Month: September 2020

Lollipop Park Children’s Amusement Park Permanently Closes

Lollipop Park Children’s Amusement Park has permanently closed in Centennial. Located inside Family Sports Center, the family entertainment venue will hold an on-site auction on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m., according to a statement on Lollipop Park’s website. Unfortunately, Americans continue to avoid volume-based entertainment venues, and ultimately parents of small children are nervous about coming back inside buildings to have fun or celebrate birthdays with large crowds.  Lollipop Park has a very small footprint, and as such cannot social distance, let alone operate with 25%, or 50% capacity so unfortunately, “indoor” Lollipop Park is now permanently closed.   We were already under contract to build our new “OUTDOOR” Lollipop Park in Parker Colorado last Mar...

My Sober Life: What I’ve Learned in One Year Without Alcohol

One year ago. September 16, 2019, I decided to go alcohol-free. As I’m reading my very first blog post about being alcohol-free, Day 1 – Sober, I am crying. Not because I am upset, or sad, or ashamed… but because I remember the space my head was in.  I remember the shame, guilt, anger I felt with my past self. The anxiety and fear of choosing to be alcohol-free in a world that glamorizes alcohol. That is scary. It was heavy. The questions I asked myself on my “cons” list of being sober are all valid questions and feelings. Sometimes I still feel like people don’t like me, or think I am annoying, or I get offended if I don’t get invited out to gatherings. The woman that wrote that 2019 post is a completely different woman than the one writing this one.  Being alcohol-free is hard ...

Deals: National Coffee Day, Urban Harvest Festival and more

I’m super excited about all the great stuff that the Outlets of Castle Rock has planned in the coming weeks. The new Lululemon store will be open (opens Friday) just in time for the annual shopping extravaganza (see more about that below)! If you don’t have plans already for the weekend – make them. Plan to be at the Outlets. See you there…in my new Lululemon outfit! Consignment Sales. Once again, MileHighMamas is proud to bring you a comprehensive list of consignment sales for great kid’s clothes finds! Check out our list here. This week on October 1-4. Just Between Friends of Loveland is Thurs. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (50% off) at The Outlets at Loveland – I-25 & Hwy 34. Just Between Friends of Denver is October 1-4 Thursday 9 a...

100+ Best Family-friendly Halloween Movies for Kids, Tweens and Teens

One of the greatest things about Halloween is introducing your children to the spine-tingling thrills of watching spooky movies for kids! Witches, monsters, aliens and everything in between will put you in the perfect mood to celebrate Halloween. We have divided up our list into 1) Not-too Scary, 2) Classics, 3) Short and Sweet, 4) Out of this World, 5) For Tweens and 6) For teens that are scary but not too scary. A lot of these movies are found on Netflix, are free to watch with Amazon Prime or are part of Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween.  Have we missed your favorite? Be sure to tell us below! Not too Scary Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (Netflix). At a movie-studio theme park, Alvin, Simon and Theodore make their way to the Frankenstein’s&nbs...

My classroom is a time capsule

On Thursday, March 19th, at 3:32 p.m., after a strange week of training on remote instruction, I left my classroom for what would be the last time that school year. At the doorway, I paused, reached into my purse, pulled out my phone, and took a quick picture. It’s a time capsule of a moment before mask-wearing was recommended and then required, back when the term “social distancing” still felt like marbles in our mouths. After months away, stepping back into my classroom feels familiar and comforting, but also heavy and constricting, like putting on that favorite pair of jeans after wearing sweatpants every day since March. On the classroom bulletin board are some of the “Community Photo Projects” from February Break. Students took celebratory pictures as a counter-narrative to what we le...

Not All Deficiencies: One Mom’s Reflections on ADHD

For as long as I can remember, my son has spent his days in school chewing on his sleeves, eating paper, and fidgeting with anything else he can get his hands on. And when he wasn’t chewing on or fiddling with something, he is talking—commenting on whatever was going on, interrupting, yelling, or trying to be the center of attention.  When he was in the third grade, his talkativeness grew argumentative and disrespectful with teachers and caregivers, and the chewing/fidgeting behaviors that we thought he might outgrow were becoming disruptive to the class. I sensed that, in our case, there was something else going on. We made a doctor’s appointment, sat on a waitlist for a while, and finally, a licensed psychologist determined that my son had ADHD. It was the inattentive kind, not the ...

Concerned about Halloween safety? The CDC released these guidelines!

Two weeks after authorities in Los Angeles announced that trick-or-treating is “not recommended” this year due to COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a document detailing how individuals in regions where trick-or-treating has not been discouraged can do it safely. The information page — which also includes guidance on the Mexican holiday Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — distinguishes between which activities allow for the most protection on Halloween and which could potentially put kids in danger. “Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses,” the CDC writes. “There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween.” Lower risk activities These lower-risk activities can be safe ...

Viral video of kindergarten teacher shows how distance learning engagement is done!

As the 2020-2021 school year kicks off, parents, teachers, and students are all doing their best to adapt to the new normal, which may very well include either part- or full-time distance learning. But ensuring that kids, especially younger ones, are engaged and actively participating in virtual lessons is no easy feat, as a kindergarten teacher from Washington named Mackenzie makes clear in a now-viral TikTok. In the clip, the enthusiastic educator attempts to teach her class about the number 4. “My facial expressions trying to keep kindergarteners engaged in online learning,” the teacher captioned her post. But her facial expressions are just the tip of the iceberg. She’s also supremely upbeat, energetic, and—above all else—patient while attempting to not only comm...

Deals: Art of Brick, Pop-up Art Experience, and more!

Do your kids love Legos as much as mine do? And let’s be honest, I like Legos – especially when I see the amazing creations that people make with them. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has a fantastic new exhibit – The Art of Brick. Union Station launched a contest in celebration – kids can create their own Lego Union Station! Consignment Sales. Once again, MileHighMamas is proud to bring you a comprehensive list of consignment sales for great kid’s clothes finds! Check out our list here. This week on September 24-28 head to Just Between Friends of Arvada sale at the Flatiron Marketplace. Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 9 am -6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (50% off) Shiki Dreams Pop-up Art. Continuing the world of Natura O...

Colorado Family Travel: 10 Quirky Places to Stay

You’ve already surrendered to Colorado’s unique charms: sunshine sparkling in a cloudless sky, exhilarating open spaces flanked by towering peaks, friendly towns with endless enclaves to explore.  Why not add an extra layer of adventure by staying somewhere that’s just as special as the Centennial State itself? Colorado.com shares this list of fun retro lodging options that are anything but basic. Before traveling be sure to see what COVID-19 precautions are being taken. INNS & B&BS If you want an unforgettable experience but you’re not looking to rough it, these historic inns are just the ticket. Along with the usual creature comforts, you’ll find unexpected amenities and details from the days of yore. Carr Manor Head back to school — without having to hit the books — on a vi...

Netflix Releases Trailer For Colorado Family Documentary: ‘American Murder: The Family Next Door’

Netflix has released the trailer for its documentary about the Chris Watts murder case. Watts admitted killing his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters, Bella and Celeste, in Frederick in 2018. “American Murder: The Family Next Door” premieres on Netflix on Sept. 30. Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.  

How Denver’s Haunted Houses and fall events will look different this year

While doctors worry about the combination of COVID-19 and flu season, a new report from the Center for Disease and Control says we know what works to keep numbers low. The report says flu cases in the United States dropped sharply within 2 weeks of implementing mitigation measures in the spring, like school closures, social distancing and wearing masks. Keep Reading: How Denver Haunted Houses and fall events will look different this year.  Don’t Miss Colorado’s Best Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes Guide to Colorado’s best fall colors, scenic drives, ghost towns and farm experiences Top 20 places to see fall foliage in Colorado (divided up by time of year and elevation!) Guide to Colorado’s Best Fall Drives, Hikes and Leaf Peeping Colorado travel: 5 scenic byways for fall co...