Month: December 2017

Happy Holidays!

Mile High Mamas hopes you have the happiest of holidays! We will be taking the week off to enjoy with your families but we have many fun surprises in store for you in 2018. Until then, always remember: The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. -Burton Hillis As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. – Donald E. Westlake “Mistletoe,” said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry’s head. He jumped out from under it. “Good thinking,” said Luna seriously. “ItR...

Start your New Year with “First Day Hikes”

On January 1st, Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites all Coloradans to welcome 2018 by heading outside to enjoy the trails in a Colorado State Park. First Day Hikes offer a chance to start the new year right by getting people out for some exercise in nature. This year​, 26 state parks are participating by hosting an organized hike. Each park offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the new year, with most parks offering guided hikes and some parks providing multiple options to choose from, allowing you to select the time and route you prefer.  Many parks are also offering refreshments and free giveaways for this event, such as mugs and pens, thanks to a grant provided by the Colorado Parks Foundation. The hikes ​​are free but park visitors must possess a ...

Hope and Healing for Traumatized Kids on Sesame Street

When a child endures a traumatic experience, the whole family feels the impact. But adults hold the power to help lessen its effects. Several factors can change the course of kids’ lives: feeling seen and heard by a caring adult, being patiently taught coping strategies and resilience-building techniques, and being with adults who know about the effects of such experiences. Here are ways to bring these factors to life. Seseame Street has created a landing page with additional resources for kids dealing with trauma. Go to sesamestreetincommunities.org for more information.

5 years after tragedy, Jessica Ridgeway’s mom welcomes baby girl

The reminders of Jessica Ridgeway are everywhere, from her sweet 10-year-old smile to her favorite color. On Oct. 5, 2012, Jessica Ridgeway was kidnapped on her way to school and killed. Her mom Sarah Pindell-Ridgeway got married last year and on Oct. 15, 2017, Jessica became a big sister. Read more at 9News.

20 New Year’s Eve Events in Denver 2017!

FAMILY-FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S ACTIVITIES NOON YEAR’S EVE WHEN: Dec. 31, 2017  WHERE: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus Children can experience the excitement, thrills and festive fun of New Year’s Eve in Times Square right here in Denver — all before bedtime! Noon Year’s Eve celebrates the New Year with glittery ball drops, rainbows of confetti and huge sheets of bubble wrap (the museum’s version of fireworks) for kids to stomp on. After the ball drops, the celebration keeps going with sparkling art projects and heaps of activities on the plaza.  NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS IN DENVER WHEN: Dec. 31, 2017  WHERE: Downtown Denver The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2017 ...

10 non-tech gift ideas for your kids this holiday

Delaney Ruston is a filmmaker, Stanford trained physician and mother of two. Delaney made the documentary “Screenagers” because she believes deeply in the importance of helping kids find balance in our tech filled world.  She is passionate about having the film be a vehicle to bring parents, educators and kids together for post screening discussions so change can happen not just in our homes but in our schools and communities. To find or host a screening, be sure to go here.  It’s that time of year again, food, friends, family, gifts (and hopefully not too much stress). Tech takes up so much of our attention all year long; I find the holidays are a great time to slow down and enjoy some non-tech family fun. I’ve put together a list of some engaging, non...

Deals: Winter break camps, gift card bonus deals

Do you have a special holiday tradition? Something you do that makes the holidays feel like…well, they holidays? My family loves to go to Zoo Lights. There is something about all the lights, walking around the Denver Zoo with a hot cider in hand and trying to figure out how many hours they spend stringing all those lights (and how much the person must have to get paid to untangle them each year). While some might still have shopping to do (and maybe the mall is your holiday tradition), we at Mile High Mamas, want to wish you the happiest of holidays no matter how you celebrate. Winter Break at the Denver Art Museum means fun for the whole family! The 3-D Studio, Create-n-Takes, and much more are open every day from Friday, December 22, 2017, through Sunday, January 7, 2018. (Clos...

Making Health Care Work for Families with this Cutting-edge New Model

One of the toughest times as a mom is when your kids get sick, really sick. One. After. Another. And then YOU get sick while your kids are still miserable with what’s going around. Now your whole house is a germ-infested mess because no one has the energy to clean up, make dinner or even take a bath. Sound familiar? One of the reasons we live through this illness hell is because going to the doctor is a lot of work when everyone is sick and the copays and bills that come after are frustrating. With long wait times to get an appointment, then short office visits and bills that bombard you later, health insurance is not working for families. But there are options that ensure great health care for every member of your household. Provider Access at a Flat Rate “We don’t worry about copays or h...

WestJetChristmas Miracle: 12 Flights of Christmas

The WestJet Christmas miracle strikes again! Building upon their viral holiday campaign in 2013 where a gaggle of weary travelers was treated to a Christmas miracle that turned an airport into Santa’s workshop, for 12 days, they surprised thousands of guests to spread a little #WestJetChristmas cheer.  Their WestJetters and special guests brought them to life, but the vision came straight from the minds of those who know Christmas magic the best – children. A Brief History of WestJet Christmas Each year, we challenge ourselves to come up with a new and unique way to spread Christmas cheer and to celebrate the season with our guests. What started as a (relatively) simple Christmas flash mob evolved into a more elaborate Christmas Miracle surprise tha...

Hilarious viral photo shows toddler signaling for ‘help’

We teach our kids about “Stranger Danger” and yet every Christmas, we submit them to a hairy, scary man in red.  This photo went viral 12 years ago and is making the rounds again for good reason. From the boy’s mother, Kerry Spencer: “We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for ‘help.’ You’re welcome.”

How young is too young to have a mobile device?

 Common Sense Media recently released the results from their latest survey: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight. While the results are not surprising, they are troubling.  What I found most interesting is that almost half of kids eight years old and under have their own mobile device (this includes all types of mobile electronics including smartphones). What are the concerns of this new mobile reality? First, we have to fully accept the intensity with which youth desire today’s fast-paced and interactive screen time. I hear of one and a half-year-olds standing up in their cribs yelling, “iPad, iPad” not “Mommy” or “Daddy.” Screen time plays directly into the pleasure parts of children’s brains. They want high excitement and flashing lights—they want dopamine secreted in the ...

Contest: Family Fun at the Stock Show  

This Colorado tradition every January 6-21, 2018, the National Western Stock Show attracts more than 600,000 people each year. It is the premier livestock, rodeo, and horse show in the nation, but this event brings more to Denver than just cattle and horses. It’s full of family fun and events for all ages! You can visit nationalwestern.com for a full calendar listing, but here are few family friendly event highlights.  Xtreme Dog Show Dog lovers unite for a show full of tricks, stunts and unpredictable antics – all performed by man’s best friend! Trained to run, jump and retrieve at incredible speeds, this cast of canines will bark their way into your hearts and leave fans of all ages laughing and cheering throughout the entire show.  This year, Xtreme Dogs is exci...