Truly, I have gotten over my bitterness.

Over the course of 10 days, we we visited The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point, which boasts the world’s largest display of mounted dinosaurs. We soared down the zipline, alpine coaster and slide at Park City Mountain Resort’s second-to-none base area, whisked above the treetops on the ferris wheel at Liberty Park, splashed at the family’s cabin at Scofield Reservoir State Park and hiked favorite haunts above Red Butte Gardens.

But admist the flurry of fun, I desperately longed for some alone time and my generous mother-in-law gave me just that when she offered to watch my kids.

Actually, I kinda begged her. Must have been my puppy-dog eyes and bulging I-need-a-break-NOW vein in my forehead.

The great thing about having a solo day on vacation is you are not tempted or guilted into staying home and tackling drugeries like cleaning.

Not that I ever do that anyway.

So, just how did I spent my glorious day?

*In-line skating the Bonneville Shoreline Trail up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. When I lived in Utah, this was my Happy Place. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out why.

*Driving the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. This 20-mile drive winds through aspen groves and rugged alpine canyons of the Wasatch Mountains, passing Robert Redford’s famed resort, Sundance and the commanding 11,749-foot Mount Timpanogos.

*Buying darling clothes from Utah-based Down East Basics and inhaling a Pinata Colada Salad at Cafe Zupos. If either store were to grace Colorado with their presence, I would single-handedly keep them in business.

I finished off my day by visiting my friend Kristy who just had a darling baby girl. I stopped by Les Madeleines Patisserie and Café to buy us their signature indulgence: the Kouing-aman. This rich buttery pastry from Brittany is so addictive you’d swear it is “crack.”

Though it’s a heckuvalot more calories.

I like to think it’s this mama’s new version of bon bons.

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

Until later notice….

August 19, 2010 by Amber

I am digging myself out of a frenzy of doctor’s appointments, work meetings, birthday parties, testing and back-to-school shopping.

And yes, I procrastinated it all until the very last week before school started.

After seeing our whirlwind summer, would you expect anything less?

I still have many vacation tales to share but for now, my thoughts return to our family vacation at Scofield Reservoir in Utah that included a lot of this….

With him.

Her.
Them.

And this motley crew.
Comments still closed due to Asian spammers. And yep, it’s on my procrastinated to-do list.

Filed Under: Utah

Liberty Park’s Fun in the Sun (but NOT Seven Canyons)

August 17, 2010 by Amber

I have a long history with Liberty Park.

When I first moved to Salt Lake City after college in the fall of 1997, this second-largest urban park was only a few blocks from my condo. I spent innumerable hours strolling the 80 acres of paths, gardens, and aviary and sitting by the pond.

In an attempt to impress a boy, I took up running there after a four-year sabbatical.

I nearly passed out after jogging only a few hundred feet.

I didn’t say all my memories were good.

But last week, Haddie, Bode and I built some fantastic ones as we had a picnic with Jamie’s mom, sister Tammy and my edible twin nieces.

See? I told you: YUMMY.

We drove our stylin’ Lincoln MKT and grabbed a pina colada salad, Hawaiian BBQ chicken panini and mango-berry salad from new-to-me Cafe Zupas while the kids ate homemade peanut butter sandwiches.

I couldn’t waste such gastronome grandeur on their wavering taste buds.

Liberty Park has a few different play areas and we started with the all-access playground and splash park that was perfect for a warm summer day. The kids raced through the water, climbed the tree house, sifted through the sand, danced to the musical instruments and played on the playground.

Next, we hit the small amusement park and the kids begged me to ride The Wheel of Death. Here’s a secret confession: I’d rather ride a thousand suicidal roller-coasters before I’d enjoy doing a Ferris wheel. But see those darling faces?

Most days I have no problem saying “no.” That day was the exception. And I’m so glad I relented because the ride on the weather Ferris wheel was exhilarating. The area was ensconced by trees whose leaves were almost close enough to touch as we swooped forward, causing the kids to grab and squeal with glee.

As a total bonus, I didn’t even throw up.

But our most highly anticipated Liberty Park activity was Seven Canyons. I’ve been to plenty of water parks but this one is different. Patterned after the valley’s seven canyons, this feature has seven man-man streams flowing around secret nooks, trees, stairs and rocks.

I had heard it was closed for the season due to an oil spill but was delighted to discover the sign that claimed it would be opening at 3 p.m. that day. And so we grabbed some snow cones and waited.

And waited some more.

When 3 p.m. rolled around, there was Nada. An inquisitive mom went to the concession stand to ask and as it turns out, Seven Canyons was closed due to some destructive lightning.

Struck by a bolt of electricity around the exact time I would be there? What’re the odds that would happen to me?

On second thought, don’t answer that question.

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

Mountainside Marriott and Why Sunroofs and the Backcountry Do Not Mix

August 12, 2010 by Amber

Whilst in Park City, my kids and I stayed at the Mountainside Marriott. PCMR Marketing Director Krista Parry arranged our lodging, initially giving me the choice to stay at Silver Star, the most gorgeous slope-side condominium I have ever stayed in.

This was also the place where Bode became a man over Spring Break.

Or at least a non-woosy baby.

But this time, I requested the slope-wide Marriott for one simple reason: the water. My kids delighted in splashing around the pool and I opted for the multiple whirlpool spas with waterfalls that seemed to spill out of the boulders.

For a weekend of pampering, I’d highly recommend the Silver Star. For an extended stay in Park City, the Marriott Mountainside is where it is at with a spa, fitness center and activity center with crafts and outings all day long.

But the intimidating life-sized chess and checkers game?

Bode says he’ll stick with the Wii and XBox in the game room.
===============

For our final morning in Park City, our friends Dave and Rebecca took us to Squatter’s for breakfast and invited us on a casual hike up Guardsman Pass Scenic Backway. This backcountry road connects Park City to Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Salt Lake Valley, boasting epic views like this one.

The Lincoln MKT served me well during the laborious 9-hour drive from Denver. I loved the sattelite radio, push-button start, voice-activated navigation system, pull-down shades for the kids and cooled seats in this seven-passenger vehicle. But I felt like we hadn’t really enjoyed it yet. This drive was to be our chance.

I opened the sunroof for the first time, cranked up the tunes and we wound around vertiginous mountain passages cram-packed with aspen and oak splendor. The kids reached toward the sky dancing and singing in their seats and all was right in the world with our glorious luxury vehicle.

Until we hit the gravel road.

Here’s a little tip: an open sunroof and dusty gravel do not mix. I’m just sayin’.

Upon reaching the apex of Guardsman Pass, we hopped out to begin our hike. Rebecca assured me it was a short 1-miler to a pretty lake and that she had done it with her two small children.

What she failed to mention? At one point, the trail was a straight and steep shot down to the lake.

I wore flip flops and a skirt.

It was not pretty.

Fortunately, the lake was.

Filed Under: Family travel, Humor, travel, Utah

Park City Activities That Are (and are not) For Kids

August 10, 2010 by Amber

When I lived in Utah, I always liked Park City but it wasn’t until I moved away that I truly fell in love with it.

The kiddos and I had a whirlwind 24 hours in this outdoor Shangri-La with our St. George-dwelling friends Dave and Rebecca and their two children.

Dave and I have been friends from way back when and our backpacking adventures included an epic journey up Yosemite’s Half Dome and being snowed on and then almost struck by lightning on Zion’s West Rim Trail.

Stuff like that bonds you for life.

We have been trying to plan an adventure for the last five years but kids, illness and life have always gotten in the way. But in a flash of serendipity, we were in Park City the same weekend so our families planned an adventure together.

(Hadley rocking the climbing wall. No pun intended.)

Why the Park City Art Festival Is NOT For Kids

We started at the Park City Art Festival which, if you’re ever tempted to take your kids? Don’t. Unless you want to spend the entire time steering your kids away from breaking psychedelic artwork that would take your entire lifetime to pay off.

My Mama always said nothing in this world is free and that applied to the $10 admission and then the kids area that required you to dish out even more money.

But Haddie and Sienna claim the green kitty cat face painting was worth it.

Of course, they didn’t have to fork over the money to pay for it.

Why Park City Mountain Resort IS for Kids

Park City Mountain Resort’s base area was the true highlight of the trip. I’ve been to a number of resorts in the summer but none compared to PCMR’s compendium of activities that included the Alpine Coaster AND Alpine Slide, Ziprider, bungee trampoline, miniature golf, climbing wall and Little Miner’s Park with a carousel and rides for small children.

Dave and Rebecca were both skeptical of the lightning-fast alpine coaster but I assured them it was our favorite activity. After some initial reluctance (and a first run wherein three different coasters caught up with slowpoke Dave), they were hooked. In fact, Dave loved it the most and was the very last rider at the end of the evening.

I convinced Rebecca to ride the zipline with me. A bit of history: When I was a teenager at girl’s camp, I was asked to dress up as a clown and ride the zipline upside down while screaming and poking fun at all the freaked-out girls. I totally could have gone pro.

Well, if such a thing existed.

Rebecca, on the other hand, had never ridden a zipline. There was a wee bit of apprehension.

And some more.

To calm her nerves, I shared my own tales of barrelling across the zipline at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

Though I assured her Park City Mountain Resort’s drop was far worse.

I am totally the person you want to have around in a crisis situation.

Rebecca careened down that mountain like a champ, even passing me at the very end. We had planned to hit Park City’s Main Street for dinner but we were so obsessed with cramming in every last slope-side activity that we kept playing…and playing even after the resort’s fast-food restaurant closed down.

At 9 p.m. after the final run down the Alpine Coaster, the kids’ stomachs growled in protest. I took one glance at exhausted Bode and knew he would not last so we grabbed some ice cream bars and Chex mix from the Mountainside Marriott’s snack bar.

Truly, it was the breakfast dinner of Park City Mountain Resort’s champions.

Filed Under: Family travel, Humor, travel