Month: June 2014
A (Funny) Lesson on Attachment-detachment Parenting
My kids and I are having a fabulous summer. If we’re not swimming, we’re hiking, playing with friends or traveling. I fully realize these years are fleeting and I’m making the most of my time with them. The only snafu is this thing called work I’m supposed to be doing. And by the end of the summer, you’d better believe I’ll be in dire need of some alone time to finally be productive. As much as I enjoy having my kids around 24-7, school is a much-needed respite for all of us. I realize not everyone shares my opinion. Several years ago when my daughter was about to enter preschool, our community had a big ol’ garage sale. My husband Jamie and I stopped at a house a few blocks away and struck up a casual conversation with the home owners. It took onl...
DIY: How to build an indoor teepee your kids will love
A few months ago I decided to make a teepee for my daughter Maya. They are all so popular and seem like a necessary decor in any nursery so I thought I’d give it a try. I got all I needed to build the teepee tent but it took me several months to actually do it and complete this DIY project. I tried to find good tutorials online and while they all gave me inspirations none of the ones I found gave me clear instructions on how to build a teepee. So, it all was trial and error and now I am really pleased with the result. I wish I took pictures of all the steps I went through to complete the teepee but my steps were actually so chaotic that I never even thought of using my camera during the building process. Regardless, I want to share my thoughts and experience in case someone out there...
Red, White & Blue Recipe Roundup – 10 Festive Recipes for the 4th of July
As I was thinking of some great recipes to share with you, my mind starting wandering and I was thinking – what do I do every 4th of July? I grill! So, I went to the store, and bought all sorts of things; corn, chicken, steak, fruit, vegetables, tortillas… you name it!
Colorado’s July 4th Celebrations!
It’s time once again to celebrate the United States of America. Cities and towns across the Front Range have full slates prepped for the day and night, which conveniently falls on a Friday this year. From live music to bounce houses to pie contests and, of course, fireworks, whatever your favorite Independence Day activity is, it’s happening somewhere. Arvada’s Independence Day Celebration July 4: Activities begin at 4 p.m. with a Kid’s Play Zone, inflatables, games, booths, human “hamster” balls, a military vehicle display, live music and more. New this year is an area dedicated to those with special needs. Fireworks begin at dusk. Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex, entrance at 58th Avenue and Oak Street, 720-898-7000, arvada.org Aurora’s Fourth of July...
Blogger’s Block and the Evolution of Motherhood
When I started writing my blog back in 2011 my kids were 5 months and 3 years old. It was an isolating time and I wanted to reach out to all the other parents of tiny children who were most likely feeling alone too. I was striving to connect for my own sanity but also in the hopes I could reach someone like me who was scouring the internet in between feedings or grasping at random hints of the outside world in an effort to pry sleep deprived eyes open. I fell in love with blogging because it provided that connection when I needed it most. It also kept me motivated to try new things so I could share them with anyone who was interested. During that time my daughter was old enough to have dropped her naps and my son was napping all the live long day. My daughter was also young enough to need ...
Ways to Give Back This Summer, With Your Kids
Making the world a little bit better than I found it as a passion of mine, one that I hope rubs off on my three kids. Sometimes I think it’s working, like when my boys share change from their piggy banks to save snakes (hey, someone’s got to look out for the endangered cobras of the world). Other times, I’m not so sure, like when they proclaim that they’re going to keep the dollar I’ve given them for the church collection plate, and will never, ever, ever give any money away again because they need it all so they can be rich and buy every Lego set ever made. During the school year, we participate in school and church activities to give back, from bringing diapers to a diaper drive to collecting money to support Lutheran World Relief, but it’s hard to fit in more organized family volunteer ...
When staying at home is not an option: A working mom’s frustration
Have you ever been so tired, had too much on your mind and so much work to do that you wonder how you’ll muster up the energy to get through the day? That was how I felt recently and to make matters worse, I overheard our receptionist talking with a client in the lobby. They were talking about kids. Client: “How is Kendra doing? How is her baby?” Receptionist: “She is doing great! Her little one is 13 months old already and his first birthday was a hit.” Client: “Do you have kids?” Receptionist: “Yes, I have three. They are all grown now but I was able to stay home with them throughout their younger years.” Client: “Oh, that’s nice.” Receptionist: “Yeah, I just didn’t want a babysitter or anyone else raisin...
Day Trip: Nederland Fun and the Carousel of Happiness
“I’m going to ride the zebra!” yells one daughter from the back seat as we buckle in for our 30-minute drive to the Carousel of Happiness, just up the canyon in Nederland. “I want the mermaid!” cries a smaller voice. “No, the gorilla!” Such is the anticipation as we twist our way toward one of Colorado’s most whimsical, fantastical and affordable attractions. The backstory of the Carousel of Happiness, which opened in 2010, is pretty well known by now — Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran from Nederland, obtained a classic carousel frame and motor, then spent 26 years carving 50 animals. The people of Nederland chipped in, raising $700,000 and creating a nonprofit volunteer organization to house and run the Carousel. Four years later, the Carou...
Camp Chief Ouray’s “Camp Magic,” a mom at play and your family’s own camp experience!
My husband Jamie and I have been parents for 10 years and we have never been alone together at our home for more than one night since having kids. So it was a shock for me when we dropped them off for week-long Camp Chief Ouray at YMCA of the Rockies located between Grand Lake and Winter Park. But not for Jamie. As we were walking away from my daughter’s cabin, we followed the procession of parents to their cars. “Do you know what all these parents have in common?” he observed. “They’re all smiling.” And so were the kids. While Jamie and I reconnected with nightly dates, Hadley and Bode had the time of their lives at Colorado’s longest-running overnight camp for boys and girls ages 7-17 where they stayed in rustic cabins as they did archery, ...
Wild West Night, $1 Flip-Flops, Summer Nights at the Museum
Brake for breakfast Bicyclists can gear up for free breakfast at more than 160 locations across the metro area as part of Bike To Work Day on Wednesday. Chow down on this freebie from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Select sites also offer free water and snacks at Bike Home stations for the post-work ride from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Some even plan full-blown parties with Happy Hour eats, drinks and live music. biketowork2014.org/stations Horsin’ around Corral the family for a good time in both Highlands Ranch and Broomfield, thanks to Keystone Resort’s Wild West Night, featuring a bike-in movie. The free family-friendly events take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Redstone Park (3280 Redstone Park Cir. in Highlands Ranch) on Wednesday and County Commons Park (13200 Sheridan Blvd. in Broomfield)...
Denver Deal: Ideal Weight Loss, Kids Football Clinics, Bike To Work Day and More
Seriously what happened to this month? I was gone for a couple weeks – going from one side of the country to the other and it seems like the whole month flashed before my eyes. Good thing there is still at least another month of summer. I get to have a bit of a vacation from my vacations and enjoy some of the great stuff we have going on right here in our own back yards. Ideal Weight Loss Ideal Weight Loss in Highlands Ranch is offering Mile High Mamas readers. You get a Free Weight Loss Consultation; $50 off coaching fee; PLUS, FREE 1 hour massage at Hand and Stone in Highlands Ranch. Yes, all this stuff for free – just to check it out. When you call at 303.683.5155 tell them you saw it on MileHighMamas! Sports Authority Free Kids Football Clinics Sports Authority...
Must-read puberty prep with hilarious videos and Period Starter Kits
When my friend’s daughter was 8, she visited some cousins who, much to her dismay, taught her all about getting her period. It was the first she had ever heard about it and though my friend immediately recognized something was wrong, she refused to spill the beans. It all came came gushing out several days later when they were at the grocery store. Finally, her daughter wailed: “Mom, is it true I’m really going to bleed…down there?” Guaranteed if it happened to men, they’d have a nervous breakdown. Starting your period is a rite of passage that has come a long way in the Internet’s information age and there are so many wonderful resources for parents to help prepare their daughters. Communities such as beinggirl.com have everything from learning ab...
