Birthday boy (and cakes) at the lake

August 6, 2014 by

Bode and birthdays go together like cake and ice cream. Since we started spending July in Canada a few years ago, the kid has scored on multiple “pretend” parties leading up to his big day.

1) His party with Denver friends (this year it was with Rolling Video Games Denver).
2) He’d have a family dinner with Jamie because Jamie was rarely with us up north.
3) He’d have his real birthday in Canada.
4) This would be followed by another fete with Jamie’s siblings when he returned.

For his eighth birthday, he only got three birthday parties but made up for it with five cakes. Impressive, non?

We were vacationing at Okanagan Lake in British Columbia for his birthday. Early that morning, I bought 100 Timbits from Tim Hortons, his favorite food on earth.

Not familiar with Timbits? Think the most delectable variety of doughnut holes on earth. And sorry Dunkin’ Doughnuts–your sub-par Munchkins don’t even come close.

The boy had a fabulous day boating and playing with his cousins on the dock and our beach.

But his real win on his birthday was in cakes. I had casually mentioned I planned to get him an ice cream cake for his birthday. I called in the order but unbeknownst to me, my generous Aunt Sue and mom went to Dairy Queen and bought two birthday cakes. I figured I couldn’t cancel the order after they’d already made it so we ended up eating three birthday cakes that week.

No one complained, especially not Bode.

We topped off the day with movie night on a friend’s beach. Hadley’s birthday at The Broadmoor was pretty tough to beat.

But this came pretty darn close. Happy birthday, Bode man!

Filed Under: birthday, Bode, Canada

Vernon, British Columbia: A week walking on water

August 5, 2014 by

My entire family hasn’t been together since our glorious trip to the Outer Banks four years ago (how could you forget our poetic and HILARIOUS crabbing by moonlight adventures)?

My brother Pat and his family are big boaters, have top-of-the-line everything and are so generous with their time and expertise with our family of newbies. The kids and I joined them in their lake house in Vernon, British Columbia for the second year in a row. New this year were Jamie, my brother Jade and his boys. It was surely a week to remember.

Though I’m just trying to forgot those 100+-degree temperatures. Remember how I like to spend July in Canada to cool down?

Regardless, if you’re going to have searing heat, 135-km-long Okanagan Lake is a good place to be and what a fun week we had full of crazy adventures.

Of course, there was the boating where the kids tubed, kneeboarded and my sister-in-law Jane taught them to wakeboard while she tutored Jamie and me in surfing. We spent oodles of time on the boat cheering everyone on as we marveled at my family of experts…

Wakeboarding Hadley

Pat clearing the wake

My bro Jade and his boys

Perfect views, perfect day while getting her wakeboard on

Meet the parents

Sisters

The pumpkin man and me

Boat babe

Nerves before wakeboarding

With my technicolor nieces

I love boating over to the West Side where the water is calmer and the views prettier. We jumped overboard and splashed, played, dunked each other off the tube and competed. Least memorable was Jade’s “crack dive” (just say ‘no’ to crack; I’ll leave that up to your imagination).

Even more disconcerting was Jamie’s initiation into the family dive-off. I had high hopes for him. He’s the strongest swimmer in our family and I just knew he could dethrone Pat and my niece Ashton for being able to dive the longest and furthest.

Oh, how quickly my hopes came crashing down.

I’m not sure what happened. We counted down and everyone did their sleek missile dives into the lake. Everyone except my dear husband who unceremoniously plopped into the lake. Sadly, my brother Pat was once again crowned king of the dive-off.

Jamie represented himself in his defense case. “I was pushed!” he accused and I believed him. Until I reviewed the photographic evidence. He is on the left in front of cousin Connor and there was no physical contact in the previous photos.

There was only a man who apparently slipped and entered the water looking like a prissy school girl skipping to school.

Better luck next year, Honey, and remember: say “no” to crack.

Stay tuned next time for more Vernon adventures!

 

 

 

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

A day to remember at Okanagan Lake

August 4, 2014 by

We’re coming off a week-long boating vacation with my family in Vernon, B.C. I’ll have many more details to come but it was on our second day I was so darn proud of my kiddos. They’ve never tried wakeboarding and have had a strange/unhealthy fear of it, which is surprising given how many adventures they’ve been on and what stellar alpine skiers they are.

But all the grandkids were given the same edict: you need to try at least three times. If you don’t want to do it after that, fine. But you need to at least try.

My sister-in-law Jane is the perfect teacher. Not only is she patient but she gets down in the water with them and walks them through every step.

Eleven-year-old Connor was first. An excellent athletic and superb hockey player (his team is nationally-ranked), it was no surprise to anyone when he popped up and boarded around the lake.

Next came darling 6-year-old Naomi who got up..and then down a few times, an awesome effort given how little her legs are.

My brother Jade’s son Jaxson had us laughing the most. Extremely cautious, he kept babbling to Jane over and over again “do you know how dangerous this is?”

Cousin Jaxson, the epitome of cool

Yep, how can you tell and Bode are related?

With each passing kid, we could see Hadley increasingly freaking out on the dock. “Get her on the board now,” Jamie called out. When she gets worked up about something, it takes her a long time to talk her down.

She dragged herself over to cousin Emily who set her up on the wakeboard and over to Jane.  After a few minutes of instruction, she yelled “hit it.” At first, Hadley’s expression was panic but within a couple of seconds, she popped up and was cruising around the lake. She was the only one who was surprised–I absolutely knew she could do it. By her second run, she was already carving back and forth and begged to go again after all the kids had their turn.

Wakeboarding Hadley

Bode was next. He was surprisingly nonchalant on the dock and started to look worried when he went in the water with Aunt Jane. His first attempt was a flop (literally) and that was when he got scared, realizing it was tougher than he had thought to get up. Then he had another failed attempt. By now, he was scared. Tears started flowing down his cheeks as Jane soothingly talked him through his final attempt. “This is it,” I thought. “He’s so freaked out there is no way he’ll be able to do it.”

But gosh darn if he didn’t muster every ounce of determination that he had in that little body. As the boat started to drag him, he leaned forward and fought, fought, fought his way up, almost falling several times but eventually regaining his balance and was standing. He proceeded to wakeboard for several miles until my brother called out to him that it was OK to let go of the rope. 🙂

Bode fighting to get up

I’m telling you I’ve never been more proud of him. I want him to always remember this day. How he tried something hard, something he never thought that he could do. How he worked through his tears, conquered his fears and literally floated on water.

That day was one to remember.

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

Calgary: My Home and Native Land

August 1, 2014 by

Bode and I have just returned from a 3,000-mile roadtrip that covered two countries and 8 states–and that’s not including the 4-day jaunt I did out to California for BlogHer while the kids stayed behind with Grandma in Salt Lake City.

Can you say whirlwind?

What made this trip particularly taxing was Jamie usually drives at least one leg of it with me but he flew in and out of Vernon, B.C. to save time so that meant I spent 50+ hours driving with the kids.

Hadley is staying in Utah for another week with Grandma and they’ll all be driving out here next week for Bode’s baptism and then school starts the following week.

Can you say whirlwind? (Sensing a theme here?)

We had a great time in my hometown Calgary and I only wish we could have stayed longer. For six blissful days, we played in the mud pits, played and biked in Fish Creek Provincial Park, terrorized the neighborhood on the golf carts and raided the Bulk Barn’s 4,000 bulk products. My mom was generous and let the kids have at it and she paid for a lot of food.

Me: “I can’t believe we spent almost $100 in candy!”

Cousin Connor: “Is that so wrong?”

For my mom’s birthday, she requested we go to Peter’s Drive-in, an iconic eatery infamous for their shakes.

Hadley, Bode, Jaxson, Connor and Grandma

One of the reasons we go to Calgary in early-July is so we can hit the Calgary Stampede. This ten-day event bills itself as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” and features one of the world’s largest rodeos, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing and First Nations exhibitions.

The entire city comes to life. Everyone dresses western, parties and there are literally hundreds of free stampede pancake breakfasts setup in parking lots all over the city (SCORE!) For the third year in a row, my friend Stacey and I volunteered serving dinner at the Stampede Roundup.

My sister-in-law Jane’s family was visiting from Washington so we had to hit the midway and finally quit 11 hours later.
Stampede is alllll about the food. While we opted out of the popular scorpion pizza (ewww!) we ate a lot of tasty fare.
How do you say red velvet mini doughnuts covered in cream cheese in Calgarian?  You say OHHHHH YEAH.

I wish we could have stayed in Calgary for a month but our next stop was Vernon, British Columbia. Located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, this bread basket of Western Canada has hundreds of orchards, fruit stands and glorious lakes. I drove it for the first time in years last summer and I had not realized we needed to go through infamous Banff National Park to get there. This year, I resolved to make at least one detour to glacially-fed Moraine Lake nestled in the Valley of Ten Peaks.

Since we had a long drive, my only intention was to hop out, take a few pictures with the kids and be on our way.

Like that is going to happen in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

“We have to hike up the Rock Pile,” Hadley insisted, pointing to the popular interpretive trail leading up, up, up.

And how those views were worth it.

My new favorite picture

An hour later, we dragged ourselves away, vowing to spend some quality time in this stupendous place next summer.

Gotta tell you, sometimes I miss the Motherland so much it hurts.

Filed Under: Canada, Family travel, Humor, travel

“The Close”: The Glory Days Relived

July 28, 2014 by

Riding Grandma and Grandpa’s golf cart is one of the highlights of visiting. I much preferred it when the kids were young and my dad chauffeured them around but now they’re getting older and they want to (gulp), drive. I’d have no problem with them taking the wheel if they weren’t brain damaged (almost) teenagers but we all know children of a certain age are lacking in mental faculties like rational thinking.

Magical mornings on “The Close”

Never mind it’s also illegal.

The morning after our cousins Connor and Jaxson arrived, all the kids were up waking up terrorizing the neighborhood in the golf cart. It brought back awesome memories…not of traumatizing the block but of just how incredible it was to grow up here. I reminisced with my childhood friends about it on Facebook and my friend Stacey B. nailed it perfectly:

We had everything – an alley, crabapple trees, the gully, the golf course, neighbours that we loved and could trust – remember our block parties? Whole neighbourhood gathering for a BBQ. On the Close, we were more than just neighbours – we were truly family!

“The Close” is much different now. My parents are the only original owners. Most have moved or passed away, the population aging and the sounds of children’s laughter have dimmed except for the occasional visit of grandchildren. Stacey agreed.

I would love to go and knock on each door and explain to them how it once was! Tell them to gather their grandchildren and make it like it used to be! We truly couldn’t have had better childhoods – we could roam free all throughout our area – we knew we would be safe because somebody was always watching ot for us! Even when we were being “bad” – that just meant we were eating the crabapples off of somebody else’s tree! LOL

Ahh, the good ‘ol days!!!!

At one point, I looked out the window and saw 11-year-old Connor driving the golf court with three babes on the back, two of whom are not related to us.

I guess they start early in my brother’s family.

“Who on earth are they?” I queried and found out the kids had met them when walking the dogs. Ella is Hadley’s age and her sister is Bode’s age, which made them all instant BFFs because there’s no one else around.

At one point, I looked at Connor flipping doughnuts on the huge lawn area in front of the house. Bode had just come out of the shower and I expressed my concerns to him.

“I don’t mind you kids riding the golf cart but I get really nervous when he makes fast, sharp turns like that. It would be all too easy to flip the cart.”

“Do you want me to keep an eye on them, Mom?”

“Why don’t you do that, Son.”

Filed Under: Bode, Humor

“Upscale” Selfies at The Broadmoor?

July 23, 2014 by

I’ve long written about my family’s love affair with The Broadmoor, a glorious AAA Five-Diamond resort in Colorado Springs. I feel honored to be among several esteemed writers who contribute to their glossy, upscale magazine. Their latest edition was published and their PR director sent a few copies I have yet to see because the kids and I are still on our month-long road trip.

Horseback riding Hadley and family canoeing

Jamie took a couple of pictures for me and my jaw dropped when I saw what they published in the table of contents and also on the lead page of my story. He joked, “all the following stories are your typical stock-type photos of beautiful children wearing beautiful clothes in The Broadmoor’s beautiful setting.”

I was asked to write about the Ranch at Emerald Valley, their new wilderness enclave that redefines luxury in a gorgeous mountain setting. The kids had a professional photographer shadowing them most of the day (read: child models) but since they wanted me to write the article through my children’s eyes, we set them loose with a camera and my iPhone to take their own pictures.

And then, I present unto you this:

Nothing like keeping it classy with Bode selfies.

Table of contents

Funny back story: we surprised the kids with this trip by waking them up and telling them we were going that morning. The night before was full of meltdowns. One of Bode’s teeth was falling out and it was sticking straight out like Billy Bob. Knowing he’d be photographed the next day, we were insistent that tooth needed to come out, which for him, was equal unto being sent to the guillotine and it took us 1.5 hours of freakouts/crying/wailing before he let us pull the tooth.

Next time, I’m just tying the tooth to Fat Kitty, yelling “FOOD” and letting it rip.

How’s that for a future Broadmoor feature story?

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, Humor

Fish Creek Provincial Park: A river-playing, mud-flinging, biking wonderland

July 22, 2014 by

When your childhood backyard is one of the largest urban parks in North America, there are endless adventures for discovering. I practically grew up in Fish Creek Provincial Park. If we weren’t biking, we were hiking, picnicking, bonfiring, and swimming in Sikome Lake.

The morning after I arrived in Calgary, Dad and I hit the trail for a resplendent ride through the park.

It truly is one of my happy places and who can blame me with views like this?

On another realllllly hot day, we took the PT Cruiser convertible out for a spin and hit one of Calgary’s hundreds of free Stampede pancake breakfasts.

Still trying to teach Dad how to do selfies. In his defense, he was kinda driving.

The kids then jumped right into Fish Creek fully clothed.

If you’re judging me for that, you’ll be exceedingly dismayed over our next display at the mud pits at Fish Creek.

We discovered them a few years ago. A few people splashing in the river would disappear for a while and then come back caked in mud. We decided to investigate and after a short, steep hike we discovered these pits tucked away covertly in the cliffs hugging the creek. Now, it is an annual tradition! We introduced my brother Jade’s family and my sister-in-law Jane’s little sister Diane’s family from Washington.

They were just as disgusted (and disgusting) as we were.

Quite predictably, most of the boys loved playing in the mud but these beauties, Hadley and Isabelle, took it one step further. Long after the boys had jumped in the river to clean off, these young ladies were milking it in. Or rather, mudding it.

Yes, that is a mud crown Queen Hadley made for herself.

I’m going to frame this picture and give it to her future husband.

Fortunately, our swimming hole in Fish Creek provided for a lovely respite as the kids jumped off the huge boulders, played in the sand and caught minnows.

Who’s in for Mud Pits 2015 next year?!

Filed Under: Bode, Canada, Family, Hadley

Happy 8th Birthday to My Bode-man!

July 18, 2014 by

“This is what it’s like to be a king.” While eating your unlimited corn dogs at Elitch Gardens’ VIP preview party

Dear Bode,

I can’t believe you’re turning 8! This is a huge deal: You will soon be baptized, start Cub Scouts and enter third grade. Every year you grow to be more fun, smart and endearing. Though you’re becoming independent, you always take the time to snuggle up to your mom and shower me with love and kisses–just not around your buddies because you are, after all, a boy’s boy and have to save face with them. Except for when you saw a golf-ball-sized bee, in which case all of you “ran away in terror.” Your words, not mine.

You enjoy playing soccer every fall and spring, basketball in the winter, racing down the ski slopes, jamming on the piano, riding your bike, snuggling (read: mauling) Fat Kitty and growing giant pumpkins (your beast was 420 pounds last season). You are torn between being highly disciplined and loving video games like Minecraft while agonizing that they’re not good for you so have settled on a reasonable schedule so “I don’t get addicted.”

A parent-less week at Camp Chief Ouray

The other day you told me that when you are a dad, you will have your kids give you 50% of what they earn. When I responded that seemed like a lot and would you like me to take half of what you make, you had to reconsider. You ultimately decided 1/4 and then 1/8 of future earnings was more amenable so I look forward to my future kid taxes.

When I started boot camp this year from 6:30-7:30 a.m., I worried about you and your sister being responsible enough to get ready yourselves but I need not have fretted. In fact, you set your alarm clock early because you like to be “extra prepared” and that rings true in everything in your life. Your second grade teacher tracked all good and bad behavior by tallying up “Class DoJo points” and wouldn’t you know it, you were the very top of your class at year’s–in grades and behavior. The comments from your teachers on your report card ranged from “he is a joy,” to a “role model” and I beam with pride in knowing that you’re a good, selfless person and are always looking out for others first. A classic example is that Hadley hates the lemon-flavored gummy vitamins, and even though you don’t like them either, you always trade with her so she doesn’t have to eat them. That, my friend, is love.

A few years ago, I threw your dad a surprise 40th birthday party and you begged for us to do the same for you. We figured your 8th birthday was an important one so we rented a 32-foot mobile video game theater from Rolling Video Games Denver, had 14 of your besties hide in it and surprise you. Of course, you were shocked and then elated, repeating “I had no idea.” Your sheer joy will likely only be comparable to your wedding day and maybe the birth of your firstborn child. So long as its name is Steve. If you love Minecraft, you’ll totally get the reference.

Surprise!

Shock

The Motley Crew

You’re a numbers person and thrive in goal-setting while tracking your progress. Dad challenged you to read a pretty lofty amount of scripture before you are baptized in Aug. and you cranked it out in a few weeks. When I ask you to do something, you do it without questioning my motives, which is a far cry from when you were three and we had you clean out the ditch in the backyard. Not only did you revolt and cry, you made up a secret language you heatedly muttered under your breath as you worked, which sounded an awful lot like preschooler swear words.

Obsessive sand castle builder, Maui

We’ve had a fabulous year of travel: The AAA Five-Diamond Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and multiple ski trips. I was so proud when you delved right in as the sled’s driver when we dog-sledded in Breckenridge and had a blast spending Christmas in Utah. Last summer you, Hadley and I did a 3,000-mile trip that covered two countries and seven states (Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah) and we’re currently in the middle of that same adventure because apparently we weren’t crazy enough the first time. We recently returned from Disneyland and Maui, which basically means this was our best travel year ever.

You recently returned from a week at Camp Chief Ouray in the mountains and I love that you are always ready to delve into new discoveries. You recently announced to me how much you love road trips and I couldn’t wait to hear the reason. Was it the prospect of discovering a new far-flung destination? Our fascinating conversations en route? Nope, it was because “I get to play unlimited video games while we’re driving” and that is why “getting there is half the fun” in your book.

Oh, and when I asked you where you dream destination is now that we’ve gone to Maui, you commented, “A place that doesn’t eat too much fish like Australia.” Hate to tell you, Dude, but it’s surrounded by water but I’m with you on boycotting seafood.

My favorite time with you is early in the morning when you curl up in bed with me and we sleepily talk about our dreams. I know you won’t be little forever so I cherish these moments. Just know that however big you are, your dreams will always be safe with me.

Love,

Mother

=====

For a stroll down memory lane, birthday letters 1, 2, 3, 4,  5,  6, and 7 (though the pictures no longer show due to switching blog platforms).

Timbits birthday breakfast at the Lake House

Filed Under: birthday, Bode, Humor

When the cat’s away, the mouse will play

July 15, 2014 by

Sure, poor Jamie is left alone for much of July as we embark on our 3,000-mile Canadian road-trip every summer but don’t feel too badly for him. He’s working a ton (like always) but apparently he’s finding time for play, as was evidenced by this discovery I made.

As some of you know, Jamie donated one of his pumpkins to Elitch Gardens, our awesome 70-acre amusement park and water park in downtown Denver.

When I was on Twitter the other day, I read this tweet from Elitch.

Apparently The Pumpkin Man is making some celebrity appearances in my absence but it makes me wonder if he will now expect us to call him The Pumpkin Whisperer?

Follow Elitch Gardens’ pumpkin “Cornelius Longbottom” on their Twitter feed here and of course, go to denverpumpkins.com for Jamie’s pumpkin updates (he’s on track for another 1,000+ lbs pumpkin). The beast will soon start putting on 30-40 pounds a day!

Filed Under: Humor, Jamie

Ice, Ice, Baby

July 15, 2014 by

A blast from the past….

There are three words whose perfection and beauty are unsurpassed in the English language:

NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

(What? Did you think I was going to be a sentimental fool and profess something sappy like “I love you?”)

I have been mechanically-challenged my entire life. I will admit it is part laziness, part impatience, part knowing there is a man somewhere to help me and part incompetence. The most part.

Once upon a time, I destroyed our refrigerator’s ice machine. If you missed that doozy of a confession, just know it involved black nail polish and a grinder. And an inordinate amount of dark, goopy ugliness.

I am an ice addict and a day without cubes is like a day without a hit for a junkie. So,

CLICK TO KEEP READING

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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