It’s a fine line we parents walk, trying to find our own happiness and making sure the kids are okay along the way.

I’m in the thick of it myself.  Widowed in 2007 at 31 with three kids to raise…I knew I didn’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.  But that meant dating and finding a new relationship…something that when I said “I do” back in 1996 I never thought I’d be doing.

But I did.  I got out there in the dating trenches, fought for what I wanted, and eventually I got him.  And that “him” came with three kids of his own.

In this series of blogs, the “Kid Blenders,” I will be addressing our challenges, trying to blend our two families together.  The names of the children will be changed to spare the easily embarrassed.  And let me be upfront about this:  I’m no clinical expert.  I’m just a single mom trying to figure life out as I go.  But knowing that there are around 14 million single parents out there…I’m guessing that I’m not alone in this venture.

So…here’s the situation.  I met Mike almost three years ago.  He works for NASCAR’s #78 (Furniture Row Racing).  We met online, as just about everyone over 30 does these days.  And the only thing that keeps us from retiring to our own private island in the Bahamas (besides jobs, bills, and the small problem that we just don’t have an island) are our six kids combined.

Yes.  You read that right.  Six.

I have three kids who are 10, 8, and 6 and he has three kids who are 11, 7, and 4.  I know what you’re thinking.  Brady Bunch, right?  And you’d be close.  Just with better technology, real grass instead of AstroTurf, and no “Alice.”

On a regular basis, we battle personalities, schedules and, occasionally, each other.  We have the kids’ best interests at heart – all of the kids – and do what we can to make sure that they all feel loved and equally important.

For my kids, who lost their dad when they were 5, 3, and 1, Mike has become their primary “dad” figure.  He helps them with their math, shows my son how to upgrade things I didn’t even know could be upgraded, gives the girls the bear hugs they so desperately need, and fixes things that require more than the all-in-one screwdriver I have in my junk drawer.

For his kids…Mike is divorced and has partial custody.  I do my best to let them know that even though they have a mom who adores them…I would be honored if they would carve out a place in their lives for me.  I try to let them know that I realize that I’m not their mom…I’m just another person who supports and loves them.

With Mike’s NASCAR travel schedule – being out of town 38 weekends out of the year – our lives can get a little dicey at times.  Our conversations during the day usually include something like, “Wait.  Did you say you were going to be around tonight or do you have something else going on?”  Because between football, rock-climbing, ballet, basketball, piano lessons, and Boy Scouts…we’re never quite sure.

We’re out numbered.  And we know it.

I truly believe that a life together is possible and might even be enjoyable.  Ask me on a day when all six of them are running through my house playing hide-and-go-seek, dress-up, basketball, and Just Dance all at the same time…and I might tell you that that island in the Bahamas doesn’t sound so bad.

But when they’re all sitting around the dinner table, laughing and interrupting each other with outrageous stories (that usually involve some sort of bodily function)…I’ll tell you that there’s no place else I’d rather be than squished into my chair, looking at all of their faces.

As with most things, those moments of happiness aren’t constant and didn’t come about overnight.  They happen one moment at a time and can change in an instant.  And for you single moms out there who are trying to figure out how to balance your own happiness and the well-being of your children…

…let’s do it together.

Catherine Tidd is a writer, widow and mother of three. She is the founder of www.theWiddahood.com, a free peer support website dedicated to anyone who has lost a significant other and has a Facebook peer support page under the name Widow Chick. Along with being published in several books on grief and renewal, Catherine is also a humorous motivational speaker who focuses on “finding joy in a life you weren’t expecting.” She also writes a blog on parenting and NASCARing called NASCAR Brady Bunch.

The latest social-media craze is a virtual pin board, or scrapbook, to collect and organize your favorite images and ideas from around the Web. While the site has something for everyone, it’s dominated by home decor, fashion, food and crafts, and has become the new Internet darling — make that obsession — among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

“Pinterest is like fantasy ootball for girls,” said Jeannette Appold of Rosemount, Minn. The 44-year-old attorney and mother of two says the social bookmarking site has added value to her life by bringing out creativity that she never knew existed. “Michael’s (craft store) has gotten so much of my money lately,” she said of her newfound passion to imitate craft projects she’s found on the site.

Pinterest has been around since March 2010, but its popularity has recently exploded, making it one of the 10 most popular social-networking sites. The site grew to nearly 5 million users in November, from just 418,000 in May, according to metrics firm ComScore.

Here’s how it works: When you see an image that you want to “pin” to your “board,” you can capture it using a “pin it” plug-in and add it to your online profile. Everyone who follows you can view your pinboards, comment on them and add to them if they have permission. They can “re-pin” the images to their own boards and you can do the same with what you see and like on their boards. Clicking on the image usually takes users to the original source, so a pin of, say, chicken curry, should take you to the website or blog that provides the recipe.

Make sense? The best way to deeply understand how Pinterest works is to join the site and start pinning.

Many users are crediting Pinterest for adding inspiration and creativity to their lives in new and challenging ways. Appold has 17 different boards organized by books she wants to read, recipes she’s inspired to try and clothes she dreams of owning, to name a few. She also has a board of Pinterest-inspired things that she’s actually made: gifts for her children’s teachers, a prayer pot and chore chart for her kids and a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Appold also uses the site to organize ideas she has for her basement remodeling and a bridal shower she’s planning.

Other Pinterest users like the site for its abundance of practical ideas. Did you know you can use an empty egg carton to organize your junk drawer? How about using toilet paper rolls to store those pesky electronic cables? Such ingenious solutions leave Pinterest users asking — “Why didn’t I think of that?” — and keep them coming back for more.

“An addiction” is the best way for University of Minnesota student Courtney Reigh to describe her Pinterest use. The 21-year-old prefers “pinning” over Facebook and logs into her account five to 10 times a day, spending 10 to 25 minutes each visit scrolling for images of home decoration ideas, recipes and clothes. She’s expanded her style and wardrobe, and learned to make the “perfect poached egg, all to the credit of Pinterest.”

“I can get lost in that site,” she said. “I check it first thing in the morning, right before I go to bed and everywhere in between.”

Some Pinterest users are just getting the hang of it, but are devoted fans nonetheless. As the director of social media for Bentz Whaley Flessner, an Edina, Minn.-based fundraising consulting firm, Justin Ware is well-versed in all aspects of social media. He first became interested in Pinterest as a tool for nonprofit organizations, but he quickly began using it personally, too.

The 32-year-old Minneapolis man has started looking for vegetarian recipes and pinning them to his “good eatin’ ” board. He also has boards to house pictures of dogs, camping gear and photos of his favorite places.

But in the Pinterest world, Ware is an anomaly. Guys haven’t jumped on the Pinterest wagon the way women have. About 70 percent of Pinterest users are female and according to Experian Hitwise, most are 25 to 44 years old.

Not only are most Pinterest users female, but most of them live in the Midwest, where the site first caught on.

Midwesterners are up to 102 percent more likely to visit Pinterest.com than the average U.S. Internet user, according to ComScore.

By Aimee Tjader
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Sunday. The Colorado Ballet joins in “Fairytales and Fables Month” at the Children’s Museum of Denver in “From the Page to the Stage.” Kids can watch excerpts from fairytale ballets like “Peter Pan” and “Cinderella” while learning the basics of ballet techniques, roles and costuming. Then, youngsters give ballet a try themselves in an interactive dance activity. 11 a.m. and noon Sunday. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Activities included with museum admission: $8 for guests ages 2 to 59, $6 for 1-year-olds and seniors age 60 and older. mychildsmuseum.org

Saturday. Youngsters and their families get a Valentine’s Day party of their own at the Sweetheart Teddy Bear Tea in Highlands Ranch. The tea starts with, of course, tea and snacks. Thus fortified, it’s time for a kid-friendly V-Day show. As a keepsake, each child takes home a wee stuffed bear. Try to get tickets in advance—the event can sell out. 10:15 a.m. to noon Saturday. The Recreation Center at Southridge, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch; 303-791-2500. Tickets are $11 for rec center members; $15 for nonmembers. All tickets are $15 at the door, if available. Buy tickets in advance by calling 303-471-8859. hrcaonline.org

Saturday. Go all-natural for Valentine’s Day at Barr Lake State Park’s “Love is in the Air.” Designed for 4- to 8-year-olds and their grownups, the program focuses on great horned owls and bald eagles, two birds prone to falling in love early in the nesting season. Learn about the birds’ courtship and nesting rituals, then read a story, make a craft and go on a short winter walk. 10 a.m. Saturday. Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Piccadilly Road, Brighton; 303-659-6005. “Love is in the Air” is free with admission to the park–$7 per car. parks.state.co.us.

Saturday. Get in a New York state of mind for “A Broadway Romance,” presented by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Broadway diehards Stephen Bogardus and Patty Goble join the Philharmonic in a rundown of favorites from the Great White Way. The show includes tunes from more than 25 musicals, including “My Fair Lady,” “Carnival,” “South Pacific” and more. 8 p.m. Saturday. Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs; 719-520-SHOW. Tickets are $19-$60 for adults; discounts available for seniors, military and students. Buy tickets at ticketswest.com or at the Pikes Peak Center box office. csphilharmonic.org

Kathleen St. John

But it’s not lunchtime in the atrium or the parking lot on a free day. 60 creepy, slithery, and totally fascinating creatures have been collected into one fun-filled new exhibit called Lizards and Snakes. Recently, our family spent an evening getting to know the critters we often cringe about. We all left with a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of lizards and snakes.

Lizards and Snakes opens with some fast, pertinent facts: There are 8,000 species of reptiles and snakes, which means we are vastly outnumbered. Rather than panic about this alarming news, the exhibit guides visitors through a series of glass displays with live animals and educational, hands-on stations. The goal is to dispel myths, raise awareness, and foster appreciation through interactive play and a bit of romping.

Native habitats are recreated in detail so the lizards and snakes feel at home. We watched a chameleon dangle from a branch and a milk snake burrow in loose gravel. There is plenty of room for strollers and small children to get close to these displays sprinkled throughout the exhibit. Our 3-year-old was a bit skittish around the animals until he understood they were safely housed behind glass and didn’t hiss or roar at him. He loved the hands-on elements of the exhibit and found plenty of buttons to push, knobs to turn, and joysticks to move.

Our tweens and teens had a blast using the Gecko-Cam, which can zoom in on several different types of unsuspecting geckos. Joysticks control cameras mounted in a case. The video is transmitted to a screen. Gecko eyes, skin, feet, tails can be studied up close without disturbing their laid-back existence of lounging on branches or clinging to smooth glass. Our 5-year-old daughter thought the gecko underbellies were terribly funny, especially since she may or may not have see a gecko bottom.

I can’t stop thinking about the enormous Burmese python. It’s housed in the biggest habitat in the exhibit because it’s huge, jumbo, ginormous, gargantuan, mighty. Really, it is a majestic animal that even the biggest snake-o-phobe must admit is pretty darn cool. (Even though you can’t see its bottom.) Our kids crowded around the glass and marveled at it for a very long time. It’s hard to comprehend how people poach these snakes for clothing and accessories. The exhibit shares several items confiscated by the government for being crafted from illegal snake and lizard skins, including python.

Other can’t-miss highlights of Lizards and Snakes include the chance to hoist a life-sized, 100-pound plastic anaconda. It helps kids get a sense of the power and size of animals they’ll most likely never encounter in the wild. Kids can shake a real rattlesnake tail, feel snake and lizard skins, and learn how the shape of a tongue tells us what the tongue does and how it’s used. There are puzzles, a children’s theater area where they can learn to move like snakes, and on your way out, a chance to have your photo taken with Bo the Boa Constrictor, who will eat you if you aren’t careful.

It’s not often the DMNS houses live animals under its storied roof. Lizards and Snakes runs now until July 8, 2012 at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It’s free with museum admission and located on the 3rd level. For more information about the DMNS, the exhibit, for hours, or to buy tickets online, visit their website.

These are just a few of the factoids my children and I learned recently at a showing of The Wildest Weather in the Solar System.

Three new IMAX and Planetarium shows opened recently at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, giving you three new chances to go geek with your kids.

• Flying Monsters 3D: Uncover the truth about the mysterious pterosaurs, whose wingspans of up to 40 feet were equal to that of a modern jet plane.  Enter the lush and alien environment in which these creatures lived and experience real flying monsters (see trailer).
• Tornado Alley 3D: Experience the adrenaline and the science of nature’s most dramatic phenomena. Join Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and the researchers of Vortex 2, the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes, in this heart-pounding science adventure (see trailer).
• Wildest Weather in the Solar System: Take a spectacular journey to witness the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system. After seeing a storm the size of a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb and a 400-year-old hurricane, you’ll be glad you live on Earth (see trailer).

Schedules and prices are on the DMNS site.

When you’re done with the show, slip into the kid-friendly Space Odyssey exhibit where you can gaze on a variety of images projected on to a huge globe (flight traffic patterns, weather, light density), study the physics of crater making, see what stuff  looks like in infrared, make rivulets in space sand, and do other fun activities for kids of all ages.

Yes, it’s out of this world but no, it’s not out of sight — you’ll find fun and fascination at these three new IMAX and planetarium shows at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Lori totally geeked out at the museum for this post — at age 10 her dreams were to be a scientist. She’s now mom to tweens Tessa and Reed in the Denver area. She writes regularly  at WriteMindOpenHeart.com about parenting in open adoption and living mindfullly. Her first book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption, will be published by Rowman & Littlefield and available in mid-2013 .

The fun little shop located across the street from East High School is owned by East grads and brings Swiss street food to light right here in Denver! The amazing sausage is crafted locally and then the creations are made into sausage sandwiches. I had the spicy southwestern buffalo bratwurst (made with seasonal berry chipotle sauce, mixed cabbage and queso fresco). It was served with the most amazing apple coleslaw. The kids tried Chicago-style dog and a mac and cheese hot dog. They had the homemade chips that you are encouraged to spice on your own with one of seven seasoning/spice blends. It’s downright addictive – I’m looking for another reason to be on the corner of Colfax and Detroit soon!

Will you be helping your child write their Valentine’s cards? You can make a Valentine’s Memory Book at Michael’s on Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. The additional materials and directions are free with the purchase of a paper bag. On Sunday, February 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. is another Valentine’s workshop – featuring wood frame or curly letters.

Lowe’s Build and Grow

Qdoba Kiss

Pucker up this Valentine’s Day at Qdoba Mexican Grill to receive a Buy One Get One Free meal deal as part of Qdoba’s BOGO for a Kiss offer. On Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, February 14) guests who purchase one entree at any Colorado Qdoba restaurant then share a kiss with a significant other, friend, family member – or even an understanding stranger at the register will receive a second entree FREE! The best part is that no coupon is required – just a pair of lips and a kissing partner!

Score Big Tickets

ScoreBig is a NEW discount ticket website that promises you will save 10% to 60% on Denver/Boulder events. They aren’t a ticket broker or middleman, but work directly with venues, teams, and promoters to move extra tickets. Here’s how ScoreBig works: They get tickets to all kinds of events (mostly sports).  Select the event, the seating area and bid. If your bid is accepted, you are notified instantly, they charge your credit card and deliver the tickets. If not, you can bid again at a later date, or in some cases, they’ll send a counter offer. No extra fees. It’s FREE to become a member, but ScoreBig is an invite-only site but as a reader of MileHighMamas you are now officially invited when you visit our special link.

Don’t want to miss any of Mile High Mamas’ contests and events? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter so you can forward these great deals to your friends.

You can also follow me on Twitter (GeeWhy93).  If I find a great deal during the week, I’ll tweet it out.

OUR PANEL: Susan Jung Grant, assistant professor of marketing, University of Colorado at Boulder; Pasquale “Pocky” Marranzino, chairman/CEO, Karsh Hagen; Glenn Morey, president, Morey Evans Advertising; Mike Sukle, creative director and owner, Sukle Advertising; Daphne Fink Taber, general manager, gyro;Greg Wagner, Denver University, Daniels College of Business.

CLICK TO READ ON

What was your favorite ad?

Unfortunately we weren’t the only ones who figured that out.

I couldn’t fault the hoards of people because in terms of proximity (just 21 miles from Boulder, 45 miles from Denver) and new snow (31 inches in 48 hours) this small, unassuming resort delivered in a big way.

We were relative newbies to Eldora–my husband frequently went night skiing as a youth and I skied there for just a couple of hours a few years ago. But with 680 acres of skiable terrain, it didn’t take us too long to find our bearings.

And they were deeply embedded in a soft blanket of incredible powder.

The Mountain

I was surprised there was a relatively small number of beginner slopes (20%), with the majority of the mountain dedicated to intermediate (50%) and advanced runs (30%). Corona Bowl offers some killer expert terrain and if you’re looking for a gentler, more forgiving mountain, don’t stray too far from the Sundance lift. There are 11 lifts: two quads, two triple, four doubles, one poma, and two conveyor lifts. An adult full-day ticket (ages 16-64) is $72; and junior full day (ages 6-15) $44; child full day (5 & under) $10.

Tip: Discounted lift vouchers ($64 adults, $36 kids) are available at King Soopers, Safeway, Christy Sports and Boulder Ski Deals. Simply redeem at the resort. Or to save on time at the ticket window, stop at Eldora Mountain Sports in Boulder (at the intersection of 28th and Canyon) and they will issue you a discounted lift ticket (as opposed to a voucher you need to redeem at the resort). If you plan to ski a few days at Eldora, Costco is currently offering a 3-pack of tickets for $99 (this deal needs to be purchased by next week and can be used through the end of the ski season).

The Beginner Areas

I have a few qualifications for a great ski/ride school. Of course, an enthusiastic, capable instructor is number one and a close second is good beginner terrain. Third on my list is that this terrain should be in close proximity to the ski school offices.

It is on the third point that Eldora falls short. Prior to my kids’ lesson, we decided to take a few turns with them so headed over to the Little Hawk lift. The problem is the bunny slope is a relatively good haul from the base area that resulted in a lot of walking and whining.

The kids weren’t too well-behaved, either.

Once we arrived at Little Hawk lift and Tenderfoot magic carpet, the learning conditions were ideal. One side of Little Hawk was flat enough for newbies while the other side of the slopes was a bit more challenging so both kids could enjoy it.

Tip: We later learned there is a free shuttle that connects the two base areas. Though be warned: on a busy day, you’ll be battling all the ski school kids and doing a nice detour to the North parking lot before you reach your destination. We called our 15-minute ride back, “the scenic route.”

Addressing The Unenthusiastic Skier

I don’t know if my kid is the only one who has actually regressed with skiing but that’s exactly what has happened to 5-year-old Bode. When he was 3, he was fearless and indomitable on the slopes. Last year, he was much more cautious. But this year, he has turned downright fearful. I resolved to do something about it.

Or rather, I decided to hire someone more skilled and knowledgeable than me to do something about it (a 1-hour private lesson at Eldora is $139).

PSIA Level III Ski Instructor Nate Emerson was, hands down, the best thing that has happened to Bode since he discovered Super Mario Bros. (this is the highest compliment possible). At the end of their lesson, grumpy, fearful Bode was chasing Nate down the mountain, playing imaginary games like catch-the-dinosaur, dodge ball and basketball, all the while unknowingly learning new skills that made him more confident and capable. As it turns out, just telling a kid to point their skis and go down the mountain is not an effective teaching method.

And that, my friends, is why I am not a professional but Nate is.

Group prices: Ski lessons are available for ages 4-12, snowboard lessons are available for ages 7-12. A full day that includes a group lesson, rental equipment, lift ticket, supervised lunch and snacks: $119.

Other Family Tips