I’m pondering three quotes on a day when my children are back in school, leaving me wondering time. People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. — Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Everyone has a price, and life respects that price. But that price is not measured in dollars or in gold, it is measured in love. More than that, it is measured in self-love. — Don Miguel Ruiz in an engagement calendar And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you foweva…So tweasure your wuv. — The Impressive Clergyman in the Princess Bride Hmmmm….do I have a light within? Often I feel like all the light in my life (which is considerable) comes from outside me. IR...
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 pla...
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, A Taste of Colorado will be held over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3 – Sept. 6, in Civic Center Park of Downtown Denver and includes FREE admission. In addition to the always-delicious food booths, there will be plenty of music, magic, clowns and puppets on the KidzStage and the KidZone has play equipment and a great variety of free hands-on craft activities for children of all ages. Kids and adults can also enjoy Carnival Rides and Games. Here are just some of the new kid-friendly features & exciting performances at Taste this year: * Kudzidza performs an authentic, African, interactive show Saturday on the KidzStage at 2:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Unlike many available African performers who are not from Africa, the members of Kudzidza were rais...
Struggling Colorado schools will receive about $43 million in federal turnaround grants over three years. Nineteen schools in six districts — Denver, Pueblo City, Mesa County District 51, Sheridan, Adams 14 and Center Consolidated School District 26JT — will receive the money, according to the Colorado Department of Education. The grants are part of the Obama administration’s three-year, $3.5 billion initiative to improve or close 5,000 chronically low-performing schools. Closing schools is the most politically volatile choice among the four interventions acceptable with the turnaround money. The other options include replacing the leadership and staff, restarting the school with a charter school and “transforming” the school. The last option is the most popular.
**CONTEST CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER SUSIE NELSON!** The Butterfly Pavilion’s famed tarantula Rosie has some competition. Venture into the world of the tarantula at the Butterfly Pavilion during the world premiere of their new exhibit, Legend of Tarantula, starting Labor Day weekend. Discover how these versatile arachnids go far beyond the dangerous, scary image given to them by Hollywood, and learn the true value of these eight-legged wonders. Come face-to-face with over 25 rare tarantulas from around world, including some species never before displayed at the Butterfly Pavilion. The Victorian-themed exhibit will teach visitors about the tarantula’s anatomy, habitats, diet, behaviors and cultural significance through interactive panels and activities. Become captivated by the...
Dear Mama Drama: I have two sons who are very outgoing, but very unique. Both struggle with making lasting friendships at school and say that others seem to avoid them. They often blast in instead of joining into groups or repeat annoying behavior when they have been asked to stop. My oldest son does gross and obnoxious things and my youngest is always showing off in attempts to get attention. When they complain about how they are treated at school they seem to have no idea how their behavior is impacting others. I’m at a loss. ~ Concerned Mama
I will be on KDVR-TV (FOX 31) today at 9 a.m. talking about the following must-have items for school: 1). Airbak (airbak.com) – makes school backpacks easier to carry w/ less strain on the back and protects contents w/ inflatable internal air cushions. There are more than 15,000 school backpack related injuries every year… Airbak is a new backpack invention that uses a patented, built-in air cushion technology to prevent back stress and make wearers feel as if they are carrying half the weight or less, as well as protecting the backpack contents, such as a laptop and other valuable gear. Simply pump the air pocket to the desired level, taking only seconds, and the Airbak’s inflated air pockets surround the contents with a shield of air and allow the pack to spread the wei...
Lots of mothers will tell you their lives changed forever the day their child was born. That was true for me, too, but then just nine days later, my life changed again. That was the day my daughter died. I didn’t expect to get pregnant. After years of being told my husband, Dan, and I could not conceive, we’d started our family a less traditional way, by foster-adopting a beautiful baby boy. Six months later, I discovered I was pregnant. On May 3, 2006, we welcomed Rhiannon Fay-Marie McMurray into the world. Doctors said our little girl was in picture-perfect health and sent us home. After a little more than a week, Rhiannon began acting fussy, stopped eating and wouldn’t sleep. Worried, I took her to the doctor’s office on May 11. There, between the waiting area and the examin...
Friday-Sunday. Catch a glimpse of circus as it once was when the Zoppé Italian Family Circus sets up at Mile High Marketplace. Featuring a brand-new, one-ring tent, the Zoppés perform in a traditional style with one story binding all the performances together. Nino the Clown stars, as usual, along with Tosca the Equestrian Ballerina, acrobats, dog performers and more. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Mile High Marketplace, 7007 E. 88th Ave.; 303-289-4656. Admission is $3 to enter the Marketplace, plus $10 for circus admission. Kids age 11 and younger are free with a paying adults. Go to milehighmarketplace.com for more information. Saturday-Sunday. Prepare for cooler days to come by getting a blast of heat at the Lakewood Chile Harvest...
I am a magazine junkie. I love getting a new magazine stuffed in my mail box. It is usually something just for me – and not something unpleasant like a bill. I subscribe to a lot of magazines but have found the site BestDealsMagazines.com where I can get national big name magazines for really cheap! There are several great titles that are only $4.69 for a whole year! (That is what the newsstand price for one single magazine is!) Plus, once you visit the site they often send out emails good for an additional discount! Sniagrab! Last week I let you know about the SkiRex trad- in program at Colorado Ski and Golf. This week, I’m letting you all know about Sniagrab (Bargains spelled backwards) at The Sports Authority over Labor Day weekend – starting on Sept 4th (plan a...
Is it just me, or does anyone else hate buying back-to-school items? I’ve tried to get a little here and there, taking my 12-page list each time I head out to Target. We may have to look into donating our plasma (blood, not TV) this month in order to make ends meet in order to get all the “must haves” on our list. School supplies aren’t the only reason I’m in a bad mood about school starting. First of all, after a few months of “chillin’ with my crew” I have to start studying again. This fall I’m taking a nutrition class, and I’m pretty sure they’re gonna get all up in my grill about how bad Little Debbie snack cakes are for the kids. Secondly, when the kids go back to school, it means winter is on her angry way, and displaying my cute feet will once again will have to take a back se...
Editor’s note: Since writing this post, Gretchen gave birth to her eighth child yesterday. He weighed 7lbs 15 oz. He is currently in the NICU for rapid respiration so be sure to send Gretchen your well-wishes. My first five kids were born via what some people deem the old-fashioned way. Then the exit sign flickered out. The next two babes were born via c-section, both undeniably necessary. I have no regrets regarding either delivery. Mr. Baby is scheduled to arrive in an OR, too. I’m fine with that. Here are some general observations about c-sections. They are in no logical order. If you are a dude or otherwise squeamish, this may be too much information: 1. There is a big difference in recovery time between emergency and scheduled c-sections. If you have an emergency c-section, like...