I watched as my daughter Hadley brazenly stepped into the Wolf Tail launch pad at Great Wolf Lodge. This was a slide unlike any I’d ever witnessed. She followed the staffer’s instructions to cross her arms and legs and wait for the countdown. Then just like a magician’s trap door, the bottom DROPPED out and she free-fell 20 feet before being catapulted around a 360-degree high-speed loop. My son Bode was almost purple with worry and we made a pact. “Don’t worry, Bode. I’ll only go if you go.” Surely, there was safety in numbers when my cautious son was involved? Despite the certain death that awaited us on the Wolf Tail, my family was having a fabulous time at the grand opening of Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs’ expansive i...
I learned a lot about Hong Kong while I was there – one of the coolest things I learned is that for the Chinese New Year it is tradition not to clean your home for the entire celebration (keep in mind a family of four lives in a TINY space about 400 sq feet!) None the less, since I was there, my kids were happy when I announced they would not have to do these types of chores for two whole weeks! Colorado Garden & Home Show at the Colorado Convention Center. Discover the Rocky Mountain region’s oldest, largest and most prestigious garden and home show – Saturday, February 4 through Sunday, February 12 – where you can find inspiration from the latest ideas and trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement from more than 650 exhibitors. Children 12 and under are free; adult admiss...
As much as I feel privileged to have time alone with my daughter after a long day of work and school, I dread walking through the door to an empty home. As much as I am proud that I can financially and practically care for her on my own, I am often just as resentful that I have to sacrifice being with her to make it possible. As much as I feel giddiness and purpose in seeing her dimpled-smile, I feel emptiness experiencing it alone. As much as I am proud that she is adaptive, I feel guilty that she is
I laughed until I cried when I watched this video. As the tormented middle child of a torturous older brother, all I could do was laugh. And then check myself in for therapy. This is for all my fellow younger siblings out there.
The 13th annual Denver Restaurant Week will take place from Feb. 24 – March 5, 2017. More than 250 of Denver’s top restaurants offer multi-course dinners for tasty prices. Visit Denver has these tips: Browse the menus. All participants are listed and restaurants are added to the list as they sign up, so be sure to keep going back for the latest info. Make reservations. Tables fill up fast during Denver Restaurant Week, so make your plans soon. Be flexible and try some earlier or later seatings, too. And be sure to cancel any reservations you don’t use! Dine early and often! With hundreds of Denver’s best restaurants participating, there’s never a better time to try a new spot or head back to your favorites. Splurge! Lots of restaurants offer...
Does your little learner love scavenger hunts, but seems tired of the same ‘ol search? Give the standard scavenger hunt a special math twist by adding numbers into the mix. Have your preschooler practice his counting and work on recognizing numbers by sight before setting up a challenge for you or the next child. What You Need: Paper Index cards Markers Removable Tape What You Do: Before you invite your children to play, create a set of numbers for them to hunt. Draw one large balloon-style number on each sheet of paper. Make it colorful and fun with polka dots, stripes or whatever other designs you want. Do this for the numbers 1-10. Now make the scavenger hunt cards. On the front of the first index card, draw one large dot. Then, on the back of the ca...
Denver has some fun Chinese New Year celebrations, Sesame Street’s Kindness Tour, free ice skating and more. For additional details, see our event calendar. Chinese Lantern Decorating Contest at the Outlets at Castle Rock Jan 28 On Saturday, January 28th, join Outlets at Castle Rock where kids 12 and under can sign up to participate in their Chinese New Year Lantern Decorating Contest. The top 3 winners will be awarded prizes from Outlets at Castle Rock. Sesame Street’s Kindness Tour at FlatIron Crossing Jan 28 HBO and Sesame Workshop—in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS —present the Sesame Street: K is for Kindness Tour, a free, multi-city experiential tour timed to and inspired by the new, 47th season of Sesame Street. Free Ice Skating at Skyline Park at Southwe...
As a newly minted Coloradoan 12 years ago, I explored the Front Range in the most memorable way possible: I joined a hiking club for moms. Before age 1, my daughter Hadley had logged more hours on the trail than her father who has lived here most of his life. I’ll never forget the first time we met our group at the Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark, just 1.5 miles from downtown Boulder. With the Flatirons as a dramatic backdrop, 48 miles of open space trails, a charming Dining Hall and the acoustically-renowned Chautauqua Auditorium, I marveled, “What is this place?” This place is the best staycation you can take near the Denver Metro area. Our Stay Whenever we need a quick getaway to recharge, the Colorado Chautauqua is our place. I was initi...
Do you wonder how much fish is safe to eat during your pregnancy? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued final advice regarding fish consumption. This advice is geared toward helping women who are pregnant or may become pregnant – as well as breastfeeding mothers and parents of young children – make informed choices when it comes to fish that are healthy and safe to eat. (This advice refers to fish and shellfish collectively as “fish.”) To help these consumers more easily understand the types of fish to select, the agencies have created an easy-to-use reference chart that sorts 62 types of fish into three categories: “Best choices” (eat two to three servings a week) “Good choices” (eat one serving a week) “Fish to avoid” Fish in the “best ...
Sure, the slopes are a big part of what makes Colorado’s 25 ski resorts so popular, but there are plenty of other ways for kiddos to enjoy their time in the mountains. Here are some favorite non-skiing activities that are guaranteed to keep everyone occupied on your next winter family vacation. Kid-Approved Programming As the powder day winds down, a fun-filled itinerary is just getting started. Free afternoon activities each day are a hallmark of the Very Important Kids program at Snowmass, whether it’s a magic show or sing-a-long and s’mores. Look to Kids Happy Hour in Telluride for a pint-size version of après ski that serves up indoor craft projects. For parents that want a night out sans-children (it’s ok to admit it), know that you’re leaving them in good hands — and that they’ll pro...
I am on my way out of town – heading to Hong Kong (where I hear I can get a few deals). I was trying to figure out if the A train was going to be running and/or who might take me to the airport or pick me up when I conveniently received an email about a parking service at Denver International Airport for ParkDIA. ParkDIA is the closest off-airport lot and it is now the cheapest as well at $5.95 a day for uncovered parking. In an effort to fill the lot, they are offering strong incentives. Get 7 days of free parking when you create an account with their app or on the website (make sure you put in your credit card to get the 7 days free): https://reservations.parkdia. com/reserve-dia-parking/ parkdia/NewRegistration.aspx. In addition, use promo code 15FORUM016 for an a...
I’ve heard from others (and found it to be true myself) that there’s something magical about reaching the three-month milestone. Making that transition from newborn to baby – from a squalling bundle of constant neediness to a tiny little person who smiles, gurgles, and even exercises intermittent control of his limbs – it’s exhausting but rewarding. We’re closing in on that milestone; my son Oliver will be three months old at the end of this month. Perhaps I’ve got the perspective that comes with having been through this before, or maybe he’s just a much easier baby than my other two, but it hasn’t been as much of a struggle. Conversely, this milestone doesn’t seem like as much of a milestone with him as it did with the girls. He ...