Colorado Livin’

If we build it, please don’t come

I had never attended a community forum until last week. It likely stems from the fact that I’m Canadian and nobody really cares what a foreigner has to say. Unless we end our sentences with a cute little “Eh.” But this time I was invested: It was the third and final meeting about a neighborhood park near my house. My city has a glorious thing called a land development code that requires developers to donate to a fund. Our neighborhood’s nest egg has $1.7 million and they plan to build a park on 15 acres of undeveloped land. The city planners had carefully implemented suggestions from the previous two meetings and overall, people seemed pleased. The park will consist of tennis courts, basketball, horseshoe, an inline skate park, a custom rock feature for climbing, pl...

Your Opinion: Kindergarten Woes in Jefferson County

My daughter will start kindergarten next Monday. I dreamed of this day during those sleepless nights with my colicky newborn. I envisioned how I would drop her off with a hug and a kiss each morning and spend my day pretending to be human again. I thought I might even take a shower to celebrate. I registered Hadley a few weeks ago and my reaction was very different from what I had imagined: I was annoyed. I’m not perturbed with her or the school but rather the entire system. I had originally enrolled her in full-day classes. Those children have all the benefits of extended learning designed to further their young minds both creatively and academically. But then the recession hit and the financial fall-out ensued. My husband and I started our own web development business during it all...

Building a Community

If you’re reading this, you’ve found us online, and you probably realize that Mile High Mamas is THE place for Colorado moms to receive news on the hottest giveaways, blogs, discussions and events. But…did you know that we’re also building our online community in other cyberspace locales? One of the most popular hangouts these days is Facebook. Maybe you’ve heard of it? If you’re on Facebook, pop on over and join us! You won’t be alone, with over 600 people already over there. And, you wanna know a little secret? Soon, we’ll be offering features and giveaways exclusively to our Facebook friends. I mean, what are friends for? Membership, as they say, definitely has its privileges. So, what are you waiting for? Come join us!

A camping essential

With summer winding down, we’re trying to take advantage of the wonderful camping Colorado has to offer.  A couple of weekends ago, we went on an overnight camping trip. How did it go? Well, the short and sweet answer: Awesome! But… You’ll probably wonder what’s wrong with me after you read the long answer… It all started out innocently enough. We’d planned a weekend getaway with another family, and we couldn’t wait! We were in the midst of hosting out-of-state visitors, but they were scheduled to leave our house on Saturday morning, and we’d head out right after them. And then my hubby looked at the weather report. Doh! It did not look good, but it didn’t look as bad as it could. Typically, we snub our noses and laugh at anything lower than a 60% chance of rain…and...

Dude Ranching with the Family at Devil’s Thumb Ranch

Confession: I’m not a horse lover but there is something almost enchanting about a dude ranch. It’s the fabled Western experience come to life with unsullied ranchland, campfire sing-alongs, yer very own fishing hole and, of course, cowboys in chaps. Devil’s Thumb Ranch has it all and was my choice for Best Dude Ranch for families on our Tour de Colorado. Located 65 miles west of Denver just outside of Winter Park, this award-winning, environmentally-friendly resort and spa has a rustically upscale 52-room main lodge and 16 luxury rental cabins with a full roster of activities for cowfolk both old and young. My husband Jamie stayed behind for work, during which time he witnessed a tornado uproot our yard in Denver. My children and I had a very different view: 5,000 acres of jade-green hors...

The Courage Diary–A Synopsis of an Inspiring Journey

Guest blogger Heather Simms-Schichtel is a parent advocate, freelance writer and full-time mom to Samantha a precious girl who has an undiagnosed genetic condition. She recently biked the 157-mile Courage Classic in Samantha’s honor. I wake up and look at the clock….8:00 Friday morning; t-minus 24 until I have to be at the start in Leadville. Not a problem….I’ve trained. I can pack in a day, get the family ready. Food and cold beer have already been purchased. We are good to go. Oh wait, one small detail….we still happen to be on the 8th floor at Children’s Hospital. I start to formulate back-up plans. Can I ride in the morning and drive down to Children’s in the afternoon? How many days can my husband stay in the hospital without going batty? I was smokin’ crack, thinking that I cou...

Mamas’ Weekly Event Round-up

August gets me all panicky about school starting, and how I haven’t maximized the summer or gotten nearly enough done. But August has so much to offer: Produce at its peak at the farmer’s market, the last of the summer concerts, fairs and festivals (except, not this week, sorry! Everybody’s gearing up for the Colorado Scottish Festival next week in Highlands Ranch.), and perfect weather for those final days at the pool. Why can’t I just relax and enjoy August? This is the last weekend for ye olde Renaissance Festival. Also, Rick Springfield is playing at the Hudson Gardens. So. . . And there’s that huge dinosaur thing down at the Pepsi Center. It’s a smidge pricey (by Casa de Jennifer standards), but really amazing. Naturally, you should check before you go, just in case anythi...

Surviving the aftermath of Denver’s storm

Allow me to dispel a rumor: I did not cause the horrible storm that ravaged Denver last week. A few so-called friends have accused me of praying it here so as to wipe out my husband’s pumpkin growing season. For those not in the know, I have been christened “The Pumpkin Widow” because I am married to a man who is obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. Or rather, a man who was obsessed because after Monday’s storm, I am sad to say that The Great Pumpkin is no more. In my defense, my children and I were 65 miles away sunning ourselves on the deck at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Oh wait. The storm occurred at night. I think I just blew my alibi. When I awoke the morning after, I was greeted with a series of increasingly despondent emails from my husband Jamie who had r...

Washing My Cares Away at Water World

My husband had the day off work last Friday. This should have made for a relaxing morning, but it didn’t. Even as he made coffee and waffles and bacon, I was anxious and antsy. I had work to do, but I didn’t feel like doing it. The house was a mess, but I didn’t feel like cleaning it. I have another triathlon coming up next month, but I didn’t feel like jumping on my bike or into the pool. What I really wanted to do was ignore my obligations and go back to bed, like Peter Gibbons did in Office Space. So I did exactly that. Except, instead of going back to bed, I went to Water World with Kyle and the kids. I sent one email and didn’t even wait for a reply before shutting my laptop. I left my phone sitting on the kitchen table. I pulled my hair into a ponytail a...

Tour de Colorado’s Best Mountain Festivals for Families: Crested Butte

During my family’s Tour de Colorado, we have visited many perfect places but have never had the perfect day. You parents know what I’m talking about: when the destination’s private universe comes to life and the children do not beat each other to a pulp. I had the perfect day in Crested Butte, my choice for Colorado’s best mountain festivals for families. It had the potential to be a nightmare. My husband could not join us until partway through the trip, leaving me to endure a 4.5-hour drive from Denver with two young children but all went smoothly. When we arrived at the idyllic mountain resort, we checked into our perfect accommodations: The Lodge at Mountaineer Square. The perfection was not just the beautiful rooms and rooftop pool but also location, location, location. Situated at the...

There is No “I” in Team…..But I Did Find Me

Guest blogger Heather Simms-Schichtel is a parent advocate, freelance writer and full-time mom to Samantha a precious girl who has an undiagnosed genetic condition. Ironic that as I write this we are in Children’s Hospital; our unsought home-away-from-home. I’m watching over my daughter Samantha as I wait for my husband to deliver my bike. Two weeks and counting until the Courage Classic, I need a training ride. I signed up for the ride in February. My bike was propped sadly against a wall in the garage; dusty with two flat tires. I had a lot of work to do but I had time. July was a very long, long way away…… Spring brought two hospitalizations for Samantha; more procrastination. May came about and I realized I only had two months to get my butt in gear. Samantha’s team started to form. As...

Tour de Colorado’s Ultimate Splurge for Families: The Broadmoor’s New Cottages

I had been touring the Olympic Peninsula all week. I flew home late that night, did laundry, repacked and then jumped in the car with my family the next morning. Upon arrival at The Broadmoor’s sculpted grounds, I was frenzied and sleep-deprived. The moment we pulled up to the security gate, all my worries were whisked away faster than the Calgon commercials of yesteryear. I gave the guard my name, received a parking pass and drove to the valet. I was greeted by Alex, a Romanian bellhop with a damsel-wooing accent: “Mrs. Johnson! How nice of you to join us again.” I wondered how he knew I had stayed at The Broadmoor once before. Did he also know my favorite color is blue and that I have no intention to pay that unmerited parking ticket I received downtown? In the end, I didn’t care. The Br...